Without Striking a Chord

9 February 2010 by Jim

I think there is a recording of this as song somewhere out there, but maybe not. I think I tried to play it in several bands and/or jam sessions, but it never seemed to be anyone’s cup of tea.

There’s not a sound
that I can hear
without striking a chord
for it to float behind.

The days are not too long anymore.
I’ve got a plan:
to hold on to the days
on which the sun shines.

Don’t wait!
Don’t turn around!
I’m coming home!

Our Little One

9 February 2010 by Jim

Be not afraid -
be not afraid,
because, lover,
we need to see to it

that our little one can always breathe;
that our little one is forever free
to be.

Sparrow, No

6 February 2010 by Jim

With chestnut feathers
and jet-black eyes,
the Sparrow told me,

“Jim, you’ve got to grow,
and you should know
that after a while
the clouds will move
and, in the deep-blue sky,
the lucky, old sun will hide
and you’ll have to go.”

I said, “Sparrow, no!”

***

With chestnut feathers
and coal-black eyes
the Sparrow told me,

“Jim, someday you’ll die,
but that’s all right.”

I said, “Sparrow, no!”

Down the River, Out to the Sea

5 February 2010 by Jim

Here’s one that I wrote at least 5 years ago. It’s a song that I played with Green Rifle at almost every show.

Those trees,
these leaves,
this heart-
going down to the river,
then out to the sea
where everything flows someday.
Everything dies someday.

Two boats
on a sea
too deep.
Holding my breath
only goes to show
how small and insignificant my lungs are.
And though my heart beats proud now,
I know,

I know
that my life will end some day.
But my will will stay.

So, why must I be afraid all the time?

I’m Back!

5 February 2010 by Jim

Wow! It’s been a year or more since I updates this. I’m too lazy to even look at the date of  my last post. Anyway, I’m not promising anything, but I plan to start posting my backlog of poems and songs. I’ve got the grief from losing my dad out my system and am much happier now than when I used to post stuff, so I’m thinking a little more clearly. Hopefully.

I will be posting some sad poems about my grief experience that I’ve already written, but most of the new ones are a bit more positive.

Friends might recognize some of these as I’ve sung quite a few of them at shows in one form or another, but most have been revised numerous times. Without further ado, here is something I wrote a while ago that was a chorus to a song I played with Kolbiter at some of our earlier shows, but started as a four line poem:

My New Plan

I’ve got a new plan:
doing things the very best I can.

It’s better than my last plan:
keeping my head firmly in the sand.