risking the heart

there's a soaring

there's an aliveness

never more certain

than risking the heart

all things pale against this trust

all things fall into the shade

as the light of this falls

your arms opening up

to collect the harvest you've won

it was all in the pure perseverance

of risking the heart

opening up

beating the drum

in the hopes someone hears

and the dance is begun

risking loss

risking losing

everything

and having nothing

believing is all you can do

when risking the heart

believing is all you can do

when risking the heart

don't say a word

so eloquent & so prosaic

it's you that leaves me lost for words

what is this flutter in my belly that makes my heart beat twice as fast

it's the same old thing i cannot figure

how i should react




feed me songs feed me stories

feed me of your common good

leave me to contemplate the meaning in a solitary wood

again i find myself confused and at a loss

what is the cost




don't say a word




why do you let me feel like this

then take away the map

that could help me find my way through this

i don't know how




don't say a word




ahhh




don't say a word




and like a silent clearing

i know you always will be there

even though it doesn't fit in the world that we live in

you can't deny fate from yourself




it's the same old thing

thought i was lost

but i am really found ahh ooh




don't say a word




don't your say a word ahhh don't say a word




don't you say it




don't say a word

keep a light on

all these days

travellin far and travellin wide

when i had it all inside to draw from

all this time

the nights were dark

i have been alone too long to find my way




so keep a light on

keep the fire in your heart

keep a light on

keep on




all this time

so much closer to the truth

so much closer to you than i thought

all these miles

never got me very far

never got me what i thought i wanted so




keep a light on

keep the fire in your heart

keep a light on

keep on




burning till the wick dies out

smoking in a pool of wax

burning till there's no way out

and you finally face yourself




all these nights

brought the promise of the day

brought you nearer to my door

than i hoped for

all these prayers have been answered with your smile

there is no road that gets me there

like your eyes

so keep the light on

keep the fire in your heart

keep the light on

keep on




keep the light on

keep the fire in your heart

keep the light on

keep on

keep on

these arms

don't know why we are here

but i know that i am

carrying some sort of burden

i can't support on my own

and thankfully though i have no answers

i will still take my chances

in these arms

hold on

i don't know when it all comes right

when greyer skies turn black or white

but i know this

i have a place i can rest in these arms

hold on

to the warm embrace that says the cold is over

to the warm embrace that makes all sense of chaos

to the warm embrace that rights everything that went wrong

all along we were here for each other

all along

i can't think of where tomorrow leads me forward

i can't say words that i don't even know

but here i find my sweet sanctuary

i am ever oh so lucky

in these arms

i am home

hold on

the silent moon

where have you been my friend

all sweet and white

cold hanging in the sky

but touched with light you seem so warm tonight

and by the morning you'll be gone

replaced by sources other than you know

sources that have made you shine

where have you been my friend

hiding under clouds

but i can still see the circle

like a coffee cup ring

embedded on the sky i always find you

don't try so hard to slip me by

there have you been my friend

all this time

forever mine

a gentle friend

no need to set the stage to preen or call you special names

you know me from the inside out

i know you from the start

a gentle friend is worth the light

the morning brings

and all the social niceties and pretty rings

dresses cars and houses cannot bring

the kind of joy that is harboured in your smile

when you see me coming near

you gentle friend

are worth the sunset at days end

and i don't have to explain

why i never call or write

every time we get together

no time has gone or ever be forgotten

never

gentle friend

my beginning and my end

we know each other so

that there is no unknown

and nothing to be frightened of

a gentle friend

is what i hope i am

these things hurt

like moving when your legs are worn and tired

your heart dare not go through this fire

full on again

but embers deeply scar

this river bed

this flowing water snagging branches low

where small birds sit to drink

to catch the bugs to think

and fly quick at the rapids call

you know you'll dance again to this slow tune

but pain becomes inevitable

when i know

your smile so well

and yet so far from me now

these things hurt

like brutal truth

that carves it's name in solid bark

and years will never let it go

oh these things hurt

tattoos like stars

embedded on your sky-like skin

keeping me alive and yet

the night the only time i see them coming out

in daylight

only pin-pricks from my dreams

oh these things hurt

you know

waiting

the wait and the wonder are flooding me

over and over again past the corner we stood on

the bench where we sat

i was so sure then

but with time all certainty goes

i grasp for the little things

hold on tight

your skin after we go for a swim

in the moonlight

many's the time i wish i could hold back your hair

look into your eyes and settle there

even though the light has now gone from the sky

your light from within is as bright as these stars

arcing over our heads in the still summer's night

the wait is worth guessing

the wonder the flood

when rain fills the butt

i will have what i want

a gift for words

he has a gift for words

he doesn't use them lightly

he helped me find the light when dark had fallen hard

he has a gift for words

he doesn't use too many

don't seem to be any that aren't meant to be there

oh i am so thankful for the time he spends

letting people know

this world we all live in is what we share

he cares and we all know

he has a gift for words

i only wish that i could give him something

that meant as much as this

the world can be cold and disillusioned

but the heart is in the paper and the pen

he has

a gift for words

and i am grateful

for it

the pearl

the pearl hides

in the oyster that's inside

built around the gravel ,storms and stronger winds

you have it all

and shine it will

tender

don't touch too much

there is a bruising here

where seeking shelter

makes you vulnerable

but also shows your strength

but oh the softness here

like seeds cast in the wind

riding the birds wing

i carry you everywhere

don't touch too much

unless you beg me stay

in this gentle harbour

i will find my sanctuary

from a weary day

in your hands

the touch is everything

but your hands could move mountains

the minute you decide

to come out of the hide

and bare the soul you keep inside

the current is strong

and the river flows-long with wide banks on each side

where you rest from the white water skimming the stones

stop chasing and bask in the sun for a while

in your hands the potential to heal

all the suffering

heal all the scars

tattooed in this energy

all in your hands

and waiting to thrive

to grow and replenish

in your hands is cessation

to all of the pain

in your hands resolution

pure love and release

all this time looking out

when it always was

in your hands

the weeping willow

the soft hewn branches

fingers shedding leaves in water

this river is neverending

this tree is draping over the waterline

sheltering ducks and water coots

under it's tender arms

the weeping willow

makes a sheltered home

and even in my alleyway i grab the branches

and swing

sometimes they break

sometimes they hold my weight

but always in the wind i hear their swishing call

the weeping willow

whispers all

its tears are only rain that falls

weakness

falling

falling fast and hard

falling like a blizzard in a desert

not knowing how to stop the downward float

the downward deep

and then the swinging flight back up

the weakness is the only strength i know

the weakness keeps me genuine

the weakness keeps me warm

the weakness of believing in the good of every soul

in the good of every outstretched hand

take hold

in weakness

we are born

goodnight

sweet light of day is tired

we must recumbent lie and gain our strength

tomorrow requires every sinew

in these soft and truthful arms

stay awhile and quench the thirst

your soul has hungered for

tomorrow leave no stone unturned

no smile allowed to simmer slow behind a cloud

right now we sleep

replenish sparks and hold stars deep

behind our eyes

with thoughts entwined and hair spread on the pillow

the dreams yet to be dreamed are calling

begging 'please remember'

as the morning starts to rise

but...for now in quiet silence lie

goodnight

the caving in

the caving in
that aching thing
when suddenly the ticking gets too loud
and you realise
that yes you
will never be the same again
and maybe it was foolish
to expect it ever would be
any different

it's coming

off on the horizon

all the build up see the wind

bending trees and sending leaves

airbound

it's coming see them running for the sheltered woods

in herds

the deer like open wounds

are sensitive to change

it's coming

all the growing and the care is sprouting buds

new answers to old questions

shedding light like summer sun

it's coming

and i'm ready

for once

sailing close to the dream

if you sail close to the dream
you must expect a rough current
a tossing in the waves
and an unknown storm moving forward
there will be times of calm
and days when nothing moves
just the call of the gull and the sway of the sails
as the boat rises and falls
some days you get lost in the mist
not knowing when it will clear
not knowing when next you will navigate by the stars
and still
though the journey is full of unknowns
and your ship will oft slip off course
you can rest in the fact you have done what you can
the only thing worse
would be
never to venture off shore
and wonder what could have been born

white

i sat on this hill in the dark

and looked down on the lights in the valley town

as they blinked and went out one by one

the night was warm and slid off my skin

like the white

light of the moon

and casting shadows across the way

dusted silver grass

the lake so still

with a big white

circle reflected in the middle

and suddenly i am so blessed

out here in this quiet place

no noise no anchor holding me

just the white

stark light of the moon

in the black death of night

and i feel every bit of me

coming up for air

finally after holding on

so long

i let go

and the white

bright light of the moon

allows me to shed the tears

i held onto for so long

as they slide down my cheekbones

towards my mouth and chin

the valley town below is just a place

and i am only attached to those i love

the only way a place becomes a home

is underneath the white

teeth of your smile

the moon is now a sliver

white

and worn

and you are all the white

the dark the light

the one