mountain of love

I know you wish me well
though you often find it hard
cause things get in the way
things that needn't be a part
of this great picture we have painted
this great garden we have planted
under everything we do
there is this wonderful foundation

a mountain of love
we are climbing
sometimes tired
sometimes skipping over stones
together we can do
what we could never do alone

you give me courage
to follow my dreams
and though you may not
understand
they all lead back to you

you give me strength
where once I could not fight
you see the good in me
when I just can't get it right

this mountain of love
we are climbing
sometimes tired
sometimes skipping over stones
together we can do
what we could never do alone

no one said it would be easy
no one said that it would stay the same
but through all the trials and tribulations
this great thing remains

this mountain of love
we are climbing
sometimes tired
sometimes skipping over stones
together we can do
what we could never do alone
this love has given me
what I could never get from anyone
but you

believe

if you believe then things will come to pass
don't fear the worst
and cast the shadow hard
upon this dream
the dream that wakes
the sleeping

if you believe
then we will see the glory of
what we have made
don't doubt
sincerity
of a very human heart
the heart that beats
when all else stops

if you believe
then anything is possible
and nothing is improbable
don't drop the hope
that's been built up
since the first word
was shared and spoken

if you believe
then all the doubters
can't convince you
this is something it is not
don't cave in to
the no's
the nots

believe

your darker road

i find myself again
going down your darker road
and i can not help but get sucked in
to where you are
and where you go
and i am scared to open up and tell you so

layer

layer upon layer upon layer
years have built up
the dirt and dust
the sticky jam from fingers
eating toast
the time has saved each tiny print
layer upon layer upon layer
of times i said i'd try to stop
but couldn't
cause it wasn't in me
not to do what i had done
layer upon layer upon layer
of praying hands
and wings of angels playing harps
and saying all the right things
layer upon layer upon layer
of being afraid to be the one to open up
and never doing so
and underneath it all
a frightened little girl
is standing in a lonely hall
layer upon layer upon layer
of the sorrys and i told you so's
and wait and sees'
until you couldn't see
no more

fruition

full ripe and round
in the basket given
to a friend
this is what has been
the result of the harvest

the spring seedling shaking off soil
with it's tender stem
the summer flower courting bees
to spread it's nectar
the autumn treasure heavy hanging
from the branches
held with care
until a wind pulls it off
and lying in the grass
the gift
the finished product
object
of the seasons' wind and sun and rain
the circle of the day and night
the proof of life
of love and care
the gift
awaits a hand
to pick it up
and take it's share

first blossom

take me out of my winter coat
let my hair fly free
the first blossom of spring has come
and the buds are calling me
let me sit in this garden swing
casting cares away
the first blossom of spring has come
and the buds are calling me
opening out in sweet perfume
birds singing up above
showing off the skirted petals
in their colours soft and warm
take me out of my care worn shoes
and let me feet run free
the first blossom of spring has come
and the buds are calling me

special

i'm not big enough
but then i'm not small enough
can't be loud enough
nor even quiet enough
i struggle on
with my intention
the sun goes down without a mention
but the songs burn through me like a fire
guess i'm just not that
special
a different tune
the styled guitar
put the capo up
reach notes that left in awe
the few who sat and did not leave the room
guess i'm just not that special
you get jaded with the many things they tell you
stick your neck out only to get
your head cut off
and even then the songs still burn
like the hole in your shirt
from a cast off cigarette
arrange the lines
make sure the melody is sweet
perfect the timing and the metaphor
so everyone relates
but still the songs
burn bright and hard
still after all
they're not that
special

one

one prayer for you
to be the best
the open soul
the
one
one wish for you
to be yourself
the reflection in the pool
the
one
one hope for you
to get the place
that you deserve
the
one
the only
you

in the valley

the buttery tones of the sun
spread across the morning
and the light filled up the void
peace in the valley again
where the sweet warm day begins
and the robin greets me singing
in a branch of the cherry tree
peace in the valley again
where the dark once cloaked the ground
and i could not find my way
where the solitary path
diverged in the naked wood
and i lost direction
lost connection
til
the buttery tones of the sun
spread across the morning
and the light filled up the void
peace in the valley again
when the golden promise plays
on the edges of the dawning
and i feel you close at hand
peace
in the valley
again

hold on tight

i see the herds of clouds conforming
over this sleepy town
and though i don't really know what's coming
i can smell the cold and feel the ice form

they say that there will be snow tonight
it's gonna cover everything we know
i'm gonna get under my blanket and hold on tight

and you might not know which way the winds will blow
but me i've come to believe in fate
you can go in search of heaven
baby you've always been right near the gate

they say that there will be snow tonight
it's gonna cover everything we know
i'm gonna get under my blanket and hold on tight
hold on tight

maybe it won't be the way i dreamed
maybe it won't be sold as seen
but there's a chance it could be better than any of these

well winters come and winters go
rain and hail and sleet maybe we'll be graced with snow
but all i believe is treasured inside
with grace and holiness i stretch my pride

they say that there will be snow tonight
it's gonna cover everything we know
i'm gonna get under my blanket and hold on tight
i'm gonna hold on tight
i'm gonna hold on tight

all about her

all about her

so fluid and so fluent
so raw and so ruined
maybe you could maybe you couldn't
we'll never know

so perfect so unflawed
so stuck in those jaws
so hard to break free
maybe you shouldn't

still the songs are
all about her

so beautiful yet ugly
so soft yet hard etenally
so easy to be misunderstood

you can't find the middle
it's lost in the circle
you'll have to find a new road home
and wait for the sun

still the songs are
all about her

she took your dignity and ran
you can't see anything else
you're still livin' with the pain she put you through
oh

the songs are still
about her

so flawed so fluent
so raw so ruined
you could and she couldn't
and then you fall

the songs are
all abou her

those songs are
all
about her

soft white orb

soft white orb
in the cup of my hands
i would nestle you
from the cold black sky

and stars like sparks
hover and fall
i would catch
and string you
clasped round my neck
like a necklace of ice

misty sweeps
of frozen cloud
i would wear like a dress
of the finest gauze
and dance in the sky
like a swinging bird

and the soft white orb
would light the path
until the morning
comes

soft

soft and white
layer upon layer
the frozen stars
are falling soft
soft as no noise
when you hear the sound
soft as brushing up against
the velvet
soft as stroking fur
it falls
soft and white
layer upon layer
feathers
petals
silk
and suede
soft and white
layer upon layer
you fall into my hands
and disappear

soft
and melting here

survival shoots

even in the worst conditions
starved of love
and water
even when the sun relentless
leaves no shade for comfort

with enough perseverance
survival shoots stretch
from the bottom
or the darkest
deepest problems

just one chink of light
can save
the least amount of grace
that plays it's colour
on these walls

with enough determination
survival shoots branch
green and strong
from the furthest
continents

a little hope in someone's eye
could bring me happiness
even in my saddest moment
silver lining
decorates this heavy cloud

with enough simple wisdom
one can trust
blue sky
still lingers
up above this raging storm

and any rain
will feed survival shoots
that dare to challenge
this parched wilderness

the mill

the mill wheel turns
and grinds
stone on stone
around and round
slowly pressing
down the husky grains
to soft fine powder

but those seeds that escape
the constant friction of the wheel
are left on stems
to blow and wave the sun down
and feeding birds
and insects perch
like crickets
in amongst the seed heads
left behind by scythe
and combine

these the beauty left
oh why does beauty
sacrifice itself
to the constant grinding of the wheel
when strength is found
in staying still
and swaying in these breezes

knock down the mill
and let the grain grow
free and blonde
on earth's soft headed hill

only the winds know

i have always been clear
on my direction
there is now a mist descending
where once the road held no
hidden twists or bends
i find at this juncture
the road ends

and i need
someone to show me the way
give me the strength
to move forward
will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

harbours docks and ports
call this boat
without it's sails
it is slow
to reach it's destination
and guided by stars
if the clouds grow heavy
the navigation points
lose their clarity

and i need
someone to show me the way
give me the strength
to move at all
will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

as they carry the birds
to their nesting shore
as they sweep the waves
and bare the trees of leaves
as they toss my hair
so my eyes cannot see
only the winds know

and the dawn will call me
to rise up like the sun
i will say a silent prayer
and start my day
i will hope that somehow
the message is sent
and delivered to
the one who holds the key
i need someone to show me the way
give me the strength to take the fall
will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

freedom

stretching in the sun
i find i am the only one
and happily i guide my smile
o'er rivers hills and verdant
miles

i know it's only me that can
allow the pain to feel this way
i now know how to let it go
to let it pass
like melted snow

like birds that must migrate
i see that this will leave
someday
and find the place the climate suits

but first i wave goodbye
i let it go
open the window
not mine anymore
and though i should be sad
i'm not
we worked so hard that we forgot
why we were working so hard

so bring me in to this new place
and i will softly turn to face
all this hard work
brought me to
and not look back or forward
drink in this fine air
and mood
the now is freedom
i've done good

kindling

in the forest
we walk soundly
searching for dry
kindling

and hoping our arms will
be burdened
to build the evening's
fire

with twigs and branches
saplings' cast offs
brown and grey and beige

you found most
and i had little
even though neither lot
was heavy

now on home to start
the warm

and my face fresh
and ruddy with the cold
and you
warm hands
cold nose

i sit
and watch you lay the fire
spark the match
and smoke grows
slowly into flame
and now to just enjoy
the light the heat
the time
alone
the embers glow
and us
asleep

island of stars

he is waiting
on an island of stars
the dark does not betray him
luminous arc
of the milky way
i see
from this place
where no one lives
but me

he is walking
an island of stars
way above
the curvature of
the earth
his footsteps fall

the dark does not betray him
luminous arc
of the milky way
i see
from this place
where no one lives
but me

planets strung
from invisible string
dangling from the fingers
of sky
jet and purple
you know
how to hold on
and not to let go

he is calling
from an island of stars
i can hear his magic
ringing over
forests rivers valleys

the dark will not betray him
luminous arc
of the milky way
i see
from this place
where no one lives
but
me

asking for help

no good
asking for help
always try
to do it all myself
but here is a mountain
in front of me
i am tired
need company
up the road that looks so steep
must keep climbing
in my sleep
in my dreams
and up against
the dragons
bad witch of the west
let me pass
so i may find
the best of me
before too long
hold my reserve
my dignity
in grace and silence
i will free
the spirit
of a kinder heart
and ask for help
right from the start

the curvature of words

this love
the curvature of words
and spines
backs and books
and page after page of
physical verbs
that slide and stretch

and speak
a language of their own

this love
the curvature of words
and trees
with branches lifted
arched bent grasping
towards the sun

this love
the curvature of words
that winding road
over dappled hills
and sunset valley's
darker wood

we swing we sway
we float
towards the next page
of lines
and characters
this love
the curvature of words

shore

the sand
dark grey and wet like mud
as the sky cried
a little overboard
the mist descended
round the crooked evergreens
giving them a regal shape
like kings

though i was cold i felt alive
suddenly
my purpose had come back
the driftwood
i was sitting on
was slick
where tides had carved it out

and softly over all these tiny grains
the hermit crab crawled sideways

never a home of it's own
carrying someone else's shell
alone

and tidepools
where the purple starfish lie
anenomes like undulating hair
stroking water
eating tiny particles
to keep themselves alive

and barnacles so hard
with those soft feather tongues
trawling in their catch
before the tide
pulls out
again

i share this solitary memory
with one
who sees
the moon is calling for the shape
to change again
as waves perform
the constant lick and pull
the rolling sea
reclaims it's
one and only shore

give it time

i have seen
birds fly through colder skies
i have seen
trees grow through the ice
i have seen
flowers bloom
when the sun refused to rise
when there was no season

give it time
give it room to breathe
give it time
give it everything it needs
give it time
and you will see
it's already happening

i have fought
with myself for so long
i forgot
what the fight was all about
may be time
to accept what i know now
and start to move on

give it time
give it room to breathe
give it time
give it everything it needs
give it time
and you will see
it's already happening

starting to stretch
starting to change
starting to reach for the light
in it's own way
isn't it strange
how we suddenly see
what we do
is what we come to be

i can feel
the sun on my back
i can see
that the days are drawing out
i can touch
the dreams i hold
that once seemed far
but now are here
within reach

give it time
give it room to breathe
give it time
give it everything it needs
give it time
and you will see
it's already happening