I woke to the sound of singing
voices of the world
some are joyful
some in pain
experience, innocence
young, elders, boys and girls
I heard the songs of great lamenting
for hunger, cruelty, and shame
I heard the whispers of remembrance
and hope that still remains
I look out upon the landscape
broken hearts lay everywhere
no covers on these windows
no shades no shelter from harsh mouthed mothers of opinion
no words of wisdom or compassion too few hands to care
but I hear night stars still tell wonder stories
and if we listen they will shine our fears away
when we feel lost or sad or lonely
when we’re tossed into chaos winds of if only
silent stars are rising up to guide the way
One of these days
you’ll see you’ll see
Civility will
return
It will be cool again
to smile
to say hello
welcome you stranger
One of these days
you’ll see you’ll see
Love will
prevail
It will be cool again
to reach
to say alright
take my hand
One of these days
you’ll see you’ll see
Humility will
rise
It will be cool again
to surrender
to say everything
with open minds
One of these days
you’ll see you’ll see
Honesty will
dominate
It will be cool again
to aspire
to say quality
reflects the light
One of these days
you’ll see you’ll see
Possibility will
multiply
It will be cool again
to imagine
to say knowledge
belongs to everyone
One of these days
you’ll see you’ll see
Greatness will
elevate
It will be cool again
to understand
to say yes
everyone here belongs
In that moment you have a choice
There’s always a choice.
Someone free said that once.
Afterward.
In that moment when you’re convinced
you’ve heard the crack of bone
your leaking heart losing faith
dissonant grace
felt it, felt yourself
F
a
l
l
You know with certainty something has broken
What comes next?
Even if you don’t know yet if there’s anything there
worth groping for, worth saving—
Can you hear the music through the roar and rumble
Can you still hum some favourite tune
a few bars to hold onto
some sorrowful blues maybe
some cowboy gush of lonely bravado
some whimsical ditty
to carry you through?
So much anger in the world
So much hatred
So much kill
Be we quiet madding voices
Be we peaceful
Be we still
Live, honour life
Love, our will.
Empty walls
mistaken windows
sounds cannot penetrate
earth heavy barriers
but even in absence
breath blind
past dark stillness
I imagine light sneaking.
When fire burns low
veil darkness in view
close your eyes close your eyes
see the silver inside
then rise from the gutter
begin anew.
Thousands now
years behind
learned adjunct fools
speed forward
stumble back
we fall we fall we fail
quick—
reflect redirect
or flounder.
Consider:
twenty-seven
cold
confinement
contempt
cruelty
my weak
my broken
Consider:
redirect
endurance
fortitude
Love.
Pencil Notes 