Week 526 ~ I’m not entirely sure what’s still left

I’m not entirely sure what’s still left
ahead traveling this road so many
years the future doesn’t have the same heft
it once did the fact of mortality
casts a long shadow mysteriously
unclear about when the end will arrive
or how predictable or suddenly
gone the simple fact of being alive
no longer to be taken for granted
struggling in these uncertain times to be
fully engaged nurture the seeds planted
years ago or sprouting more recently
to be proud of the life I’ve lived so far
yet watch it go the final door ajar

week 520 ~ remembering

remembering
those who have gone
a song to sing
remembering
loss years will bring
we carry on
remembering
those who have gone

week 381 ~ when time has run out for one more chapter

when time has run out for one more chapter
a final tune another slash of paint
across life’s canvas when we can’t defer
obligations or wishes with a faint
hope that there will always be tomorrow
what then how will it feel to reach the end
and slipping past human grasp or sorrow
enter a place unknown where we can’t bend
events to our will or count on love to
keep us safe or offer up forgiveness
for the times we stopped believing in who
we knew we could have been will someone bless
our memory then despite all we’ve done wrong
and smiling recollect our once brave song

week 298 ~ I still see him smoking by the window

I still see him smoking by the window
making jokes in portugues and laughing
but now the memory is tinged with sorrow
never again will he tighten the string
on a new bandolim waiting to hear
the musical soliloquy that he
has given voice to they still speak no fear
these instruments were made to last and we
are bound up in their songs plucked from the soul
of those we seldom meet who set the stage
writing our music winding the strings whole
lives in these black squiggles sprung from their page
the past breathes life into each note we play
tying our bliss to dreams from yesterday

dedicated to the memory of Manoel Andrade,
Sao Paulo luthier and guitarist extraordinaire,
and to the luthiers and composers who have
helped me and musicians everywhere
to build our musical worlds

week 230 ~ for everything comes after

for everything comes after
in this place of sad goodbyes
there will be room for laughter

take solace from your past her
promises were never lies
for everything comes after

so climb aboard the raft cer-
tain grief bleeds through all disguise
there will be room for laughter

as you stop make a half turn
and look forward with new eyes
for everything comes after

where memories at last blur
and dreams materialize
there will be room for laughter

just hold your loved ones fast sure
you’re sailing toward blue skies
for everything comes after
there will be room for laughter

week 221 ~ rather be in some dark valley

rather be in some dark valley
where the sun refuses to shine
than to have you back here as mine
that corner’s turned eternally
though sometimes I hope you miss me
a girl can contemplate revenge
when truths majestic as Stonehenge
have crumbled now ‘til life be stilled
the space between love and death’s filled
with wrongs only time can avenge

week 218 ~ we sit here chattering on

we sit here chattering on
what’s worth keeping and what’s not
hearts silently breaking dawn
tiptoes away from the spot

 what’s worth keeping and what’s not
does life even matter death
tiptoes away from the spot
chilled through by our frigid breath

 does life even matter death
sits at the breakfast table
chilled through by our frigid breath
as she teeters unstable

 sits at the breakfast table
confused and very angry
as she teeters unstable
hides the truths we need to see

confused and very angry
hearts silently breaking dawn
hides the truths we need to see
we sit here chattering on