l
we came over the hill
searching for magic
and the music of crowds
stars and moons
neon lit
green carnival eyes
nomadic wheels
in the wind
tent flapping shadows
castles of light and sound
phantasms in motion
time far away
in the bright glitter
of the barker of dreams
the road home
forgotten
ll
daddy
your name drops slowly on waiting hearts
like stones we gathered from the river
and laid in walls of memory
time out of mind
drops slowly on dreams of the valley
on weeds and grass and sage
and colors our hands our jeans our hair
with the blue and the brown of the earth and the sky
and the dust of old roads
forever
lll
hanging shadows
in the worshiping sun
follow night
past window prayers
of amazing grace
when my grandparents died
fences fell
and roofs sagged
weeds
turned their ears listening
for the sound of
God bless this house
psalms and gospels heard
in the wind
lV
their names
in the sky
and the smoke
of the clouds
and the rain
in the wind
and the hawk
in the sun
and the geese
on their long journey home
and the grass
with the language of sparrows
V
new the house
of western pine
the sap liquid
and dropping with dreams
soft
in the eaves
moonless pigeons
cooing the dark
without sun
and morning yet
a drift of smoke
beyond the hood
wanders off
in silence
through the wood
Vl
dad's
old truck
and international
host
bushes
climbed it
like a weathered
post
in the field
an artful
rust
of roaring
twenties
wander
lust
Vll
old ghosts
wind walking
stop and converse
without talking
then peering
at someone speaking
sadly they vanish
behind them
peeking
Vlll
field ice
crows silent
in the frozen shadows
grey clouds
over the valley
the winter farm
trees
leafless now
lean their limbs unnatural
without bird or nest
in the house
cups of coffee
sliced pear
and apple
hot baths
lilac soap
warm towels
on white fences
a shine of lamps
snowy moon drifts
stealing darkness
from the birdless roof
owl hoot
poplars shiver
in the cold wind
lX
against the wind
a little man
knurled hands
on hips
old Bull Durham
cigarette
in parched
and broken lips
his burdens hung
from shoulders round
his hair
like peppered snow
the leaf smoke
Stetson hat became
the man
some time ago
his Levi jeans
were union made
and graced
with union dirt
a Big Ben
pocket watch was there
in his faded
denim shirt
I see him now
at twilight's end
his features
lean and drawn
but it's ok
his kids will eat
there's work for him
at dawn
his image lingers
in the haze
then solely fades
away
to come again
down memory lain
on some
far distant day
much has been
forgotten now
but dad's still there
it seems
he stands like some
round shouldered rock
a man
of many dreams
X
what shinning sun
has found my heart
and occupies my dream
what gleaming star
meanders soul
like ripples on a stream
what morning meadow
motions mind
to wander dark and deep
those dusty roads
and drowsy days
where memory's moments meet
we came over the hill
searching for magic
and the music of crowds
stars and moons
neon lit
green carnival eyes
nomadic wheels
in the wind
tent flapping shadows
castles of light and sound
phantasms in motion
time far away
in the bright glitter
of the barker of dreams
the road home
forgotten
ll
daddy
your name drops slowly on waiting hearts
like stones we gathered from the river
and laid in walls of memory
time out of mind
drops slowly on dreams of the valley
on weeds and grass and sage
and colors our hands our jeans our hair
with the blue and the brown of the earth and the sky
and the dust of old roads
forever
lll
hanging shadows
in the worshiping sun
follow night
past window prayers
of amazing grace
when my grandparents died
fences fell
and roofs sagged
weeds
turned their ears listening
for the sound of
God bless this house
psalms and gospels heard
in the wind
lV
their names
in the sky
and the smoke
of the clouds
and the rain
in the wind
and the hawk
in the sun
and the geese
on their long journey home
and the grass
with the language of sparrows
V
new the house
of western pine
the sap liquid
and dropping with dreams
soft
in the eaves
moonless pigeons
cooing the dark
without sun
and morning yet
a drift of smoke
beyond the hood
wanders off
in silence
through the wood
Vl
dad's
old truck
and international
host
bushes
climbed it
like a weathered
post
in the field
an artful
rust
of roaring
twenties
wander
lust
Vll
old ghosts
wind walking
stop and converse
without talking
then peering
at someone speaking
sadly they vanish
behind them
peeking
Vlll
field ice
crows silent
in the frozen shadows
grey clouds
over the valley
the winter farm
trees
leafless now
lean their limbs unnatural
without bird or nest
in the house
cups of coffee
sliced pear
and apple
hot baths
lilac soap
warm towels
on white fences
a shine of lamps
snowy moon drifts
stealing darkness
from the birdless roof
owl hoot
poplars shiver
in the cold wind
lX
against the wind
a little man
knurled hands
on hips
old Bull Durham
cigarette
in parched
and broken lips
his burdens hung
from shoulders round
his hair
like peppered snow
the leaf smoke
Stetson hat became
the man
some time ago
his Levi jeans
were union made
and graced
with union dirt
a Big Ben
pocket watch was there
in his faded
denim shirt
I see him now
at twilight's end
his features
lean and drawn
but it's ok
his kids will eat
there's work for him
at dawn
his image lingers
in the haze
then solely fades
away
to come again
down memory lain
on some
far distant day
much has been
forgotten now
but dad's still there
it seems
he stands like some
round shouldered rock
a man
of many dreams
X
what shinning sun
has found my heart
and occupies my dream
what gleaming star
meanders soul
like ripples on a stream
what morning meadow
motions mind
to wander dark and deep
those dusty roads
and drowsy days
where memory's moments meet
Last edited:
