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THE GRAND OPENING

one tiny crocus grew through

a crack in the street

not knowing the kind of world

she would meet

but she wanted to be here

in time for spring

didn’t want to miss

the grand opening

she stole that sliver of light

and made her escape

small wild one emerged

without a scrape

but there’s no space

in that broken place

that’s easy to share

still she made me stop

in my tracks to stare

hello everyone it’s almost spring

you know it’s true cause that’s

what crocuses bring

and they sing

we come for the sun

we are here

your days of darkness

will disappear

and you sing you sing spring is near

a crack in the clouds

recited the spell of fire

no words could draw the awe

that glow would inspire

though the only garden she knows

is the crack in the street

how many dreams can she grow

in that bed of concrete

wondering about the wanderers

who pass her by day

and the ones who see her

but still walk away

hello everyone it’s almost spring

you know it’s true cause that’s

what crocuses bring

and they sing

we come for the sun

we are here

will our days of darkness disappear

we want to sing we want to sing

spring is here

the crack in the street had been a

dangerous dare

but it was worth it for the chance

to breathe the birth of air

and we sing we sing we sing

Listen: Text

PRETTY TREE

pretty cherry tree

cherry pretty tree

outside my window

your buds are beginning to show

your buds are beginning to grow

cherry tree take it slow

hold on not so fast

make your beauty last

pretty cherry tree

cherry pretty tree

outside blossoming

every year in the spring

it’s always the same thing

your disappearing pink fling

and i can’t hold on to you

as long as i want to

when you finish trimming

the torn moon’s linen skies

your paper petals disguised as butterflies

with blushing wings don’t know what’s below

brushed by the wind they’ll float

until they go away

till then i could sit here for hours

admiring your flowers

ignoring all there is to do

so i don’t have to ignore you

your blooming time has passed

petals rest on the grass

and it’s barely the month of may

but i realize you aren’t meant to stay

while lilacs take my breath away

pretty pink one you’ve had your day

outside there’s a handsome green tree

where you had a hold on me

this year i find it’s not the same thing

my hands opened like flowers

and flowers never cling to spring

Listen: Text

BIRD IN THE BIRDBATH

there’s a bird in the birdbath

flew down from the sky

big bird in a small pond

i’ll watch for awhile

blue bird in the birdbath

is making me laugh

cause that bird in the small pond

kicks up a big splash

i want to watch that bird in the birdbath

i want to watch her dip and thrash

her bath time dance brightens the day

gonna watch until she flies away

when the bird in the birdbath

bathes like that

i’m glued to the window

next to my cat

who is wide-eyed and mesmerized

watching the show

and neither one of us

gets up to go

we want to watch that bird in the birdbath

we want to watch her dip and thrash

her bath time dance brightens the day

gonna watch until she flies away

if you ever need a lift when you’re feeling blue

i will buy a birdbath gift and give it to you

then you may watch a bird in the birdbath

you may watch her dip and thrash

her bath time dance will brighten your day

and make all your blues fly away

there’s a bird in the birdbath

big splash in a small pond

blue bird in the birdbath

i ran to get my phone to see if i could get a video and when i got back

she was gone

Listen: Text

ASTORIA

i followed the river down

to where it meets the sea

i wanted to see what life

in that small town would be like

i rolled in with the fog

breathing evergreen air
where aging flower children

glow in waves of silver hair

astoria your story doesn’t try to

hide the rust

astoria your pages are painted with

tides of dust

that must be why i didn’t need a key

to make you feel like home to me

a latte from 3 cups to go

strolling past decaying piers

the bakery blue* for a bite at noon

and buoy later for a sunset beer

all your lonely doorways

are swept away by river views

with cargo ships and distant shores

even a ghost could feel haunted by you

chorus

apparently it’s gonna take

a long bridge to explain

being wind blown with your scattered lines

and finding they’re the same

as the ones i wrote that made you mine

before i felt your rain

your-stay-inside-and-make-art-or-get-lost-in-a-bookstore rain

your moss-grows-on-everything-and-everywhere rain

yeah, your sweet, reverie of rain

astoria whenever i’m there i want to stay

astoria and wake up to you every day

*blue scorcher bakery and cafe

Listen: Text

WHAT DO SUNFLOWERS TALK ABOUT

what do sunflowers talk about

at night when the day is done

after spending all your hours

chasing the arc of the sun

was it fun sunflowers was it fun

what do sunflowers think about

when stars wink in the sky

drink it in from below

make-pretend it’s a lie,

that you can’t fly sunflowers you can’t fly

cause you never forget the reason

the bouquet of days sweetly burn

climbing high lasts only one season

once it’s gone your summer can’t return

you know your summer will not return

what do sunflowers dream about

when gardens go to sleep

deep roots become dirty dancing feet

twist twirl and laugh till you weep

watch you leap sunflowers watch you leap

cause you never forget the reason

the bouquet of days sweetly burn

climbing high lasts only one season

once it’s gone your summer can’t return

while it’s your turn sunflowers brightly burn

Listen: Text

THIS SWEET DAY

lost lake is my favorite place

my favorite place to escape

the stress and distractions

of modern contraptions

and the congested rat race

but if you go in the summer you’ll find

too much humankind

while the sun is glaring

there is music blaring

spoiling the tranquil time

if you want to get lost at lost lake

you will have to wait

goodbye summer hello autumn

it’s time to get lost at lost lake

i go when the leaves are turning

i go when i am yearning

to slip away in my boat

and lose myself while i float

and the lake belongs to ancient trees

the mountain and the breeze

and for now this sweet day

belongs to me

alone at my favorite escape

chorus

and if you hear my song today

please pay no mind

to what i have to say

just keep on going

in the summertime

Listen: Text

THE WIND HAS A WAY

the wind has a way to come in

lands like a trance on my skin

oh i don’t know why

the wind can’t be mine

but i’m pretty sure i can’t win

cause i see the way of the wind

leaves of its story rush in

and i want to stay but i’m swept away

how did i let this begin

cause i knew how the wind would be

the way it disappears out to sea

lifeless sand scattering

nothing else mattering

when the wind sailed away

through these trees

stealing every last hallowed breeze

but each leaf will turn

another branch earned

burning my way home free

chorus

light has a way to come in

lands like a chant on my skin

asking who is the wind

over and over again

till a striking blue sky bloomed within

blue sky blooming within

striking new sky bloomed within

that’s when i knew the truth

i am the wind

Listen: Text

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY CHAPTER 3

if all we were

were eyes

only eyes

gazing into infinite skies

what wonders we would still be

don’t take my word just read chapter three

when the moon doesn’t rise

the rods

in our eyes

still lighten our steppingstones

and beholding the colors of the day

is a gift that comes from cones

rods and cones cones and rods

made me think we gotta be gods

such marvelous parts

so don’t step down

we’re more than eyes rolling around

a & p

chapter three

lit a light in me

unlike any cosmic glow

flowing down to me below

all those seeking searching years ago

chorus

i walked out of class that day

and nothing looked quite the same

glimpsing life through lens number three

the immaculate facts dawned on me

rods and cones cones and rods

made me think we gotta be gods

such marvelous parts

so never step down

we’re more than eyes rolling around

if all we were

were eyes

watching the sunrise

but we’re cerebrums and chromosomes

pineal glands and bone marrow and feet…

Listen: Text

WILL YOU WALK WITH ME

~ in loving memory of my Father 1928-2019

will you walk with me as

the sun goes down

and the crescent moon

rises over town

will you take my hand

as the stars come out

and the days grow short

less to dream about

has it come to this

i whisper silently

to the one who has slipped away from me

can you hear me now

in the breeze of the night

are you waiting there in that invisible light

am i on my way there too

on my way to you

been so tired but it can’t be true

it’s much too soon

but if this is my time

will you be there for me

make sure i get across

that rising sea

will you take my hand

as the moon disappears

and tell me i can put away

all of my fears

like long ago when i was very small

and you were so strong and so tall

are you listening now

in the breeze across the land

waiting for me to reach

your invincible hand

am i on my way there too

on my way to you

been so tired

but there’s too much left to do

will you walk with me

till i find my way through

Listen: Text

I NEED THE DARK

i need the dark

like you need the light

i crave the dark

because day breaks so bright

winter’s the sweetest remedy i find

that eases my restless mind

as city streets sunbathe

in summertime dust

been breathing deep

cause it’s hard to adjust

to the crowd-pleasing rays

that burn on and on

i don’t miss them when they are gone

so turn back the clocks

and bring the night to me

even if no one else will agree

that this the best time of year

and i feel so alive

when i am sun-deprived

now winter’s hush

is leaning this way

gray shadows grow

and i want them to stay

gathering poems in the bare twilight air

sheltered from the sun’s relentless glare

i need the dark

like you need the light

i crave the dark

because life shines so bright

winter’s the sweetest season cause i find

i can rest my uneasy mind

so give me the shortest days of the year

i’m ready to sink in and linger here

while a million embers of mine reignite

spinning sparks into vanishing light

when i don’t have to ignore

every time i can’t absorb

a bright gorgeous day more

Listen: Text