some words, songs, deeds, once tasted,
are for~evermore, implanted in the cortex’s
core, irremoveable, unstoppable, and
stop you in your tracks,
make you pull off the road,
close your eyes, revisit prior associations,
see places people and colors, scents,
and you’re eighteen again,
life seems easy, opportunity
a challenge, because plentiful,
love is found in so many
eyes, swift smiles, sideways glances,
bespoke adventures, and the only
command your heart insists be
obeyed, instinctively, instantly:
Follow
be not surficially fooled, it is not
requesting you follow any course,
only your own, knowing your
limitations, for you will never
compose a song a poem as beauty
writ as Follow(1)!
no matter, for you want too,
even as an septuagenarian,
your need wakes the body,
with urgency, and fiercely
wish and desire, a re-re-unceasing
orientation
to keep on trying for the rest of
your life, a singular goal to
follow, an idea to lead you to
never folly~follow them elses,
only to let~lead your instincts
to where the greatest need is
met head on,
to create to create to liberate
the busting out impulses to
follow
your own path
(1) Follow
Let the river rock you like a cradle
Climb to the treetops, child, if you're able
Let your hands tie a knot across the table.
Come and touch the things you cannot feel.
And close your fingertips and fly where I can't hold you
Let the sun-rain fall and let the dewy clouds enfold you
And maybe you can sing to me the words I just told you,
If all the things you feel ain't what they seem.
And don't mind me 'cos I ain't nothin' but a dream.
The mocking bird sings each different song
Each song has wings - they won't stay long.
Do those who hear think he's doing wrong?
While the church bell tolls its one-note song
And the school bell is tinkling to the throng.
Come here where your ears cannot hear.
And close your eyes, child, and listen to what I'll tell you
Follow in the darkest night the sounds that may impel you
And the song that I am singing may disturb or serve to quell you
If all the sounds you hear ain't what they seem,
Then don't mind me 'cos I ain't nothin' but a dream
The rising smell of fresh-cut grass
Smothered cities choke and yell with fuming gas
I hold some grapes up to the sun
And their flavour breaks upon my tongue.
With eager tongues we taste our strife
And fill our lungs with seas of life.
Come taste and smell the waters of our time.
And close your lips, child, so softly I might kiss you,
Let your flower perfume out and let the winds caress you.
As I walk on through the garden, I am hoping I don't miss you
If all the things you taste ain't what they seem,
Then don't mind me 'cos I ain't nothin' but a dream .
The sun and moon both arise
And we'll see them soon through days and nights
But now silver leaves are mirrors, bring delights.
And the colours of your eyes are fiery bright,
While darkness blinds the skies with all its light.
Come see where your eyes cannot see.
And close your eyes, child, and look at what I'll show you;
Let your mind go reeling out and let the breezes blow you,
And maybe when we meet then suddenly I will know you.
If all the things you see ain't
Quite what they seem,
Then don't mind me 'cos I ain't nothin' but a dream .
And you can follow; And you can follow; follow...