makeshift future
this twinkle speculates: whether the organ is worthy
or if the hourglass is more – lest it musters a makeshift future
the hourglass stands tall, sustained by sand like a mountain,
or withered slowly like a shore, sheppard the ocean a little closer
tectonic future calls, bringing our feet to Victoria
with nothing but a protocol to feed the dying population
hypothetically we’d build a home in this city, theoretically it’d vanish in a year
hypothetically we’d have the sea all to ourselves, theoretically you’d be the perfect company
our bodies congregate, rummaging through every layer
through every unseen earthly fate, we’re only in a makeshift future
i’d like a cradle song, would you be so kind to offer?
this twinkle will not last so long, sound don't travel below water
hypothetically we’d build a home in this city, theoretically it’d vanish in a year
hypothetically we’d have the sea all to ourselves, theoretically you’d be the perfect company
wild birds unlimited
flying up a mile wide valley, flying up a burning creek
wonder if the wind will bring me to the place that i seek
up above the sleeping giant, up above lake eerie
hoping that the waves will lead you all the way back to me
under every sky, i hope that i'll find you
there's no place for me but the place i had with you
all around the hills of israel, all around the holy land
i'll follow the old green lantern to a feather in the sand
under every sky, i hope that i'll find you
there's no place for me but the place i had with you
everywhere i fly, i hope that i'll find you
there's no place for me but the place i had with you
harry goes to war
in 1943, I was called to serve in the army at Camp Borden
we left Winnipeg with nothing on our backs, 'cept the prairie dust kicking up from the tracks
the night before, we all stood in line and poured our canteens on the ground
but two of us slipped out when the train fuelled up, and we shared a beer out of some measuring cups
at the summer's end, my friend Stan and I hitched a ride down to Windsor
met a kind young man and we sang German songs around the bonfire all night long
he told his folks that we were old school friends, then woke me up to ask my name
we returned to camp and stayed out of sight, then scaled the fence in the dead of night
sergeant got the word to close the prisoner camp and he burned all the instruments that they played
and the camp doctor had a dog called Fritz they made us shoot just outside the sticks
'cause he only answered to German calls - rest easy Fritz, you peaceful soul
some years after the war, I saw a prisoner's face; while bagging oranges at the marketplace
miracle island
a listing in the local classifieds told me where the miracles reside
with the miracle merchant in the arctic circle
for who i am searching traveling by sea turtle
a temple in the mist fades into view, my giant friend slides back into the blue
and through the doorway i go into a sea of pilgrims
praying to their idols to cure their endless symptoms
my number's up but i can hardly speak... sir what can you prescribe for this disease?
i've come from ontario to your holy island
to taste the miracle snow sold by your blessed hand
sadness in disguise
the painfullest of pains bring you to a new place, feel it to the bottom – no matter who has lost or won
the emptiness of loss vows to make up for the cost, believe or sink deeper – despite these hollow limbs
rest when the sun sets, rise when you want to, seasons change when you do
sadness in disguise is a sharp and cruel knife – perfectly built weapon without ever intending sin
when peace finally arrives, it will take you by surprise. give thanks to anguish for the ride
rest when the sun sets, rise when you want to, seasons change when you do
lanark county
on the outskirts of lanark county, out of the dirt arose a poisonous tree
that bent to the earth and formed a doorway to a house made of birch while the neighbours watched from their driveway
a curious glance out the window reveals a siege of herons draping the house like snow
carved into the wood of the house in lanark county is a sprawling scene of the lives that you could lead
paintlounge
let me eat the yellow paint to paint my temple like the sun would if it found my body to be a holy place
every tangled face escape from inexpressible anger, or overworked accountants if thats the case
unhold whats in your fist and make room for your bright eyes
theyve always seen everything through the fog
whatever is the gift, whatever card is inside
this magic is meant to be held in your palms
sir your canvas is in flames! how many years have you forgotten to let a little water through the gate?
lily has not come to paint. in days shes simply spoke to no one who didnt think her a waitress by mistake
unhold whats in your fist and make room for your bright eyes
theyve always seen everything through the fog
whatever is the gift, whatever card is inside
this magic is meant to be held in your palms
magic held in your palms
fire ecology
there once was a man, he had everything at his fingertips
goals of gold and grandeur left unplanned, but he said
“walk with me, take my hand i will show you how to live”
the sound of the wind carries tales of the heart and words of the kin
slow and gently, they wind and bend wrapping me up in the arms of a friend
they will tell me how to live without you
we’re all children caught mid-stride, there’s a fire in our eyes; and the lucky ones they get goodbyes
so i’ll reach for his hand and his fingertips will trace my plans
they’ll carve paths through the winds they’ll teach me how to begin
they will show me how to live without you
we’re all children caught mid-stride there’s a fire in our eyes and the lucky ones they get goodbyes
i’ve been caught, a child, mid-stride and the fire in dim but wide i’m a lucky one
cattails
your hands sweep across the meadows
i fall back into the lake
the cattails catch me like a warm bed
near you i see vision speak