Easter

(la resurrection)
by Patti Smith

flower and heart are equal. as one unfolds
the other is closing. the fist of charm.
the dance of fathoms. of voids. of veils.
layer after layer. wall after wall. there
is always more. there is always more after.

the scalloped edges of further valor.
the vigil of soldiers. foot and circular.
the waving tremors of empty warriors.
a thorn in the wound of love. of torture.
another immeasurable pain to suffer.

first dealing w/entry into the spirit.
the wall is pierced and the will assaulted
is vaulted. is shimmied into. is fenced.
fencing defending the sheets of the flesh
winding and binding and then to relax.

seconds of suspension in the pass of pain
wailing, exhaling. passing thru the strange.
this is the formula. the force of the father.
the hand that extends. the heart that is bleeding
harder then harder then silent and beating.

in a space warm and glowing. infinite yet dense.
the tune of chain caught then stretched.
this is the communication of the future.
death is a dance. a ballroom. a glove
an extension of total abandon in/love.

I love that the "answer" is nowhere in the song.

Take me to the breaking of a beautiful dawn

Take me to the place where we come from
Take me to the end so I can see the start
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I don't feel so small
Take me where I don't need to stand so tall
Take me to the edge so I can fall apart
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where love isn't up for sale
Take me where our hearts are not so frail
Take me where the fire still owns its spark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Teach me how to see when I close my eyes
Teach me to forgive and to apologize
Show me how to love in the darkest dark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where the angels are close at hand
Take me where the ocean meets the sky and the land
Show me to the wisdom of the evening star
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I feel no shame
Take me where the courage doesn't need a name
Learning how to cry is the hardest part
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

lyrics: The Waillin' Jenny's from 40 Days

Desire: A birthday meditation for dancing.

V: Blind

as a child i knew that the stars
could only get brighter
that we could closer, get closer
as a child i knew that the stars
could only get brighter
that we could get closer,
leaving this darkness behind

now that i'm older, the stars shine
light upon my face
but when i find myself alone,
find myself alone now that i'm older,
the stars shine light upon my face
but when i find myself alone
i feel like i am blind.

i feel it, like i am blind.

i wish the stars could shine now,
for they are closer they are near
but they will not present my present,

they will not present my present
i wish the stars could shine now,
for they are closer they are near
but they will not present my present,
they make my past and future
painfully clear.

to hear you now, to see you now,
i can't look outside myself
i must examine my breath and
look inside,
to see you now, to hear you now
i can't look outside myself
i must examine my breath and
look inside

because i feel blind.

i feel it, like i am blind.


*lyrics: Hercules and Love Affair

Hallelujah

By Leonard Cohen

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music now, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
It''s not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah...

The Music Section: Patty Griffin

*Image from Notorious Meg

Blue Sky
The farther I come the farther I fall
Whatever I knew it was nothing at all
Nothing at all, just making me small
Smaller and smaller
I fall back

Sooner or later with a view from the ground
Chasing the race and the races run you down
Sooner or later with a view from the ground
And a tear in your eye
You say baby why cant we fly
Into the blue sky
High
Into the blue sky

Be my singing lesson
Be my song
When I tell you I'm falling
You tell me I'm strong
You say trees have grown tall
birds have flown high
Higher and higher
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
I'll fly over a rainbow
I'll be sun kissed
Sail around the planet Venus
And send a long letter
Way back home
That says all that I know
All that I know is the blue sky
High in the blue sky

The farther I come the farther I fall
Whatever I knew it was nothing at all
Trees have grown tall, birds have flown high
Higher and higher
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

The Music Section: James as the Beginning

Heavens
I've been sittin' on top of these rocks
Watchin' the waters rise
Everyone that I have loved has gone floating by
I've been praying for the king of the world
To come and rescue me from a clan that's lost in dream
From a clan that's lost in dream

Are you waiting for the heavens
Are you waiting for the heavens
To decsend
Waiting for the
Waiting for the
Depender, depender, depender
Are you waiting for the heavens
Are you waiting for the heavens
To decsend
Waiting for the
Waiting for the
Depender, depender, depender

I've been looking through microscopes
To see how all life begins
I've been training my lens on the stars
To see where it ends
But its this living in between
That is bringing me down
To a clan that's lost in dream
To a land that's lost in dream
To a clan that's lost in dream

Are you waiting for the heavens
Are you waiting for the heavens
To decsend
Waiting for the
Waiting for the
Depender, depender, depender
Are you waiting for the heavens
Are you waiting for the heavens
To decsend
Waiting for the
Waiting for the
Depender, depender, depender




Seven
Blow me away
Was that love you declared
Only a word love can mean anything
Understand the world we're livin in

Oceans apart
What's that view from your way
Beautiful craft
Weather can change
Understand the world were living in
Love can mean anything

God made love to me
Soothed away my gravity
Gave me a pair of angels wing
Clear vision and some magic things

God is love love to me
Thank you for those things
Understand the world were living in
Love can mean anything

Darling I'm open
And darling I'm broken
Now we don't have time
Let you drift away
Like a heavy cloud
With the weight of rain
Understand the world were living in
Love can mean anything

Understand the world were living in
Love can mean anything
Understand the world were living in
Love can mean anything
Understand the world were living in
Love can change anything

The Music Section: Part Two: James

About a week ago I had the chance to go see one of my all time favorite bands at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis (the last time I saw them play was in 1992 at the Vic Theater in Chicago). One of my favorite moments from last week's show was watching Tim Booth stand in the middle of the stage (the stage at the Fine Line is very small) with eight other musicians playing as many instruments all around him; he closed his eyes and stood there smiling and listening. I really dig active listening - it's as much a pleasure to "see" as to experience.

It's always a breathtaking, beautiful sight to see someone clearly doing what they love with all that they are, with all that they have to offer as creative beings. I love these guys. Love, love, love, love them:)

Thank You For Hearing Me

Thank you for hearing me

Thank you for loving me
Thank you for seeing me

And for not leaving me

Thank you for staying with me
Thank you for not hurting me

You are gentle with me

Thanks for silence with me
Thank you for holding me

And for saying I could be

Thank you for saying baby
Thank you for holding me
Thank you for helping me

Thank you for breaking my heart
Thank you for tearing me apart

Now I've a strong, strong heart
Thank you for breaking my heart

*Lyrics by S. O'Connor/Reynolds