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Notes About The Poem

THE ACTUAL WORDS:

Rows and floes of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

 

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As every fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

You leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all        

Both Sides Now

MY ADDED VERSUS:
Bows on solemn flower blooms
and scented layers of flared perfume
flow down rows of headstones and tombs.
I've looked at death that way.
			
But now I tend to ask God why
people visit and freshly cry.
We all know when loved ones die
they rise on His stairway.
				
I've looked at death from both sides now
from heart to soul and creased my brow.
It's cemeteries I recall.
I really don't know death at all.

Babes and Moms know love far beyond
the reasons seasoning their bond.
Loving a child is blessing dawned.
I've looked at fair that way.
			
But I live with maternal pain.
My childhood baby dreams met stain.
Now I'm thunder in my son's rain.
Won't give my sadness sway.

I've looked at fair from both sides now
from deep held faith and still somehow
it's his special needs I recall.
I really don't know fair at all.

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Maclawrence Famuyiwa Date: 9/2/2025 9:42:00 PM This is a marvelous piece with prodigious use of natural and supernatural concepts intrinsically woven into verse recollection of past events. An admixture of surrealism and realism well juxtaposed with beauty and inked with true professionalism that deserves all commendation and adulation. Login to Reply

Crystol Woods Date: 7/31/2025 1:14:00 PM Came back to read again... I'm truly in love with these lyrics! Jonis and yours! The ever present questions and as we grow, we come to know that we know nothing. <3xo Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/30/2025 1:03:00 PM Hurrah, Caycay. I am so glad to see you sharing this win with me. My special friend, big congratulations. Login to Reply

I Am Anaya Date: 7/30/2025 12:16:00 PM I love both Joni and your rendition, Cay Cay. You've written as if you were always a lyricist. Not everything is as pure and simple as we thought it would be growing up. There's always another, way of looking at our life, I leave it in God's hands. I read your Peace of Mind, I wish you strength poetess. I missed this one shucks. Congratulations on your win! I saw a trophy! xhugs__Anaya Login to Reply

Tom Woody Date: 7/30/2025 4:18:00 AM Congrats on your placement for this awesome Joni Mitchell song, though many found Judy Collins version better. Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 7/30/2025 4:35:00 AM Jackie Evancho also has a nice, modern version out CayCay Jennings Date: 7/30/2025 4:28:00 AM Yi, I'd forgotten about Judy. When I typed the song into YouTube, it was Mitchell who came up or at least who I noticed. I think Joni wrote it? Yes, final answer, if'n I had to pick. Thanks for the congrats, I appreciate it. Poetry hugs ... CayCay

Speaks Volumes Date: 7/30/2025 12:06:00 AM Fits perfectly. Could easily be a genuine follow on to the original. Super choice of subject to accompany the song.. Looked at both sides now. So Well done, Congrats. This song has always been one of those songs that sticks in my mind and I find myself softly repeating it all through the day... Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/30/2025 4:07:00 AM Thank you. I told my Tim, I betcha half of Soup will know this song, and half won't, and from the feedback, that seems to be true. There's no in between, you either grew up with it in your ear or you didn't, exception might be a parent who was into Joni Mitchell. I find myself singing, 'I've looked at _____ from all ...' put whatever in the blank. So glad you visited and commented. Poetry hugs .... CayCay

Paige Hind Date: 7/29/2025 9:01:00 PM In my favs. This is amazing, wow, CayCay. Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/30/2025 4:08:00 AM Thank you, Paige. I checked on you recently, nothing new was posted, everything golden? You color me happy by faving this, that means volumes. Poetry hugs ... CayCay

Crystol Woods Date: 7/29/2025 7:57:00 PM This one touched me. Thank you for entering! I'd never heard this song but it's a fav now. Your lyrics were perfectly matched and full of story emotion and heart. Bless you! Xo Login to Reply Crystol Woods Date: 7/30/2025 12:44:00 PM Awe thanks CayCay! <3xo CayCay Jennings Date: 7/30/2025 4:17:00 AM Oh, no, almost forgot the most important thing: Thank you for the time and effort you give to all on Soup. You are appreciated. CayCay CayCay Jennings Date: 7/30/2025 4:16:00 AM I told my Tim you probably weren't familiar with the song, but I knew you'd listen and that as a poet you'd be drawn right in! I don't care much for Joni's voice, personally (she's a late 60s icon so it's me, not her) but her lyrics were always awesome. I followed the lyrics every time it came on and it got a lot of radio time. I wasn't even a teen yet, but I was already attracted to words. SO how cool it is that you now consider it a fav, just perfect. Poetry hugs ... CayCay

Victor Buhagiar Date: 7/26/2025 8:05:00 AM Wow! Both songs are of excellent material. Loved the idea of babies going straight to Heaven. Let's hope we arrive there too. Hugs. Login to Reply

Kim Rodrigues Date: 7/25/2025 7:33:00 AM The bittersweet! Joy and suffering hold hands. Login to Reply

Gershon Wolf Date: 7/24/2025 7:36:00 PM Touching, poignant, moving --- all of the above and more. Login to Reply

David Crandall Date: 7/24/2025 12:20:00 PM have you ever heard her Both Sides Now album of 2000? I like that version, too. Like the whole album. Hey - fun! I've looked at toast from both sides now, buttered, plain, and still somehow, it always seems toast will fall, upside down, that's all. Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/24/2025 5:52:00 PM Well, I feel like I've done something wrong when I say this, but it is my truth, I was never moved by her voice, didn't respond to it with my great song response potential. CayCay Jennings Date: 7/24/2025 5:50:00 PM You got it, that is exactly how I've used those lyrics in my life but while commenting to you my brain just offered up engines. This just came in: I've looked at clickers from all sides now and still somehow the phone won't change the channels, it's three channels I recall, I really don't know clickers at all! This is fun. We could take turns all day long until one of us runs dry!

David Crandall Date: 7/24/2025 11:52:00 AM This is wonderful, a great idea, and personally, poignantly, applied to your own life - very moving. It also happens to be one of my favorite songs (great choice), which describes everything I've learned about life: nothing. I like the line about know love far beyond reasons, for that's where love lies. Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/24/2025 12:07:00 PM So happy to find you here and to read your enthusiastic comments. There are definitely a lot of peps on Soup who grew up with that song in their ear and many who are clueless. That's how it's goes, that's the flow of a generations roll. I've sung it both sarcastically and emotionally many times in my life: I've looked at car engines from all sides now and still it's my ignorance I recall ... things like that, perfect for vents and emotions. don't forget to remember that knowing you don't know is the beginning of true wisdom ... CayCay

Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/23/2025 9:51:00 AM You are so creative, dear Caycay. And you are a GREAT mom, as your lyrics poignantly indicate. Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/24/2025 12:10:00 PM You are great at making me feel great, well 'greatly' better than sub-par. Keep it coming, I am in need of positive feed. LOVE ... CayCay

Heidi Sands Date: 7/23/2025 5:31:00 AM Wow , your poem from this song is amazing. Very powerful! Excellent write CayCay! :) Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/24/2025 12:11:00 PM Thank you, Heidi, for such embraceable comments. I'm all a tingle. Poetry hugs ... CayCay

Paula Goldsmith Date: 7/22/2025 11:17:00 AM What a wonderful/creative write from an old song. "Good Luck" I have been off the computer for a few days and now way behind. Have a lovely day writing away.................. Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/24/2025 12:12:00 PM I hope you haven't been off the computer because you've been under covers, puny feeling? I think I missed all of July. Well, we are both 'home' again, all Soupy loved up. Poetry hugs ... CayCay

Tom Woody Date: 7/22/2025 5:13:00 AM A beautiful song to work with. Your added lyrics are poignant Login to Reply CayCay Jennings Date: 7/22/2025 5:38:00 AM Love the comment, appreciate it, too. I don't know that many on Soup have even ever heard the song - written in the late 60's. Poetry hugs ... CayCay