Daniel Henry Rodgers Poet Cento

Notes About The Poem

Author’s Note:

We’ve made it to Part IV. Every journey has to hit its low point, and today the borrowed voices of the songbook face the dark night of the soul. Keep an eye out for the contrast here between the cultural chaos and "comfortable numbness" of the era, and the everyday sanctuary of the dogs sleeping in the hallway. Let me know what you think, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the finale!

(A list of songs will be posted tomorrow)

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The Great American Songbook of the Soul - Part IV: The Dark Night

VIII. THE RUIN
 
The river reflects
the moonlight
        on a gravel road
 
I should have stayed on the farm
        I should have listened
                to my old man
 
She’s living in L.A.
        with my best old ex-friend
 
There’s a hole
        in daddy’s arm
                where all the money goes
 
I don’t know
        where we went wrong
 
Does anyone know
        where the love of God goes
 
You better let
somebody love you
        before it’s too late
 
From give and take,
and still somehow
        It's love's illusions I recall
 
I remember standing
there
        (Yogi’s heavy collar jingling in the
hall, Gurty asleep by the amp)
 
until I remember
 
I only remember
        the songs
 
that disappear
 
the moment
        the music died
 
        (the soul darkens)
 
 
IX. THE DARK NIGHT
OF THE SOUL
 
I have become
        comfortably numb
 
Everybody rolls
        with their fingers crossed
 
Freedom's just
another word
        for nothing left
                to lose
 
When you're weary,
        feeling small
                I will dry
                        your tears
 
You can't always get
        what you want
                But if you try sometimes...
 
Is a dream a lie
        if it don't come true
                Or is it something worse?
 
It's life's
illusions
        I recall
I really don't know
        life at all
 
I never knew
        what silence
                could do

Somewhere between
        the time you arrive
                and the time you go

may lie
        a reason
                you were alive

I met a girl who sang the blues
        And I asked her for some happy news
                  But she just smiled and turned away
 
        (the turning begins)

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David Crandall July 22, 2026 at 7:28 PM I enjoyed these dark lines from all those great songs!

I Am Anaya July 10, 2026 at 10:59 AM Oh won't you stay, Jackson Brown & just walk away Renee (the break up song) from the Four Tops version, such sweet songs & good vibes. I went through a "Stones" phase. Fun Fact: Sukiaki was the only Japanese #1 hit in America. Your list Daniel is filled with the Greats! Your songbook face the dark night of the soul is introspection & healthy to revisit the music in you & release what was numb at a time. Blessings

Tom Cunningham July 3, 2026 at 1:28 PM Slowly some of them are coming back to me, late 50s ,60s and 70s was my era, after that gets a bit fuzzy. Tom

Frederic Parker July 2, 2026 at 7:59 AM A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest, How many seas will a white dove sail, If you could read my mind love, In the early morning rain, I am I said