One day we know it must end
And there will be no more time to pretend.
The skies, once so blue,
Will all turn to gray ---
And what will the memories say?
We seem to have had it all.
Both the good and the bad I recall.
Somehow, we both know
The price we will pay ---
So what will the memories say?
What will the memories say
Of this love we share here today?
We looked for a love
In the games people play ---
But what will the memories say?
We live one day at a time
And the love we have known has been kind.
The time we can share
Will soon pass away ---
And what will the memories say?
What will the memories say
Of the love that, we knew, couldn't stay?
We found there is love
In the games people play ---
But what will the memories say?
GOLDEN JERUSALEM
In the desert sand nothing flowers except ideas
Yet in carpets of flowers it is suddenly blessed:
In the steps of Jesus, Mohammed and Moses
Towards Jerusalem never at peace never at rest.
Suffering long from Babylon and the Roman pogrom,
And from the barbed wire of Auschwitz, comes
A people with heads bowed in centuries of serfdom,
A people with eyes raised towards Jerusalem’s domes.
A young girl’s voice leads the song in a minor key
Always in tension. Always incomplete the melody.
To a single goal, the city of God, is the long journey:
Tomorrow Jerusalem, but will we yet see?
Moses was forbidden to enter the promised land;
Mohammed had to flee from there; Jesus went there to die.
It is always tomorrow in Jerusalem, never today. In the sand
An impossible dream, impossible idea of perfection may lie.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Note
Although not in any way based on the lyrics of the song,
this poem was entirely inspired by the song “Yerushalayim
Shel Zahav”, an Israeli folk song composed in 1967, a most
beautiful sound experience.
I want to be inspired to write
a song people really want to sing;
I want to be inspired to compose
a requiem for the King;
But, I’m just an ordinary man
doing the best I can
at writing poems
that have no homes.
I want to be inspired to find
a cure for this cancer thing;
I want to be inspired to reach
out for the golden ring;
But, I’m just an ordinary man
doing the best I can
at getting by
with the good old college try.
I want to be inspired to lead
a revolutionary coup;
I want to be inspired to be
the best at everything I do;
But, I’m just an ordinary man
doing the best I can
to make ends meet
and not live on the street.
I have the motivation;
I’ll put in the perspiration;
I can give it concentration;
But, I lack the inspiration;
Inspire me.
What will it take to inspire me?
I want to be inspired to write
a song people really want to sing;
I want to be inspired to compose
a requiem for the King;
But, I’m just an ordinary man
doing the best I can
at writing poems
that have no homes.
She sits in the shadows of a place well too known at a table filled with people feeling
all alone. Staring at her empty glass the pain starts to slip away, by glass five she'll
be able to face another day.
She slides her chair away from the table of despair, and makes her way to a small town
stage she's been singing on for years. As she starts to sing her song she no longer sees
that small town bar, she's singing to a crowd of people away so very far. Her voice may
crack a little and go out from time to time but when she starts to sing her song a
strength pours out of her battered soul and for a moment she truly shines. With the music
in her ear and her mind and heart in the song she escapes from everything that ever could
go wrong. A heart with walls of steal and remorse for none but her she's destined to walk
a lonely road which seems to be preferred. She'll awake in the morning to a face familiar
or unknown but that night you'll be sure to find her at that table feeling all alone.
"God Made the World" is a children's song, sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your
Boat".
God made, made, made the world-
He made it in six days.
He made people and plants and animals, too,
And we should give Him praise!
Bonus activities: Help children look up and read Genesis 1:1-31 in a bible, which tells
the story of creation.
Have children think of three favorite plants, flowers or trees, three favorite animals
and three favorite people and say or write down their answers. Remind them that
God created their "favorite things".
Came from California, looking for a place to fall:
Portland’s good as anywhere, and now it’s best of all;
Learned to love the roses, and the rivers full of rain;
California drove me north, and Portland drove me sane.
Leaving all my memories back behind where they belong,
Sang a song of roses, and I let it make me strong,
Lifting up my life inside my hands to make it grow
Tall as any mountain rising mighty in the snow.
Sing a song of roses,
Dreams of me and you,
Portland love encloses
Dreams of me and you,
Sing a song of roses.
Gentle people welcoming you, with an open hand,
Mighty people not afraid to fight to keep their land;
City on the river floating ships from overseas;
People soft as roses, people tough as Oregon trees.
Been a long time coming, but I’m here to rest awhile,
Never mind the highway, never mind the weary mile;
You and me and roses, and the salmon in the streams;
Can’t believe were thriving, Portland rain has washed our dreams.
You claim to be on top of everything, if someone has done it, you have done it
better
When it was cold, you said you knitted the entire workforce sweaters
You sweep most people under the rug
You are member of the Menza's exclusive club
You tell Miss Betty why she was left behind
Only the best were selected, part of the intelligent design
You tell me I am dumb as a man can come
But according to you I am not the only one
You always have to make people feel insecure
Then you wonder why when you approach they all steer clear
I am wondering all the bridges you burn, is it worth the cost
You live by the saying a rolling stone gathers no moss
You try to be perfect as Miss 5-2-9
You and your family are the foundation of intelligent design
You always feel the need to shine
You tell everyone you are the top of the line
You are the main attraction at the show
You can always tell everyone what they don't know
If I conquered a hill, there are ten mountains you have climbed
You will always claim it's intelligent design
Two people under the cloudy skies
A new chapter is being written for them
Looking at them, I remember you
And am carried into the world of memories
Falling red leaves intertwine with pink blossoms
The stars that wishes are hanged upon
Glow dimly amidst an empty sky
Sparrows gather to survive
Canaries sing to pleasure
My faith in eternity is lessening
As I fall back in time
For example,
In the spring, tender feelings are born
And bloom all through the summer
By autumn, the passion is waning
When winter comes, the love is gone
Waiting to be swept away in a current of nostalgia
Dreams find their wings
And death will give them a sanctuary
...what about the restlessness that will never be calmed?
Two people together, holding back tears
Caught somewhere in-between weakness and pride
If it's so straight forward,
Why does it take so much to figure out?
For example,
First there is a serene rain
Then a burning sunshine
Slowly the moon will wax
Finally the snow
When you came into my life,
I was alone and desolate.
...boring and plain.
When you were my world,
I was happy...with everything
we brought out the fire in eachother.
We brought out the wild thing
that lives inside us all...
that few people ever truly know.
When you left my arms
I cried for nights on end
an' you never had a clue
I had to act strong when i was not
I had to be hard when i could not
I was w/ other people just to spite you.
And again and over two more times
I let you back in my life
just to let you smash my spirit again.
I believe your false promises
only in hope you do not lie
I believe your false promises because
if I had not faith in anything else, I would die.
What does love mean because I'm curious,
When you in love do you get all furious.
What does love mean at first sight,
Are people just saying it to spend the night.
Some people say it is hard to explain,
I heard that love drives you insane.
I hate it when people say it that is how love goes,
If you can't explain the meaning then how do you know.
The definition of love is any object of warm affection or devotion,
But people act like it is some sort of an emotion.
What does love mean because I'm curious,
When you in love do you get all furious.
Some people are wealthy
Some people are healthy
Some people are sick
Some people are fit
Some people are nice
Some people are wise
Some people are efficient
Some people are intelligent
Some people are loyal
Some people are social
Some people are busy
Some people are lazy
Some people are worthy
Some people are sturdy
Some people are seekers
Some people are speakers
Some people are frantic
Some people are romantic
Some people are stylish
Some people are childish
Some people are pious
Some people are studious
Some people are capable
Some people are lovable
Some people are moody
Some people are steady
Some people are cheerful
Some people are careful
Although people are of different types
They all have equal rights.
*Song Lyric,
I listen to the songs today,
That people like to play,
About the wild side of life,
And the honky tonk cafes.
You can find them in the tavern,
Opening time till it does close.
Hiding in a little corner,
With someone no one knows.
Why are people so unhappy?
Just what are they searching for?
Everyday things that are common,
They seem most to abhore.
They turn to drinking, turn to wandering,
From smoking pot to L.S.D.
All their cares are supposed to vanish,
Make their worlds trouble free.
Fire bombing, campus up roar,
Just hi jack a plane or two,
Help yourself to your neighbor,
Or anything else you want to do.
We teach our children Love of God,
And respect for marriage too,
Teach them honesty and justice,
And to their country to be true.
Will they be strong enough to resist it?
Will temptation lure them on,
It breaks my heart to see this happen,
In a world so rich and strong.
I am a Mother and I worry,
Just which will out children choose,
Will they remember what we taught them?
Or will they their souls lose?
Cile Beer
written 1976
Chorus
The battle was over,
The Indian did dance,
He'd slaughtered the white man
At Custer's last stand.
He was now weary,
His days had been long,
His people were suffering,
It's time to go back home.
Narration
He had done what he thought was right,
To Keep his people free.
With General Miles up on his trail,
Again they must flee.
There was a land north of here,
Where they could be safe,
Once more he must move his people,
To a strange new place.
The the buffalo were gone,
The time had come to move,
Without the sturdy buffalo,
His people had no food.
He surrendered at Fort Buford,
The white man they did dance,
They had the Mighty Sitting Bull,
Right here in their hands.
They send him to the reservation,
His head he held it high.
His people were his first concern,
Until the day he died.
Chorus
Cile Beer
written l975
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