POETRY

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Poetry is like a painting with words, one seen the other heard. Some poetry is read and some poems are a singing song.

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Songs, Play & Poems by UNCLE JOHN

except "Jordan" Traditional, by NRPS & Grateful Dead

& "Rainbow" by Uncle John & Tobey Stein

The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion) by Ron McKernan

BlackLifePoetry.com

Songpoems
Robert Hunter

I have many fond memories of Robert Hunter and great gratitude for his treasure chest of lyrics. The Grateful Dead band member, I remember the poet, playful, trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, musician, artist, father, lover, joker, scholar, hermit and invisible man. --Uncle John

TRUMPETS OF THE OCEAN

by Robert Hunter

The day the constitution became a metaphor
I was laying tile on my lady's kitchen floor
A lot of troubled thoughts ran through my mind
But I kept laying tile in the same straight line

Where were you the eleventh of November?
I was in the bathtub sleeping off a bender
A double shot of hell and freedom in a blender
How can I forget what I really can't remember?

The trumpets of the ocean howl, let them roar
Let them wail, let them soar
Thunder in the belly of the whale never more

The day that Elvis died I was driving in my ride
A friend in a Ford waved me over to the side
Said "I just heard the news on the radio"
I said "are you sure?" she said "I don't know"

Walk a crooked mile, hell, you might as well walk ten
Meet your old self coming round the corner of a bend
Nothing new here, why should we pretend?
The trumpets of the ocean in a broken-hearted blend

The trumpets in the midnight, trumpets in the dawn
Trumpets of the queen's rook, trumpets of the pawn
Trumpets in the stratosphere, trumpets of the rock
The trumpets of the sky boat, sailing into dock

Trumpets of the backbone, trumpets in the air
Trumpets of the black lace ribbon in your hair
The trumpets in the undertow rock you off to sleep
We'll fall in love tomorrow, Juanita, don't you weep

The trumpets of the ocean howl, let them roar
Let them wail, let them soar
Thunder in the belly of the whale never more

All Rights Reserved

from BOOMERANG

Songpoems by Uncle John

Hello to my Heart

Spanish translation by Tania Carrasco

The movement of the wind
Turn on the night lights
The stars in the sky shine
In sight of the sights

Do you know that time is waiting to become eternity
To see you as happy as you can be
Doing what I can
For you when you are kind
Through all the changes in our mind
Thanks for sharing the time

Playing and bells ringing
Dancing and singing
You know who the Master is
I'm just a working man
Together through our work and laughter
We've been chasing the promised land

Now that we are family
With a vision of liberty
I say to you
Hello to my heart
Goodbye to our misery

The prophesied time to come
For the troubadour of change
Makes its way around now
This world sure seems strange
The circle is complete
Back on the road
Across the great bridge
Like a boomerang coming home

With calm and patience and strength of all we are
I'm just a season to remember
And a long dream about a star
With a love song and a daydream
Vision of the Guardian of the Planet
And the source of our soul
Our life turns
The new world sung
And love
the masterpiece in the universe´s role

Dawn inside
Take me to your golden land
Put your mind in my hand
Look into your heart child and understand
Now that we are family
With a vision of liberty
I say to you
Hello to my heart
Goodbye to our misery

Hola a mi corazón

El movimiento del viento
Enciende las luces de la noche
Las estrellas en el cielo brillan
A la vista de las vistas

¿Sabes que el tiempo está esperando para convertirse en eternidad?
Para verte tan feliz como puedas ser
Haciendo lo que puedo
Por ti cuando eres amable
A través de todos los cambios en nuestra mente
Gracias por compartir el tiempo

Jugando y campanas sonando
Bailando y cantando
Tu sabes quien es el Maestro
Soy solo un hombre trabajador
Juntos a través de nuestro trabajo y risas
Hemos estado persiguiendo la tierra prometida

Ahora que somos familia
Con una visión de la libertad
te digo
Hola a mi corazón
Adiós a nuestra miseria

El tiempo profetizado por venir
Por el trovador del cambio
Se abre camino ahora
Este mundo seguro que parece extraño
Ahora el círculo está completo
De vuelta a la carretera
Al otro lado del gran puente
Como un boomerang volviendo a casa

Con calma y paciencia y fuerza de todos somos
Soy solo una temporada para recordar
Y un largo sueño sobre una estrella
Con una canción de amor y un sueño
Visión del guardián del planeta
Y la fuente de nuestra alma
Nuestra vida gira
El nuevo mundo cantado
Y amor
la obra maestra en el papel del universo

Amanecer adentro
Llévame a tu tierra dorada
Pon tu mente en mi mano
Mira dentro de tu corazón niño y comprende
Ahora que somos familia
Con una visión de la libertad
te digo
Hola a mi corazón
Adiós a nuestra miseria

ROUND HALL WAY

by Uncle John

You born from the dust an orphan adopted in good health

Grew up with a proud look into wealth

Who knows you like the river sees your humble side

Far from the night behind time and the tide

You answer to the noonday sun

Barefoot on stage your thoughts are like one

Who cares about your soul

While so many idol eyes your role

You could be going to hell but No!

God is drawing you and this generation too

People are praying you into the kingdom of truth

By the grace of God in an alley play

Round hall way

You make your heart like a candlewick

Stay in your disguise really thick

Come on up when you´re down

To the weird side of town

To the light above their frowns

Like travelling clowns

You know what I believe in

When I say I believe you

No matter what you´re age you´re no angel

You´re still in your youth

When the night meets the day

Like a hole in the sky play

Round hall way

You´re not going to hell for nobody

Fair morning and grateful ahead

Different from what was read

Among the bewildered and surprised not the stereotype

So amazing and ripe

The children of God shall be restored at peace

The story rewritten the song remastered and released

Come on up & over & around

Find the eternal transport sound

Amazing grace or whatever it takes

To get to heaven and remain awake

Who cares about your soul

While so many idol eyes your role

You could be going to hell but No!

God is drawing you and this generation too

People are praying you into the kingdom of truth

By the grace of God in an alley play

Round hall way

MOUNTAIN TOP

He stood upon balanced rock

In the garden of the gods

A mountain peak in a twilight storm

In a castle with rock and rod

Wander into sunlight

Climbing watching little bear

Sunshine peakin' through the clouds

In the cool big top air

And meet at the summit

Of the pyramid there

Powwow with Red Cloud

In the old roundup you steer

One fresh breath of air

And you know God is near

His handiwork is everywhere

Provides for the birds in the air

And the feathers they wear

We climb a mountain to its elevation

Look to the center core of the creation

All along the wall of rock up and down the stairs

Cool wind whistlin' mountain top blowin' her hair

We can go back four centuries

Follow three rivers through the mountains and trees

Two sides of reality

One bright light of an idea suddenly

It is the cool of nighttime beat

The earth rose until the moon set under our feet

The bees and birds and butterfly

All know what to do

Work and stay busy

Always be true

Willing to change for the best you can do

Peaceful aware

Among the tree tops we feel in the cool mountain air

PINK ROSES

The love of my life comes with roses
SWEET SONG OF LOVE POPS UP IT MUST BE THE ROSES
WRITING ABOUT THE BLUE ROSE OF LOVE
REALLY ROSIE SOMETIMES WHITE LIKE A DOVE
SISTER A CHAMELEON OF ROSES OF A GOLDEN RAINBOW TOP
LOOK FOR THE HEARTS OF MY HEART FOR A YELLOW ROSE COUNTING HOURS
TRAITS TO RICHAS FIT LIKE A GLOVE OF PINK ROSE FLOWERS

Café eyes

by Jhon Ramirez

You are the prettiest girl on a beautiful day.

I just want to love you because now I'm happy.

I am very shy and it is rare to express my feelings.

I listen to that song and I think of you

Glaring at me

And seeing my reflection in

Your cafe eyes

Like a day dream in my mind

You are here now

Like an angel

Showing your love

For your grandfather

You are a healing and bright light

Glitter shine shine

Your cafe eyes

You make people laugh
You make life fun
God built you to last
He created you for love
Enjoying your family
You speak, listen and reach
Shout and then teach
Looking deep
In your cafe eyes

Where the sun warms the night
And the day brings delight
When it's hot how we like it
Relax with food and drink and fun
Sit with your sister in the sun
Listen to music in the sand of the moonlight
Here the birds and the bees look for honey flowers
Waiting for you I write through the hours
Remembering that you are wise
All I think about are your cafe eyes

I am like a child learning many different things with my teacher

You have a watch that I see

"You have time" you tell me

You are the best at what you do

Time will show you

"I'm very proud" you tell me

"I really like that you thrive too"

Crazy about the light in your eyes

And the time we share

Watching your fingers moving through the air

"How am I doing the food?"

I'll bake you cakes to put in your mouth

Bring your chicken to eat with your hands

Fresh roasted beans from your homeland

Made to forget love in disguise

Your love is real in your cafe eyes

EXCERPTS

IN YOUR HANDS

by Jhon Ramirez

I feel the heat of the light like sun in your hands

I feel the beat of your heart at your fingertips

I smell the fragrance of your skin as inspiration

Always learning from you

Leads us to a song

You are love
In love with love
In your hands
Where you seek and find
Our love is kind

We want to rest together on the beach
Look at the sun rise and fall and notice the weather
And when the moon shines tonight
And the stars shine bright
You will teach me your language
In the center of romantic attention

I love to see you

To hear your voice

To feel you near

To touch your choice

Look at you here

Listen to you now

Romance in the air

Smiling and shaking your hair

Watching you talking

Listening and drawing

Strumming

Coming

Happy & busy

You’re the girl I am waiting for

I keep my eyes on the door

Any day you walk in

I am glad to see you

I won’t remember what to say

Forget my lines and play

Para mi, eres una super chica y una mujer maravillosa

You are bright as the brassavola digbiyana

You are sweet as honey & I’m a tasty banana

It’s the language from the heart

A magical feeling so grand

Serenading my body in your hands

I will take care and watch over you

Call for heavenly protection

Secure in your hands

With precise & passionate affection

You are love

In love with love

In your hands

Where they search and find

Our love is kind

RIVER OF LIGHT

by Uncle John

Start with the old begin with the new
Artistic vision daydreaming with you
Children are playing with big balloons
River candles for the bride and groom
Love shows and dances in tune

Full of view from the top of the mountain
Now guided by the light of the moon
The sun rises and there is a child riding
Start of the morning magnolia in bloom

Sometimes you are natural to act
Say what you have in mind
Intuition as a river of light
In telepathic time

You are hot he thinks, with light he wrote
When she takes off her coat
You're hot, he sees, she thinks of me
Balancing the river boat

I tell you a story about the spirit of women
It's a story about the love of man
Following her eyes while
They speak with their hands
Dancing to the beat, playing in the band

Beat a rhythm and lighten your steps
We are going to prepare now, try it
When you are not looking, it will capture your reflection
Steam in the shower and wet affection

She turns to look at him, well
She wonders, do you love me as much as you say?
He thinks so, surely he would
If she comes with him today

Fair maiden, he said, please,
Will you come with me?
I'll take you where you want to be
Play on the beach by the river of your dreams

Photo by Uncle John

CLIMATE & TIME CHANGES

The end of night is near

Waiting for the sun

As the moon rises we hear

Horses on the run

Riding behind the pack

Changing what will come

Not looking back

To the hiss, horns, buzz and hum

Rain upon a dry land opening to the sea

Someone from the sky comes with a key

Turns into sound listen to them play

Bells calling darkness night and light the day

Do bees return to abundant flowers

As birds gather and fly by through showers

The awakening wind gathers momentum

Under the direction of its turning rhythm

Yesterday's chill today is a gentle breeze

Tonight is getting hot tomorrow's day to freeze

Time counts its day in minutes and hours

Rain falls on everyone the air is ours

Been on the road for days

Travelling by the river running like a maze

Leading up to the event ready to age

Listening to every line once written on a page

Backstage is all mirrors and masks

Makeup and safe ready to ask

Set and waiting and ready to act

The weather and time are precise and exact

Feel the fresh air and smell

Spring is sprung we're playing

Tall true tales we cannot tell

Sometimes we are praying

Listen search for hear

As the air captures the sound

Draw me close and near

The treasure we have is round

Walk down the railroad tracks

Climb a mountain on a hike

Jump & put in all your marbles & jacks

Stand up for who you are it's like

Climate and time changes

Weather information

Local conversation

Procrastination and speculation

Creation demonstration

Revelation and transformation

Climate and time changes us

The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion)

by Ron McKernan

What are they seeing, when they look in each other's eyes?
What are they feeling, when they see each other's smile?
Is it a love I've never known - or an emotion that I've outgrown?

Did I take a wrong turning on life's winding road?
Won't somebody help me find the right way to go?
My life need some correction, alteration in direction
Won't somebody comfort me for a while - yes, I'm lost

What is the secret of this tie that binds?
Two souls in communion, both body and mind
Is it special magic, or just the nature of things?
Conceived of great spirit, not for beggars but kings

You who have found it, please help me along
I'm a man, I'm a man, - I'm not made out of stone
My needs they are simple, I don't want many things,
But I truly want to fly on those wings of love one more time.

That's all I need (fly up, fly home)
I want to fly on them wings (fly up, fly home)
I want to fly on them wings of love (fly up, fly home)
I'm a stranger here (fly up, fly home)
Won't somebody help me now (fly up, fly home)
I wake up early in the morning (fly up, fly home)
you know I never saw you babe (fly up, fly home)
I just can't seem to understand
Can't seem to understand what's wrong (fly up, fly home)
What I wanna do is take a little ride with you, on the wings of love
Woh-oh one more time, one more time