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READ POETRY
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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NEW BEAT POETRY & SONGPOEMS
"Never give
up. After the rain...a rainbow. After the storm...the calm. After an end, a
new beginning"
Songs & Poems
by
UNCLE
JOHN
except
"Jordan" Traditional, by NRPS & Grateful Dead
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
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
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
A
Dream Within a Dream
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that
we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from
the pitiless wave?
Is all that
we see or see
But a dream within a dream?
Edgar Allan Poe, "A Dream Within a Dream" from The
Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe, ed. R.
W. Griswold. New York: J. S. Redfield, 1850.
Public Domain.
RIVER
OF SOUND
by Uncle John
When
the midnight sun is setting
On
the horizon of our dream
All
the lessons that I learn about
Flow
through me like a stream
Songs
move within the river of sound
In
the musician
Numbers roll in a maze through the mind
Of
the mathematician
Poetry written in phrases with heart
In
its own rhythm
Chronicles relating to special days
In a
portrait of wisdom
We
draw with cards for roses
And
love inside a dream
Dive
and rise to the kingdom within
Float
on its river stream
"O star of wonder star of
light
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light"
THE ODYSSEY
I
THE BEAT OF
LOVE
Dreams of love are made like this
At night she remembers her last kiss
As he was getting back from the dusty down under
With sand in his ears and heart full of wonder
One day you show
Grateful to get
The moment pressing forward
Weather follows the set
A meteor shower oh what a sight
The moon is sweet and forthright
Not hidden like the fortnight
Makes the stars shine bright tonight
Showing us the sights
In a music band marching
Watching rifles being twirled
Drinking a cup of coffee
In the vacuum capital of the world
Frank is on the marquee
Welcome to the windmill girl
Rainbow fog light shining heaven
Showing us each gate and pearl
Down the road the wagon wheel
Rolling into the forest of gnarly burl
Everything we experience
Under the moonlight in our time
On the beach and from above
By the horizon sign
Over the hill & under the rainbow
Past bedtime in your prime
Star of light
The heartbeat of love & true
Beauty bright
When they discover you
God gave each of us a soul and spirit too
Free to change the old familiar can become
wonderful and new
First we believe & worship God & no other
Then show service in the love we have for one
another
Heading for the sea of time to see fulfilling
prophecy
You always think you're right then you're made
aware & set free
Change the way you think you see
Like a caterpillar transforming life
From the ground to the sky
Returns home in the bye and bye
What can we do for you to open your soul heart's
eye
A question burning with light
The answer is truth with insight
Generations & millenniums hand down love
to overflow the cup
Rock 'n roll starts up
Big tides and forest green show up
Small seeds planted on the scene grow up
JORDAN
Traditional
Acoustic Arrangement by the Grateful
Dead & The New Riders of the Purple Sage
Oh sinner as you tread on life's
journey
Take Jesus as your daily guide
Though you may feel pure and saintly
Without Him walking by your side
But when you come to make the crossing
At the ending of his pilgrim's way
If you ever will need your Savior
You will surely need Him on that day
Now look at that cold Jordan
Look at its deep water
Look at that wide river
Oh hear the mighty billows roll
You better take Jesus with you
He's a true companion
Oh I'm sure without Him that you never will make it
home
That awful day of judgment is coming in the by and
by
We'll see our Lord descending in glory from on high
Oh let us keep in touch with Jesus &
In the special love of God
And may we ever be called ready
When He calls us over Jordan's tide
Now look at that cold Jordan
Look at its deep water
Look at that wide river
Oh hear the mighty billows roll
You better take Jesus with you
He's a true companion
Oh I'm sure without Him that you never will make it
home
Now what you gonna do
Oh what you gonna say
Oh how you gonna feel
When you come to the end of the way
Now look at that cold Jordan
Look at its deep water
Look at that wide river
Oh hear the mighty billows roll
You better take Jesus with you
He's a true companion
Oh I'm sure without Him that you
never will make it home
