Good day to you
fat balloon man
may you always have air
you sing a song everybody can believe
Good day to you
uncle tom cat
out to trick the whole world
you carry a tune for nobody but yourself
Bonjour a toi
herr policeman
may your boots always fit
someday you'll find a song you can believe
Good morning good people
the sun is long sailing
the only clouds you see
are carried within
soon they'll be blown all away
wind's gonna rise and blow those clouds away
wind's gonna rise and blow your blues away
your sun's gonna shine in my back door
some day ...
(montreal -- september 28, 1969)
My canoe lies on the water
evening holds the bones of day
the sun like gold dust slips away
One by one antique stars
herald the arrival of
their pale protectress moon
Ragged branches vibrate
strummed by winds from o'er the hill
singing tales of ancient days
Far and silent lightning
stirs the cauldron of the sky
i turn my bow towards the shore
* * *
As we grow out of stones
on and on and on
so we'll all go to bones
on and on for many a year
but let us go laughing -- o
let us go
And may the holy hermit's staff
on and on and on
guide you to the shortest path
on and on for many a year
and let us go laughing -- o
let us go
let us go laughing -- o
let us go
(toronto -- july, 1969)
In the place my wonder comes from
there i find you
your face shines in my sky
In your heart where the world comes from
there you will find me
your eyes dance in my mind
Come with me
we will sail on the wind
we will sway among the yellow grass'
when you be beside me
i am real
Though my eyes be closed forever
still i would find you
you shine across my time
So come with me
we will sail on the wind
we will sway among the yellow grass'
when you be beside me
i am real
In the place my wonder comes from
there i find you
Oh i have been a beggar
and shall be one again
and few the ones with help to lend
within the world of men.
One day i walk in flowers
one day i walk on stones
today i walk in hours
one day i shall be home
I have sat on the street corner
and watched the bootheels shine
and cried out glad and cried out sad
with every voice but mine.
One day i walk in flowers
one day i walk on stones
today i walk in hours
one day i shall be home
one day i shall be home
(burritt's rapids, ont. -- june, 1970)
She moves like a golden serpent all day long moves like a golden serpent all day long she lights the candle when the day is gone She likes to give me honey when i'm down she likes to give me honey when i'm down if i ever was a king y'know she was the crown She carries all the lines down in her palms she carries all the lines down in her palms she can drive away the devil with a song (ottawa -- may 27, 1970)
High winds white sky wild birds do glide tattered smoke fades embers in the pipe move like life beginning High winds pyramids glittering ring blood of the king daughter of the stars you are life beginning The wind's travellers' tales tease the tops of the trees the ships have all sailed to the mouth of the sea... High winds wheel turns the spider spins hands draw us in river-scented skin moves in life beginning Falsehood lies panting like a fish in the palm... (ottawa -- june, 1970)
You point to the sky
the sky
is reflected in your eyes
and i
want to fly
on a carpet of brown leaves
we retrace the steps of change
construct a tapestry of what will come
You point to the sea
i see
what seems to be so free
bound by
empty sky
on a tower of gray earth
far above the spray-struck stone
we climb toward the melting point of time
* * *
here we tumble down the path
comic beggars trading laughs
for scraps from the tables of the wise
(toronto -- november 18, 1970)
She is passing in a warm breeze
bars of light that cross the floor
one smoke-gray, curled, tiny feather
skips aside
By her middle hang the keys
made to open any door
even the one that lets in the cold wind
from outside
She lives in a house of colour
guarded by cats three in number
and one great dog of gentle manner
in among the trees
* * *
Silence
carries
no apprehension here
in the warm sun
by the window sill
i can just sit still
and watch her go by...
Queen of field and forest pathway
understands the speech of stones
she weaves peace upon her loom
life's mistress
(cumberland, ont. -- winter, 1969)
(Instrumental)
I went up on the mountain side to see what i could see to see what i could be on the shining mountain I watched the day go down in fire and sink in the valley and sink into the sea drown in golden fire Fireflies danced in the forest night the trees began to sing the crags began to sing above the black forest I went up on the mountain side to know what i did know to know whence i did know on the crowning mountain (chilliwack b.c. -- august 15, 1970)