Shedding my skin
Vulnerable again
Fragile thin
Barrier between me
And my self
Coarse exterior
Whittled away
Leaving marks
Of time
Impact of place
Forever upon me
Tattooed beautifully
To observe
Life in diversity
Shaped by forces
Minute and magnificent
Bearing down on me
Degree in resilience
Within me
Seven score and fifteen
Since the day
Dared to reclaim
Blindfold fell away
The world is a scarier place
Yet wide, vast as the sky
When pulling opinions
Down from on high
Meeting all the faces
Damp lit street and dark
Being one with them
Hitting the mark
All the things refrain
Are real for us
All of life
Abounds in us
Are we alone
Divided by love
Of mythical tree
A new year's eve
Glorious garden grows
Its beauty renewed
Breathtaking view
for Lili
Air thickens
Time fades
Breath holds
Sounds evaporate
Sight blinds
Mind wanders
Tongue loosens
Sense undone
Heart won
Compass spun
Cheeks tighten
Shoulders sigh
Smile resides
Inviting
Being lightening
Just arriving
Passing through
With you
Warm toast
Al dente
Soft inside
Buttery sweet
Daily entreat
Dew drop mornings
When dreams and
New days meet
Blue bird
Dance song
Spoonfuls
Stay long
Cup filled
Tea swilled
Moments
At one
With you
One will come and go
Before the other
But for now
Stronger together
Sidling by admiring
Strength of the first
Supporting the next
Lives intertwined
Feeding housekeeping
Inhabitants
Generations of young
Even once gone
Secrets they keep
Forecast from above
Scenic views
Growth progress
If only trees could speak
The wisdom we would hold
From standing still
Those still standing
To hold
First oneself
Hold onto dreams
Embrace them
To hold
Their memory
Always there
Without them
To hold
Light horizon
Moving forward
Never alone
To hold
Knowledge is sure
Love held lightly
Never owned
Love small waving hands
Pointing up to the sun
Lime coloured ones
Delicate fronds
Every year heralding
New growth has begun
Resisting prunings
Wilting of winter
Hope for another year
Even when caretaker
Seemingly ignores
Their every need
Giving, as if
Love is enough
“Well, I’ve walked these streets
A virtual stage, it seemed to me
Makeup on their faces
Actors took their places next to me
Well, I’ve walked these streets
In a carnival, of sights to see
All the cheap thrill seekers vendors and the dealers
They crowded around me
Have I been blind have I been lost
Inside myself and my own mind
Hypnotized, mesmerized by what my eyes have seen?
Well, I’ve walked these streets
In a spectacle of wealth and poverty
In the diamond markets the scarlet welcome carpet
That they just rolled out for me
And I’ve walked these streets
In the madhouse asylum they can be
Where a wild-eyed misfit prophet
On a traffic island stopped and he raved of saving me
Have I been blind, have I been lost
Have I been wrong
Have I been wise
Have I been strong
Inside myself and my own mind…?”
‘Carnival’ – Natalie Merchant
Songwriters: Peter Anders Svensson / Magnus Sveningsson / Nina Persson
Carnival lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
No other way to be
Let it all out
Circumambient sweet
No need to fight it
Grown in goodness
From a seed
Abundance for me
Surreal reality
Let it be
Count the stars of heaven 