does anyone agree that some of the finest lines Gord has ever written are in the poem that comes with the Summertime Dream album? When I first bought that album (back in the days of vinyl) I tore off the shrink wrap, and as is my habit, read all there was to read on it before I actually listened to the music. I read the poem and was blown away. That poem, in and of itself, was worth the price of the album for me.

"Summertime dreams, beacons to my soul;
The channel you have marked out for me
runs deep and wide but one never knows
just how the ship will roll
nor which way the wind blows..."

mnmouse

does anyone agree that some of the finest lines Gord has ever written are in the poem that comes with the Summertime Dream album? When I first bought that album (back in the days of vinyl) I tore off the shrink wrap, and as is my habit, read all there was to read on it before I actually listened to the music. I read the poem and was blown away. That poem, in and of itself, was worth the price of the album for me.

"Summertime dreams, beacons to my soul;
The channel you have marked out for me
runs deep and wide but one never knows
just how the ship will roll
nor which way the wind blows..."

mnmouse

mnmouse,

Fine idea. Very fine.

I'd suggest the poem leading into Don Quixote, which my mind cannot conjure up at this late hour. Perhaps tomorrow.

The Rex

. . . comes a horseman

The vinyl LP of "Back Here on Earth" has a beautiful poem on the back cover.

"I see myself as a child still eager to learn
but loath to accept what passes for reason.
I see my fellow man as a creature of infinite grace bound by natural law to create yet controlled by his own creations.
I see the wild beast of the forest as nature's offspring, surrounded by mysterious beauty,
seeking comfort at the breast of Mother Earth.
Violent yet innocent, living upon the remains of the weaker animals which he has stalked and killed.
I see the poet as a word prophet, a dealer in songs and phrases, of whistful melodies and subtle warnings.
Passing his nights in loneliness, tormented by blank pages which cry out with dying breath to be filled with the secrets of his heart.
I see him standing thin and ragged in the doorway of his emporium, facing east across the busy marketplace.
Past the teaming crowds, across the blazing continent to the mountains beyond, to where the morning sun shoots arrows of energy at the hollows of his sleepless eyes.
I see him walking quietly unnoticed through the ghettos of our cities, across the rolling countryside beside the swollen rivers of springtime.
Along traintracks and highways I see him taking his rest at truckstops and sleazy hotels, in worksheds and warehouses, loading docks and shipyards, and cabins upon mountainsides.
I watch him plunge headlong into a river turned red with the blood of slain armies, beside battlefields where pride outweighed the value of life itself.
I see him walking naked through busy uptown streets filled with people at Christmas time. A sign about his neck, upon which he has pasted for all to see in bold type his life's work and epic poem, conceived by his longing and filled with the perception of humanity which the busy crowds ignore as the wind ignore the trees.
The one word - PLEASE"


Poet, singer/songwriter, troubador - however you want to describe Mr. Lightfoot, he is the consummate wordsmith.

And from the back cover of the Don Quixote LP:

when the old knight rode
his spirit faltered not
were i to shoulder such a task
i fear twould be forgot

a peer of william shakespear
miguel de cervantes saavedra
who knew a prison chain
from a heart string
was don quixotes ghost
or creator as you wish

when the old knight rode
he was not afraid to bleed
for me to take on such a load
is more than i should need

but from my drift of song shall come
a bit of that old spirit there
whether it be strings or chains
that bind you
i hope this finds you well

through the woodland
through the valley
comes a horseman wild and free
tilting at the windmills passing
who can the brave young horseman be

he is wild but he is mellow
he is strong but he is weak
he is cruel but he is gentle
he is wise but he is meek

ClosetCanadian,

Thanks to you for sharing.

"who knew a prison chain
from a heart string"

followed later by

"whether it be strings or chains
that bind you
i hope this finds you well"

...that is sheer genius.

Mouse

Can't disagree with the mouse! You see lots of this kind of wordplay in GL's poetry and music--this may be another topic for another day.
By the way, as for Cervantes being a "peer of William Shakespeare", not only do I agree, but here's a some trivia for you. Cervantes and Shakespeare both died and didn't die on the same day! Both died on April 23, 1616; however, at that time Spain and England used different calendars, and the two great authors died some 10 days apart.
DQ

What a great topic! I haven't read any of these poems in at least a couple of years, and I had largely forgotten about them. The stanza above always gave me chills! Thanks for the memories.

What a great topic! I haven't read any of these poems in at least a couple of years, and I had largely forgotten about them. The stanza above always gave me chills! Thanks for the memories.

My divine partner, my Lord and my God, give me the strength to lift up my world.
Would a kiss on the brow do for now?
Or shall I hold tight and never let go?
Please God, tell me. I need to know.
The best I can do is to hold on to you.
Thank you for holding my heart in your hands.

My divine partner, my Lord and my God, give me the strength to lift up my world.
Would a kiss on the brow do for now?
Or shall I hold tight and never let go?
Please God, tell me. I need to know.
The best I can do is to hold on to you.
Thank you for holding my heart in your hands.

As Abraham gazed up one starry night holding the hand of the princess, he understood the twinkles in the sky.

Brothers and sisters, we will see just how happy he will be to see us shine together, though now we cry.

Wars and famine, pestilence, sometimes it just makes no sense, but love will never fail if we just try.

We can overcome the world by trusting in the One we must and caring for each other by and by.

Oppositions at every turn, just adjourn, there's nothing to learn. Love is all there is to know. My, my.

As Abraham gazed up one starry night holding the hand of the princess, he understood the twinkles in the sky.

Brothers and sisters, we will see just how happy he will be to see us shine together, though now we cry.

Wars and famine, pestilence, sometimes it just makes no sense, but love will never fail if we just try.

We can overcome the world by trusting in the One we must and caring for each other by and by.

Oppositions at every turn, just adjourn, there's nothing to learn. Love is all there is to know. My, my.

Inspiration for the above poem was Gordon and the following bible passage:

Genesis 22:15-18

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,I will surely bless you and make your decendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your decendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

p.s. I see ya baby.

Inspiration for the above poem was Gordon and the following bible passage:

Genesis 22:15-18

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,I will surely bless you and make your decendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your decendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

p.s. I see ya baby.

And I hear you, Patti

The Rez

. . . your only Son