Orphic Words
Random musings of a composer in London
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I lost a loyal friend this week The truest one of all Who listened quietly when I talked And answered when I called A friend who held no prejudice No jealousy or hate He never tried to change my ways Or influence my state He calmed me when I angered Consoled me when I cried He made me laugh, or simply sat With me when I was quiet We met when we were both still young And full of energy We roamed about outside for miles And played contentedly But then, when I got older I chose to move away A thousand miles across the sea Cut off from yesterday Yet every year when I returned Our bond would be renewed Though I had changed and seen the world Our friendship still stayed true I noticed though, as years went by My friend was getting old The life he lived, so wild and free Began to take its toll The time that I last saw him I knew would be goodbye He lacked that sprightly humour And that twinkle in his eye It seems to me he knew it too Though he would never say When I was home he stayed close by My side throughout the day My friend’s departure broke my heart And left an empty hole To lose a childhood friend creates A gap within your soul But in it, I will place a box – A simple diary of The memories he gave: Of joy, Companionship and love So here’s to you my special friend You may no longer be But you’ll play always in my heart – The closest part to me ***  There will come a time
When I can no longer stare at these soft hills, When I can no longer brush The head of this grass across my wrist, When I can no longer rest My ears against this peaceful silence, And caress my cheek Against this sweet breeze, Perfumed by grass and moist soil. There will come a time When I can no longer open this veranda door, Inhaling this contentment of coffee and dew, And the gentle note of my mother’s voice: “Good morning!” When I can no longer sink Into this symphony of rustling birch leaves, Faint grasshoppers and repeating turtle doves, And touch this sun, warm on my back. Then, I will be cast adrift In a cry of neon signs and sirens, A face at every turn, Concrete under every footstep, I will float away In a shouting world, That never could understand The joy of solitude, The companionship of nature. Then, my familiarity will be artificial, My home will be a raft In a stormy sea. …But that time is not now. So I will take a minute To gather up these quiet moments, Like Lego bricks, And build them, Piece by piece, Into a soundproof room. And there I will live, In the moments before I fall asleep, And the noises outside my window then Will become those of this true home. *** Flicking through a batch of photographs
Reflecting memories that once were true Parading round my mind like empty shards A life detached and distant now, like you I saw something and thought of you today A flashed refraction through my shaded heart Too bad for me you flew too far away Too bad for us we grew too far apart I’m still the same and that’s the point I guess The reasons that we swapped were fair It doesn’t pay to let myself depress – We both agreed that we should leave it there The box of things you left under my bed I don’t yet have the strength to throw them out Those tubes and bottles waiting, not quite dead Just like those feelings waiting in my heart A lot has changed around here, since you left I’ve lost momentum on those things we used to do Hours now spent socialising out with friends Because it’s just too quiet for me in this room I know the choice we made was right I know we have to act on what we need But somehow walking on without a fight Has made it hard for me to set you free *** I can’t be angry
You’ll say I’m irrational I can’t be disappointed You’ll say it’s inevitable I can’t be shocked Cos I’m not that naïve And I love you too much Just to ask you to leave I can’t move on That’s just too simplistic But I can’t go back That’s just unrealistic So what can I do Now that I’ll always doubt you? I’m losing you baby But I’m useless without you *** What is the difference between right and wrong?
When you are right, to a person who is wrong, you are wrong, But if you are right, to a person who is right, you are right Likewise, when you are wrong, to a person who is right, you are wrong, But if you are wrong, to a person who is wrong, you are right. So: Wrong to wrong is right, and right to wrong is wrong. But right to right is also right, and wrong to right is also wrong. Therefore, wrong can be right, And right can be wrong. So in fact, there is no difference between right and wrong! *** |