shouldering the sun

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

such endless variance
in this vast field
each blade contributing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hemmed within
expansive cloud explosions—
infinite blue!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

eyes shut
loose bodied
I take the sun
Into my knees

~~~~~~~~~~~~

tall grass
quivers beneath
darting bird shadows

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRAMPLED BLOOD

here's one more. this was actually the first song i came up with and it inspired the overall idea for the album - just finished editing the lyrics to my liking.

Trampled Blood

i’ve stayed away for so long
without ever really leaving
i’ve traveled back too many miles
thru my mind’s dark ravine

some days a clustered woodland
other days an empty plain
yet bound within this fading skin
each day just seems the same

forgive me Lord

You know I...did not mean

to trample on Your blood
but like a tramp, I wandered thru

forgive me Lord

You know I...did not mean

to trample on Your blood
but I’m a tramp, & I know that it’s true

a light within a mine shaft
a secret unrevealed
a woeful sham, the way I’ve wandered
thru Your open fields

and though I’ve cried forsaken
only You know how it feels
to be the one whose love is squandered
whose pardon is concealed

forgive me Lord

You know I...did not mean

to trample on Your blood
but like a tramp, I wandered thru

forgive me Lord

You know I...did not mean

to trample on Your blood
but I’m a tramp, & I know that it’s true

release me from the haunting of
the lonesome words that call my name
release me from the haunting of
the words that hold me to my blame

i’ve spoken like a mantra
in fear & lonesome doubt
words that died, before they rose up
from my hollow heart

and You see my love-light waning
that once burned pure & bright
The fire’s died, my ember smolders
Like a sunset’s fading light

forgive me Lord

You know I...did not mean

to trample on Your blood
but like a tramp, I wandered thru

forgive me Lord

You know I...did not mean

to trample on Your blood
but I’m a tramp, & I know that it’s true

...FUNERAL...

R.I.P.

Charles E. Swartwood

(1927-2010)

dim spark

here are some more song lyrics.
this one would actually fall into
the number one position on the

album and is therefore of a darker

nature within the theme (if this is

confusing check the post entitled

"Holy Is His Ghost"). this photo

was taken by leah a few days ago at

the ocean but i did tweek the color

& contrast a bit - the atmosphere

was so eerie it was wild. it's my

brother-in-law in the photo.
here's the song:

dim spark

when my eyes meet with the dawning
there comes a black cloud in my mind
there goes a black thought sinking slowly
like a dim spark thru my spine

( layered, sweet, eerie moaning bridge )

i watch the days drift along the floor boards
and I smoke my cigarettes
as my feet scuff like a nun’s thumbs
upon a rosary of regrets

( bridge repeated )

the restless nights come with the vision
of all my dreams adrift on high
among an endless cloud recession
folding into a static sky

( bridge repeated & mingled with below chorus )

is this the sorrow of the world that I bear?
is this the sorrow of the world?

...Rider...

I was uncertain whether or not I was going to post this, but with Doug's encouragement, I'm going for it. So, somewhere between the solitude of a bike ride and the heat stroke of a scorching July day, these lines popped into my head...I hope you enjoy...

I pedal, perspiringly-

-parallel to you.

You are cool, calm-
-collected next to me.

I am going-
-to dive into you, O Lake!!!

...Temple...

temple, TEMPLE, temple.
Temple between temples.
God hosting cavern.
Vessel of mingling spirits.

Celestial stairway in cervical encasement.
Light path of shining synapse.
Beth-El's cerebral ladder-
Seven vertebral rungs...
...Perfection!

Spirit resonating chamber,
Sustained by-
Rise and fall of Jachin;
Pulse and pound of Boaz.


Skeletal globe radiates incandescently;
FilaMENTAL thoughts glow in neon glory.


"Remove the high places-
Level the tables.
Spill the seats.
Scatter the little foxes from their den.

Speak asylum.
Provide sanctuary-
Adorn with wood and tattoo blue,
This tent not made by hands."

High priestly invocation,
Dissipates Ichabodic cries,
With a small voice:

"Temple (((among temples))) be holy.

Temple be filled.

Spirit,

-In this temple-

Abide,
Reside,
Dwell."

the unbristled love

man --- pursuing a creative end can be such an act of faith at times. having this vague vision for something and chasing after it like some kind of ghost until it actually materializes. you can keep hitting wall after wall and then boom - you hit the zone and stike a pace - and then there it is. needless to say, i think this tune is nearly completed - i hit the zone earlier today, just finished. i've got a tune that i feel has great potential ( i actually built it off of the one i wrote for Vashti & Ephriam, but it has evolved into something other than at this point), and the lyrics are basically complete. hope you like the changes, but like usual - shoot straight! is it cohesive and structured enough to make sense as it unravels from beginning to end? let me know your thoughts please ~ dougie f.

the unbristled love

it is the night
as dark as the lone wolf’s mouth
that holds the highest moon

and the one
who is left to walk all alone
he sings the lowest tune
he sings the lone moon’s pining

but tonight
i sing aloud to Thee
i sing the stars out loud
i sing the stars all shining

i want to run with the others
run with the others
i want to run with the others
within a boundary free (x2)

oh Alpha
my ears lay flat for Thee
like wings of seraphim

oh Abba
I yield my neck to Thee
I lick my muzzle clean
I’m whimpering & whining


Omega
the way I feel it now
I feel the built in need
I feel our hearts aligning

i want to run with the others
run with the others
i want to run with the others
within a boundary free (x2)

how i yearn
to be wrapped up in the fur
of the unbristled love

i can feel
the need for the brotherhood
to dwell within as one
amid Your cowering family

but it seems
that i just can’t get it right
i can’t get up the steam
within Your chosen body

i want to run with the others
run with the others
i want to run with the others
within a boundary free (x?)

...SHEARS...

Dagger.
Stiletto.
Blades hip-ly joint.
Cutleric matrimony.
Ah, whetted bliss.
(Iron sharpens iron,
In collaborative clipping.)

Guiding Hand.

{-A slice of life-
Swish, swish, swish-

SINCE IT IS A COAL MINE

same picture as last time, but improved upon. i'm thinking that i'll use this image for either the liner notes or the back cover of the album ben & i are working on. below is the second installment of the BE THINE MOUNTAIN project. i'm pretty sure that it will fall into the number five slot on the album. if anyone has any criticism, please offer it up without hesitation - i really desire to refine this stuff - to improve upon it as much as possible. one concern i've had with this one is the repetative nature of it. it seems to work when singing it, but when i see it on paper i become especially aware of it. that said, i do realize that it helps to hear the tune when making such a call. all the same, i do invite commentary of any kind. thanks loads. doug

SINCE IT’S A COAL MINE

I will give You every inch of my life
if You’ll mine my heart
I will give You every inch of my life
for a brand new start

and since it’s a coal mine
darkness & danger reside
and since it’s a coal mine
light must be brought in from outside

I will give You every inch of my life
if You’ll mine my heart
I will give You every inch of my life
for a brand new start

and since it’s a coal mine
perhaps You could burn down all my pride
and since it’s a coal mine
perhaps there are diamonds hidden inside

break

it is a dark, dusty hollow
and I’ve not made room enough - I know
(repeat many x’s)

I will give You every inch of my life
if You’ll mine my heart
I will give You every inch of my life
for a brand new start

and since it’s a coal mine
what a friendless place it is to abide
and since it’s a coal mine
perhaps You could be my mountainside