That Night

Cold night wore black,
Heaven's stars stood still.
Moon showed a track
Through Winter's chill.
Her urgent cries
Could forests fill
As this lone woman dies.

I still recall
That cold clear night
When I stood tall
Despite the sight
Of falling tears
She could not fight
As she succumbed to fears.

In your arms

In this case the connection between music and words is only that both have the same title. (I originally headed my words Held in your arms).

Trouble comes over me,
The world gives me pain,
But my heart is at rest -
I'm held in your arms.

When I'm held in your arms
No wave can floor me
No lion subdue -
I'm held in your arms.

Pop song

Some years ago I wrote these words to the tune you can find here

I don't believe in limbo
But I am there I know,
You're far away
Where? You never say.
And I wonder ...

Why did you say you love me?
Yet you don't call on me.
I still love you
And I need you so.
Do you still love me?

I suppose it's just the way things go for me
But I still love you

Why can't we be together?
Why must we be apart?
Why can't it be -
You and me again
Let's end this misery.

Prayer for the start of the day

Lord, accept my worship
Lord, accept my praise,
Nothing is a hardship
When on you I gaze.

Lord, be at the centre
Of my life today.
Every place I enter
Sanctify, I pray.

Lord, don't let me wander
From the narrow way.
Lord, may Christ's blood ever
Take my sins away.

Lord, grant your Spirit, too
'Til my days here end,
'Til I'm in heav'n with you,
My Saviour and my Friend.

Attention wandering

Line up on lecture notes ...
"In 1857  ..."
Heat increases.
Beans on toast and a refreshing cup of ...
"Fully intended to include this important concept.
Plato is interesting as ..."
When I rose, I wasn't as tired as this, was !?
"As we can see from the following extract ..."
Aah, a rest.
Time to think of just twelve and a half minutes more
Then home for my tea at the end of this bore.

(Written long ago in an undergraduate lecture)

Four minutes

Classical trumpet, vi'lin strings
In the shops they're selling things
TV, chocolate, magazines,
People live beyond their means.
Music, makeup, pleasure and wine,
Work so hard then waste your time.
Just four minutes left
Then it's all gonna go.

Looting, vi'lence, drunk in the streets,
Old ones standing, men in seats,
Light fingered workers moving slow,
Unemployed, nowhere to go.
Crooked scientists, fake results
Politicians trade insults.
Just four minutes left
But no one wants to know.

Perplex

Sometimes, it seems to me,
I can be
Master, faster, clearer, brother,
Longer, stronger, purer, lover,
Than any on earth.
This I call confidence,
The other despair

Sometimes, it seems to me,
I must be
Lower, slower, coarser, dimmer
Sneaker, weaker, liar, sinner,
Than any on earth.
This I call humbling,
The other sheer pride.

How can I
Meekly inherit earth,
Not overestimate my worth?
Not knowing,
I keep going.