Tumbleweed Fever

Elizabeth came to the diner, today--
Not to eat or pass the time of day.
For I knew, as surely as she,
But she was bringing a book for me
To read, between the empty hours.
As beautiful as flowers--the poetry.
For it has framed within my heart
A passion as pure as a picture,
Warming me in the imagery of my own
Illusive entity--
And I can ride up and down the halls
Or lie on my bed and be wed to verses alone,
Just so the phone doesn't ring 
And send me back to another wing.
My heart is a tumbleweed tonight--
Rolling on the desert of my loneliness
--and as dry as the cacti. 

To David, Always

"Shall I take a walk or lie on my bed,
Or take a ride and let the wheels spin around,

like they do in the top if my head?"

Get out of my mind; get out of my heart;
I can't go on like this now that we're apart-
But what shall I do?  I can't forget you. 

Get out of my life; get out of my dreams
Get out of my silly sentimental schemes.
But what can I do?  I can't forget you. 

I thought that I could go right on,
Seeing you night after night--
But now it's always somebody new
Somehow this doesn't seem right.

Don't be so mean, Honey, treat me right.
If I can't have you, get out--
Get out of my sight
But what can I do?  I can't forget you. 

Sarah Smiles

What makes the sunshine early at dawn?
What makes the day go by like a song?
What brings a rainbow,  after the rain?
--just seeing you again.
When does the sunshine leave my heart?
When does it turn from light to dark?
When do the storm clouds enter my heart?
It's the moment that you depart. 
So, I'll smile with the sunshine.
I'll cry with the rain.
All of my teardrops will fall in vain.
Only until you return, and then,
Will my heart smile again.

Knifed By Romanticism

There is a hunger so deep inside of me,
tonight, that nothing can assuage this appetite, 
no matter where I go, or what door I open, you are there. 
I find you in the wild imagination of my heart--and that's "everywhere." 
There is no key to turn, except this twist when you leave,
that locks me inside my dream.  For I cannot follow you, or go where you go.
 I cannot climb the stairway to the sky--only in my mind's eye--
when thoughts of you come stumbling into my heart,
and leave me stuttering,  with muffled cry, you'll never know what you do to me,
and I'll never know why I let it be.  I ask myself these questions, 
but there are no answers for my unreasonable heart. 

Things I Might Have Done

I saw a distant mountain--
So near and yet so far away.

I looked at it and dreamed
I would climb it some fine day.

It was always in my view
So beautiful to be.

My favorite dream was to reach the top
What wonders would I see.

So, I sat at the foot of the mountain
Watching climbers more skillful than I

It was always in my heart--
My hope to do,  or die.

Many years have passed of
Mere dreams I have not spun.

While life goes by and others do
"The things I might have done."

Everybody's Girl

I'll be everybody's girl--
If I can't have you.
'Cause what's the good of being good--
If I can't have you.
There's nothing left for me to do,
As long as you don't care.
So I'll go wild and paint the town--
I'll take on any dare.
I'll fool them like you did me--
Give them all a whirl.
'Cause if I can't have you,

I'll be Everybody's girl.

Soldier Boy

 

The tinkle of laughter sounds in my ear

And I almost imagine that you are here.

A blue and white uniform walks by my door,

But where is that face I saw before?

A vision of you stays always near,

but why should this, all of my senses sear?

 

Reparations

 

I thought I was falling in love with you,
And all the time it was somebody else.
Give me back the heart I lost--
Don't leave it dusting on a shelf
I've found someone who really cares--
All my joy and sadness bears
I'm happy now.
Restore my heart--
It belongs to somebody else.
 

Confession

I have a secret--dare I confess it?
Perhaps you've guessed it
If I show the things I feel
I never told you; I may be told to,
But it's hard to conceal--
The simple joy that fills me,
When I see you on the street.
The way my heartbeat thrills me,
Whenever our eyes meet.
I have a secret--perhaps I show it.
Do you know it?
Darling, "I Love You!"

Pipe-Smokin' Blues

 

 

Get out my topcoat; put on my hat.
Let's get a walkin' shoes.
Can't sit here a waitin' and hesitatin'--
With these solitary pipe smokin' blues.
The show is over; the curtain falls.
No stage set with music tonight
No cues to answer--no lover's calls.
Heaven help this actor's plight.
Get out my wallet and spread the news--
I'm free, tonight--what can I lose?
The air is hazy.
I'll soon go crazy--
With these solitary
Pipe-smokin' blues. 

Flickerings

 

Restless footsteps;  wandering paces--
Bewilderment in empty faces.
Lonely hearts and bleak despair--
Where are we going-'"Anywhere"?

Why do I feel like crying--
Whenever you're away?
Why does my heart keep sighing--
All the live long day.
How can I ease this painful stress?
Nobody else can ever guess--
How I fight this loneliness, without you.

The "special one" that's loud and clear,
Stands within my memory, dear.
--but if I ever mentioned who--
They'd be surprised to know it's "You."

Somehow, wherever I go, whatever I do--
A picture of you
Keeps flickering through my mind,
and winds around my heartstrings.

I awoke this morning
And you weren't there.
All of a sudden, my world seemed bare.
All me cries out in vain--
Until you pass this way again.

Painted Dreams

I'm lost-- in a dream of you.
I don't know what it was, or who
That brought you to me--
but it's easy to see,  I'm lost
I'm lost--in a misty blue.
My painted dreams of You
Are all I know;  I love you so.
I'm lost when you are out of sight.
Without you, daytime turns to night.
I lose my way.
I drift in clouds way up above.
Without you, I've no use for love,
So, won't you stay
and make my dreams come true.
I'm lost in a dream of you. 

Sublime

I felt an emotion so sublime
that it struck a lost chord
within my lonely soul's heart of time--
For years, I had drifted in melodic discontent,
despairing that the discordant notes
could ever blend in perfect harmony--
I cried out in my distress
And begged the Powers that Be
for the gift of just one simple melody
Then, when my song became a direful dirge, 
I threatened to destroy the lovely theme
that once had dared to dream.
When--out of Eternity--a star shone down on earth below--
and, there, in the midst of a Divine Largo,
The notes assembled
and swelled into majestic beauty,
That blended with a lyre from heaven.