ok, so not quite a movie.
I wrote a song called carnival dreams, and now it’s the title of a collection of short stories and other writings. available now at Amazon.
old shoes
cheap booze
jumping like a kangaroo
gimme this
gimme that
ink another tattoo
i’m bored
ignored
hatin’ like a warlord
pop a pill
do the shot
headin’ for the psyche ward
the lambs are young and still so
innocent
their dreams are pure and hope is
infinite
the shepherd’s blind and speaks with
insolence
the wolves are close, destruction
imminent
sweet bread
silk thread
actin’ like a godhead
drive your ‘vette
fly your jet
all i got is cornbread
it’s not fair
you gotta share
baby needs the daycare
give me yours
and i’ll have mine
i don’t want no welfare
the lambs are young and still so
innocent
their dreams are pure and hope is
infinite
the shepherd’s blind and speaks with
insolence
the wolves are close, destruction
imminent
low pay
you say
i don’t need it anyway
take from her
give me his
all about the green way
lip sync
group think
preachin’ just a hoodwink
yes i do
no i don’t
throw me in the precinct
the lambs are young and still so
innocent
their dreams are pure and hope is
infinite
the shepherd’s blind and speaks with
insolence
the wolves are close, destruction
imminent
hard rain
fast lane
working up the food chain
i will work
sweat my brow
i don’t want no slow train
take a stand
hold my hand
a better way we should demand
pray for peace
and sweet release
let’s walk into the promised land
the lambs are young and still so
innocent
their dreams are pure and hope is
infinite
the shepherd’s blind and speaks with
insolence
the wolves are close, destruction
imminent
copyright 2020, joseph e bird
A couple of years ago Larry Ellis made a comment about his father and my father, two men of the same generation, quiet heroes, who without fanfare or drama worked to provide for their families. Larry’s father has since passed; I’m fortunate that my father is still around. I wrote the following tribute shortly after Larry’s comment. I’ve published it before, and probably will again.
Most are not leaders of nations.
Most are not creators of wealth.
Most are not icons of sports or entertainment.
Their names will not be written in the annals of history.
But without them, we would be nothing.
Their fathers worked with pride as pipe-fitters and welders and electricians.
Their fathers mined coal and dug ditches and toiled with dignity.
They did what was necessary to provide food and shelter and clothes.
They did what was necessary to provide hope for a better tomorrow.
Tomorrow came, and it was better,
and the sons and daughters of the fathers went to school
and became teachers and writers and lawyers and engineers.
They became fathers and mothers themselves
and likewise provided for their families.
They did all of this
without the need for attention,
without the need for adulation,
without the need for self-aggrandizement.
Fathers persevere and sacrifice.
They do what needs to be done.
They are good and honorable.
No, not all fathers.
Some abandon.
Some abuse.
Some give up.
It’s not about gender roles.
Sometimes the mother is the father.
Sometimes she is both.
It’s not about being the breadwinner.
It’s about being strong for the family.
It’s about providing direction to those who wander
and encouragement to those who strive.
Now they rest,
their work less strenuous,
their lives less demanding,
and they sit quietly,
content to let others lead.
They have lived simply.
They have lived nobly.
They have given their all.
They are fathers.
copyright 2019, joseph e bird
to touch is to risk death
to breathe unfettered is
irresponsible
don’t stand so close to me
because if you do
one of us
or someone else
might die before their time
so let’s live
in fear
or maybe in the hope
that this too will pass
and one day we can hug
and see smiles
and hear laughs
and sing loudly
and irresponsibly
and it’s all so serious
and it really is
and the times are trying
and desperate
and depressing
and stressful
and unsettling
and so serious
so light the candles
for breakfast
and have a bowl of fruit loops
because there is joy
in the freedom of
just being a goober
so embrace those moments
that take you by surprise
and smile at the loveliness
because now
is what we have
copyright 2020, joseph e bird
Never been a Miley Cyrus fan, but I love this version of Bob Dylan’s classic, You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome.
it’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.
Every nerve in my body is so naked and numb
I can’t even remember what it was I came here to get away from
Don’t even hear the murmur of a prayer
It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there
Songwriter Lesson:
take a look at the second line of that verse.
it’s too long. the rhythm is off. it’s grammatically incorrect.
and he has to drag it out to make it work.
so what.
he’s just telling the story. the way it is.
my latest obsession. where da beat go?
purple mountains laced in haze
holding back the morning rays
singing possibilities
that echo through the hills
morning peace and your sweet grace
to live as one for all our days
freedom ringing endlessly
for all the world to hear
but you’ve gone crazy, girl
you got lazy, girl
so full of anger, girl
you know i’ll never leave
can’t call you baby, girl
won’t let me hold you, girl
can’t even love me, girl
you know i’ll never leave
the days are growing shorter now
dimming on forgotten vows
words are spoken bitterly
to blunt enduring hope
you say you’ve not abandoned me
you want what’s best, i just can’t see
you shout so condescendingly
it makes it hard to hear
but you’ve gone crazy, girl
you got lazy, girl
hard to love you, girl
you know i’ll never leave
someday you’ll see, it could be worse
you’ll sing the song and write the verse
and play the music fervently
the righteous to uplift
but you’ve gone crazy, girl
you got lazy girl
don’t want to know me, girl
you know i’ll never leave
or maybe you’ve just lost your mind
the damage done, too far maligned
we’re dying unrepentingly
the setting of the sun
but you’ve gone crazy, girl
you got lazy, girl
won’t let me pray for you, girl
i hope i’ll never leave
copyright 2019, joseph e bird
if you haven’t listened to tyler childers, here you go.
Lord the wind can leave you shiverin’
As it waltzes o’er the leaves
It’s been rushin’ through my timber
Til’ your love brought on the spring
Now the mountains all are blushin’
And they don’t know what to say
‘Cept a good long line of praises
For my lovely Lady May
Joseph E Bird 