Mountain Dulcimer

For Eric Angus Whyte and Rich Mullins

As the song is introduced

And the band

Gets ready

An image

From my dreams

Comes into view

My heart flutters

Double take

Could it be?

Are my eyes playing tricks?

My wondering

Cut short

By the intro bars

Sweetly harmonious

The sounds

That tug on my memory

The strings of my

Creative dreams

This Cape Breton musician

Connects to my

Musical past

A long wished for

Desired

Instrumental delight

As the hammers strike

Precisely tuned strings

Call forth an ancient

Artist

Could this talented musician

Possibly feel

The same connecting chords

As I?

After the music dies

I ask him

Mentioning a revered name

One that lights

A spark

A flame

In his eyes

A connection

Reaching across

Time

And space

Thru the love

Of music

Rich music

Brother and sister

Now

Not only to each other

To that artist

The link

The songwriter

Immortal lines

Living on

After his spirit

Has gone home

His legacy

In a small

Cape Breton town

Connecting

Kindred spirits

August 15, 2007

Down the Drain

The water pours over me

Rushing through my hair

Rivers running down my bare arms

Contained only by the enamel walls

Of the tiny tub

I close my eyes

The shower water blending

With my own tears

Hiding the shame

No guilt for breaking down here

Standing in the shower

Letting the water rush over me

Entirely

Trying to drown the day’s sorrows

My personal turmoil

In the hot, clear water

The haughty customer

The back-biting co-worker

The anxiety of the days to come

The sorrow at losing my family

Chains binding my heart

Weighing my every thought

I scrub now

Using soap

Shampoo

Body wash

Specialty deep cleaning products

Nothing reaches deep enough

My skin is raw

Pink and red

My fingers are tiny prunes

I cry from frustration now

Desperate

To be free

Suddenly

The stupid love songs running through my head

Stuck from repeated radio performances

Are replaced my a simple hymn

“Lord, send the rain”

I start singing out loud

The words pouring from my memory

Each verse building on the last

Until my tears choke the words in my throat

Tears of sweet relief

Overwhelmed

“He knows my name”

New words with pungent meaning

All the petty worries

The trite experiences

Seem insignificant in the light of this

Newly remembered

Never truly forgotten

Truth

Nothing they can do

Nothing I can do

Can change that

God loves me

Me

More deeply

More intensely

More completely

Than I can truly understand

These moments

When my voice is raised

In humble words

To an exalted King

These are the moments when my heart

Feels the most full

Connected with someone

Outside myself

Yet inside

I leave the tub

Watching my burdens

Swirl down the drain

August 12, 2007

Grandpa's Card

I found a card at my grandparents that I made for Grandpa's 58th birthday (1999). I liked the verse inside, so here it is

Grandpa

I found the perfect card for you.
I used some scissors, tape and glue.
Some parts were missing, ripped or torn,
A little bit ragged and somewhat worn.
When it was done, finished and through,
It kind of reminded me of You.
It wasn't perfect and far from new,
But it's better that way and
I love you!