Goodbye

Gather 'round, little children.
It's time for farewells.
Girls get your handkerchiefs,
Boys grab your hats.
It's leaving time now,
So let's practice our waves.
Remember the last things
We each want to say.

Get ready now, kiddies,
The train's just pulled in.
It seems a new journey
Is about to begin.
Go on, find your seats
And peer out of the windows.
Wave bye to your mommies
And daddies and friends.

North

I took a walk one winter day and met a man in furs.
A kindly, grandfatherly man, he offered me a choice.
"Stay here", said he, "and live your life, as dully as it is,
Or come with me and see the world, the lands that I come from."

I stood there long, and pondered this, not knowing what to choose.
A voice within spoke up in fright, with caution did it tell
That if I left my home today it might be a mistake.
My cowardice would guide me naught, I reasoned with myself.
This once, just once, I'll take a leap and I will not look back.

With my choice made, I turned to him, "Please let me come with you.
See sights and sounds not seen before- I wish to see this through."
He took my hand and led me north, toward the icy plains.
The cliffs were steep, the waters deep, and snow covered the trees.

The journey was quite treacherous, a slipp'ry, long sojourn.
The man moved fast, his footing sure, his movements were precise.
The landscape was all white and bleak, no life was there in sight.
My fingers numbed and my nose froze as mist rose from my mouth.

With every step away from home, my heart and spirit soared.
Adventure, like a vibrant bird, had nested in my soul.
I'm poised for flight, my head held high, my wings are far outstretched.
I'm heading north, to snows and frost, toward new poss'bilities.

More Alive Than Fantasy

Help, I'm drowning in my dreams. Wake me up and tell me none of it was real.
Shake the dream-webs off my face and sit with me as the sun rises.
All I need is someone to lean on as the dark disintegrates around us.
All I need is someone who will name the wilting stars with me.

Help, I'm drowning in my words. Pull me close and make me listen to the silence.
Let's close our eyes and wish ourselves into another place.
Wrap me up in your arms and remind me of what makes the world so beautiful.
Wrap me up in you and show me things I've never dreamt before.

Help, I'm drowning in my thoughts. Call my name and tell me not to frown so much.
Draw open the curtains and let the light illuminate my thoughts.
Be the one who takes my hand and brings me back into the real world.
Be the one who braves the furthest corners of my mind to find where I hide and pull me back.

Help, I'm drowning in my mind. I've gone so far into myself that now I'm lost.
Inside I'm cradling the perfect world, but without you there, it's black and white.
Find me and take my hand, lead me out of the darkness and into the light.
Find me and pull me back from the edge, show me that I can live in the real world too. With you.

Help, I'm drowning in you. Bigger than life, and more alive than fantasy.
With you, I wouldn't know if I were dreaming or awake, in my mind or living.
You pull me back and hold me tight, you show me life in technicolor.
You pull me from my mind into a world I could never have imagined. Without you.

Waiting 2

My time here is numbered,
And seems much too short.
Yet I sit here, do nothing,
And don't say a word.
The others - they do things,
they live out their lives.
While I sit here watching
As the other half thrives.



Photo copyright Ulf Buschmann

If We Run

What if you and I ran away together
Forget out duties and our friends
All we need is you and me and the sky
The stars will keep us from being lonely
And the trees will give us shelter.

Together we will run from this
And our souls will soar.

But they'll come after us
There can be no escape without consequences.
We might not have any peace,
But at least we'll have an adventure.
It might be dangerous, it's no matter.

Run, dodge, fight. We'll beat them back.
They can't win. We won't let them.
You'll be my guardian, my protector.
You'll keep me safe and sound.

And I will tend to you,
Your Guenevere, your queen.
I'll keep you company, I'll run with you.
At last we'll be together in all we do.

I don't need danger, I only need you.
But this is the only way we can be.
I don't need to run, dodge, fight.
If you're there, my heart's already set flight.

Let Me Go

Let the rain come down and erase the thoughts within.
Clean the windows and the roofs and soak me to the skin.
Let it wash away my tears and the make-up I wear
Leave me shivering and naked in the frigid air.
Leave me bare.

And oh, the wind, it calls my name in a lover's voice
And I don't think that I have that much a choice

So I must get up, get out,
Let me out of here
If you open the door I just might disappear
But if you hold me tight I just might stay with you one more night.

Until I get up, get out,
Let myself fly free
You can try to catch me but there's no catching me.
So stow your butterfly nets and your empty threats
And let me go.

Oh the pitter-pat of rain matches the beating of my heart
As I sit by the window waiting for the thunder to start.
When the skies shake and shatter with the lightning bolt's heat
You'll wrap your arms abound me and I'll feel complete.

And oh, the wind, it calls my name in a lover's voice
And I don't think that I have that much a choice

So I must get up, get out,
Let me out of here
If you open the door I just might disappear
But if you hold me tight I just might stay with you one more night.

Until I get up, get out,
Let myself fly free
You can try to catch me but there's no catching me.
So stow your butterfly nets and your empty threats
And let me go.
Tonight.

Touch

Like a dog, she leaned into every touch. Every careless caress or accidental brush of hands, the unexpected warmth coming in contact with her skin, brought with it a shiver she tried to contain within. Shudders and goose bumps - every touch was incredible. Its simple human-ness and kindness, however sincere, brought her one step back from the edge, coloring the world with one more vibrant shade.