Lawrence Hall, HSG
[email protected]


                 We Are Offered Two Candidates for the Presidency


I am afraid that one of them will win

To see her dancing with Jesus,
Free of pain
Celebrating finally
In some uncharacteristic way.
Do so by all means.

I tend to look backwards
To the memories I know
My mother, standing at the window,
Worrying over our father,
Miles away at the close of day,
Winter winds blowing,
Seven miles away in the winter pasture
He was opening a spring
Forcing his way in the deep snow,
To let the cattle drink.

In a far off country have I roamed
Away from family, away from home.

Chaser of visions, Dreamer of dreams
Long have I been so far away.

What have I to speak?
To whom might I say,
"Forgive me, I have been away.
Remember me, I have been away."

Lawrence Hall, HSG
[email protected]

                                 Falling Into Truth

The fall of October’s leaves is nothing new
Except that it is – this leaf never fell before
And we were never here to watch this leaf
Because we and the leaf were somewhere else

Except that we were, we are, we will be
A little leaf, each of us, springtime-new
Then dancing merrily the summer through
Now floating gently into a winter’s sleep

A coverlet soft, a hymn, a night-light moon
Sleep - sleep – another spring is coming soon

"I will not be apologetic.
I won't apologize for loving you the way I do
or for loving you the way you want me to.
For touching you in places I shouldn't have,
for touching you where you trail your hands.
I won't apologize for loving you until I burst,
I won't apologize even if everything hurts.
I will not be sorry that my kisses are stormy,
I will not be sorry that I'm always in a hurry.
I will not feel bad when everyone is mad,
I am glad to say that you're the best I've had.
I will not be apologetic
that I'm never decisive,
I will not be apologetic
that this love is destructive."

Is that what you're expecting me to say?
Is that what you wanted me to write?
To try to turn the night into day?
To try to turn the wrongs into rights?
Did you want to rob the sun off its rays?
Did you want the moon to lose its tides?
Were you wishing I'd surf your waves?
Were you praying I'd love you after the lies?
I hate to say it, I hate to break it to you,
I couldn't, no I won't do it, it just won't do.

When an era ends a bell should ring
Even if it’s only tiny.
When the Curtain falls for the final time
The cast should get a flower.
When it’s all used up and there is no more
Someone should close the cupboard.
When the time is up and the whistle blows
We should all put down our hammers.

Sometimes the end is loud and brash
Sometimes as silent as sunrise
But which-ever way it comes to be
It always seems to be too soon.
It seems there should be one more try
Or even just an epilogue, instead
A note was posted on the door
And the era of folk music quietly ended.
             ljm

Lawrence Hall, HSG
[email protected]

                                     93 Million Dreams Away

                                          For Thomas Futrell
                              Will and Kelly’s Little Sunbeam

The sun plays peek-a-boo among the leaves
One last game before children must go to bed
And then our lady moon comes in and weaves
Such happy dreams for each little sleepyhead!

Tried to make peace with the Devil...
Left me smoking on the floor.
His chuckle left me all disheveled
As he sauntered out the door.

The contract, signed and duplicated
Left no real peace of mind.
The lawyers say it's complicated;
They'll get back to me sometime.

A fine print clause embedded
Intimates there's something more;
The peace I made is shredded;
I'll hear the flames around me roar.

The politicians have no chance,
Experienced though they be.
The devils celebrate and dance;
The Devil must collect his fee.