The sudden damp wind
rustles through brittle weeds
and a hawk tips and tilts,
tracing Escher designs
against a mackerel sky.
My dog pauses in his muddy plodding
and lifts his head,
turning muzzle-first into the freshening breeze.
His flanks quiver with excitement
as he catches the scent
of the stealthy approach of spring.
Indigo clouds riding in a low north sky,
Dead leaves chatter and scold
And race up the road ahead of me
As I turn my steps for home.
Solitary crow in a tossing tree
That sheds its last few leaves of gold.
Stubble in the corn field
Gray hair of a year grown old.
And maybe it's the Alberta Clipper
Or maybe it's just thinkin' of you
That has me staring at a cold north sky,
That has my heart so blue.
I don't need an almanac to know
Something's gonna freeze tonight.
It's the way of nature, it's the way of hearts:
What was soft and green goes cold and white.
Black crow riding on the winds of change,
My heart hears the song that he sings.
We're riding out the storms of life
On strong but fragile wings.
And maybe it's the Alberta Clipper
Or maybe it's just a change that's due
My heart is weatherman enough to know
That a storm is coming through.
So the year grows older, but no wiser:
Hey, ain't that just like me?
When will I learn that seasons end
And some things just cannot be?
Let it go, let it go!
Winter's winds are gonna blow
Wrap your heart in tight around you girl,
And keep your head low.
And maybe it's the Alberta Clipper
Or maybe it's just thinkin' of you
That has me staring at a cold north sky,
That has my heart… so damn so blue.
I was raking leaves the other day and the wind picked up as a storm front approached….and I wrote this song.
I’ve been doing some thinking lately about parents and children. I hear stories of people who have been rejected by their parents- because they are gay, or have the wrong politics, or just don’t follow their parents into the family business. I find this utterly unfathomable- both as a parent who cannot conceive of ever losing touch with, let alone rejecting my child,- and also as a child who knows for certain that my own parents’ love for me is unwavering and unconditional.
So yesterday I wrote this song.
Hey there Mom and Dad, I wonder how you are today,
And I wonder if you wonder how I ever got so far away?
How long has it been since you called to say hello?
How many Christmases and birthdays did I celebrate alone?
When you gather all your loved ones at the table, do you set a place for me?
Or is there no room for this black sheep on your happy family tree.
Once I was your precious child and I followed you everywhere.
Once you held me in your arms and laughed as you tossed me in the air.
Well I’m a thousand miles away tonight, singing you this song
And I’m trying to remember just when went wrong.
Was it when I grew my hair too long, or was it when I walked away
From the path you’d chosen for me? Was that the fateful day?
But I don’t regret the things I have done
Though it means I never can return as your prodigal son
Still my heart can’t stop hoping that your heart will find a way
To love me as I am…. some day…
I always do unto others as I’d have done to me
And I try to live my life with courage, faith and honesty
And if that’s not enough to earn me your respect
Well I’ve done nothing wrong- there’s nothing to correct
But clearly, you’ve decided to wash your hands of me
For the awful sin of being who I was born to be.
Bridge: I’m sorry I didn’t turn out like you wanted me to
That I’m not rich enough, or famous, or normal, like you- I’m just me…
Though it means I never can return as your prodigal son
Still my heart can’t stop hoping that your heart will find a way
To love me as I am…. some day…
We just see the world though different eyes: it’s clear we never will agree
But you know, I never have looked down on you for not being more like me.
I can change my address for you, or how I comb my hair,
Drive a different car or change the clothes I wear
But I can’t change the things deep inside me that make me who I am
And I believe I too, am part of God’s plan.
And you never will accept me the way I hoped you would.
Still, my heart can’t stop hoping that your heart will find a way
To love me as I am…
Though it means I never will return as your prodigal son
Still my heart can’t stop hoping that your heart will find a way
To love me as I am…. some day…
Someday…
For Byron, and all the other damp people in my life.
Got a lot of desert making up my days,
Too much of my heart is parched and dry
Got a lot of empty in the
Not too many reasons, way too many why’s.
Oh, sometimes I get so damn crazy
It seems to be that’s when you come to me
Just like an image of Grace.
In that place that exists between love and fear
Where we must meet each new day
Like a burden lifted, like a sorrow broken
The pain can be washed away.
Just knowing that you’re thinking of me
Is a balm when my spirit is dry
And your love in my life is rain in the desert
And gives me new reasons to try.
Rain in the desert, thunder on the mesa,
Life-bringing water for a thirsty, bitter land
Your song in my heart is rain in the desert
Bringing flowers to morning again….
It’s morning again.
The answer then, is hopelessly simple,
Salvation is never hard to find.
It’s only as far as the sound of your voice
Or the touch of your hand on mine.
Just the way you smile when you see me
Is the treasure of being your friend.
The tear that you cry is like rain in the desert
And something green’s growing again.
Rain in the desert, storms on the mountain
Cool water flowing where there once was only sand.
Your love in my life is rain in the desert
Bringing flowers to morning again….
It’s morning again
In those moments when your trust is broken 
And all the answers fade like the dawn
When you find you’re stranded on rocks and barren sand
And it feels like your faith is almost gone.
When there’s nothing but love to hold onto,
Let this be the moment when
You reach for my hand- let me rain in your desert
And maybe hope will blossom again.
Rain in the desert, thunder on the mesa
Life-giving water for a thirsty, bitter land.
You’re here in my heart- let me rain in the desert
And maybe love will flower again…
Oh, it’s morning again
Things are getting just too insane. It looks like Iran is about to become "Iraq: the Sequel" as Bush and Rice point fingers and foam at the mouth about nuclear weapons… the time to put your head in the sand and hope it all goes away is long gone.
They say we fight for freedom and our precious children die
They’ll lock me up without a charge in the name of liberty
While you just stand there.
It’s somehow un-American to have a different view
And still, you stand there.
How can you just stand there? Don’t you feel ashamed?
How can you be silent when they do it in your name?
They torture and they terrorize, yet honesty is banned.
The security they promise you is only shifting sand.
How can you stand there?
We fought a revolution to have the right to speak.
The lies have murdered millions and they do it in your name!
The Bill of Rights is burning! The zero hour’s at hand
And those who remain silent are equally as damned.
But this is still America, you still have a voice.
Will you stand up for justice? It’s time to make your choice.
How can you just stand there when they beat the drums of war?
Dissent is patriotic, only truth will keep us free
But don’t just stand there–
Tracy Meisky is a poet, writer, singer, songwriter and all-around boat rocker from way back. Feel free to look around, but if you break it, you bought it.