Between The Notes Poem by jim hogg

I played my life between the notes
on the trail of a wayward tune
I sailed a course by burned out boats
and sought the dark side of the moon

I tumbled like a loaded dice
beyond the hand, beyond the heart
Then had to wait to pay the price,
to reach the end to make a start

I sprinted forward from the past;
I burnt the leaves, I burnt the blooms
And rushing faster soon was last
and hid alone in crowded rooms


I danced the dance of broken wings
to the tune of summertime gone
Down where the wall of water sings
and the Raven high goes gliding on


I tried a little camouflage,
I circled wagons all around
And fanned the flames to burn the badge
then walked the ash as hallowed ground

And no, it’s true, she didn’t wait
but in her eyes a flash of light
Which I remembered slightly late
was proof that destiny was right:

My course was out, my song was wrong
and all I ran from chased me down
As I grew weak and it grew strong
and all my ghosts came gath’ring round


I danced the dance of broken wings
to the tune of summertime gone
Down where the wall of water sings
and the Raven high goes gliding on


And all the while I thought of me
as millions walked the walk of shame
As King was murdered for a dream
and brave Mandela lay in chains

I dreamed abandoned glory scenes;
saw broken bonds cast on the floor
And folly bursting at the seams,
and time come mocking to the door

To take me back to winter nights,
a certain creaking window frame
and walls I’d built against those heights,
against the mention of your name


I danced the dance of broken wings
to the tune of summertime gone
Down where the wall of water sings
and the Raven high goes gliding on


And so I tumbled here where words
Between the notes of minor chords
still echo where no moonlight falls
in empty rooms and empty halls


(02 05 09)