Tessie Poem by Grahame Lockey

Tessie, here’s a song for you, half a life in the knowing
Though water may pass by, it’s the river that is flowing
Eh? What’s that? You ask. Come again? I don’t follow
Things change, Poppet, and there are times, it can be hard to swallow. But

Sing... as if to summon up a breeze of sighs
Play your guitar and lose yourself in the highs and the whys
Write... like it’s your words that must turn the world
Live... like with the very next step you’ll fly

Tessie, the world is bare and there’s not a lot left to know
Tessie, when it all goes pear-shaped that’s the time you grow
Ah, but you, you have it all in front of you, there’s mystery and more
But mind we wind up reinventing wheels when history’s a bore

Draw... what you see that’s out of sight
Paint... with the palette of a prism for light
Make... like all at hand is clay to a god
Live... like with the very next step you’ll fly

Tessie, there’ll be ups and downs, and further downs, and blue skies clear
Just remember what a poet said, life is boredom first, then fear
When we feel our number’s up, we grope for what stardust there is of us to save
Tessie, what survives us best are the things we make, when we’re free of Plato’s cave

Sing... as if to summon up a breeze of sighs
Play your guitar and lose yourself in the highs and the whys
Write... like it’s your words that must turn the world
Live like with the very next step… you’ll fly



(Lyrics to the song 'Tessie)