YOUR MUSIC BLOWS ITS GENTLE WINDS

YOUR MUSIC BLOWS ITS GENTLE WINDS
(FOR GRACE GRIFFITH)

When life is like a desert, and I have lost my way,
Your music blows its gentle winds across my barren plain.
Bound by the beauty of your lovely siren songs,
You're a kind friend and companion to buttress me along.

Under the cover of your Brigid's Shield,
I take my holy refuge,
Deep within my darkest night,
When fears and doubts loom huge.
i remind myself if you can do it, I can do it too.

I am sailing, I am sailing on your magic wings of sound,
I fly upon ethereal tunes, high above the common ground,
I wonder where the lions are, they no longer come around.
I often question why they're gone and soon I realize,
Your songs have laid them down to sleep,
Like magic lullabies.

Here in my water, fire and smoke,
Surrounded by autumn leaves,
This Parkinson's a house guest
That brings me to my knees,
My favorite Parkinsonian, you bravely soldier on,
May morning it awaits us,
Somewhere a shining dawn.

Somewhere there is a sally garden,
Where you bid the flowers grow,
You make the wood thrush sing again,
You melt the ice like candle glow.
You open up your mouth to sing
And clear the stormy weather,
The clarion call of your voice it rings,
Turns this moment to forever.

Singing minstrel songs to me,
The Norwich bells they ring,
The nature boy he comes to me,
A tune of yours is what he brings.
A song to sweep me up,
To help my ship come in,
When I'm far from any harbor,
When my mettle has worn thin.

When life is arid and oh so dry.
When all I want to do is cry,
Your music blows its gentle winds,
Across my lost and desolate sky.
It's then I adjust my attitude,
Close my eyes and think of you.
Wish you well and softly pray,
All good blessings sent your way.

-Bruce Potts
Copyright 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Note: Grace Griffith is a Washington, D.C. based singer who has one of the most angelic voices in contemporary folk music. Her singing voice has been compared to Judy Collins and early Joan Baez, and she was the late Eva Cassidy's champion, instrumental in drawing the attention of her record company Blix Street  Records  to Eva's music and securing her a record deal. I first wrote this poem for her back about six years ago when I first discovered her music. She, like me, suffers from Parkinson's disease. Her likely last CD "Passing Through" was recorded after her Parkinson's had progressed significantly, but you'd never know it. It would be well worth your time and money to explore Grace's wonderful music! I've managed to weave a few of her song titles into this poem.