Saturday, February 25, 2006

Sails of oblivion


My death is like
a swinging door
a patient girl who knows the score
whistle for her
and the passing time

My death waits like
a bible truth
at the funeral of my youth
weep loud for that
and the passing time

My death waits like
a witch at night
and surely as our love is bright
let's laugh for us
and the passing time

But whatever is behind the door
there is nothing much to do
angel or devil I don't care
for in front of that door
there is you

My death waits like
a beggar blind
who sees the world with an unlit mind
throw him a dime
for the passing time

My death waits
to allow my friends
a few good times before it ends
let's drink to that
and the passing time

My death waits in
your arms, your thighs
your cool fingers
will close my eyes
let's not talk about the passing time

But whatever is behind the door
there is nothing much to do
angel or devil I don't care
for in front of that door
there is you

My death waits
among the falling leaves
in magicians, mysterious sleeves
rabbits, dogs
and the passing time

My death waits
among the flowers
where the blackish shadow cowers
let's pick lilacs
for the passing time

My death waits
in a double bed
sails of oblivion at my head
pull up the sheets
against the passing time

But whatever is behind the door

there is nothing much to do
angel or devil I don't care
for in front of that door
there is you

Jacques Brel (English words by Mort Shuman)

Into starlight.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Carving out your name


Somewhere, by the side of this road, there is laughter... And a sparkling stream that flows endlessly, one that you crossed a long time ago. At a time when summer winds blew strong and dry, when jazz kissed the streets in warm nights, and you never thought of turning back.
Now the winds are memories... And in the background your stepping stones crumble like chalk, ruins without ancestry. There is laughter by the side of the road, you say to yourself, shivering at the sickly breeze that dies with the sunset...
Into starlight.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Of swords and glances



Knowing how to free oneself is nothing; the difficult thing is knowing how to live with that freedom.

- André Gide

Into starlight.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Stopping for a beer, on the road to Damascus


there's water coming in
under the door
as the wind
whips the windows
in a minor key

I'm looking at
the water
spreading
and looking filthy
I wonder
where it's been before

I should be doing
something
to keep it
from coming in
but somehow
I'm thinking of Saul
in his dungeon
writing in bare
cold feet
but so far away
from bonfires
bullets and
burning flags
cartoon wars and
badly drawn
cartoon preachers

I'll really have
to keep the water
from coming in
but somehow
I'm not surprised
anymore
at how filthy
it is

Into starlight.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Blue Hotel


Blue Hotel, on a lonely highway
Blue Hotel, life don't work out my way

Blue Hotel, on a lonely highway
Blue Hotel, life don't work out my way
I wait alone each lonely night
Blue Hotel...
Blue Hotel...

Blue Hotel, every room is lonely
Blue Hotel, I was waiting only
The night is like her lonely dream
Blue Hotel...
Blue Hotel...

Blue Hotel, on a lonely highway
Blue Hotel, life don't work out my way
I wait alone each lonely night
Blue Hotel...
Blue Hotel...

- Chris Isaak

Into twilight.