I am: Part VIII (Or 8, if you don't want to be fancy)

I am...
...still writing, less often but getting that itch again
...a little tipsy
...probably a disappointment to someone
...a music lover
...a music maker, sometimes
...a leftover, a sidekick, a circus freak
...strong like bull
...trying to get this right
...probably getting this wrong
...typing like shit, and correcting like crazy (I said I was tipsy!)
...an anchor, good or bad
...someone, and that was hard to type
...on the verge of laughter or tears
...flowing with the unexpected
...leaning into the winds of change
...withstanding the barrage of obstacles against me

I am
...to be continued, in words, or action, or breath

hope

tear me open, find that key I'm looking for
tear me apart, and reassemble me
forgive my sins and I'll forgive yours
but never give in, never give up

even though I want to quit
I haven't thrown in the towel
I haven't given up the ghost
I haven't stopped hoping

hope

intangible, infallible, faulty to a fault

I feel like giving in
then

hope

a life rope to a drowning mind
a calming presence in the chaos of my brain

and fictional as hell

The paradox of hope, when you're drowning alone,
is that it doesn't make you float
it saps your strength
makes your limbs heavy

like the burden that got you in the water
in the first place

it's what anchors you while drowning
flailing, thrashing about
making everything worse than it was
because you believe

and hope is responsible
it's why we smile as sink below the surface
hope will save us all
at the last moment

but by then
it's too late

for hope

because we're torn down, disassembled
without the key
to it all

hope

The empty grey

Hollowed ambition, unfollowed rules
Disregarded tradition, misguided fools

When the time for decisions arrives
Who will help you decide?
When a moment of greatness appears
Will you run and hide?

Nowhere to run to, nowhere is safe
Darkness enclosing, deep in the fray
Nowhere to turn, everyone is prey
Leaden perception, colorless day

the empty grey

Misguided ambition, disregarded rules
Unfollowed tradition, hallowed fools

When the times for action arise
Who will help you shine?
When the glory disappears
Will you run and hide?

the empty grey

Disregarded ambition, hallowed rules
Misguided traditions, unfollowed fools

When the time for decision arrives
(Nowhere to run, nowhere is safe)
When the moment of greatness appears
(Nowhere to turn, everyone is prey)
When the times for action arise
(Darkness enclosing, deep in the fray)
When all the glory disappears
(Leaden perception, no one is safe)

Unfollowed ambition, misguided rules
Hallowed traditions, disregarded fools

the empty grey

A fond memory, and a thank you

I never met Neil Peart, nor had I seen him perform live. He still had a huge impact on me. I am saddened by his passing, but happy I heard his songs, read his lyrics and enjoyed his books. Thank you for all you have given me and the world, Neil. I hope your years of hard work made you half as happy as it made your fans.

Here's a post I wrote long ago about Neil.


Inspired By Neil Peart