I had a dream
that AIM called
and
everyone came
I ran
over hills
and
thru valleys
they were everywhere
the line four five abreast
streched for miles
and they dance in
young old strong weak
I had a dream
their braids
were
growing
they ate the old
foods
they had the old minds
they wouldn't stop
coming
R.P.Leith
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Follow the Sun
waiting for the sun to rise
they danced
to the left always to the left
follow the sun, the path of life
hearing the songs, each voice clear, strong, beautiful
one beat at a time
like the beat of your heart
always to the left
and stop and pray
and dance to the left
sage, pipes, drums, songs, cedar, following the path
of those who came before
and making a path for the who would come after
follow the sun
piercing, singing, dancing
always to the left
dance hard my family, dance hard,
for they are suffering, tahikedo mitakuyapi
they are having a hard time,
pray hard, dance on until sundown
maybe tomorrow we will eat, maybe.
they danced
to the left always to the left
follow the sun, the path of life
hearing the songs, each voice clear, strong, beautiful
one beat at a time
like the beat of your heart
always to the left
and stop and pray
and dance to the left
sage, pipes, drums, songs, cedar, following the path
of those who came before
and making a path for the who would come after
follow the sun
piercing, singing, dancing
always to the left
dance hard my family, dance hard,
for they are suffering, tahikedo mitakuyapi
they are having a hard time,
pray hard, dance on until sundown
maybe tomorrow we will eat, maybe.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Unknown
Wretched life had laid me down
on grass not yet bent
only to pierce my skin
and leave me spent
of spirit and blood
for all of history and
cunning to forgive
would not do for all
the time not sent
into heaven or out of hell
for those not seen but
only heard of
love lost and
souls forgotten
r.p.leith
date not known
They Figured
They figured
well...
we have until
the candle burns out.
The cigar burned
as it sat
for not being touched.
Twin engines
roared
on the lonely highway
Single hearts
beat
faster than
they should.
Kick me again
maybe then
I'll feel as though
I am really alive.
The cars floated into dismal space
the hearts stopped beating
the kicks landed, thump, thump.
r.p.leith
well...
we have until
the candle burns out.
The cigar burned
as it sat
for not being touched.
Twin engines
roared
on the lonely highway
Single hearts
beat
faster than
they should.
Kick me again
maybe then
I'll feel as though
I am really alive.
The cars floated into dismal space
the hearts stopped beating
the kicks landed, thump, thump.
r.p.leith
I Know You've Been
i know you've been
to places I've never
been
but I can safely
say
your heart of steel
will break some day
when the time came
for you and i
both
to move on
i"ll know in your
mind
your heart of steel
has been wrong.
r.p.leith
to places I've never
been
but I can safely
say
your heart of steel
will break some day
when the time came
for you and i
both
to move on
i"ll know in your
mind
your heart of steel
has been wrong.
r.p.leith
Even as I sit
even as I sit
I can feel
the clouds move
overhead
I can feel the
wind blowing
them south
across the fields
the snow is coming
with the clouds
and the wind
even as I sit
I can feel
the whole world
moving
without me.
r.p.leith
10/88
I can feel
the clouds move
overhead
I can feel the
wind blowing
them south
across the fields
the snow is coming
with the clouds
and the wind
even as I sit
I can feel
the whole world
moving
without me.
r.p.leith
10/88
Monday, April 30, 2012
His Mind
His mind was lying dormant
behind a heavy dark cloud
his ears were clotted with blood
and small bits of bone
his eyes were glued shut
with tears and biting frost
he sat on a bloody chair
many miles from nowhere
his flesh slid off the bone
and fell
into a bloody heap
on the dirt floor
The Remington over under 12
lay passively on the floor
innocent and ominous
splattered with his blood
and veins
all was still as the -30 degree air
frosted the windows
and the -65 degree windchill
licked at the dying fire.
r.p.leith
4/2012
I Keenly Remember
I keenly remember
they sat at a corner table
by a window
with the sun and the moon
shining in......
they were dressed in amber and ocher
speaking the occult
and living in the hidden, the mysterious
Caution blew in with the wind
and joined in their babble
Time exploded in anger
and left the room
frothing at the mouth
and spitting venom
all the while the spider waits.
r.p.leith
Oct. 2 2008
they sat at a corner table
by a window
with the sun and the moon
shining in......
they were dressed in amber and ocher
speaking the occult
and living in the hidden, the mysterious
Caution blew in with the wind
and joined in their babble
Time exploded in anger
and left the room
frothing at the mouth
and spitting venom
all the while the spider waits.
r.p.leith
Oct. 2 2008
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Wall and The Gate
The Wall and The Gate
sitting between the wall and the gate he eyed the guards
raising his eyes to God he prayed
maybe today my Lord maybe today
as the crowds began to enter the city
they would stop and bow to the guards
and it was then he would plead
please master take my box, I am begging you
and the throngs would ignore him
for they knew who he was
please master lift from me my burden
of hell on earth, my curse, my destiny
and stroll by they would, daring only to glance his way
at the end of another day
he would cry in his pity
he would lament in his misery and toil
maybe tomorrow someone will take my curse
and lift my immortal burden
he didn't realize he had no voice
the humpbacked stranger ask him kindly
what is in your box that no mortal man would relieve you of it
what is it you so desperately want to be rid of
he without the voice cried in an anguished reply
master, civilization has been my folly, my foil
they have taken my arms and my legs
I cannot walk, or grasp, or even move
the civilized have beheaded me and spit on me
and in this box I carry my skull and my hands and feet
I am a heathen, I have broken the law, and I suffer
but here I sit day after day, begging for peace and
waiting for the end of the world.
r.p.leith
4/28/2012
sitting between the wall and the gate he eyed the guards
raising his eyes to God he prayed
maybe today my Lord maybe today
as the crowds began to enter the city
they would stop and bow to the guards
and it was then he would plead
please master take my box, I am begging you
and the throngs would ignore him
for they knew who he was
please master lift from me my burden
of hell on earth, my curse, my destiny
and stroll by they would, daring only to glance his way
at the end of another day
he would cry in his pity
he would lament in his misery and toil
maybe tomorrow someone will take my curse
and lift my immortal burden
he didn't realize he had no voice
the humpbacked stranger ask him kindly
what is in your box that no mortal man would relieve you of it
what is it you so desperately want to be rid of
he without the voice cried in an anguished reply
master, civilization has been my folly, my foil
they have taken my arms and my legs
I cannot walk, or grasp, or even move
the civilized have beheaded me and spit on me
and in this box I carry my skull and my hands and feet
I am a heathen, I have broken the law, and I suffer
but here I sit day after day, begging for peace and
waiting for the end of the world.
r.p.leith
4/28/2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Rush Home
rush home
in
the afternoon
out of breath
stop
catch it hold it
calm down
up the stairs
use your key
use your hidden message
walk in
no one home
well
who's home at 4pm anymore
no one
not now anyway
walk back outside
walking slow
caution
thrown in the wind
back to the bar
for an hour
till six
rush home
no...not me.
r.p.leith
7/21/81
in
the afternoon
out of breath
stop
catch it hold it
calm down
up the stairs
use your key
use your hidden message
walk in
no one home
well
who's home at 4pm anymore
no one
not now anyway
walk back outside
walking slow
caution
thrown in the wind
back to the bar
for an hour
till six
rush home
no...not me.
r.p.leith
7/21/81
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Dedicated to the students of the Red School House
They met in a thunderstorm
the sun and the moon
smiled when they were
alone...together
Their ship pulled away
she was on board
he was on shore
alone...together
the sun and the moon
Fell to the earth
broken hearted...in tears
alone...together
r.p.leith
3/21/93
the sun and the moon
smiled when they were
alone...together
Their ship pulled away
she was on board
he was on shore
alone...together
the sun and the moon
Fell to the earth
broken hearted...in tears
alone...together
r.p.leith
3/21/93
THE THUNDER OF YOUR GUN
it was cold and the sun was warm
they waited hand in hand
their eyes making love one more time
and they heard them coming
in a whisper they spoke
I love the thunder of your gun
the horses stopped and a thousand rifles cocked
they could see the enemies breath
he loaded his rifles and cocked her pistols
in the sunshine he could see her tears
in a whisper he spoke
I love the thunder of your gun
their love wasn't in the power of the flesh
it was in the power of their souls
and in the power of their guns
when he went down in a shower of blood
she heard his whisper
I'll miss the thunder of your gun
with tears in her eyes and bullets in her teeth
she fought them to the end
in a whirlwind hail of pain and blood
she whispered to him
I'll miss the thunder of your gun
behind fluttering eyes she could see
the sun and she knew
the thunder of the gun.
r.p.leith
7/5/88
they waited hand in hand
their eyes making love one more time
and they heard them coming
in a whisper they spoke
I love the thunder of your gun
the horses stopped and a thousand rifles cocked
they could see the enemies breath
he loaded his rifles and cocked her pistols
in the sunshine he could see her tears
in a whisper he spoke
I love the thunder of your gun
their love wasn't in the power of the flesh
it was in the power of their souls
and in the power of their guns
when he went down in a shower of blood
she heard his whisper
I'll miss the thunder of your gun
with tears in her eyes and bullets in her teeth
she fought them to the end
in a whirlwind hail of pain and blood
she whispered to him
I'll miss the thunder of your gun
behind fluttering eyes she could see
the sun and she knew
the thunder of the gun.
r.p.leith
7/5/88
THE CLOUDS
The clouds are walking
across the sky
That was
his
Indian name
He
walked the earth
a thousand years
before my birth
He
stood tall
six foot three
Brown eyes
Brown hair
Brown hands
it made you warm
when He spoke
He burned tobacco
and sage
a thousand years
before my birth
r.p.leith
6/20/85
across the sky
That was
his
Indian name
He
walked the earth
a thousand years
before my birth
He
stood tall
six foot three
Brown eyes
Brown hair
Brown hands
it made you warm
when He spoke
He burned tobacco
and sage
a thousand years
before my birth
r.p.leith
6/20/85
TASTE
I could taste my dream
in the half dark
Standing on the precipice
I could see it's mirage
I could hear it
in my being
But the dream
had come
and gone
and only I
stood on the cliff's edge
peering under an
upraised hand
into the mist
of dreams
hoping to catch
at last glimpse
that which was
mine
that which was given
only to me
my dream in the
half dark
in the drifting mist
rp
SPIRIT DISH
The Winter was cold
Little Wolf tracks
crossed and crisscrossed
the river
standing in the early morning mist
the only lonely morning of the year
He watched.
the sun float
in an early morning sky
Had the years gone by
since you sat
in my arms
on my lap
in my love?
Three years have passed
yes
since the Grandfathers
called you home.
Spirit dish in hand He walked
to the grave
across the new snow.
r.p.leith
Spirit Dish is dedicated to: Waylon Chance Leith, (Mah-En-Gah-Az)
January 27, 1975 - March 22, 1986
Love You Son.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
MANDELA DAY
In the heat of the afternoon he slept
on the wooden cot that was his for
his seventy years
he pushed his fingers through his white curly hair
thinking about Winnie, always thinking about Winnie.
He opened his deep brown eyes to try to see the image
of the children he had never seen
only to see the concrete of the cell.
The call to breakfast was the moment when he felt her hand
touching his,
and her whisper,
soft and tender,
telling him of her quiet day at home.
Rising to face his imprisoned life he ached in
his body,
his heart,
his soul.
Hearing the movement of the other prisoners
he resigned to his daily routine.
Rising toward the door he remembered
one day in his past.
It was Winnie's birthday.
The happiness of the family then was strong,
the children would run from one adult to the other,
teasing and pulling one another,
in their anxiety the children would say,
"I'm free, I'm free,"
everyone would get excited and cheer on the free one.
freedom yes, freedom yes, Nelson would nod.
r.p.leith
January 1988
on the wooden cot that was his for
his seventy years
he pushed his fingers through his white curly hair
thinking about Winnie, always thinking about Winnie.
He opened his deep brown eyes to try to see the image
of the children he had never seen
only to see the concrete of the cell.
The call to breakfast was the moment when he felt her hand
touching his,
and her whisper,
soft and tender,
telling him of her quiet day at home.
Rising to face his imprisoned life he ached in
his body,
his heart,
his soul.
Hearing the movement of the other prisoners
he resigned to his daily routine.
Rising toward the door he remembered
one day in his past.
It was Winnie's birthday.
The happiness of the family then was strong,
the children would run from one adult to the other,
teasing and pulling one another,
in their anxiety the children would say,
"I'm free, I'm free,"
everyone would get excited and cheer on the free one.
freedom yes, freedom yes, Nelson would nod.
r.p.leith
January 1988
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS
sometimes it seems
like everyone I have ever loved
has left me
it has always been
a part of my history
sometimes it seems
like people keep walking
out the door
on their way
to somewhere else
sometimes it seems
I always see myself standing
at a window
watching the back of someone
or the tail lights of a car
or the lights of a bus pulling away
And it always seems
like the only thing I have left
are the memories
or the tears that fall down my face
one of these days...someone
is going to stay
I don't know when...but one of these days
r.p.leith
10/84
like everyone I have ever loved
has left me
it has always been
a part of my history
sometimes it seems
like people keep walking
out the door
on their way
to somewhere else
sometimes it seems
I always see myself standing
at a window
watching the back of someone
or the tail lights of a car
or the lights of a bus pulling away
And it always seems
like the only thing I have left
are the memories
or the tears that fall down my face
one of these days...someone
is going to stay
I don't know when...but one of these days
r.p.leith
10/84
Red Lake Skies
Northern skies
cover me
Northern pine
hold me
Northern shore
lash me
maybe then
I'll stay home
Norther elk
call me
Northern road
lose me
Northern air
clean me
maybe then
I'll stay home
in my Northern home
in my Northern skies
r.p.l.
1984
cover me
Northern pine
hold me
Northern shore
lash me
maybe then
I'll stay home
Norther elk
call me
Northern road
lose me
Northern air
clean me
maybe then
I'll stay home
in my Northern home
in my Northern skies
r.p.l.
1984
Up 7th
walked downtown
looking fo' that thing
looked up 7th
down 6th
around the corner
at 10th
nowhere to be seen
maybe today ain't
that day
to find that thing
walked uptown
seen a robbery
still
couldn't find that thing
maybe that thing
is at
home.
r.p.l
1985
looking fo' that thing
looked up 7th
down 6th
around the corner
at 10th
nowhere to be seen
maybe today ain't
that day
to find that thing
walked uptown
seen a robbery
still
couldn't find that thing
maybe that thing
is at
home.
r.p.l
1985
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Empty
he waited all his life
for her light to shine
she came out of the east
he felt her rays
before he felt her
flesh and bone
and, she came out of
the east
he heard her voice
a whistle in the
morning
and, she came...
and he loved
and he touched
and, was touched...
r.p.leith
Oct. 1985
for her light to shine
she came out of the east
he felt her rays
before he felt her
flesh and bone
and, she came out of
the east
he heard her voice
a whistle in the
morning
and, she came...
and he loved
and he touched
and, was touched...
r.p.leith
Oct. 1985
A Rose Colored Garden
looking through a rose
colored garden
he walked slowly
it was as though he had
been there before
but not possible
time passed
waiting
walking
there were many roses
white
red
yellow
he had seen them all
through the garden
he walked
r.p.leith
1984
colored garden
he walked slowly
it was as though he had
been there before
but not possible
time passed
waiting
walking
there were many roses
white
red
yellow
he had seen them all
through the garden
he walked
r.p.leith
1984
Arrest my Heart
r.p.leith
1987
Nobody Loves You
Nobody loves you
when you're down and out
nobody loves you when you're blue
but I don't care
because I spent my last hours with you with you
you know sometimes
the sun don't shine
the stars don't
come out at night
but I don't care
because I spent
my last hours with you with you
when I'm walking on
the shoreline
kicking sand and rocks
I think of your sweet lips
that's all I think about
but I don't care
because I spent
my last hours with you with you
r.p.l.
1985
when you're down and out
nobody loves you when you're blue
but I don't care
because I spent my last hours with you with you
you know sometimes
the sun don't shine
the stars don't
come out at night
but I don't care
because I spent
my last hours with you with you
when I'm walking on
the shoreline
kicking sand and rocks
I think of your sweet lips
that's all I think about
but I don't care
because I spent
my last hours with you with you
r.p.l.
1985
I Think
I think I'm finally
letting go
of her
this is good
for me for her
for us
It feels as though
a huge burden
has been taken
off my sleepless
nights
r.p.leith
1987
letting go
of her
this is good
for me for her
for us
It feels as though
a huge burden
has been taken
off my sleepless
nights
r.p.leith
1987
Monday, April 23, 2012
Kinds of people
there were two
kinds of people
there
those that did
then
those that did
not
we were both
against the wall
to this day
I still
don't know why
we talked
we had nothing
in
common
I did and
she did not
but we were
r.p.l.
87
kinds of people
there
those that did
then
those that did
not
we were both
against the wall
to this day
I still
don't know why
we talked
we had nothing
in
common
I did and
she did not
but we were
r.p.l.
Every Time
Every time I think of you
it's spring
bright red dress
long brown hair
and a voice like rain
I remember walking on the
pretty plain
golden grass, red red
roses deep sky
when a hawk flies overhead
I know you're free
no more tears, no more pain
and no more me
your other life has called
you and you cannot stay
there you go Van Morrison
playing along the way.
r.p.leith
it's spring
bright red dress
long brown hair
and a voice like rain
I remember walking on the
pretty plain
golden grass, red red
roses deep sky
when a hawk flies overhead
I know you're free
no more tears, no more pain
and no more me
your other life has called
you and you cannot stay
there you go Van Morrison
playing along the way.
r.p.leith
Dear God
Whisper to me.
close to my ear
say what I need to hear
tell me that I am alright
let me know that I am loved.
I will whisper to you
today I am sober
today I did not use drugs
I am so young and vunerable
only you can guide me
and care for me
my gift to you is my sobriety
your gift to me is my life
every day when I rise
I will try to remember to
say thank you.
whisper to me
I am here and I am finally listening.
r.p.leith
12/9/94
close to my ear
say what I need to hear
tell me that I am alright
let me know that I am loved.
I will whisper to you
today I am sober
today I did not use drugs
I am so young and vunerable
only you can guide me
and care for me
my gift to you is my sobriety
your gift to me is my life
every day when I rise
I will try to remember to
say thank you.
whisper to me
I am here and I am finally listening.
r.p.leith
12/9/94
Your Heaven
yes your heaven
is where I tried to go
little did I know that
it was not for me
But my Lord reached down
and stopped me in my tracks
before I got
to your heaven
yes heaven
is where I wanted to be
But I would have been
chained and shackled
to your love
not to be free
but my Lord reached down
and stopped me in my tracks
before I got
to your heaven
I was so weak and blind
that I could not see
I was in so much pain that
I stopped being me
but my Lord reached down
and stopped me in my tracks
from walking on, going on
into your heaven
it would have been
hell for me
forever and a day
if I went on, in my own way
into your heaven
yes your heaven
r.p. leith
1/28/1995
is where I tried to go
little did I know that
it was not for me
But my Lord reached down
and stopped me in my tracks
before I got
to your heaven
yes heaven
is where I wanted to be
But I would have been
chained and shackled
to your love
not to be free
but my Lord reached down
and stopped me in my tracks
before I got
to your heaven
I was so weak and blind
that I could not see
I was in so much pain that
I stopped being me
but my Lord reached down
and stopped me in my tracks
from walking on, going on
into your heaven
it would have been
hell for me
forever and a day
if I went on, in my own way
into your heaven
yes your heaven
r.p. leith
1/28/1995
A Thousand Clowns
He danced in shiny shoes
floating across the floor
He wore the face
of a thousand clowns
He had always worn before
He smiled at the music
twirled a lady here and there
stopped to tease the piano
threw his laughter in the air
a sound came way off far away
the daylight was closing
all the noise was dying down
but in his trembling fear
He wore the face
of a thousand clowns
they miss him on the circuit
and wonder if he'll return
the ladies and the music
listen so they can learn
to wear a face like
his, smiling away the frown
wrinkled from time and laughter
still only a thousand clowns
r.p.leith
2/12/95
floating across the floor
He wore the face
of a thousand clowns
He had always worn before
He smiled at the music
twirled a lady here and there
stopped to tease the piano
threw his laughter in the air
a sound came way off far away
the daylight was closing
all the noise was dying down
but in his trembling fear
He wore the face
of a thousand clowns
they miss him on the circuit
and wonder if he'll return
the ladies and the music
listen so they can learn
to wear a face like
his, smiling away the frown
wrinkled from time and laughter
still only a thousand clowns
r.p.leith
2/12/95
In the Firelight
In the firelight
they told the stories
Always with heads low
speaking to each other
and to no one
As the stories came
like a storm after dark
the story came
with lightening and thunder
His eyes would be half closed
to protect his mind
in telling the story
after dark in the soft wind
it was always the same
With each breath in the tale
silence would prevade
they in listening would pull
their cloaks closer about them
their cloaks protection from each
word of
the story
they told the stories
Always with heads low
speaking to each other
and to no one
As the stories came
like a storm after dark
the story came
with lightening and thunder
His eyes would be half closed
to protect his mind
in telling the story
after dark in the soft wind
it was always the same
With each breath in the tale
silence would prevade
they in listening would pull
their cloaks closer about them
their cloaks protection from each
word of
the story
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