I lost my love at Nineveh

I lost my love at Nineveh

Enshrouded by light stood Nineveh
Tall and towering in mighty fire
Joyous and well her great lord led
Yet no more does it crave desire
(all was quenched when blood was shed)

Citadel of dreams was Ninua
Home of beloved Artemis was she
Bright were her streets with gentle mirth
Land of my lover with whom I dream
(her blood now mingles with the earth)

A conspiracy of 3 came down on her
For her brightness brought forth jealousy
Cyaxares Nabopolassar and God came close
Joining to end her destiny
(little remains of my once gracious host)
Fire a fire burns therein
It burns with brightness long erased
It burns for Ninevehs fallen men
It burns in memory of her days
(It burns for my lover my stolen gem)

My love died with Ninua
Consumed by her eternal flame
Raised to the ground by furious hands
As Ninuas warriors she too was slain
(Love and capital buried in sand)

Nineveh was always city of light
Paregoric stronghold now causing pain
Death destruction within your walls
You are lost but I conserve your name
(My wounds grieve no more my lover calls)

Roble de la Sierra

Un roble angustiado abre sus brazos en vano hacia el cielo azul de Madrid La sierra aqui no olvida, sin perdon Llamas sin cesar Ardiendo en el corazon Quien contestara' al roble? Quien escucha susurros en el viento? Arido en la sequia eterna del verano Resplendor invernal decorado por nieves audaces Intocables, nos penetran sus raices.

Ode to a bird

Ode to a bird Marjory, we stopped, But an eagle you were definitely not. We could not leave you there alone, So we picked you up and took you home. The vet said you would be ok and live to fly again someday. Pleasant peasant pheasant, all three You raised lots of laughs for mami and papi Farewell to you, dear Marjory Your forever in this family's rich history

Genowewa

Genowewa

Thread and needle
needle and thread
keep us safe
strike our enemies dead

Sewing, sewing always sewing
when will the thyme come to reap?
Sewing, sewing, steppes of cloth
Stepping out of line from the Russians wrath

Thread and needle
Needle and thread
Rosehip tea and scavenged bread

Sewing sewing always sewing
no time to stop, no time to weep
Sewing sewing, growing hope
Sewing the way for me to cope

Needle and thread
thread and need
turning honey into mead

Thread to follow through the maze of life
Needle that pierces our pain and strife
Thread and Need
Needle tread
walk for miles
so many dead

Threadbare but sewing
sewing still
sewing healthy, sewing ill
Matchstick legs and needle fingers
life still here, life that lingers

Thread and needle
needle and three
walking West
to hope, to liberty.

AKIMEL O'ODHAM

Akimel O'odham

Crossing the Maricopa line
Feeling like its all a lie
The buckeyes grin
Take it on the chin
Don’t even question why

Pima county here I come
Not too sure if I'm the one
The sign in town says no solicitin'
But you go diving in


Salt River sings
Look what deadwood river brings
You find your roots with saguaro fruits
Coyote rides on in

I don’t know, don’t understand
How could they be underhand
You’d be amazed by
The Man in the maze
To see that we’re all lost like that man


This song was born of a dream- I wasnt even sure where Maricopa was or indeed if it existed until I looked it up, but it was clearly meant to be. It is dedicated to all First Nations people in the Americas who still suffer from discrimination and misunderstanding.
The Akimel O'Odham people were called the Pima by the first settlers- 'Pima' means 'I dont understand' and is deeply symbolic of the multiplicity of misunderstandings between First Nations and Colonisers.

You and I

Where are we now in 2008?
Looking to the future, or is it just too late?
Black guy at the top is shouting 'yes we can'
Is he another liar, or is he a peoples man?
Struggling not to sink atruggling just to survive
most of us may feel dead but inside Jah live
Theres a way through the fog can see it in your eyes
Today you keep your heads down but tomorrow you will rise
To reclaim, to rise up
to forget about our shame
or are you happy in the gutter leaving everything the same?

You and I spell community
you and I spell true society
you and I spell equality
you and I- Rastafari!

Am I a minor player singing in a major key
Or am I a major player making music history?
So wheres the peace for me now late at night and I can't sleep
Keep thinking things don't want to think- I'm in too deep
Want to work with SPIRIT, want to be true
not for you, not for you or for you or for you
but for me to be free, live in my reality
yesterday was no way
but today we can pray
for tomorrow thats the thing
lets see what we bring in

You and I spell equality
you and I spell fair society
you and I spell fraternity
you and I
Rastafari!

Satan Smiles

Satan smiles
"A terrible poem on the trials and tribulations of one poor soul"
Critics say "truly terrible" (the Guardian- of the gates of hell) "Worst thing I ever read" (the Mirror, in the bathroom)

Standing there he smiles at me,
all horned and red and mean as can be.
"Begone!" I cry "begone you beast!"
but it doesnt upset him in the very least.

"Im used to all these wails and cries."
he says as he stands there with his ghoulish smile.
"No ones pleased to see me any more"
he adds, brushing his forked tail on the floor.
"But Im here all the same.
Here to take you in my name."
"What's in it for me?" trembling, I ask
plucking courage in sips from my whisky flask.

"More money than you've ever seen, 
and a hot new girlfriend who's barely 16.
She's a lovely girl with a great big rack,
and I'll even throw in a brand new cadillac,
and fame and glory, as much as you wish,
after all later on you'll be a tasty dish
for the demons and devils of hell to enjoy
-they always love playing with a brand new toy." 

I pondered and thought for a second or two,
it didnt sound too bad but what was I to do?

"I understand we need to agree,
but I have to run, I'm desperate to wee
maybe we'll talk when Im back from the loo
but till then, its tarrah, and nice to meet you"
I said this nicely with a smile and a bow,
hoping to nip out and escape somehow.
He opened the door to the toilets for me,
and out I ran as quick as could be.

"Not so fast" he said and he grabbed my leg,
but I stomped on his fingers and kicked at his head.
he dropped to the ground with a groan and a thud,
and suddenly the toilets were covered with blood.
 
oh shit I killed him! I thought with alarm,
never mind, take deep breaths and try to stay calm.
i buried his body in the garden shed,
hope noone will find out that old Nick is dead.  
Anyway its manslaughter, not murder, see?
After all he was the one that assaulted poor me.

So I killed him yes, but in self defence,
In the eyes of the law there's been no offence.
The devil's dead, i killed him you see, 
and so far no come-back, i got away scot-free!

At night Im all horny and red and quite mean,
and my girl wants to know where the hell have I been.
we've just got together- she's really a dream!
But I cant tell her, she'll freak as she's only 16...