A little goofy, a little sparkly-dreamy, a lot of synth for week 35 of #songaweek2016:
Writing life
Not My Week
During week 26 of #songaweek2016 I’ve been traveling with my parents & kids to visit relatives out east. No guitar, very little alone time, no special recording equipment. “But I said I’d write, so I’m writing right now . . .” and this one got recorded on my phone in the car on the way back to my uncle’s house from a day at the Jersey shore.
Life in These United Hates
When writing my Week 24 song for #songaweek2016, I was feeling the weight of hate in our country – the Orlando shooting, Donald Trump rallies, comments sections and Internet memes of all stripes.
Tried to write something coherent, but I think I felt most strongly the wordless singing part. Not my best week, too squeezed for time this time, but I’m committed to doing this every week and posting it here, so here it is. With electric guitar by Nathan Bloom.
This can’t go on forever
this can’t be all we’ve got
this summer afternoon that’s raging
bloody blazing hot
but does that mean that nightmares
are clinging to its heels?
and for the thousandth time the moon
looks sadly down on killing fields?
Aah . . .
I wish you hope and courage
and strength and wisdom too
I wish you all the healing balm
that love and peace need to take root
and when your heart attacks you
with fear and dull despair
I wish you hands that hold your own
and voices vowing, I am here.
Luminescent
Some of us are just destined to do most of our work in the dark. We choose it – sort of – and it seems to choose us too. Not much spotlight, not much sunshine – but oh how we glow in our finest hours – alone in the studio at midnight, on a stage in front of five actively listening people, putting the finishing touches on a poem in the corner of a busy coffee shop.
My song for Week 19 of #songaweek2016 is dedicated to all the introverts, melancholics and not-so-go-getters who persist in loving this noisy, busy, sun-worshiping world through the deep, dark, luminescent art they faithfully create.
I’m the glow after the blaze
More subtle glance than open gaze
I’m understated
not overrated
i like my coffee black
i like a strong dark beer
and if you want to be sweet with me
be bittersweet
I’ve been singing in the shadows
From the day that I was made
I’m luminescent in the moonlight
but in the sunshine I just fade
Don’t cover me in kisses of pure joy
I cannot play along
mix them with tears
be salty sweet
My daydreams never hold a candle to
All the beauty I dream in the dark
Keep your sparkling diamonds
I’d rather have stars
I can’t tell you why I’m like this
It’s just always been this way
I’m luminescent in the moonlight
but in the sunshine I just fade
One Poet to Another
Grabbing some moments at the coffeeshop and combing through old computer files, felt like it was time to post a little something. So here, a poem about poems:
One Poet to Another
2/18/13 Julia Tindall Bloom
When I remark that my poems are not as good as yours
I am not denying their breathing reality.
They are real-live poems
I know, I was there at the birth of each and every one.
I am only admitting
That I love them too blindly
Keep them too close
To see them straight
And seeing the healthy bodies of yours
Functioning beautifully
Independent of your protection
I recognize my babies still have some growing to do
And so does my love.
Julia Bloom 