SONGCATCHING

1

those that watch
	those that crawl
those that walk
	those that swim
		those that fly and

winds, waters, mountains, clouds
disappointments, passages, rewards
relationships, memories, spirits
innocence, tiny hands, tiny feet
wrinkles, stories, greying eyes


songs these carry
	songs these emanate
		songs for us to receive

2

On the bus in Seattle it came to me looking out the window at all those who sped by
while I	car-less
trumbled along dad sings it now he says when he feels alone, says it comforts him
it comforts us	both

3

She got up
and danced

weary body and
white braids
cane in hand

blessing the people
to a song
I had caught

I was
so young then
afraid

to sing them
in public

but later
she whispered this
in my ear

that was the most
	beautiful song
I ever heard





4

Let	me	sleep
wind, rocks, trees, friends and rain...
Keep your songs till tomorrow

5

I see you smile
	catch a song
I see you cry
	catch a song
I see you struggle
	catch a song
I hear you laugh
	catch a song
I see you grow
	catch a song
I see you walk away
	please, please now I really need to catch a song

6

There’s this thing we singers do
with nearly silent whistles

ffff... whewwww... ffff.. fff.... ff... ohh....

we trust the wind
to bring it back

that song
	wandering

that song
	almost forgotten

that song
for this moment

ffff.... wheewww...........


7

Songcatcher

with what song
will you travel
to peace and light

with what song
will you say farewell

to all
that was good
and all
that was pain

with what song
will you greet

what had left
what was love
what was blood

what will be
the song you use

Songcatcher

to return
	breath
	thought
and memories
		to wind...

Arlie Neskahi
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