Oh-Wah Tah-Fu Lie-Am

Oh-Wah Tah-Fu Lie-Am

I took a girl of many charms,

And held her just too tight,

Smothered her with loving arms,

At my side both day and night.

Oh-wah Tah-Fu Lie-Am

Every little word she said,

That wasn't, "I love you",

Was heard as "good-bye" within my head,

A foolish nightmare cast me blue.

Oh-Wah Tah-Fu Lie-Am

When she does things I don't approve,

Won't give heed to what I say,

Regret the thoughts to which I'm moved,

God! Don't let me drive her away!

Oh what a fool I am.

Brian K. Eddy

June 20, 2001

If God...

If GOD . . .

If God were truly merciful,

Then He would provide a way,

For those who never hear His word,

To come to Him someday.

If God were really loving,

And blessed the little children,

Then how can they be judged aright,

If they don't live to become men?

If God has cared for all mankind,

From the beginning to the end,

Gave them visions in ancient times,

Don't WE need prophets sent?

If God were actually unchangeable,

And straight upon His course,

Then all these things would come to pass,

For all goodness He is the source.

Brian K. Eddy

Apr 21, 2001

The Man and the Stone

The Man and the Stone

                  A shepherd once knelt before the Lord,

                  Praying for his heart's desire,

                  And asked for strength to burst any cord,

                  Such might that songs inspire.

5                 So God came down unto the man,

                  Saying unto him, "My Son,

                  I have before me a mighty plan,

                  If you'll serve, then the prize is won."

                  Suddenly in the path there stood,

10                A mighty stone of weight and girth,

                  "Remove this stone for all men's good,

                  Then I'll grant your prayer of worth".

                  With commandment laid upon his head,

                  Placed his shoulder to the task,

15                Faith overcoming any dread,

                  To accomplish what the Lord had asked.

                  For many days he fought and strained,

                  To move the gargantuan rock,

                  His flesh all bleeding and last strength drained,

20                Having withstood the travelers' mocks.

                  Finally his will was broke,

                  He sat and dropped his brow,

                  The failure complete, aloud his spoke,

                  "My Lord, forgive me now."

25                Again the Lord appeared on hand,

                  And gazed into hs eyes.

                  "Rise up before me, you are a man,

                  Tell me why you cry."

                  "My God," he said with trembling voice,

30                "I've failed in the work you gave,

                  The stone yet dwells in the self-same place,

                  T'would've been easier to hold back the waves".

                  Then a tear sprang forth from God's face,

                  "How long must I explain My ways?

35                Know you not that I could clear this place,

                  And your humble prayer have answered today?"

                  "Look upon your arms so strong,

                  Build-up in this fruitless chore,

                  Shoulders broad and weakness gone,

40                At THIS moment your faith is not sure?"

                  Then the man gazed down in wondering awe,

                  To the stone and to the Lord's feet,

                  Now he finally knew what He had taught,

                  Trust the Lord, and His wisdom complete.

                                          Brian K. Eddy

                                          June 5, 1994

The Stranger

The Stranger

                  Among new friends,

                  Yet lost and alone,

                  Ahead new lands,

                  My back towards home.

5                 A sudden idea,

                  Then entered my mind,

                  Ignoring all fear,

                  I'd a stranger to find.

                  Her picture before,

10                With beauty all crowned,

                  My senses soar,

                  In blue eyes drown.

                  To her unknown,

                  I pleaded my case,

15                Surprising to me,

                  She replied with haste.

                  Slowly we've learned,

                  To be friends,

                  Lasting trust earned,

20                Til the World ends.

                  The future's bright,

                  Tho' we're never met,

                  Together we might,

                  If heaven's will's set.

                              -Brian K. Eddy

                              May 6, 1990

Ariel Veritas

Ariel Veritas

"Tween rippling sea of blue-green hue,

And crumbl'ing earth of darkened brown,

From a rock whence both are viewed,

Drifts a soft and mournful sound.

Upon it sits Mademoiselle de la Mer,

Whose beauty outshines the sun,

Anemonie tress'ed golden hair,

Storm-grey eyes whose rain hath come.

No choice exists for the gentle heart,

And all her dreams so grand,

Crystle tears to the sea impart,

N'er to walk the land.

Her echoed sorrow can be heard,

In grottos far and near,

Anon, perchance, her longing words,

If you'll but lend an ear.

Brian K. Eddy

July 20, 2001

35 and Counting...

35 and Counting . . .

Take just a tiny second,

When first our eyes did meet,

We let it fill all creation,

As two lives made one complete.

Recall that perfect minute,

When first spoke, "I love you",

And joy welled-up in hearts,

As echoed, "I love you too".

Cling to our glorious day,

When first kissed as Man and Wife,

Such promise the future held,

As we set upon our life.

Pass the fleeting years,

When they never seem enough,

I cherish each and all,

As good times and the tough.

Look on unto forever,

When our love each day begins,

Right now is the second I met you,

As I'd marry you once again.

Brian K. Eddy

July 8, 2001

For Arthur and his wife on their 35th ann.

White Princes and Queens

White Princess and Queens

                  It was warm and friendly outside today,

                  With the gentle snow falling every which way,

                  And the desires of Kings lay dead on the ground.

                  Empires rose and fell without making a sound.

5                 White Princess and Queens,

                  Do live in our dreams,

                  And rule for a season,

                  Then quietly fall . . . no reason.

                  On the trees they were warring,

10                And would lose with great roaring,

                  For the snow piled grand,

                  Then fell . . .  by no hand.

                  Replacements soon came,

                  And rebuilt-up the same,

15                Then again in their turn,

                  Did fall, and I yearn.

                  I can see there's no way.

                  For them to rule the whole day,

                  See they lack humble strength,

20                Pride'll fell then at length.

                  And Satan loves that great tool,

                  That makes Man play the fool,

                  Yet we'll rule forever,

                  If we fall to the knee and endeavor.

25                Although Pride is dramatic,

                  And prayer anti-climactic,

                  We can either rise on our dreams,

                  Or fall, with White Princess and Queens.

                                    - Brian K. Eddy

                                    February 1-4, 1990

I was stuck in a room for several days. It was the first time I had been able to sit and watch a snow fall without any distractions. The flakes would build-up in the branches of a tree outside my window and eventually their weight would cause the "castle" to collapse and fall under it's own hubris.

When Mere Mortals Love Divine

When Mere Mortals Love Divine

1                       I, all alone in the dark,

                        Sit and think of you,

                        While the singer in the box,

                        Croons of love too true.

5                       And all his hope and trust,

                        Sung in that voice so wry,

                        Only counterpoints my lonely nights,

                        Did that man every cry?

                        No, he could never, ever feel,

10                      That pain and despair that is mine,

                        For who could guess it's Hadeic depths,

                        When mere mortals love divine.

                        Of Beren and Luthian I could sing,

                        Their love a glorious lied,

15                      An Edain Man and Eldar lass,

                        For such joy I could only plead.

                        To play the part of Beren-lad,

                        It tis my only prayer,

                        In Luthien's part you would be cast,

20                      For no other actress could compare.

                                          -Brian K. Eddy

                                          Oct. 6, 1990

      I was working the nightshift at the county jail. Lockdown was at

 11:00 p.m. and for five hours there was a minimal of activity. I would listen to music and write poetry. Amber was another in a long list of beautiful women willing to be my friend, but not my love.

      Beren and Luthien are one of the great couples in J.R.R. Tolkien's Masterpiece the Silmarillion. Beren was a Man and Luthien an Elf. He was forced to go through horrific trials and feats in order to prove his worthiness. He did accomplish the goal but at great personal sacrifice.

      Leid, in line 14, is German for song. Tolkein used the old Germanic tales for much inspiration.

Songbird

Songbird

            Stay my dear, I want to say, I love you,

            You'll never know just how very much you mean to me,

            Just like bird that soars upon the wind,

            You carry my love above the highest of the clouds,

5           I call upon your name,

            And I hear you singing back,

            There's no other love in the World for me.

            Here we are, alone against, the silent world,

            And by our song we tell them how a love can be,

10          We're together through it all, oh my love,

            Never let me miss a moment of your song,

            I need to hear it every day,

            And I'll live within your arms,

            I look into your eyes, and then I'm gone.

15          How often do I have to say I love you,

            You've gone away and left me here to sing the song alone,

            But when you come back to my arms then you'll know,

            The harmony of our souls is worth the pain,

            I see an angel's smile,

20          And forever is our bond,

            While lovers hear but an echo of OUR song.

                                    -Brian K. Eddy

                                    Aug. 31, 1992

      Inspired by and written to Kenny G's "Songbird".

My Lover's Voice

My Lover's Voice

                        Above me sings the robin red,

                        Yet I hear my lover's voice,

                        On divers paths my feet are led,

                        To her arms my only choice,

5                       Never dreaming of another's bed,

                        Long for my wife's lips so soft and sweet,

                        Everyday I'll strive be,

                        Worthy of her love for me.

                                          -Brian K. Eddy

                                          April 17, 1997

Listen My Boy

Listen My Boy

                  Listen my boy sleeping in your bed,

                  You're born so small and helpless,

                  But oh I'm filled with a fear and a dread,

                  How will I ever know what's best?

5                 Son of mine you've grown in youth,

                  With all the joy that holds,

                  Of frogs and mud and a missing tooth,

                  Too quickly your life unfolds.

                  This child of mine is now a Man,

10                And he's leaving me this day,

                  Oh Father dear you've done all you can,

                  But now I must find my own way.

                  Too soon, my Lord, for him to die,

                  I need his loving hand,

15                To lead me through the shoals of Life,

                  My Sire, guide, and friend.

                  What was it that my Father said?

                  I had been born so small and helpless,

                  Just as you, my son, in your newborn's bed,

                  But you know, he always knew what was best.

                                          -Brian K. Eddy

                                          June 15, 1991

How Is It That I Care?

How is it that I care?

                        For many days I've seen her face,

                        And watched her walking there,

                        Within my heart begins to race,

                        How is it that I care?

5                       Does her heart belong to another man?

                        Or should I lay mine bare?

                        I would embrace her now if I could,

                        How is it that I care?

                        Many things doth hold me back,

10                      How could I approach this maiden fair?

                        For I am plain and courage lack,

                        How is it that I care?

                        Yet if her heart to me were true,

                        And if we would but dare,

15                      Together we can find the answer to,

                        How is it that I care?

                                          -Brian K. Eddy

                                          May 15, 1994

His Face, His Eyes, His Soul

His Face, His Eyes, His Soul

                  In Nazareth I was come one day,

                  From Ginea to Cana did make my way,

                  I stopped for water at a lowly home,

                  And over a young boy mine eye did roam.

5                 I saw his face unetched by care,

                  But by thought taken which is worldly rare,

                  Not handsome was he, a gangly youth,

                  Yet I perceived a radiance, the glow of truth.

                  My eyes were unknowingly drawn to see,

10                His wonder but wisdom when looking at me,

                  The blue of his orbs was a dancing flame,

                  I was aware of my life and he knew the same.

                  The water soon came and I touched his hand,

                  Purity I felt there like a burning brand,

15                A child had never taken my heart so strong,

                  I knew that this lad would never do wrong.

                  A fear but a love filled my very soul,

                  Even now I must leave, to achieve my goal,

                  But as I walked along each dusty mile,

20                My mind hearkened back to his heavenly smile,

                  Many years have passed, between then and now,

                  I've grown in life's strengths like an oaken bough,

                  Now by my riches I live in Jerusalem's lanes,

                  And a man, I saw by the last of Sol's wanes.

25                His face was strong, rugged but clean,

                  In the prime of life, humble I deemed,

                  Too many he spoke, his words I did not hear,

                  Whether truth he told, I had no need to fear.

                  His glance shot out.  It locked onto mine,

30                And power I felt as a sword sharpened fine,

                  No wound did it give me, except to my heart,

                  With guilt and deep anguish, I tried to depart.

                  My mind cried "run!"  The soul did recoil,

                  For I wanted to serve him so regal and royal,

35                His sermon enough to give mortal men pride,

                  Yet deeply was it hid, so humbly inside.

                  I took a step forward, his slave would I be,

                  My mind then took power and caused me to flee,

                  Who was this strange man that my heart had so rent?

40                What was his mission and why was he sent?

                  Twas a bright spring morning, one day before Sabbath,

                  When a commotion outside awakened my wrath,

                  The procession wound up to the top of the hill,

                  Golgotha, the skull-top where humanity is nil.

45                A cross stood there with one to each side,

                  This same man was there I fell and I cried,

                  Drawn and pale his face was that day,

                  Submissive and obedient the Sinless-One paid.

                  I sought for His eyes, just one little look,

50                For recognition came, though this evil it took,

                  That child, the Man, my Savior was He,

                  His eyes spoke volumes, His forgiveness of me.

                  The body was broken, His spirit still mighty,

                  I longed to go hold Him, with my arms round so

                                                tightly,

55                My limbs stretched forward but deny it He did,

                  Omnipotent power was just under hid.

                  I wept at His tomb side all that night through,

                  Thinking there was nothing on Earth worthy left to                                                    do,

                  Then an Angel appeared "Have comfort, good cheer,

                  Through your faith it is promised, He'll always be                                              near".

                                          - Brian K. Eddy

                                          January 21, 1990