Heart Gallery- G Clair

Caught a glimmer of joy in his eyes 'twas so cold
as I left on that bus, he was smiling,
though the memory's quite old and the shimmer has dulled
it's a full-color, framed, out of filing.

Sepia pictures more often I hold
old negatives covered in grime
it's a shame, though foretold, we're all growing old
with limited space and less time.

Despite all the charm my countenance exudes,
these tattered old blinds can't conceal
soft light filters truth from my cheap platitudes
and the good from the dark stuff I feel.

and just when I've found that my heart's been around
and left beaten, embittered and cold
here's Walter Mitty, no sex in the city
self pity is making me old.

Over there in the closet, a huge bank deposit
I'm saving for something worthwile
been trusting the Lord, yet can never afford
that 'single and lovin it' smile.

The clock on wall tells me just where I stand
and it's chime brings the heartache of doom
as the seconds tick by I can't help but cry
all alone in my heart's old dark room.

Watching my step, I tread deep within
without the desire to save face
I gaze at a skin, done by guilt of that sin
in the light of God's love and sweet grace.

Though my heart is your home I've n'er let You roam
through the passages marked 'Do Not Enter'
they lead to the room where the waft meets the loom
forming poems wherein I am the center.

The fabric you see in that heap seems to weep
burdened down with my aches and my pains
I've asked that you'd heal all this stuff while I sleep
but I wake and the damage remains

Your spirit reminds me, at home in my heart
you've taken my sin to the grave
your pleasure to clean up, yet I must forgive
and let go of the garbage I save.

Afraid now to look any further for fear
we'll discover the worst yet to come
You tell me to follow, for You hold me dear
since we're no longer two now but one.

Beginning to see how I'd lost all my hope
when I left on that bus in the rain
I forgive him for not being able to cope
without love and the will to sustain.

You Lord, my comfort have been here within
you know how my heart is in shambles
You've rolled back the stone, I'm no longer my own
and you smile though my poetry rambles.

So welcome, my friend, yes it's been quite a while
since we've bathed in the sun and run free
got a mind for preserving your beautiful smile
in my state of the heart gallery!

What It's Not- G Clair

come on in to what is real, and I will make a nice hot meal and
you can turn the TV on, sit back, and watch the game that's on...
put your feet up on the chair and grab that blanket over there
I'll light a fire, stir the pot, don't get me wrong, it's what it's not

it's not that I you are all that great, but good enough, the hour is late
it's not that you are all that cold, but last I looked, we're getting old
it's not that I am in the need of someone here to bathe and feed
a homeless, worse, an invalid, a chatty friend or someone's kid

so come on in to what is real, and I will make a nice hot meal and
you can turn the TV on, sit back watch the game that's on...
put your feet up on the chair and grab that blanket over there
I'll light a fire, stir the pot, don't get me wrong, it's what it's not

It's not that I invite your gassing, true we've seen our best years passing
Frankly I have much preferred one's tendencies, like those, deferred
and even though I am not the type to get involved with TV hype
it's not that I'd could really care, or even stare were you not there

so come on in to what is real, and I will make a nice hot meal and
you can put the TV on, sit back and watch game that's on...
put your feet up on the chair and grab that blanket over there
I'll light a fire and stir the pot, don't get me wrong, it's what it'snot

It's not that I am tired of being... here alone, and never seeing
anyone of any kind, I might be lonely, but you'll find
that I am good at making due and if you think you have a clue
then any time you want the best of what it's not, please be my guest!

The One- G Clair

I'm told a man from Nazereth
had taken time to plan His death
from somewhere way before the birth of time
would be a thing worth finishing
for none could wear His wedding ring
until the final pardon for their crime.

And taken from the midst of sin
an undeserving place I'm in
beneath the cross, I stare up at The One
whose blood poured down that gruesome day
in pain the man was heard to say
with his last breath, "That's it, My Work is Done."

They took his body torn and dead
removed the thorns which pierced his head
and crying for this Man they'd come to love
wrapped him gently in the way
as was the custom of the day
without a doubt, they questioned God above.

Now placed inside a darkened tomb
and sealed in stone by soldiers whom
could not be caught asleep lest they would pay
but something happened as He planned
His tomb was somehow left unmanned
as angels rolled the stone aside that day.

So WHO IS THIS who claims to save
in three days risen from the grave
who paid a debt which we could n'er afford~
now written into history
He wrote the world a mystery
and solved it one day, cause that's my Lord.

Fulfilling every prophecy
the Only One my heart can see
is Jesus Christ, be sure you cannot hide
you'll face Him on your dying day
the One True Love who made a way
to cover and protect his precious bride.

Undone-- G Clair

a million peices of my heart
in all the things I tend to start
but never finish
and every thing that's left undone
is just a sign I'm on the run
lest I deminish
and if I stop to take a breath
and contemplate my hour of death
I'd have to wonder
what would be my last request
to sit with winners who were blessed
or rather one more chance to be a blunder?

just like the worm who never made the hook
I slept too late and never read the book
thought I'd be freed from trouble in this life
but still I bleed from heartache and from strife

I dabble in the partial arts,
in tasting wines and shopping carts
with shaky wheels
and all the prizes never won
for half baked pies, and smiling eyes
and flaky deals
time will tell if this get's done
though time is never on the run
nor one for waiting
no matter what you do or choose
or what you keep or what you lose
that sunset's fading

just like the worm who never made the hook
i slept too late and never read the book
thought I'd be freed from trouble in this life
but still I bleed from heartache and from strife

Lights My Ways-- G Clair

Was thinking 'bout my life and how it's gonna be
I left it up to God, He put it back on me
went lookin' for direction but I'm just the average Jane
don't like all these decisions, the unknown mystifies my brain.

I pondered over all the things I've done before
thought I could walk on water, knocked on every door
and nothing much was scary then and nothing much was out of place
Well I walked by faith. and left the rest to grace.

When I said that I would follow, wasn't hard to do~
I stayed away from magic, idols, and taboo
and doing the right thing, the only thing that mattered
You planted the Word, and by the wind those seeds were scattered.

Turned my back on old religion, not the way for me
well you can have your catachism and your rosary
never being sure your gonna make it to the promised land,
God showed how much He loved us when he took the nails in his hand.

You raised me out of darkness way before I'm dead
left the puzzle all undone, and lit the way instead
I'm thinking again, but far much higher this time
It's not my will but yours that I am hoping to find.

I've got some time to spend and time is on my hands
I wanna do your will and follow your commands
I know it's not by might, and not by useless power
But by your spirit I will serve to my last hour.

And as I'm on my way, just doing what I do
I'm gonna try my best and kiss it all to you
Well I make mistakes and I've seen some wicked days
but out of every darkness, your faithful love, it lights my ways.

With You -- G Clair

looking back I couldn't see
 the storm clouds rising up inside me
here alone I've faced a darker day
hard to know where you begin just like the rain
you touched my skin and suddenly I'm drenched
and looking for a place to hide away

 with you ( with you)
 hide away with you ( with you)

take me back to where you're from
and dry me off beneath the sun
and speak to me the words which turn cold winters into summer
melt the ice within my heart please make it safe
and never part my life with you is so much more
 than what it was, a bummer

 with you (with you)
summer fun with you (with you)

Clouds move in and storms roll past
the darkness comes but never lasts
and through it all the Lord, our closest friend
First and Last, He's still the same and
trusting in His Holy Name
He's sure to bring us sunshine in the end

 with you (with you)
in the end with you (with you)

you are LOVE -- G Clair

You are here in the light
in the darkest of the night
and you surround me
You surround me
I was lost, but was found
wandered off again
but You came out and found me
You surround me

speak softly
tell me not to be afraid or to consider
any other way, that which is bitter
keep me from religious law and letter
in You things work together for the better
for You are Love, simply Love

not alone, never was
but I struggle to be what they have expected
and rejected~
once again, not enough
while these words come off the cuff
there's something waiting
but hesitating

speak softly
tell me not to be afraid or to consider
any other way, that which is bitter
keep me from religious law and letter
in You things work together for the better
for You are Love, simply Love

came away from that place
filled with pride I needed grace
and how I shivered
yet you delivered
took these rags, then this cart
wrapped your arms around my heart
and in your clothing
no more self-loathing

speak softly
tell me not to be afraid or to consider
any other way, that which is bitter
keep me from religious law and letter
in You things work together for the better
for You are Love, simply Love.

Sewer Break Blues- G Clair

To the Tune of Bob Dylan's "Rollin and Tumblin".

Well we smelled something bad and went lookin for the cause
I said we smelled something bad and went lookin for the cause
well we opened up the basement, and our minds gave way to pause~

there was a stench so strong that it gave my nose a pain
I said a stench so strong that it gave my nose a pain
well the floor was flooded and the ceiling pouring rain~

well the sewer line broke and it and it's arainin' down like crap
said the sewer line broke and it's arainin' down like crap
and never before have I seen this stuff on tap~

Mr. Rooter. God bless you, gonna pump out all our brown
Mr. Rooter, God bless you, gonna pump out all our brown
but we can't use the can, and these sewer blues are gettin' us down.

and if we don't pay the plumber, well our bladder's gonna burst
Said if we don't pay the plumber, yeah our bladder's gonna burst
well I'd go outside, but I'm sittin here dyin' of thirst.

A billable job, said Phil, it's gonna be okay
Well it's a billable job, said Phil, it's gonna be okay
just give me a workin' man's bowl for the business of the day.

Well these sewer break fumes, enough make me wanna spew
I said these sewer break fumes, enough to make me wanna spew
and if you don't mind the outhouse, baby you can work here too.


Sound of Flushing toilet

Walkin' Along -- G Clair

Walkin' along
I hear his voice and get a skip in my step
I have to watch it cause I'm getting a rep
for acting crazy when I'm walkin' along

I hear his song
and nothin' else is makin' me tingle
could be the way he puts the gin in his jingle,
so amazing, all this talent of his
ain't no wonder, 'bout the best that there is

well he's old
though it's said
being old is better off than dead
but we know
where he'll go
who saved his soul and for his sins He bled

and when i'm blue
his voice can reach me in the worst places
he bears the burden, then he ties up my laces
and he lifts me like the sun in his song
staying with me while I'm walkin' along

it seems to be true
when it's pouring down he'll break out the moonshine
and while you're soaking up the melody's sunshine
he'll take the rhythm, leave the singin' to you
and walk you through it though you haven't a clue

well he's ripe
as a goat
with all the hype he's got the right to gloat
though he knows every note
prefers just talkin' through whatever he wrote

awalkin' along
I hear his voice and get a skip in my step
I have to watch it cause I'm getting a rep
for acting crazy when I'm walkin' along
I hear his song

and nothin' else is makin' me tingle
could be the way he puts the gin in his jingle,
so amazing, all this talent of his
ain't no wonder, 'bout the best that there is

Field and Stream -- G Clair

the
boonies
where you are
in the outback, and
the middle of nowhere, but
y'all like callin' it "God's Country"
cuz it's a place which is tended by God
where businessmen have yet to overrun and ravage
to fell forests,and clear the land for pretty developments
and it's a place where you are dangerously closer
to the wild elements and are self-reliant
comfortably near to the natural
free of the 'pressures' who
could encroach upon
your space and
freedoms
wow

Field and Forest -- G Clair

the last they spoke he said it all
he said his back was to the wall
and far from being her best friend
a man who'd rather see it end
she just can't argue with his truth
it's not her way, for in her youth
she dreamed of places, not pretend
big open spaces, where they'd spend,
in long embraces, hours on end
through fields he chases lifelong friend
but that's not how her story goes,
she won't reaping what he sows.

Born at night, but not last night
I see the problem with her plight
she wants to make the pieces fit
complete the scene her mind has writ
but forcing love to take it's place
to glue the pieces down, a waste
just take a picture, make it last
'cause that one will be fading fast
Let him go and shut the door
Sow true love and reap far more.

the last we spoke I said it all
my tendency to blame the fall
and all the angst scorned love could spare
on fires of Hell, which can't compare
how well I argue with the truth
it's been that way since troubled youth
I dreamed of forests, not pretend
of wooded hollows with my friend
where trees grew tall but wind could bend
where fires could rage but love would send
the rain which hastens souls to mend
that's not my story, so, The End.