... and halfway through The Voice

Broken

Broken in two
The sky full of blue
Sun shining brightly
On the day I lost you
Heavy as a cloud in the sky
Light as the tears burning in my eye
I'm broken in two
Nothing left to do
But say goodbye

Broken in two
Thought you loved me too
Thought your heart yearned for me
The way I yearn for you
Every bird in its high high tree
Sings a dirge for the heart in me
Broken in two
Nothing left to do
But weep and cry

If my heart were an ocean
There'd be nothing you could do
Oceans can't be broken
They're not in love with you
And if I weren't so tangled
In all the pain you left behind
Perhaps I could forgive you
But you don't care either way, so...
Never mind

Broken in two
I'm broken, it's true
Tomorrow I'll forget you
Or in a year, maybe two
I could take some time to lick my wounds
Try to get my heart strings back in tune
But today I feel broken
With nothing left to do, but
Weep and cry

If my heart were an ocean
There'd be nothing you could do (to me)
Oceans can't be broken
They're not in love with you
And if I weren't so torn and tangled
In the pains you smugly left behind
Perhaps I could forgive you
But you won't care either way
So never mind

Tomorrow I'll forget you
Or in a year or maybe two
But today I'm still broken
Nothing more I can say but...
Goodbye
Goodbye
We were two
Now I'm one
Goodbye


ELAshley
062811.1048.6
Revisions
062911.090545.1

Halfway through the last performance episode of The Voice, I began writing. This song is the end result.

and in the spirit of tEa...

Another 'Tea' poem from last summer... The notes below are from that day in July.


The Zebra Tree

We drank our tea 'neath the zebra tree
All eyes upon our riche aree
Amber creams amid darjeeling hues
The crackled skies and fields our views
We didn't mind what minds should think
Easing in our honeyed drink
Caring much less what eyes might see
There beneath the zebra tree
We spoke ~ Our eyes! What heralds we sang!
Two hearts a'thunder in pealings rang
Love and tea caring naught for eyes
Not lips kissing, nor delighted sighs
What need have we to e`er look up
When upon tea and love we choose to sup?


ELAshley
071910.044526.6
Revisions:
071910.045220.6
072010.094406.1
050511.021352.6
051711.051216.6 (punctuation/spelling)


Unable to do any work because of virus scanning, and unable to even play Hearts, I resorted to doodling. A 'zebra tree' (if there is such a thing), coupled with the soft pleasure of tea still on my tongue... what else could I have written of? This is the first real bit of poetry I've written in months.

And for the record, the italicized words 'riche aree' were meant only as 'holding' words until proper replacements could take their seat. They mean nothing in real world terms, but my intent was to convey a sense of 'rich ease' as in a 'luxuriant taking of' one's ease. I don't wish now to remove these words, and, as I figure it, if Carroll could get away with this device, why can't I?

an affair over tEa

An Affair Over Tea

I came for the tea,
Said I. And she
With eyes like kohl
In diamond lit dew
Smiled. Whereas we,
'neath our lush camellia tree,
Sojourn singly, the soul
Of this deep amber brew,
Bids us sit. The bowl,
To its subtle brim,
Where ripples swim
Sings, 'Drink deep of me.'

Our cup is empty
Said I. Then she
Lips blush like figs
Bright softly wet,
On this lets agree...
I'll fill you, if you fill me;
My soft petal to your stout sprig!
Our engagement now set,
'forget the din,' * quoth she
Then plunging ladle deep and up
Smoothly filled my empty cup
Singing, 'Drink deep of me.'

I came for thy tea!
Spoke I. And she
Cup shy to tongue
And a lilt to her gaze
Answer now, I challenge thee...
Lovest thou my heart more than tea?
For though we are yet young
Wilt thou love me all my days?
Stay thy cup! Thy troth unsung!
'Neath stars, moon, sun, camellia bowers
Pledge thou me thy love's endless hours?
Ne'er tiring to drink deeply of me?

Of thee, thy tea?
Asked I. And she 
'Yes' in her eyes,
Come drink of me
Of mine own heady brew!
You sing to me, and I'll to you
Of our live's desires 
'neath the circling sun!
And I smiled, filled with its fires 
I would that our cups never empty
That your lips soft and chastely
Ever desire to drink deep of me!

I came for the tea!
She said. And she,
A dapple of sun
On her soft silk brow,
Smiled, I would drink thee
Daily, nightly, bold and lightly
Oolong, White, Matcha, Pu'er
Hot, cool or chill,
Wherever you are
And her lips kissed the brim of her porcelain cup
Brow softly down, her eyes looking up
Come, drink only of me!
For an age of me!
Forever of me
Come, my love, let's tea!


ELAshley
062411.044007.6
Revisions:
091211.105641.1
102011.125103.6 [including last two stanzas]



Only me?
Then come, let's tea...

-----



* "Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world."

     --T'ien Yiheng