ROOM AT THE INN
OH BRIEFEST HOSPICE LIBERAL THANKS
FOR WHAT YOU BRING TO ALL
AND WARMEST TONE NOW OFFERED HERE
DOES NOT ON BLINDNESS FALL
FROM ERRANT TIMES I STUMBLE FORTH
NOT KNOWING FRIEND OR FOE
AND SEEK AT MOST A KIND REGARD
OR REST... BEFORE I GO...
IN KINDER DAYS I HAD NO NEED
FOR SOLACE AT YOUR CALL
BUT NOW TONIGHT, WITHIN THE DARK
I FEAR A SOLEMN FALL
FOR DEMONS HAVE PATROLLED MY WAYS
DISGUISED AS THOSE OF SECT
THEY MUSE UPON MY POINTS OF VIEW
AND RAIL TO INTERJECT
AND WHEN A FRAME OF REFERENCE COMES
TO FADE UPON THE SUN,
FOUNDATION QUIVERS, FEIGNS TO FALL...
THE LOSING OF THE "ONE"...
YOUR WALLS BECOME MY ARMOUR NOW
AGAINST WHAT NIGHT CONCEALS
YET EVEN HERE I SENSE A DREAD
TOO CLOSE UPON MY HEELS..
WHAT RISING STORM, WHAT RECENT HELL,
WOULD CARE TO LIE AWAIT
WHAT EVIL ANGST TO WHAT EXTENT
COULD PAUSE OUTSIDE YOUR GATE
FOR NOW I PASS ON DIRE THOUGHTS
PREFERRING TO BE LOST
IN GALLANT TALES OF HONOURED TIMES
AND STARS WHICH NEVER CROSSED
I WRESTLE NOW TO CHASE THE CHANCE
THAT DARK MIGHT CRUSH THE LIGHT
AND ASK YOU ONLY LET ME STAY
TILL END OF DARKEST NIGHT...
B.C. 14 / 11 / 2008
FOR WHAT YOU BRING TO ALL
AND WARMEST TONE NOW OFFERED HERE
DOES NOT ON BLINDNESS FALL
FROM ERRANT TIMES I STUMBLE FORTH
NOT KNOWING FRIEND OR FOE
AND SEEK AT MOST A KIND REGARD
OR REST... BEFORE I GO...
IN KINDER DAYS I HAD NO NEED
FOR SOLACE AT YOUR CALL
BUT NOW TONIGHT, WITHIN THE DARK
I FEAR A SOLEMN FALL
FOR DEMONS HAVE PATROLLED MY WAYS
DISGUISED AS THOSE OF SECT
THEY MUSE UPON MY POINTS OF VIEW
AND RAIL TO INTERJECT
AND WHEN A FRAME OF REFERENCE COMES
TO FADE UPON THE SUN,
FOUNDATION QUIVERS, FEIGNS TO FALL...
THE LOSING OF THE "ONE"...
YOUR WALLS BECOME MY ARMOUR NOW
AGAINST WHAT NIGHT CONCEALS
YET EVEN HERE I SENSE A DREAD
TOO CLOSE UPON MY HEELS..
WHAT RISING STORM, WHAT RECENT HELL,
WOULD CARE TO LIE AWAIT
WHAT EVIL ANGST TO WHAT EXTENT
COULD PAUSE OUTSIDE YOUR GATE
FOR NOW I PASS ON DIRE THOUGHTS
PREFERRING TO BE LOST
IN GALLANT TALES OF HONOURED TIMES
AND STARS WHICH NEVER CROSSED
I WRESTLE NOW TO CHASE THE CHANCE
THAT DARK MIGHT CRUSH THE LIGHT
AND ASK YOU ONLY LET ME STAY
TILL END OF DARKEST NIGHT...
B.C. 14 / 11 / 2008
posted by Burton Cummings at
7:38 AM
17 Comments:
Away to the window I flew like a fool. Tore open the shutters and fell in the pool...........
Ok, you can stay.
As a writer of poetry I am most impressed with your word craft Burton. Your words touch the heart and soul with life experiences and observations that many can relate so closely to.
What always seems to resonate in your writing, whether in song or poetic verse, is a reflection of segments of your own life. This brings your viewers/readers intimately closer to your persona and the respect we have for you as a person and professional performer on stage is greatly enhanced.
With special thanks for all you share,
Don MacIver
Victoria, BC
Life's lessons. I think we all feel the ill winds blow at times. Many, including me, have a hard time during the holidays. Reach out to those that feel depression during the holidays. There are more suicides during that time than any other time...Try to help all that can't seem to cope with life at this time of year. Sometimes it only takes a smile or a kind word, to help someone...what a small price, to bring happiness into someones life... Peace and Love... Kathy
OF STORM BYGONE, A LESSON LEARNED
IS INSTRUMENT TO BEHOLD
A DOOR AJAR, THE DARK'S NO MORE
A TRUE FRIEND EXCELS GOLD...
L.R. 14/11/2008
FOR NOW I PASS ON DIRE THOUGHTS
PREFERRING TO BE LOST
I don't have the words in front of me so I'll paraphrase what a great songwriter wrote a few years ago:
"Living in confusion,
Searching for things
I never found
I needed something
To really believe in.
Looked towards the heavens,
On a snowy New York afternoon
Something in the air
Was oh so rare,
I'm not really sure
What it was
But I know for sure
It's still right there."
God is still right there Burton - right in your heart.
"Blessed are those who mourn,
For they will be comforted."
Blessings to you Burton,
Cincy Mike
Burton, I echo Cincy's post. Let me paraphrase too. "For demons have patrolled my days, disguised as those of sect".
I feel alot of questioning in your beautiful writings and struggle. My friend, if this is so, I have been there and so have the good folks on this board in many ways. God is love and a comforter. He doesn't keep score as many religions push this crap. It always there no matter what. I see him smiling down on you alot Burton even if you don't feel it. And..you don't have to act pious or believe in a certain so called religion. It isn't even earned through good works. He's there and loves how awesome you are no matter what mood or things in the past. I learned this through experience. He understands and is reaching out to always give you comfort. You're one of his kids. Ok, Forrest has has to go to work. Life is like a box of chocolates. Bless You.
It is a wonderful thing if someone else can help chase away the black dogs growling at the edges of our mind, even for an evening. If they could do it forever , we would slowly but surely strangle the life out of them and they would sink with us. An evening respite is welcome however and is a gift that one can give to another. It is a gift of love without expecting anything back.
We met years ago in Winnipeg. Early morning and late night airport meetings after flights, with the boys.
Your heartfelt words touch me. They have a common thread with my own thoughts and fears.
Know that your music makes a difference in my life. It lifts me out of the darkness and makes me smile. It provokes moments of introspection when I need to reflect.
Take care and thank you.
You can stay...that bed just down the hall is a rollaway.
I have to agree with Cincy Mike, when he said, "God is still right there Burton - right in your heart"
We are never alone, even when our demons are closing in around us. In the depths of the darkest loneliest nights when the dread seeps into our minds threatening to smother us, there is always salvation. Turning to the "pretty pictures" will not always be enough, it's armour weak and transparent. Instead, turn to within yourself, look into your heart. That is where you will find God's love. Like Joyce said, he will comfort you. But, in order to do that, you must first open your heart to let him in. A few words, a simple prayer to the "one"....
Hello Burton,
This may not be the appropriate place to write this note, but not sure where else to contact you. I was just reminiscing of the time when I hired you to play at Broadway’s night club in the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg. Many people have said this was one of there favourite times to hear you. It was indeed a fine performance. You were a true gentleman. You may recall at the end of your three week stay you presented me with a gold pocket watch. I don’t expect you to remember but I grew up in the North End of Winnipeg and attended St.Johns’High .I believe you were in my older brothers Michael classes. We both were “paper boys” for the Winnipeg Tribune. Remember we picked up our papers by Inkster Avenue beside Cropo’s funeral chapel.
I have since moved to Vancouver. I noticed you are performing at the River Rock Casino. Unfortunately I found out to late and your concert is sold out.I love the new tunes on “Above The Ground”. I would have truly would have loved to see you. Your songs are the sound track to my life.
Living in the moment,
Raymond Poirier
604-602-8765
My feeble attempts at the gentle craft of poetry evaded me after I graduated from Garden City Collegiate in '86 (yes...40 and still a baby...) The thing that makes you better with age is that you have always had a piece of "the 'Peg" with you, you have NEVER left your voice, left your ideals, left your inspirations, left your craft...for that, I am eternally greatful B.C., you are a beacon of light among many dark knights...
CHEERS!!
"Koach"
Nice one Mr. C.
Hi Burton,
I have been a creeper here for some time but,since buying the new CD and reading your poetry it seems like you are in a dark place and I am not sure if you are reaching out but I would love for you to read the following from Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
You have some awesome churches in California and I am sure you have heard of Rick Warren who wrote "The purpose driven life"
Jesus Christ accepts us just where we are at, He is the way the truth and the Life. He stands at the door of your heart knocking. Let Him in.
Thanks for listening and for all the great music. You are a gift.
Above the Ground is an awesome body of work! Crazy to Mess With The Gods has an exceptional rif: When you get to the word Honolulu, the music style we associate with Hawaii appears out of nowhere! That is sooooo cool.
As much as I like your earlier work I feel Above The Ground brings out all the complexity a fountain of music can pour out.
It could just as easily be titled "Here's the real Burton".
I caught your gig with Randy at the Molson and had a great time.
I hope Above the Ground will be given the chance it deserves by critics. It is chock full of great songs with a fabulous variety. To be blunt, there not a single dud!
VERY well done Burton. I wanna' listen to your music till the day I die. Please don't ever give up; not that there is any sign of you doing that.
Best wishes
Eric Decker
As you (and I) have learned and experienced, my friend, life is a constant struggle between dark and light, good and evil, love and hate, emptiness and satiety. These days I don't let the past haunt me - - there's nothing about even 5 seconds ago that I can change; just right now, right this minute is available. I can choose to be okay just for now, living as fully as I can in the moment. I can choose to make a positive difference in the lives of others (this is something you do without even realizing what an incredible and positive impact you have on SOOOO many lives of others). I can choose to be as happy as I can, and as often as I can, because I can't for the life of me believe that we're here on earth to be anything else! Just keep on "marketing your letters" - - oh yes, and take care of yourself so we'll have you ATG as long as possible!
All the best,
Suzanne
Victoria, BC
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