- After the Last
- Carry Me
- Chasing Visions
- Christmas Reverie
- Last Night of Stars
- The Rose of Jericho
- Selene’s Boat
- She is the River
- When the Earth Stands Still
After the Last Here at the last, My love. Soon to that vast Unknown. So close to the summit But slowing. Whispers urge your going. Give up the fight, My love. The night can be friend Not foe. Some battles are won by leaving Or letting go. Roots will come greet us, Weaving a blanket Midst rock and loam And forests will feed us, Serving a banquet Of seed and cone. Never alone. And when it’s my last My love I will hold fast To love. And dreams of embrace, A gathering place Where roots will come greet us, Weaving a blanket Midst rock and loam. And forests will feed us, Serving a banquet Of seed and cone. Never alone, never. Never, never, alone. After the last, My love. Dedicated to all those that have lost a loved one and to my father, Alasdair Macdonald. Oct 10, 2020
Chasing Visions People often wonder Why I look so tired I’ve been chasing old sweet memories Memories of you, scattered and few I’m chasing them most of the time Clouds are now invading Memories once sky blue Midnight visions once in colour Now black and white and fading from sight I’m chasing them most of the time Sometimes I’m lucky Here in the night I see your brown eyes as my memory takes flight. Carried away in visions of yesterday And I’m with you one more time. Nights I lay awake Daylight finds me dreaming Cause I’ve been chasing old sweet memories Memories of you, scattered and few I’m chasing them most of the time Sometimes I’m lucky Here in the night I see your brown eyes as my memory takes flight. Carried away in visions of yesterday And I’m with you one more time.
Christms Reverie Early morning winter, Forty-first and Vine, Modern day minstrel plays carols for a dime. The song becomes a memory when it takes me back, Way back home, home for Christmas. It’s been so long. How I’ve missed it. Needle hits the record, December late at night, Spinning forty-five plays a crooners delight. The song becomes a memory that quickly takes me back, Way back home, how I’ve missed it. It’s been so long since I went away but now Feels like yesterday. The dream is a feast for the senses: Crack of fire and waft of pine. Lucky are we that a song can beat its wings And take us to these things so dear. Snowflakes on the windshield, frost is on the ground, Radio plays as I head into town. Christmas songs take me home at last.
Last Night of Stars Last night of stars Shroud is descending Black is invading Canvas and frame. Sweet child of twilight In your nest made of iron Come out from the shadows. It is time for our passing and your dawning. Take this next breath with me. Fill the night with your melody. Star-light dimmed and shuttered moon, Sing them all aglow. At last. Last day of whispers Silenced by tremors Songs in the distance are thundered Then mute. Last child of Autumn, Last child before the storm, Restless tides of fear may drown us You must rise to meet them Take this sacred breath with me. Fill the night with your melody. Sirens shrill and rumbles deep, Sing them all to silence. At last. Last night of stars Shroud is descending Black is invading Canvas and frame. Sweet child of twilight In your nest made of iron. Come out from the shadows it is time, it is time, it is time. Sing it all to silence.
Moon Ravens Out of the shadows. There in the east, A tempest of wings, A gathering shroud. I lay here and follow their path through the clouds. Moon Ravens, silver then gold Lit by the moonlight. Moon Ravens, hovering low Covered in starlight. Drifting like ashes Down through my window. Oh so softly Whispering to me. There’s no one that could deny All those spirits of the night. All my senses, all my reason Overtaken by the wing-ed apparitions. Into the eye of the black-bird I fall. Hair into feather. Talon from nail. Cloaked in a raiment of Black, jet- Black-char- Black-er than sleep eternal. Into the Shadows Life at our backs, distant and fading. Taking our path to the moon. Don Macdonald Feb 2020 The Rose of Jericho One leaf out of the fire West wind taking it higher One year after forever two hands coming together And now their roots are protected And green is starting to show For here there's life unexpected Like the rose of Jericho Oneearth, something has shifted One left, soon to be lifted One skin just like another One night, flight undercover And now their roots are protected And green is starting to show For here there's life unexpected Unfolding like the rose of Jericho There are stories carved In rings so deep But the lines thought lost Have been found complete. Where fire cools In bright night skies Where desert winds Sing lullabies Were stones can move With featherweight An open door an open gate. Poetry by Don Macdonald and Allison Girvan
She is the River She’s comin’ up strong, been’ comin’ up long, out from under. She’s on her own time, and breakin’ the line, bringin’ her thunder. She is the river and the rushing in of everything, and she’s the ocean, breaking walls of stone, and ancient castles. Catching the falling. Hearing the calling. Out here in the deep, deep current of sleep, she will come find us. She can ignite a hurricane flight, she can unbind us. She is the river and the rushing in of everything, and she’s the ocean, breaking walls of stone, and ancient castles. Don Macdonald Sept 2019 The lyrics are about the power of the female spirit.
- Sofia’s Coming Out (from the jazz album Short Stories)
Sophia’s writing poetry alone by candlelight.
Her words like rain are flowing as they ease the lonely night.
But tomorrow, so she says,
and there’s ample room for doubt,
for the first time in a year
She’s coming out.
Her stories take her far away and yet she stays at home.
While writing of the joyous crowds she’s really on her own.
But I’ve been stopping by,
and if everything goes right,
She’ll be out with me
Tomorrow night
And Ohh – to the sand and to the sea
I’m dreaming of that night when she will be set free.
She’s always been a little shy, afraid to speak her mind
Now flowers on her inside blossom outside all the time
Her lyric started flowing,
And her poetry’s devine.
Sofia’s coming out and doing fine.
- Fall From Grace – (from the jazz album Short Stories)
Every night when you came calling
Your whispers pulled me to
From feathered bed and loneliness,
to the wild and true.
Our shadows danced in silence,
in the pale moon’s embrace.
You held me on those midnights
In our fall from grace.
Once I loved the sunrise –
The warmth upon my skin.
But love came round and found me
And drew me in
The future feels uncertain
While darkness fills the space
But love still abides
In this fall from grace.
- Invisible – (from the jazz album Short Stories)
She is invisible
Out of the spotlight
There on the stage
Yet she’s hard to find
He is invisible
Dancing at midnight
a ghost in the crowd out of sight
Out of mind
They’re shy and unassuming when alone
But together they more than fill the room
Funny it may seem, they were each the other’s dream.
Oh so invisible,
That nothing can capture
Their story book rapture.
- Clementine – (from the jazz album Short Stories)
Oh Clementine, I’m in a lonely place.
These city lights stole me from your embrace.
I’ve lost my rhythm and I’ve lost my rhyme.
Take me back, please Clementine.
The lure of money made me shed my skin.
Cigars and limos led to smoke and gin.
I had the polish but I lost my shine.
Take me back, please Clementine
I miss the moments with just you and me
On those nights under starry skies.
All gold, all light, we burned so bright.
How did it all slip away from me?
I’ll ditch the glitter and the star of fame.
And the adoring crowds that shout my name.
I’ll give it all away if you’ll be mine.
Take me back,I know I got off track,
Take me back please Clementine.
- Sonny’s Bridge – (from the jazz album Short Stories)
Once on a night in New York City
in the winter’s pouring rain
a saxophone pierced the grey
and I’ve never been quite the same.
Its haunting melody descended from the warring clouds.
The most elegant sound, it warmed that cold December with its embers.
From the bridge in the distance, like the first green of spring –
Through the mist came a phrase that made my heart sing.
I’ve searched the world and all it’s corners
but I lost that melody,
That night Sonny set it free.
- Fate – (from the jazz album Short Stories)
When I’m sitting next to you,
My lack of cool will show.
I can never find the nerve
to even say hello.
But we are so young, so new to romance.
And I hope that given time
The stars will all align
And fate might smile, might smile on us.
Even just a passing glance,
Can melt me just like snow,
(And) if I fell in to your arms
I could not let go.
But we are so young, so new to romance
And I pray there’ll be a day,
When you will turn and walk my way
And fate might smile, might smile on us.
- Stormy Night – (from the jazz album Short Stories)
Dear Sylvie, I’ve been missing you.
It was two months ago I started traveling.
This sea’s a wild, unfriendly brew and
I can feel my weary threads unraveling.
And everytime it rains. I think of you again.
Heaven was that stormy night with you.
And Sylvie here’s the bitter truth –
this far away from you is too far.
Days are long, nights are cold, the salty air and brittle bones.
I’m lost between the ocean and the North Star.
And everytime it rains. I think of you again.
We were wild, untamed, but true.
And everytime it rains I always feel the same –
Heaven was that stormy night with you.
This grand adventure needs to end.
I’ve lost the fire and need to roam.
With fate a true and trusted friend,
I know this fickle wind will send us home.