scraping old bones white
with gathered barrowflint;
a toast on the graves to
old friends gathered tonight
they whisper, crisp as leaves
and as thick as thieves
bloodless, aimless, shambling:
telling old tales of stones tonight
there is little reason, These Days
to wander out the wood
old crow, he cousins for a waiting
on the gathering snow tonight
16 responses to “tonight tonight”
That’s a heck of a good song for old friends to sing.
It very well could be. 🙂
‘We’ll drift through it all, it’s the modern age’
A brief glimpse at the past and the fondness of embellished memories as we drift beyond into the gloom.
Excellent, relatable words, Michael.
Thank you Chris. I was just thinking this morning that I’m kind of done with the past. Old stories are all that remain, most of them not very good ones.
Occasionally it seems like a good idea, looking back, but then the folly becomes clearer. Most of the past was either pain, nonsense or misremembered anyway.
Or putting on the pose.
There were good times, but the bad times did more than balance things out.
As life tends to do.
that’s a billy corgan song and a jackson brown song. i approve, though you won’t find that necessary
Unintentional on both counts.
I’m probably one of the few people of our generation who is less than impressed by Smashing Pumpkins. I never saw the appeal.
Jackson Browne, however, I can see the appeal.
But I like Barry Manilow and Sheena Easton, so take that assessment for what it’s worth.
I’m of similar mind, although there’s some Pumpkins songs I find okay, Jackson Browne has been a muse. I’m specially fond of These Days, hence the connect in my head.
Right. They are okay. But only.
But I’ve been turned off by Corgan and others from that collection of artists’ podcasts and interviews. Sometimes, it is better not to know what some famous folks are like IRL.
Unfortunately, they come off as boobs. I was going to mention that, but thought I’d just leave it. Browne’s got his problems too, and they’re even larger. With all art, it’s better if we don’t look too close at our idols, and certainly don’t try to become them.
Turns out they are not gods after all, once you look just a little closer.
That’s always been my experience with the musicians and famous folks I’ve rubbed elbows with. They’re often just as flawed as the rest of us. Some are humble because they recognize this; others double down on their flaws.
I think fame would be very difficult to deal with. Not that it’s an excuse for being a dillweed.
And some were dillweeds since they were kids and haven’t changed a bit.
😉