WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN

Dedicated to my friend Fergus … may you always dance as freely as the wind … <3

 

An Old Irish Blessing

 

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

 

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”

 

― Gautama Buddha

 

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVq0IAzh1A

FIELDS OF GOLD - STING

 

DO YOU REMEMBER

 

Do you remember when you were a squaddie

the ballroom dancing lessons that we had

we would twirl around the room so fast

like swirling dervishes among the lads

I would step on your feet; trip over your heels

you would laugh at me fit to burst

oh, Fergus MacDonald where are you now

that I've mastered and got over the worst

you went one way and I went another

I had to finish my education

somebody told me you went to war

and my heart sank at this revelation

as it struck me to my inner core

into the unknown we stepped so often

sharing; multiplying our confidences

our eyes met and the world was softened

how I wish that you were dancing with me now

but mine was to be a different dance

I see your hair so red and mine so blonde

in my mind's eye we stood a good chance

I still think of you when the Harvest moon

is like a big orange ball in the sky

do you remember me like I remember you

with a smile and a whispered goodbye

I still have foolish notions and schoolgirl dreams

big ideas and ridiculous fancies

I used to make you laugh until you nearly cried

with my endless schemes, plans and romances

do you remember the book you loaned to me

I still have it waiting for you

Tess of the D'Urbervilles, do you remember now

I hope I can return it to the boy I once knew

Would I know you now if I saw you in the street

you were just a young lad last I saw you

but surely I'd know you from anyone if you opened your eyes

for they reflected my own eyes of blue

I still think of you on a cold Winter's night

in front of the fire; my ears tuned to the news

but I fear you are lost in the trenches somehow

with your eyes opened with all that you knew

a dug-out somewhere in no-man's land

or an unmarked grave; my heart-felt clenches

why do they call it friendly fire

there's nothing friendly when someone's heart wrenches

how little do I know even now of the ways of men

those who wage war and why

politics seems everywhere in all the things that we do

may I remain innocent until the day that I die

wherever you are and whoever you have become

know I think fondly of you dear Fergus

and if ever our paths were to cross again

I believe that we would complete the circuit

the bonds we made during those teenage years

so strong they remain unbroken

memories of the plans we had

and all the words so softly spoken

sometimes they come to me here on the wind

quietly and indistinct

or I may see your face in a crowded room

disappearing as I overthink

and that is me dear Fergus, all over

I feel; I see; I think too much

as rarefied as a four leafed clover

and like a game of double dutch

I trip over the rope, like I trip over my tongue

clumsy as ever my dear

still I think of you and wish you well

while I still yearn for those teenage years.

 

- AP - Copyright remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

 

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission'

 

My artwork is a compilation of 4 of my photographs

Done