The following four pages of songs – poems are supplementary to the Four Seasons main lesson…
The Bottom of the Well
The moon was bright – and still the night,
The blackened trees were stark,
The forest floor was littered thick,
With limbs and leaves and bark,
The silent desolation hung –
The animals were still.
The frost to every branchlet hung –
A Willy Wagtail’s trillllll…!
And that is the way it has always been,
As far as I can tell.
On the shortest day we look at the world
From the bottom of the well.
But even the longest night has an end,
For the next day will be longer.
There is always light at the top of the well,
And it’s growing stronger and stronger!
We will grow with the sun and gather wings
To fly into the light.
We will leave behind the shortest day,
And the longest, loneliest night.
SHELLEY
Shelley was a soul who woke one day
Alone on a wild wind beach they say
Shelley was a soul untamed and gay
She was picking up shells for a shelter
Gathering shells for a shelter.
Shelley’s new home stood bleached and white
Then she saw the birds on their northward flight
Some fell down from the Wildwind storm
She made a fire to keep them warm –
A fire to keep them warm.
“We’ll teach you to sing.” The Songbirds said
Shelley’s shell shelter laughed and rang
Inside was a joyful singing sound
But the Wildwind howled all around
And the Tall Grey Cliff Face frowned.
On the shortest day the sun must go
The grey sky was a spectrum glow
Wildwind was raw, Shelley stood in awe
She had never seen such a rainbow show
From blue to red to yellow.
On the longest night of the darkest year
They filled her house she filled their needs
Birds flew in from far and near
She played the harp to still their fear
She played to still their fear.
Near midnight there was room no more
Shelley heard a ‘peck – peck’ on her door
“Come in.” she said “There’s one more bed.”
But she stayed out in the night instead
In the cold, dark night instead.
She was alone in the darkest hour
Despairing in the long night’s power
All hope was gone…one small star shone
It seems to say “Shelley come to me come.”
It said “Shelley come to me come.”
She stumbled first and then she ran
She felt that she could fly
The lightness seemed to fill her heart
It seemed to fill the sky
The Universe on high.
Wildwind sulked and hid from sight
Tall Grey Cliff Face closed her eyes
Bright wings embraced her in their light
She left the longest night
The longest, loneliest night.
****
Full music notation in my book 33 Sun Songs.
ALL IS STILL
A Winter Song
Chorus:
All is still.
We gather round a tiny light,
On the shortest day and longest night.
And as we watch, our spiral grow,
Out hearts and eyes, begin to glow.
As day light fades, and evening falls,
The darkness rests upon the earth.
The bush folk sleep, a barn owl calls,
All awaiting the new sun’s birth.
Chorus.
Then through the night of soft bird’s cry,
Whispering leaves a breeze’s sigh.
Colors run fast in chilly dawn,
With the promise of Life the sun is born.
Chorus.
Spring is Nigh
The swallows are returning
To their nests under the eaves.
Tiny spinebills sip the nectar
From the blossoms among the leaves.
And the sandstone gives its bounty,
Wildflowers white and red.
With a wave of song and color
Rise cicadas from Winter’s bed.
Chorus:
The little gnomes are working,
Pushing up the plants.
The water nixies help,
With their dreamy, steamy dance.
And the airy fairies tumble,
With the fantails in the sky.
Then – a – warm wind blows,
And the hot sun glows,
And we know that Spring is nigh.
There are babies all around us,
New-born babies everywhere.
Fluffy ducklings, kittens, puppies,
And a baby koala bear.
Eggs are hatching, chickens scratching,
Baby birds call from the trees,
And the wattle blossoms shimmer,
To the humming of the bees.
Chorus.
Full music notation in my book 33 Sun Songs.
Sun, Sun – A Summer Song
Chorus:
Sun, Sun – at last you’ve come,
To visit us here in the south.
Hot nights, hot days,
And bushfire haze,
Summer swimming, Summer plays.
THUNDER storms, mosquitoes.
Deep below a dark blue world,
Shot with silver, shining crystals,
Moving, weaving Mother Earth,
Loving and providing.
Chorus.
Up above in yellow light,
Wings encircle, garment bright.
Gold and silver, sparkling heights,
Wind-flung clouds are watching.
Chorus.
Here we play we learn to love,
Dark below and light above,
Flower, fruit, a snow shite dove,
Summer days together!
Chorus.
SAYONARA – An Autumn song
Swallows, sing sayonara.
They all know, it’s time to go.
They can hear, Lady Autumn’s whisper,
Smell the wind blown off the snow.
Chorus:
Summer colors softly fade,
Breathing in with Autumn shades.
We can find new will to work,
When the chimneys smoke again.
Morning mist, silent and waiting,
Chill and grey, surrounding me.
Spider’s nets, on every branchlet,
Hang in dewy geometry.
Chorus.
Plants asleep, the earth awakens,
Light and dark, the balance held.
Sunset hues, red, gold and violet,
Lady Autumn’s magic spell.
Full music notation in my book 33 Sun Songs.
Further reading on the Four Seasons in my book Hidden Agenda.
Autumn Sword
The end of Summer blazed in glory,
All nature reveled in its warmth.
Fell dragons came, their breath was fiery,
The good folk feared as they came forth.
A man of iron, a humble blacksmith,
Could save the town from living hell?
A great archangel heard his cry,
And answered – “I am Michael!”.
With steady gaze and flashing sword,
They met the foe with battle cry.
The heavens crashed! The earth trembled!
The Great War raged ‘cross earth and sky.
The dragons fell, their fire quenched,
Good folk again could stand upright.
They sang in praise of Michael,
And peace fell on the Autumn night.
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