We learn to carry on through the grieving

More songs as poems... Circumstances change the way you see any creativity. I loved this song before I had to live with loss. Over the past few years I've learned to carry on through the grieving. Simply putting one foot in front of the other. Existing only. Loss shows you the secrets people die with, either through their own design, or because they are no longer there to tell you what they feel. It is a very hard lesson to learn, and to live with. Songs help me; always. In the darkest winter of bereavement and lockdown, this song rang so incredibly true.

Smoke Fairies - Storm Song - YouTube

 

The storm came and tore leaves down
And the branches ached out loud
Like they were screaming
All night the wind took hold
And shook this hollow house
And woke the demons
And I knew I wasn't right in the head

The letter hadn't come
The one you sent before you had to leave me
And I'm never going to know what it said

Some things are secrets people die with
Some things are secrets people die with

At first light a lonesome bird
Sang a song of brooding pain
To fain believing
And I thought about the way
We learn to carry on through the grieving
And the leaves still cling to the evergreens

Some things...

Blue

This song has been accompanying me for days. Published only a day after I was born, the album released pretty much when I was, this music has been a part of my life for a long time. I'm a sucker for a concept album, which I've always thought of this as. A circular journey around everything that can hurt and heal your heart.

I've walked with this song in my ears, in the blue landscape of snow, whilst working my way through isolation and bereavement, working and a skewed way of life that bows to nothing we hold dear. I've bought the sheet music and picked my way through very little bits of it, though Joni's songs are very difficult to sing unless you're her...

Blue (link to song)

Blue, songs are like tattoos
You know I've been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
Or let me sail away
Hey Blue, here is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well there're so many sinking now
You've got to keep thinking
You can make it thru these waves
Acid, booze, and ass
Needles, guns, and grass
Lots of laughs lots of laughs
Everybody's saying that hell's the hippest way to go
Well I don't think so
But I'm gonna take a look around it though
Blue I love you

Blue here is a shell for you
Inside you'll hear a sigh
A foggy lullaby
There is your song from me

© April 20, 1971; Joni Mitchell Pub Corp