Nostalgia

NOSTALGIA

I HAVE WATCHED THE CEASELESS SURGING
OF THE SEA ON THE SHORE
THE SURGE AND THE ROLL
THE PEBBLES FLINGING ON THE SHORE
THE MYSTERY OF THE FOG I HAVE KNOWN
THE GRACE AND SYMMETRY
OF SEA GULLS FLYING
HAS MOVED ME

I HAVE HEARD THE HAPPY LAUGH OF CHILDREN
CATCHING THE OCEAN IN A PAIL
AND WATCHED THE TIDE COME LAPPING
IN SPOILING DREAM CASTLES BACK TO SAND
I HAVE HELPED THE FISHERMEN WITH THEIR NETS
OR ROWED ON THE LAKE
LATE AT NIGHT
TO BE ALONE

I HAVE SAT WITH THEM
AT NIGHT ON THE SHORE
TIRED FROM WORK
EATING SUPPER
TELLING JOKES
DRINKING BEER
I HAVE ENJOYED THEIR TELLING OF THE WEATHER
TOMORROW WOULD BE FAIR OR FOUL THEY'D SAY
THE WIND THE CLOUDS THE SEA BIRDS FLIGHT
HAVE TOLD ME SO
AND IT WOULD BE SO IT WOULD BE SO
I WONDER IF THEY WOULD BE SO EAGER TO GO
IF THEY COULD TELL THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS EASY AS THE WEATHER
BUT... NO… NO… IT IS BETTER THEY DO NOT KNOW

JERUSALEM…JERUSALEM
HOW MANY MEMORIES HAS A NAME
JERUSALEM…JERUSALEM... JERUSALEM
THERE TO GO IN MY FATHER' S NAME

JERUSALEM…JERUSALEM

BORN IN A SUBURB
TO DIE THE SAME


MY COMPANIONS CALL

IT'S TIME TO GO

GOOD BUDDIES THERE

JAMES

JOHN SO INNOCENT

PETER STRONG

I WOULD TARRY

THEY SAY COME

I WOULD LINGER

THEY SAY GO

I WOULD STAY

BUT NOT MY WAY

BUT I SHALL MISS

AND I SHALL WANT

AND I SHALL LOVE

THE CEASELESS SURGING OF THE SEA

FRANK A VOLLMER