Structures fail
when that which once
held them together
dissolves and falls away

So it is with
roads and bridges,
corporations,
governments and peoples

When structures fail
the world as we know it
comes to an end
as society crashes

Structures fail
when good becomes evil,
evil becomes good,
and what is vile
is exalted among men

Structures fail.

Footsteps in the distance,
I don’t know what they mean;
I’m opening my windows
and cleaning out my screens

I thought I’d heard it all before;
I thought I knew the score,
but footsteps in the distance
tell me there is so much more

Footsteps in the distance,
some heard them long ago;
they tried to make me stop and think
’bout what they seemed to know

I said that they were foolish;
we’d never go that way,
but footsteps in the distance
have something else to say

Footsteps in the distance,
demons across the land,
devouring all our substance
while no one takes a stand

to save the ruined foundations
that crumble in our midst;
to crush the idols’ image
that all our lips have kissed

Footsteps in the distance,
I don’t know what they mean;
I’m opening my windows
and cleaning out my screens

I’m looking out with new eyes;
I’m listening with new ears;
I want to hear for my own self,
not someone else’s fears

Footsteps in the distance,
I don’t know what they mean,
but now I plan to understand
lest death is all that’s seen…

Autumn leaves in the sunlight
golden hues all around
Rising mists in the moonlight
make me think of Barrow-downs

Mysteries long forgotten
myths that lie still unfound
tales that bring great wonder
make me think of Barrow-downs

The smoke of their souls
rises high in the night
like the flames that linger
from a terrible fight

The ghosts dance on
with their glimmering eyes
as they clap their hands
to the praise of the skies

With a wink and a nod
at the coming of day
they skip and they laugh
as they leap and they play

for they sing as they shout
that they’re really, really out
of the fog and the haze
of the Barrow-barrow-downs!

Barrow-downs, Barrow-downs, Barrow-downs…

“The cows must look after themselves
for I have work to do,”
said Ranald as he ran to search
for wandering Willie, the loon

Wild Willie had taken Davie
without even asking to,
along with his highland bagpipes
upon which he always blew

So Ranald, starting swift afoot
with his best friend at his side,
searched among the stunted trees
where Willie might just hide

Then as they went their stealthy way
droning bagpipes filled the air
and Ranald said with bated breath,
“Brother Davie might be there!”

So we slithered on without a noise
to catch him unaware
when a weary whimper reached our ears,
Yes, Dave was surely there!

Ever cautious we continued on,
still on our hands and knees;
we spied yon Willie play his pipes
while Davie cried his tears

We sneaked to Willie’s back and then
we pounced like one huge cat;
Ranald snatched his brother in his arms
while I upon Willie sat

Then I bopped mad Willie on the head
with his pipe of mournful tunes
and warned that piper to never again
act crazy like the loon!

* based on a little story by George MacDonald in chapter 13 of his book entitled Ronald Bannerman’s Boyhood

Early spring snow
on a winter-like day
kept the grown-ups inside
while the children went play

in the freezing wet mush
over hills in deep slush
trodding paths as they walked
while the old ones just talked

in an early spring snow
on a winter-like day…

Spring Snow