Without End

                    Without End            Jan 14 2008

Tell me, where does the myth
Break off?
Where does the story end
Tell me, where is the dividing line?

My map goes back
These roads go on
And where the trail grows thin
We remember and point the way
Saying, “That way,
We used to walk there, our people came that way”

Tell me, where does the soul
Break off of me?
Where does the wall exist, tell me
Where is this no-man’s land?
My soul goes in and in
This heart beats
And where the flesh grows frail and weary, still
The body remembers and points the way
We tell the stories; our people felt this way

So if you have some great modern concept
I am not your dream, and
I don’t want to be your night mare
I don’t want to be your straight chair
I’m not your scientific yesterday
I can’t be your reason why
You’re not my guiding light
I’m not your playboy dream machine

You know, I can’t say when it all began and I won’t argue
When did it all get started, tell me if you were there!--
When it all began...
I like to listen to the stories
Of how we came to be here
We tell stories, our people came to be
Our people came to be
It’s all one
It’s all right
It’s all soul
It’s all heart
You can’t sweep it away
You can’t talk it away
You cannot sweep it away with your hand

And inside my soul inside my soul
There is a forest of trees a garden of herbs
Inside my heart there is a heart
There is a river of water the Brandywine
And yes, inside my soul inside
There are thousands of voices of joy
Singing they are
Singing in the soul tongues
Of a thousand creatures, and
Angel tongues
And wings that carry me
Wings that carry me

See, I am one with the story
A chapter of the tale
A page of Psalms, an illuminated line
A word on the lips of my Beloved
All here and now my reality
Drifting in this ship
Resting on the waters which are singing
Lapping at the wood and singing,
With the voices of the deep
And trusting, trusting,
Like Noah in the keep; Floating on
Wondering at the torrents
Wistful for the crow
Saved by the little dove
Little flag of peace
Little flag of love

I am there bereshith
I am here a genesis
I am there a boney rib
I am here all flesh and blood
I am there a virgin with child
I am here a magdalene weeping and washing
The story runs through me
Through my soul embroidered
Down pathways ever dark and dawning,
Ever stormy, ever bright
Oh, I have company
There are many here beside me
And you can’t sweep it away
They are here on every hand
Crowding me in lovely company
Shining stars their eyes
Warming fires their hearts,
Saying, “Here, the trail appears,
Walk this way dear Magdaline;
Sing to us, dear Mary
Ever brighter grows the way
Come and share our loaf and wine
And tell the story, Tell the one we love

Tell me, where does the word break off
Where does the sentence end?
Tell me, where is the dividing line?
My mind goes ever a glacier a river an ocean
The thought goes ever cycling through steam and ice
And where the vapor grows thin
We chime in and who can say
That we don’t walk there, on clouds of glory

Tell me, where does the Spirit stop?
What could prevent its flow poured out,
Tell me
Where is this nothing place?
I’m grateful you can’t sweep it all away
You can’t sweep it all away
You have not that power in your hand