Ships of the Chosen

As I recall this song sprouted from an image of Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush” — Silver Spaceships flying in the yellow haze of the sun.

A sister image came from Brian Aldiss’ “Helliconia Winter,” that generations-long winter that the planet endured on its long long journey around its sun.

Those two images melded and the song grew from there.

Ships of the Chosen As I recall this song sprouted from an image of Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" - Silver Spaceships flying in the yellow haze of the sun. A sister image came from Brian Aldiss' "Helliconia Winter," that generations-long winter that the planet endured on its long long journey around its sun.

The Words:

Wed to the night
harbors lay frozen
under the weight
of icy despair

Into the light
ships of the chosen
carry the seed
of life and its notion

of lovers and laughter
of lepers and kings
of skies and forests
and legends of wonderful things

that seem to let
the sweet regret
of a once in a life
unchosen

darken my sky
witness me cry
color my dreams
and senses

into the light of that distant face
that I cannot seem to let go
into touch into smile into grace
and so

into the wake of that vibrant trace
where my many memories flow
into silent and lasting embrace
to show
love that I never will know

Wishing us well
those who stay stranded
are waiving their hearts
their hopes their despair

I wish I could tell
that we have landed
and planted the seed
of life single-handed

but lovers and laughter
and lepers and kings
and skies and forests
and legends of wonderful things

they live to let
the sweet regret
of a once in a life
unchosen

darken my sky
witness me cry
color my dreams
and senses

when in the light of that distant shore
I see things I cannot let go
for I need them as much as before
even though

they were lost to the oath I swore
I would never let it show
then again I just cannot ignore
what I know

of lovers and laughter
of lepers and kings
of skies and forests
and legends of wonderful things

that vow to let
the sweet regret
of a once in a life
unchosen

darken my sky
witness me cry
color my dreams
and senses

when in the light of that distant sun
there were things I knew not how to share
and a dream that would readily stun
those who care

for in the wake of my lonely run
with my precious cargo in tow
gather feelings that ever so bluntly
refuse
then refuse to let go

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