In the palm of my hand ...

In the palm of my hand ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

I thought I had life in the palm of my hand but you took it from me
Now it seems my days of careless ways in fact are turning on me
Because what seems right, feels right, ends up the most fragile of things
Now I'm spending my days in a permanent haze
Because what you stole, you took from me

Let's take the time to contemplate what we are faced
A fragile life in which design resolves being erased
And if you win some, lose some
You end up in the same old place
So understand the task at hand is to live and to forgive

Let's start some living
Let's stop decaying
We can't afford to waste away
Let's start some living
Let's stop decaying

If I'd have known time could stop on a dime and cause you to cease
I'd quit running so fast and I'd try to get a grasp on the things surrounding me
But what feels right, seems right, ends up the most prominent thing
Now I'm spending my days in a permanent haze
Because what you stole, you took from me

The Enemies

My dear Country ...

RoseHips ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

't was Halloween and the ghosts were out,
And everywhere they'd go, they shout,
And though I covered my eyes I knew,
They'd go away.

But fear's the only thing I saw,
And three days later 'twas clear to all,
That nothing is as scary as election day.

But the day after is darker,
And darker and darker it goes,
Who knows, maybe the plans will change,
Who knows, maybe he's not deranged.

The news men know what they know, but they,
Know even less than what they say,
And I don't know who I can trust,
For they come what may.

'cause we believed in our candidate,
But even more it's the one we hate,
I needed someone I could shake,
On election day.

But the day after is darker,
And deeper and deeper we go,
Who knows, maybe it's all a dream,
Who knows if I'll wake up and scream.

I love the things that you've given me,
I cherish you my dear country,
But sometimes I don't understand,
The way we play.

I love the things that you've given me,
And most of all that I am free,
To have a song that I can sing,
On election day.

Norah Jones

Changing the Seasons ...

Changing the Seasons ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

He falls asleep on her chest
the best sleep he´d ever met
nevertheless he dreams of some stranger´s caress
so he awakes and he knows
maybe someone else is supposed
to meet his hazy anticipating eyes

he draws the curtains aside
unfolding the first morning light
he glances at his disenchanted life

restlessness is me, you see
it´s hard to be safe
it´s difficult to be happy

it´s the changing of the seasons
he says ”I need them”
I guess I’m too Scandinavian
the relief of spring
intoxication of summer rain
the clearness of fall
how winter makes me reconsider it all

restlessness is me, you see
it´s hard to be safe
it´s difficult to be happy

and then she awakes
reaches for the embrace
he decides not
to worry about seasons again

Ane Brun

Haiku ...

Tomoko Mukaiyama ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

A ghost in the light.
Drifting quietly among us.
Not a sound is heard.

HumanHead

Anlamazdın ...

You would not understand ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Sevilirken bilmedin mi?
Ben söylerken gülmedin mi?
Falımızda hasret var ayrılık var demedim mi?
Anlamazdın anlamazdın..Kaderede inanmazdın…
Hani sen acı veren kalpsizlerden olmazdın….
Dilerim ki mutlu ol sevgilim..
Ben olmasam bile hayat gülsün sana..
Günahı boynunda,ağlayan bir çift göz bıraktın arkanda.
Kalbim bomboş kaldı sanma
Acılar geçer zamanla…
Aşka tövbe demem ben..
Görürsün sevince yeniden…
Anlamazdın anlamazdın..Kaderede inanmazdın…
Hani sen acı veren kalpsizlerden olmazdın….
Dilerim ki mutlu ol sevgilim..
Ben olmasam bile hayat gülsün sana..
Günahı boynunda,ağlayan bir çift göz bıraktın arkanda…

Ayla Dikmen

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Into the Future ...

Into the Future ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

hear the lonesome whiperwill
he sounds too blue to fly
the midnight train is whining low
i'm so lonesome i could cry
i've never seen a night so long
when time goes crawling by
the moon just went behind a cloud
to hide it's face and cry
did you ever see a robin weep
when leaves begin to die
that means he's lost the will to live
i'm so lonesome i could cry
the silence of a falling star
lights up a purple sky
and as i wonder where you are
i'm so lonesome i could cry

July ...

July ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Im a fool to want you
Im a fool to want you
To want a love that cant be true
A love thats there for others too

Im a fool to hold you
Such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss not mine alone
To share a kiss that devil has known

Time and time again I said Id leave you
Time and time again I went away
But then would come the time when I would need you
And once again these words I had to say

Take me back, I love you
...i need you
I know its wrong, it must be wrong
But right or wrong I cant get along

Billy Holliday

GoodMorning ...

GoodMorning ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Sun rays come down as seen when they hit the ground,
Children spinning around till they fall down down down.
I wait for you: it's been two hours now,
You're still somewhere in town,
Your dinners getting cold.
I rest my case you are always this late,
And you know how much I hate waiting around 'round 'round,

Bitter heart, bitter heart tries to keep it all inside,
Bitter heart, bitter heart shadows will help you try to hide,
Bitter heart, my bitter heart is gettin' just a little fragile,

Bitter heart, bitter heart of mine.

And then you come and tell me the same reason as you did yesterday,
So tell me whats her name.
Doo doo da dum, doo doo da dum, doo doo doo doo doo doo da da dum dum, da da da da dum, da da da da dum, da da da da dum.

Bitter heart, bitter heart tries to keep it all inside
Bitter heart, bitter heart shadows will help you try to hide,
Bitter heart, my bitter heart is just getting a little fragile,
Bitter heart, bitter heart of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine.

Zee Avi

Suzanne takes you with Her ...

Suzanne takes you with Her ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Suzanne takes you down to her place newer the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that shes half crazy
But thats why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from china
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That youve always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For youve touched her perfect body with your mind.

And jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said all men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe youll trust him
For hes touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now suzanne takes you hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From salvation army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For shes touched your perfect body with her mind.

Ordinary Miracle ...

Today i shot my neighbour's Pigeons ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

t’s not that usual when everything is beautiful
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when its time to snow
You don’t need to teach a seed to grow
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn’t it remarkable?
Like every time a raindrop falls
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling
And always make it home by spring
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we are all a part
Of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle?

Its seems so exceptional
Things just work out after all
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sun comes up and shines so bright
It disappears again at night
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Sarah McLachian

Dancing Cherries ..

Dancing Cherries ..
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Cherry-Time

Cherries of the night are riper
Than the cherries pluckt at noon
Gather to your fairy piper
When he pipes his magic tune:
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter
For the eater
Under the moon.
And you’ll be fairies soon.

In the cherry pluckt at night,
With the dew of summer swelling,
There’s a juice of pure delight,
Cool, dark, sweet, divinely smelling.
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter
For the eater
In the moonlight.
And you’ll be fairies quite.

When I sound the fairy call,
Gather here in silent meeting,
Chin to knee on the orchard wall,
Cooled with dew and cherries eating.
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter.
For the eater
When the dews fall.
And you’ll be fairies all.

Robert Graves

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance ...

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

She was beautiful as southern skies
The night he met her
She was married to someone
He was doggedly determined that he would get her
He was old, he was young
From time to time hed tip his heart
But each time she withdrew
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true
Well eventually the boy and the girl get married
Sure enough they have a son
And though they both were occupied
With the child she carried
Disagreements had begun
And in a while they fell apart
It wasnt hard to do
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true
Two disappointed believers
Two people playing the game
Negotiations and love songs
Are often mistaken for one and the same
Now the man and the woman
Remain in contact
Let us say its for the child
With disagreements about the meaning
Of a marriage contract
Conversations hard and wild
But from time to time
He makes her laugh
She cooks a meal or two
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true
What is the point of this story
What information pertains
The thought that life could be better
Is woven indelibly
Into our hearts
And our brains

Paul Simon

A lonely goatherd ...

Where are you looking at ?
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Maria:
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd’s throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

the Children:
O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay

Maria:
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Two Children:
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

the Children:
Men in the midst of a table d’hote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Maria:
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo (coughs)

One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Brigitta:
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Maria:
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Maria and the Children:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Maria and the Children:
Ummm (ummm) . . .
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay ee . . .
. . . yodeling . . .

Brigitta:
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Maria:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hoo hoo
Brigitta:
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Maria:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Maria:
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Maria and the Children:
Happy are they lay dee olay dee lee o . . .
. . . yodeling . . .
Soon the duet will become a trio
Maria:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Maria (Children):
Odl lay ee, old lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee, (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay hee (odl lay hee),
Odl lay odl lee (odl lay odl lee)
Odl lay odl lee(odl lay odi lay)
Odl lay odl lee (odl lay odl lay)
Odl lay odl lay odl lay

the Children:
WHOO!

from: The Sound of Music

A Casa ...

Detail ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Rima LXXXIV. Tu voz es el aliento de las flores...

A Casta

Tu voz es el aliento de las flores,
tu voz es de los cisnes la armonía;
es tu mirada el esplendor del día,
y el color de la rosa es tu color.

Tú prestas nueva vida y esperanza
a un corazón para el amor ya muerto:
tú creces de mi vida en el desierto
como crece en un páramo la flor.


Rhyme LXXXIV. Your voice is the breath of flowers...

To Chastity

Your voice is the breath of flowers,
your voice is the harmony of swans;
the splendor of the day is your glance,
and the color of roses is your color.

You lend new life and hope
to a heart that already died for love:
you grow in the desert of my life
like a flower on a bleak plateau.

Translated by H. Landman

Thanks to Londeswein

Old Tulips on Old Paper ...

Old Tulips on Old Paper ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Silvia Plath
Tulips (fragments)

...Nobody watched me before, now I am watched.
The tulips turn to me, and the window behind me
Where once a day the light slowly widens and slowly thins,
And I see myself, flat, ridiculous, a cut-paper shadow
Between the eye of the sun and the eyes of the tulips,
And I hve no face, I have wanted to efface myself.
The vivid tulips eat my oxygen.

Before they came the air was calm enough,
Coming and going, breath by breath, without any fuss.
Then the tulips filled it up like a loud noise.
Now the air snags and eddies round them the way a river
Snags and eddies round a sunken rust-red engine.
They concentrate my attention, that was happy
Playing and resting without committing itself.

The walls, also, seem to be warming themselves.
The tulips should be behind bars like dangerous animals;
They are opening like the mouth of some great African cat,
And I am aware of my heart: it opens and closes
Its bowl of red blooms out of sheer love of me.
The water I taste is warm and salt, like the sea,
And comes from a country far away as health.

Thanks to Londeswein

Hyacinthus Orientalis ...

Hyacinthus Orientalis ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

The menace of the flower

Flower of drowsiness,
lull me but love me not.
How you profuse your perfume,
how overdo your rouge,
flower who kohl your lids
and exhale your soul in the sun!
Flower of drowsiness.
There is one resembles you
in your deceiving blush,
and too because she has
black eyelashes like you.
Flower of drowsiness.
(And I tremble alone to see
your hand in mine,
tremble lest you turn
into a woman one day!)

Alfonso Reyes

Translation by Samuel Beckett

Thanks to Londeswein

I’m going to wrinkle this word ...

Blue Eye ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

I’m going to wrinkle this word,
I’m going to twist it,
yes,
it is much too flat
it is as if a great dog or great river
had passed its tongue or water over it
during many years.

I want that in the word
the roughness is seen
the iron salt
The de-fanged strength
of the land,
the blood
of those who have spoken and those who have not spoken.

I want to see the thirst
Inside the syllables
I want to touch the fire
in the sound:
I want to feel the darkness
of the cry. I want
words as rough
as virgin rocks.

Pablo Neruda,poeta

(Translated by T.M. Lauth)

Thanks to Londeswein

Suzanne ...

Suzanne ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Leonard Cohen,

Saturdaymorning,

Saturdaymorning,
Originally uploaded by Berta...

"Nature" is what we see --
The Hill -- the Afternoon --
Squirrel -- Eclipse -- the Bumble bee --
Nay -- Nature is Heaven --
Nature is what we hear --
The Bobolink -- the Sea --
Thunder -- the Cricket --
Nay -- Nature is Harmony --
Nature is what we know --
Yet have no art to say --
So impotent Our Wisdom is
To her Simplicity.

(#668) Emily Dickinson

Thanks to londeswein

Red ...

Red ...
Originally uploaded by Berta...

Ballade de la vie en rouge
Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)

L'un toujours vit la vie en rose,
Jeunesse qui n'en finit plus,
Seconde enfance moins morose,
Ni voeux, ni regrets superflus.
Ignorant tout flux et reflux,
Ce sage pour qui rien ne bouge
Règne instinctif: tel un phallus.
Mais moi je vois la vie en rouge.

L'autre ratiocine et glose
Sur des modes irrésolus,
Soupesant, pesant chaque chose
De mains gourdes aux lourds calus.
Lui faudrait du temps tant et plus
Pour se risquer hors de son bouge.
Le monde est gris à ce reclus.
Mais moi je vois la vie en rouge.

Lui, cet autre, alentour il ose
Jeter des regards bien voulus,
Mais, sur quoi que son oeil se pose,
Il s'exaspère où tu te plus,
Oeil des philanthropes joufflus;
Tout lui semble noir, vierge ou gouge,
Les hommes, vins bus, livres lus.
Mais moi je vois la vie en rouge.

Thanks to londeswein