WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
For Brian Jones (Written on the occasion of his death, 1969)
byVanderleunonAugust 2, 2022
For Brian Jones
As a blue balloon scudding into slate clouds
As a child’s bright paper kite going up and up
Into the clearest of skies until you cannot see
Even the faintest speck of it against the immense blue
And it’s evening, cool and distant, and your mother
Across the brindle summer fields calls you and
You cut the string and run all the way home laughing
While the kite somewhere very far away fades and
Then your own footsteps vanish and you are running
Into shadows lacing the sides of a dusty road
Alone in the center of nowhere mirrored by pools of rain. . .
. . . A phantom faded into its own echo . . .
. . . A candle gone out in white water . . .
The darker waters . . . Rushing . . . The silences
And we are left here, somewhere,
Wondering what became of him . . . The river does not answer
As a blue balloon swirling through the floss clouds
As a leaf uncurling in the blue early sunlight
The poem may touch pure sunlight
As he touches pure sunlight and silence,
Gentle, opening, as a song blooms
Outward into the terrible distances
Going home into the universe
Going home
— 2 July 1969, The Green House, Berkeley California
The Rolling Stones – 2000 Light Years From Home with Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Ha! I love the conjunction with the song!
Ooh the story is better than the poem–you have polished up well!