by John Knight
Member since:
July 12, 2006

Nightwatchman

December 12, 2006 08:47 AM EST (Updated: December 13, 2006 08:31 AM EST)
views: 52 | comments: 22

 

 

I almost feel I could write something down

That would spin your head around

That would open up your heart

Now wouldn't that be something to behold

Weave words to make a flower unfold

 

I walk a thin line

Like vinegar and wine

I'm gonna rest my bones by the water song

I'm gonna sleep in the wind from the sea

I'll forget what it's like to be weary

I'll forget what it takes to be free

 

A dirty moon climbs weary

From suns that made it crawl

Shadow men run from phantom deaths

In a dance on the face of a wall

No ones lookin for anything

They're just lookin not to fall

There's no one on the road tonight

Nightwatchman's feeling small

 

Don't let the cool men freeze you

Or the power men force you to choose

Don't let logicians fool you

Into thinking you've got nothing to lose

Cause they'll ease you

And appease you

Into thinking below is above

It's just a game, the song's the same

Song of truth, song of light, song of love

 

 

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Comments: 22

Cheryl W. Dec 12, 2006, 8:55am EST
This is haunting and powerful. I love the rhythm and the flow, the beauty of the words. Wonderful poem!
Michelle R. Dec 12, 2006, 10:23am EST
BRAVO!!! BRAVISIMO!!! You've penned an upright light in an upside down world.
Osofo Addo Dec 12, 2006, 11:39am EST
Yes you actually did succeed in writing something to open up my heart ...Thank you ...This is a wonderful poem
Tab B. Dec 12, 2006, 7:33pm EST
wonderful piece of poetry, John! I enjoyed it.
Shawn "left this place" W Dec 12, 2006, 9:04pm EST
Very nice, John, I like the way it starts with a wish to bring change, but then it has the feeling of throwing up your hands in surrender for a moment. You bring it back strong in the end. Well done.
Tony W. Dec 12, 2006, 9:20pm EST
This is quite clever. I think "no-one's looking for anything, they're just looking not to fall" is a true commentary on mankind today, in America anyway...
Timothy V. Dec 12, 2006, 10:09pm EST
Great poem John !
Visionaerie B. Dec 13, 2006, 12:18am EST
Very cool indeed! It sounds like some kind of new superhero story or futuristic sci-fi movie. My dad was once a guard for a factory, and once he let us in to go pigeon shooting with our airguns (ah..the good old days before Homeland Security!). I don't think we got too many pigeons, but it was still fun. Great poem -- keep us rockin' on the freedom train!
John Knight Dec 13, 2006, 8:48am EST
Thanks guys, it's good to see that different "sorts" of people can understand it. I think of poetry as a refuge of last resort, where things you can't say straight out can sometimes be teased out in verse.
Jerry Kays Dec 13, 2006, 12:32pm EST
congratulations, I did not know you had it in you.
John, well done! This is another side of you, as Jerry observed.
Faith H. Dec 13, 2006, 4:39pm EST
John, I enjoyed reading this as a social commentary and as you said, as something not easily said straight out but can be presented in poetry. Well done!
John Knight Dec 14, 2006, 10:34am EST
Kinda awkward to say, but most of the writing I did before joining Gather was poetry, and I thought that's what I'd mostly be doing here.
Mikal *A Four Year Smithie* M. Dec 14, 2006, 7:56pm EST
Great poem!!
John Knight Dec 14, 2006, 11:17pm EST
Thanks Liz. I could never figure out how to tell you that while I am "dispassionate"and logical in speaking to others, I impose that on myself out of respect, for the people I'm addressing, and not for "intellectualism" itself.
Mary H. Dec 15, 2006, 1:08pm EST
John, I like this poem very much. There is a depth of innocence about it that is a bit of a departure for you. You like the prophets of old are one of the watchmen on the wall. You do it well!

Keep alert and keep watching!!!
John Knight Dec 16, 2006, 3:31am EST
Mary,

What a wondrous thing is truth; for the teller often does not hear it till it reaches the ear of another. All who serve this vigil are one!

You re-double my alertness. Thank you dear Mary.
Mary H. Dec 22, 2006, 1:34am EST
Wow, how beautiful -- "the teller often does not hear it till it reaches the ear of another". This demonstrates that truth is a thing imparted and that it is to be "shared". You do it well, my friend!!!


Question: John, where are you from orginally? Are you Canadian or British? Some of your spelling seem to indicate a British heritage.
John Knight Dec 28, 2006, 4:52pm EST
Mary,

No, I come form the Midwest, my folks from up Wisconsin way. I read a lot of classics as a youngster, I think I picked up some of the English gift for saying things in a circuitous way, in order to minimize easy misconstruance. The spelling apparently came with the package.

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