Poem Of The Week – If I Could Fall by John de Gruyther

I recently remembered this poem I composed at some point last year. It was part of a project my song-writing partner and I set for each other, we each had to write a poem and the other person’s task was to set the finished poem to music. It was an interesting project as I enjoyed setting my partner’s words to music, feeling a real sense of freedom from worrying about the next line or verse, the words were for a change not my priority.

This is the poem that I came up with and handed over to my partner for his musical interpretation.

If I Could Fall by John de Gruyther

“Let’s drive to Mexico, the wind in our hair”
I smile and say ok, but I know you won’t be there.

Remember the midnight fields and barely contained fear?
It’s stealing up on me in the dead night of silence.
Awoken by the tumbling rain, feeling safe but it’s time again.

Echoes of nostalgia cannot lift the sorrow from my lids.
My mood as fleeting as autumnal meadows.
I could hurt, if I could feel and not stay so contained.

And I could see, if only to believe the voices that I hear.
And I could hurt and I could fall, taking the whole before.
And you could see, if only to believe, the ringing in your ears.

“Maybe a song about the summer?”
Yes that would be good, I’ll meet you there.

Remember the poem, where the path’s not taken?
Words appear swirling, down some memory filled lane.
Where I don’t make that mistake again.

So stay serene in the tumultuous rage.
If only we could all see, if only to believe,
That in glorious sunshine, there is always shade.