On The Boil (1997)

Sunlight molten on my windowsill today (and the kettle’s on the boil…)
Sunlight running down the window and it’s melting all the frost away (…)
Cats are sharking ‘round my ankles for a morsel and they’re pleading me
They try to lure me to the basement using static electricity, they’re leading me
They say “oh, we’ve been waiting—the dark is fading”
Anticipating now, now, now
Now

Funny, isn’t it, how watching it can seem to make the time go slow
But turn your back to do another thing and suddenly the whistle blows
You never know
And everything we strain so hard to do will come around if given time
The day will come around, the sun comes up, another chance to watch it shine
Just watch it shine
And oh, we’ve been waiting—no more afraid-ing
Time for celebrating now, now, now
Now

Would you like coffee? Or maybe tea?
Would you like breakfast? It’s all for free
Would you like justice? Would you like peace?
Would you like new life? Just let it steep, let it steep, let it steep

Tea is a love affair, the water and the leaves see something in each other
And all creation is a love affair, the Spirit and the clay see something in each other
We are a love affair if you and I and all the world see something in each other
Today we heard the baby’s heartbeat to the rhythm of the rhythm of the
Rhythm of this song, this song, this song
And oh, we’ve been waiting—no more afraid-ing
Time for celebrating now, now, now
Now

Composed: Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 1997

First public performance: First Unitarian Church, Elgin, Illinois, June 1998

Notes: For Brooks, and all other good things happening and about to happen. Inspired in part by a poem by Susan Griffin.

Recording:
Kindling, Kindling Live! (KinFolk, 1998)
Listen to the Kindling arrangement (1998) via YouTube

Share this:

Like this: