Winds fought our journey down the river with the force of an army of thousands
Piercing through our pores like venomous darts shot from behind the tall oak trees
Leaves of pink and oranges lay on the ground reminding us of a season passed
In a moment of playfulness, she straddled a fallen branch. Head to toe in a long black overcoat and hat. So beautiful; so youthful
For an instance I saw a little girl with a smile of innocence
Ready to play in the swift autumn freeze
It was a cold day in November
Mountains closed in fear of icy danger ahead
Rocky waves spiral the water down the river bend
I caught her faint screams, “Come on, let’s play by the river”
She ran and leaped over branches without delay
Beating the winds and winning the race
I caught up and felt the rush of a long hug at the finish line
She smiled
Cold and fragile
Happy and safe
Alone, just the two of us
The creatures of the forest hibernating
Waiting for warmer times
We were two kids escaping for a little while into a world we created
Filled with color, sounds of brisk water and songs of the wind
On a cold day in November in Asheville, all was right
Stop, breathe, be still
It is the moments that freeze in time
Forced thought
Derived emotion
Filter out the bad to penetrate the good
This is my emancipation
I have loved
A flawed soul in a flawed world
In mistake, I have found fortune
A bounty of unconditional devotion
A river of enchantment that flows through this wonderland
I have scripted a blessing to each of you that has touched this delicate heart
A proclamation spelled with a hug
A letter to thank you. A letter not defined by its words, but a message of tenderness the requires only a tingle
In this life, I have cried the tears of happiness
For each of you has devoted a piece of your being so I may learn the art of appreciation
In this life, I have fallen
Each time I squirt at the sun, a hand of generosity lifts me
In this life, I have lost
Alone in an abyss of infinite existence only to be found
In this life, betrayal has been a shadow until I found the light
My being is a sculpted piece, unfinished
A work in progress
With chiseled corners, I take shape
Each touch brings the energy of life and closer to invincibility
This is my emancipation
My beginning
Let the masses hear my song
It is loud and pure; hopeful and alive
Born Again
The final page of the novel lingers with unanswered questions
Endings
Finales
Eclipse of the sun
Like perfect porcelain shattered creating a jagged path to a new beginning
A new chapter
The corruption of untainted paper drenched with disillusion
A life in pieces scattered with fondness and regret
Prose of a morning swallow
Singing the song of loneliness awaiting the return of mother
A bounty netting on her beak as she flies in for a swift glide of heroism
The song of inspiration from the subway tunnels ignored by thousands of ants marching
With his guitar he sings for the moment
Reminding thousands of deaf ears the gift of music
A baby cries confronted by the beast
A grown self looking back praying to return to the safety of the crib
Billions of cries lost in a digital meteor shower swallowed into a black hole
The burden of life is but an illusion
A magic trick
The explanation written so clearly by the holy prophets
So much clarity to the magic
The trick now becomes the guiding force
One weeping angel frozen in concrete for the crimes of humanity
Forever in tears
A new world world unified not by words, not by actions, not by the promise of a renaissance
Whether you see him as a poet, musician, humanitarian, social activist or spokesman for the everyday man, Billy Joel has become an American legend whose music has transcended time and continues to connect with people now and for generations to come. His iconic lyrics and sound has been a foundation in the music industry for 40 years and it has become a part of so many lives. Enjoy this journey through the words and music of Billy Joel.
Billy Joel Journey
“They say that these are not the best of times, but they’re the only times I’ve ever known. And I believe there is a time for meditation and cathedrals of our own. Now I have seen that sad surrender in my lovers eyes and I can only stand apart and sympathize. Because we are only what our situations hand us, it’s either sadness or euphoria” – Summer Highland Falls
“You got your passion, you got your pride
But don’t you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true” – Vienna
“When you touch my weary head
And you tell me everything will be all right
You say, “Use my body for your bed
And my love will keep you warm throughout the night”
Well I’ll never be a stranger and I’ll never be alone
Whenever we’re together, that’s my home” – You’re My Home
“In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along
I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense
And every time I’ve held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose” – And So It Goes
“I know you’re an emotional girl
It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world
I can’t offer you proof
But you’re gonna face a moment of truth
It’s hard when you’re always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart if you must
It’s a matter of trust” – Matter of Trust
“While in these days of quiet desperation
As I wander through the world in which I live
I search everywhere for some new inspiration
But it’s more than cold reality can give
If I need a cause for celebration
Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind
I rely on my imagination
And I dream of an imaginary time” – Everybody Has a Dream
“I was a bayman like my father was before
Can’t make a living as a bayman anymore
There ain’t much future for a man who works the sea
But there ain’t no island left for islanders like me” – Downeaster Alexa
“This night is mine
It’s only you and I
Tomorrow
Is a long time away
This night can last forever” – This Night
“Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?” – The Stranger
“It’s not always easy to be living in this world of pain
You’re gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again
It’s alright, it’s alright, though you feel your heart break
You’re only human, you’re gonna have to deal with heartache” – You’re Only Human
“These are the last words I have to say
That’s why this took so long to write
There will be other words some other day
But that’s the story of my life
There’s comfort in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall
They’re pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall
They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade
Nothing left for a dreamer now, only one final serenade
And these are the last words I have to say
Before another age goes by
With all those other songs I’ll have to play
But that’s the story of my life” – Famous Last Words
Alone, just the two of us
Stop, breathe, be still
My being is a sculpted piece, unfinished
Billions of cries lost in a digital meteor shower swallowed into a black hole
You are you
Soon the sun will rise corrupting this darkness
