Clive Gresswell was a 65-year-old poet and innovative writer from Britain who also writes song lyrics. He has been widely published and has authored six poetry books. Fevers of the Mind will remember Clive with a couple of his poems he had recently submitted for the Poetry Outlaws Series.
Song to Karl
My song is not democratic
It is Anne Frank trembling in the attic
It is the life-force spent
In a bedowin tent at the hands of fanatics.
It is centuries old bloody & cold
Bartering shekels in the land of gold
As capitalism is bought and sold
And the embers die out from the light so bold.
Now in the twilight as darkness recedes
The lamb & the lion a human disease
As shelter and warmth take precedence
Over the soul survivors and what the flesh needs.
Counting out money and weighing the deeds
Time holds these memories then fades away
Fast to the future another display of innocence lost
At such a heavy cost.
My song is not democratic
It is the survivor here in the attic
Where life & limb is destiny’s king
Living moment to moment
Till the next chance to sing.
(ends)
Redemption Song:
thank u for this gift of mine
truth to power & to rhyme
holding fast this simple task
sacred duty power thine.
& when i float in outer space
consider please not my disgrace
the worst of me weighed in place
pride & envy saving face.
am i free for now to sing
to wonder at the beauty scene
to have & hold my inner being
dancing wolves & loving scenes.
my mind it spins with myriad things
from hallowed turf to noxious dreams
i yearn such love to hold & share
it can't be flesh needs everywhere.
so take heed & have a care this wishing
well this starring role from hearts & curses
new and old my empathy is bought & sold
in the markets where souls are gold.
consider me a true friend whose limits
reached roll on again the savage beast
& in retreat bravery scheduled in defeat
another weary dead-end street.
i think we've been here once before
dividing proceeds from the war
drinking from the poison chalice
always ignorance never malice.
and so i sing on, placing bets
shining rings & amulets
lashing life spells in a trance
as we make those people dance.
& maybe there will be some peace
in future times free from disease
& all the foibles of the flesh
when we meet beyond our deaths.
take the struggle take the pain
nothing ventured nothing gained
nothing listed or explained
once again you're half deranged.
the earth is wide the sky is blue
but i question who are you
beneath life's pomp & ceremony
beyond duty & beyond your memory.
take the struggle take the pain
nothing ventured nothing gained
nothing listed or explained
once again you're half insane.
counting pleasures one by one
you've got the part but not the sum
what you reap from what you've done
private battles fought & won.
& so it's time to move along
count your blessings & make your choice
raise your game & raise your voice
to the clouds up in the sky
where the chorused angels fly.
take the struggle take the pain
the lord is on his cross again
still nothing listed or explained
nothing ventured, nothing gained.
thank you for this gift of mine
the power to sing along in rhyme
to reach out to my fellow man
in the best way that i can.
on the road i've often faltered
my fate & faith have been altered
wind & rain blown me around
but always near me was this sound.
take this struggle take this pain
the lord is on his cross again
still time is misted & there's fog in my brain
where humanity is cursed & half insane.
keep my eyes on the future not the past
building up something that at last will last
that will stand straight in line & test the time
that ticks out among those ties that bind.
on the road i've often faltered
my fate & faith often altered
wind & rain howling around
but always with me was this sound.
it echoes now into the night
another turning point in site
& in spite of all the spite
my thoughts are turning to delight.
on the road i've often faltered
faith & passion often altered
wind & rain & darkness around
but always at my feet this sound.
& when i float in outer space
bring me to this inner place
where all that's said is no disgrace
the resting seed, the final place.
(ends)
Fevers of the Mind 