little man

a little man

very small indeed

a white and balding pate has he

with rosy cheeks on milk-white skin

rising above a dimpled chin

and wire-rimmed specs on a bulbous nose

so big and red, you'd swear it glows

and mischievous eyes, all crystal blue

and big, bushy eyebrows; big ones, it's true

they're salt-pepper gray and wild as weed

no doubt of some exotic eyebrow breed

and all of his arms and all of his legs

are strong and round, but short like short pegs

but that doesn't slow the little man's pace

as up and down the aisles he'll race

searching first here and then over there

constantly searching, always aware

and the little man knows the place high and low

he knows of its wonders, he knows of its woes

he's seen me triumphant atop mountain peaks

he's seen me cowering, afraid and so weak

he sees me outside, he sees me in

he suffers the losses, he savors the wins

a little man, yes, that's what i said

a wee small lad that runs 'round in my head

and gives me the "facts" from "a down through z"

get to know the little man

and you'll get to know me

daleach 79

Epitaph

He is not gone, my Friend

He's only moved along

Travelled on to parts unknown

Heard that Highway Song

And those of us that knew him

Know that that's a natural thing

For he always loved to travel

Loved the adventure unknowns bring

For he was born a restless heart

And restless he remains

Bound to wander and chase the stars

Now unfettered by senseless games

And though he'll never come home again

I know he'll often pass this way

To visit us and touch our hearts

To give us pause, and say

Somewhere's where we've been before

Here is where we are

And nowhere's where we're headed Friend

When we're afraid to chase the stars

daleach'85

HIGHWAY SONG

On a hot prairie night

there was nothing in sight

as far as the eye could see

'Cept sagebrush and sky

nighthawks dartin' by

our old dog Smokey and me

The wind whistled and whined

through the telephone lines

and sang out so mournful and long

And now for thirty-odd years

through good times and tears

I've heard that Highway Song

I'm a drifter

driftin' from town to town

from time to time

Lightin' but never landin' for long

'cause my feet get itchy

and I hear that Highway Song again

And it's not that there's always some place to go

or not somewhere I'd rather just stay

it's more, it's a fever

and it gets in your blood

it's the price that a drifter must pay

Love 'em and leave 'em

I know that's how it seems

but I never planned it that way

Each time I fell in love

I was out to win her love

and my only thoughts were to stay

But somewhere along the line

there'd always come a time

when it had come time to go

And I couldn't tell you why

I ever said goodbye

to some of the lovers I've known

I'm a drifter

driftin' from town to town

from time to time

Lightin' but never landin' for long

'cause my feet get itchy

and I hear that Highway song again

And it's not that there's always some place to go

or not somewhere I'd rather just stay

it's more, it's a fever and it gets in your blood

it's the price that a drifter must pay

It's a blessing and it's a curse

it's the best and it's the worst

it's everything and it's nothing at all

It's freedom and it's jail

it's heaven and it's hell

once you answer that Highway Song's call

'Cause there's just one thing that's sure

and that's that there ain't no cure

once the fever begins to spread

It seems I just start to settle down

or a new lover will come around

and I'll hear that song in my head

I'm a drifter

driftin' from town to town

from time to time

Lightin' but never landin' for long

'cause my feet get itchy

and I hear that Highway song again

And it's not that there's always some place to go

or not somewhere I'd rather just stay

it's more, it's a fever and it gets in your blood

it's the price that a drifter must pay

It's more, it's a fever and it gets in your blood

it's the price that a drifter must pay

daleach