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What would I do if I weren't doing what I do when I'm doing what I do? If I weren't doing what I do when I'm doing it I guess I'd be doing something new Maybe I could learn how to do something different I could do without further ado But what I could do instead of doing what I'm doing I confess I haven't a clue So I think I'll keep doing what I've always been doing which is doing what I'm doing when I do Out with the old In with the new Surely some purging is long overdue Habits and attitudes up for review Some of them ripe for a final adieu So much to question but one thing is true No matter what happens I'll hang on to you tony beckwith 2018 Thanksgiving 2018 Thanksgiving gets here just in time A few more weeks and I'd be out of my mind I couldn't wait to be with you today Wild wild horses couldn't keep me away Some have traveled since we last met by road and rail and jumbo jet Some have tasted fine cuisines and ridden home in limousines Some have seen the future in the writing on the wall Some forgot that pride will always come before a fall We've all done so many things Played the piano, sprouted wings Teased the knots in tangled strings Gazed at Saturn's golden rings Some were blessed with children bringing joy beyond belief Some saw dust return to dust and wrapped themselves in grief Some survived a tightrope walk and reached the other side Some put their faith in fairy tales and were taken for a ride Each of us has changed a bit although it may not show The bonds that bind us tightly keep expanding as we grow Another year has slipped away I'm grateful to be here today On this, my favorite holiday tony beckwith 2018 The wounds are deep and sadness lingers When special friends slip through our fingers like grains of sand that time begot They once were with us Now they’re not How will I fill the empty hours that now are mine but once were ours? And what, pray tell, am I to do with the me that I could be with you? Where will I find the conversation the banter and the stimulation? I do have other friends, it’s true but there is no one quite like you Now diminished, life goes on My days no longer halcyon You want the truth? I won’t pretend: It’s not the same without my friend Buenos Aires, April 3, 1942 – Málaga, July 18, 2018 Lower the flags in memory of John Now that our dear old John has gone Come, gather up memories yours and mine Break out the glasses and pour us some wine Let’s have no tears Well, perhaps just a few And then let’s all do what he’d want us to do Challenge the bullshit Sample the gin Play devil’s advocate with a shit-eating grin Live to the limit Laugh till you cry Argue till daybreak And keep asking why If you believe in it raise up your voice Give all you have in the coin of your choice The flags may be lowered Juanín may be gone But his singular spirit, undaunted, lives on Something tugged at Geoffrey’s sleeve Time had come for him to leave Tired of lonely Tired of pain Longed to join his fair Elaine Wednesday morning brought release Gentle Geoffrey, rest in peace I’m not going to dwell on the gloomy bits or the scary ones or the sad I’d rather remember my sun-drenched days and all the fun I’ve had I traveled the world when I was young I’ve always been lucky like that It opened my mind to astonishing things that I’m still keeping under my hat I’ve seen the sun go down in the west and rise again in the east I married a baker who saved my life and every meal is a feast Today is my birthday (I should have explained) so I’m delving around in the past And I’ll say it again (with my fingers crossed) I’ve been lucky and long may it last On this day reserved for gratitude Under late November skies As we honor our traditions And feast on pumpkin pies Let us celebrate the positive The realm of hopes and dreams Where even dismal darkest night Is brighter than it seems For though our journey may be fraught With cruel calamity The road is strewn with miracles For those with eyes to see We may not meet again like this dear friends from long ago So give me one last farewell kiss before it’s time to go Should auld acquaintance be forgot from days of auld lang syne? My heart says absolutely not I’m not forgetting mine Our paths may cross again one day but only time will tell So rather than good-bye let’s say: Godspeed and fare thee well (with thanks to Robert Burns) Remember once upon a time when you and I were young? The world was simple and sublime Our song as yet unsung Our freedom seemed to know no bounds Our limit was the sky An air of magic still surrounds our youth in Uruguay We couldn’t wait to go outside to woods or stream or beach The day unfolding far and wide was all within our reach To think we barely noticed when our summers slipped away We took them all for granted then I cherish them today |
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