Hymn for a Brother

 

Saw a dead man swinging by the neck in a willow tree

He swayed with the leaves in rhythm with the breeze

His innards were gone and his eyes were too,

His legs chewed to the knees by the wolves

I didn’t much know what I should do

So I sat by the tree and played the man a tune

 

I said

“brother it looks like your time has come, and far too soon,

You must of done something dirty to earn that fancy noose,

Or maybe it was that you just had enough of the world

And bid adeu with a crack and sigh

Maybe you deserve to be fodder for the wolves

Or maybe there should be a peaceful grave calling you home

But I guess that’s something neither one of us will know”

 

“I don’t know your story, or even your name

Don’t know whether you would have been friend or foe

But as long as I’m here ‘neath this old willow tree,

Ill simply tip my hat and play you this tune” 

Reviews

[Sam]

“I don’t know your story, or even your name
Don’t know whether you would have been friend or foe
But as long as I’m here ‘neath this old willow tree,
Ill simply tip my hat and play you this tune”

Love the respect and how all the answers to all the questions are nothing that matters.
You sit there and keep him company.
You are very talented at writing... painting such pictures with words.
At the beginning it reminded me of a song by Billy Holiday called Strange Fruit but then it sifted so sweetly like the leaves of a tree.
Beautiful and thank you so much for sharing.

[Sami Khalil]

“I don’t know your story, or even your name
Don’t know whether you would have been friend or foe
But as long as I’m here ‘neath this old willow tree,
Ill simply tip my hat and play you this tune”
A very nice poem. I like the ending a lot...:)

[A.J.]

thank you! i actually wrote this to music.. kind of an Iron & Wine feel with a touch of arabic-sounding guitar.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. I love Arabic tunes and music and others...Any good music and soothing ones too...:)

[A.J.]

look into the band Iron and wine.. each song is a mood setter for writers and dreamers.

[Sami Khalil]

OK. Thank you for sharing...:)

[justjenn_2u]

This is as a song. I can feel the beat as I read it and the emotion behind your words. Write on...

[A.J.]

yes, it sure is! I wrote it as such.. the music is folksy, fingerpicked guitar. one of these days Ill find a way to record it. thank you!!!

[justjenn_2u]

I love it!!!!

[A.J.]

thank you very, very much!