Sparrow Flight

Do you see the sparrows in the air,
Flying lively about their businesses,
Sprinkling the day with chirping sounds,
Chiming like little tin teapots?

Now pick one--that one?
And follow it with your eyes,
Here and there
As it flies and lights and flies:
Now to a branch,
To a bush, to a fence,
Now a hop to the pavement
To peck and scold,
Then way up to a treetop
To pause and survey.

Now imagine--
No, wait. First close your eyes.
Now imagine
Just such a sparrow
Inside your eyes,
And follow,
In the dark space of inner sight,
The myriad patterns
As that sparrow
Dips and swoops and climbs
And flies.

Nameless

Into your skin
I slide
I pierce
I wriggle

Slow
Then sudden
I grab you
And twist
Within

Me oh me
You will never forget
You will never

I am words
I am music
I change you
A trifle
Forever

When I Was Just a Girl (Carl's Waltz)

words & tune by
Carole Rose Livingston
(c)1992

1.

When I was just a girl, I loved you.
When I was just a girl, so long ago.
With all my heart I loved, with all my soul,
So long ago, so very long ago.

2.

When I was just a girl, we parted.
When I was just a girl, you said goodbye.
But deep inside, I never let you go.
I love you so, as much as long ago.

(Hum tune.)

3.

When I was just a girl, I loved you.
When I was just a girl, so long ago.
And still my love's a flame that burns and burns.
The world is ashes, and my heart still yearns.

Still my love's a flame that never dies.
The world is ashes, and my heart still cries.

La la la la la, la la.

We Are Branches (round)

words & tune by
Carole Rose Livingston
(c) 1984

We are branches of one tree,
Deeply rooted in the ground.
We are branches of one tree,
Reaching to the sky.

This song can be sung as a round, in 2, 3, or 4 parts. Or it can be played as a circle game, as follows:

Lines 1 & 3: Stretch out your arms like branches, and wiggle your fingers like twigs in a breeze, just touching the wiggling fingers of the person on either side of you.

Line 2: Bending from the waist, touch the ground with your hands.

Line 4: Stand up on your toes and reach as high as you can, hand over hand, as though you were climbing a rope. Try to catch a cloud.

Update

(c) 1983
by Carole Rose Livingston

Monday's child is fair of face, dressed all in lace;
Tuesday's child is full of grace, and knows her place;
Wednesday's child is loving and giving, with little time to play;
Thursday's child must work for her living, at very low pay;
Friday's child is full of woe, she's opened her eyes;
Saturday's child has far to go, she'll organize;
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and bright and good and gay,
And a right-on feminist, hooray, hooray,
And a right-on feminist, hooray.

Two Prayers

Carole Rose Livingston
words & music (c) 1989

Night falls up on Jerusalem
A mother tucks her children in and prays for them
Bring peace
Hashem Shalom
Shalom

And in a place for refugees
Another mother on her knees
Whispers bring peace Allah
Bring peace
Shalaam

Two prayers rise up into the air
The winds disperse them everywhere
And if you listen, you will hear
Shalaam
Shalom
Shalom
And if you listen, you will hear
Shalaam
Shalom
Omen

This Tree

by Carole Rose Livingston
(c) 1993

There is more work to be done,
More work to be done,
For this tree to bear fruit,
Sweet fruit.

We will water this tree with all our tears
For the ones who are not here.
For the ones who cannot reap,
We will weep.

And we will nourish this tree with all our prayers
For the children: the harvest will be theirs.
For the green and peaceful years to come,
We will