SamadhiMuse

         Rose rides the desert beneath the full moon
            and my apartment holds Danny and I safe
               against her absence
         These days and hours, so electric, I’ll never forget
            Love and pain in all proportions
               and time slowing down, day by day
                  against the history nodes passing here
         Nine years coming down beneath the full moon
            and all our friends wait to see what’s right
               I feel this history like the veins in my skin
                  beneath the hours I’m living in
                                    gallagher
                                    apr 21, 78

— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —

                       Dinner at Dave’s
           Good friends are anchors into reality
           they speak their thoughts plainly
           they counseled me with criticism and concern
           and listened without rejection to my every reply.
           Dave and Ron said I owed Rose
           but, as the discussion wore on,
           it seemed that it was Danny I owed
           ‘Give him all the relief you can’, they said,
           ‘that he can grow up as straight and true as possible.’
           And Dave also said that, ‘In five years
           I wouldn’t speak to he or Ron, my friends.’
           that I would’ve risen beyond their friendships
           and I smiled, honored
           that they should see my future so bright
           but hurt to think that they would think I would discard them so.
           Evidently, they’ve seen me as some rising star
           long before any of my talents or blind luck bore fruit.
           They said they knew I’d do Rose wrong even back then,
           when all my shoe string dreams lived only by our faith,
           hers and mine, and her love.
           I listened and I loved their honesty
           but I can no more change myself than quit breathing….
           I listened, listened and begged to hear more.
           Perhaps something they know
           could make it easier for her and Danny and I.
           But, if not, I don’t regret our words nor the time spent.
           They’re my friends and I love what they think.
                                 gallagher
                                 22 april 78

— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —

                        For Danny
            Your Mother is a good woman
            but her dreams were never the same as mine
            and sometime, before you, before I knew why,
            in the Washington wheat fields
            our lives became involved and our hearts
            began their play.
            I didn’t know how it could be then
            that you need to share more
            than just love and gutsy togetherness
            and so it began, and you came our way
            the sweet product of all our love and youth
            what more can I say?  let truth lead the way…
            Your Mother loved me and I loved her
            but our youth began to slip and fray
            and our dreams started to get in the way
            beneath the wheat field love and her simple ways
            but her dreams were far different from mine
            and I can’t live in her settled way
            youth isn’t the only time for dreams
            and I’ll never come down to where
            love isn’t all that I pray
            I know you’ve got to wonder
            how your young life can be so torn
            and the tears come to my eyes to think how
            your young soul is so bruised
            by all the pain between your mother and I
            I hope you see what it means to you
            to find the right woman, boy.
            For all the love you mother and I shared,
            was never worth all the time we spent
            and all the pain it took
            when our dreams began to get in the way
            Drink women like fine wine, boy…
            they’ve each got something beautiful inside
            but remember your dreams, whatever they may be,
            and find a woman whose eyes shine
            when you share your deepest dreams with her.
                                 gallagher
                                 30 april 78

— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —