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Poems and Songs

Journey


Hendrika, Music by Ken and Hendrika, 2012

Was it by the water

Or with the wind

That the spirit entered

And I welcomed him in


He said the birds are flocking

By the river bend

Why are you out here walking?

I said “I'm looking for a friend”


I had heard the voice

Of a great company

And I thought I'd see

If they had a place for me


Have you seen them passing

By the water way

Can you help me please

I've been walking all the day

Was what it from the woodland

Or autumn breeze

That the spirit entered

And I fell to my knees


I said I want to journey

Won't you guide me please

He said it's years too early

You're not ready for peace


When you can calm the storm inside of you

When you can quell the stinging rein/rain/reign

When the words you speak are all kind and true

I will come to you again

Was it in the star light

Or moonlight beam

That the spirit blessed me

And I fell into a dream


I said, I tried to do the things you told me to

But I failed so often and now my time is through


He said “you've passed through dark and shadowed days,

with only memories of the sun

yet your aim stayed true so there's a place for you

now your journey has begun”


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Down by the Sea


Lyrics by Hendrika, Music by Ken and Hendrika, 2020

Come away from the city through valleys and rivers

Rest by the sea

You will find there a cabin of driftwood and sea shells

Wait there for me


Through towers on concrete and rivers of asphalt

Is someone calling me

All memories are soaken with wine and salt water

Look to the sea


As I reach the doorway the dogs will come running

Wild with glee

Through the wide open windows the ocean waves welcome

There I will be


And I dream of the ocean, the wind and the water

The spirit of the sea

As I walk by the seashore the gulls cry for gladness

Here we are free


And the evening will find us by moonlight and laughter

Stay here with me

We walk by the water so glad ever after

Down by the sea.


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Killarney


Poem by Hendrika Ono 200?

Out, where,

the evening is deceiving

And where,

the night brings true repose,

out where ,

cricket song is sketching

Out the,

tempo of the soul


Out, there,

shooting stars are streaming

Over,

hills of flesh tone stone

Out there,

sleepy waves are gleaming

Here we,

once had made a home


Deep lakes,

silently reflecting

Where God,

quarried heaven from

Here I,

know of joyful blessing

Here I

Know where we be long.





And I Listen to the River


Poem by Hendrika Ono, 200?

Here I listen to the river

Harmonizing with the trees

Here where native spirits gather

Drawn by ancient melodies


And I listen to their stories

Tales of love ; some to despise

Here I spend my days exploring

Lore and wisdom, lure of lies


If I spend enough time sifting

Through the twisted tangled ties

Will I see of wisdom, clearly

Will I then be surely wise?





The wisdom of the Trees


Poem by Hendrika Ono

The winter wind has stripped away

The wild fall excess

Revealing limbs of beauty under

autumn’s wanton dress


This world of whitened visions

And a pearl grey sky

A land without horizons

Where ancient memories lie


We drift in dreamy silence with the

Softly falling snow

And follow faint footsteps

Where the deer and rabbit go


And deep within the forest

Where the hours have no meaning

Your heart can hear the rhythm

Your soul can hear the singing


If you stop to listen

You will hear the forest pray

For redemption of her children

Who have lost the sacred way


Who eradicate forest

Who cannot hear the pleas

Who turn their back

To the wisdom of the trees





A Thousand Times and More


Poem by Hendrika Ono

I’ve walked this way

A thousand times

A thousand times and more


And yet each day

I see something

Something unseen before


I’ve walked in hand

With winter winds

With winter in my heart


And still the land

Will hold my hand,

A share a place a part


Summer fun

Is so soon done

But the best of all

Are golden days

Of goldenrod and aster


But now the leaves are

Turning fast

And days are falling faster


There comes the time

I wave my hand

And walk this way no more





Love's Domain


A poem by Hendrika Ono

Fields of gold and gold again

Is echoed in the leaves

Autumn in her dancing dress

comes waltzing through the trees


Her kiss is gold and golden leaves

Hang dreaming in the air,

- Whirling twirling aspen leaves

and willow in her hair.


She will not spare the golden rod

This queen of golden rules

She breathes to life the mellow sun

And bathes in golden pools


All the enchanted forest

A wilderness choir, sing

Willow and aspen, a shimmering harp,

voices in harmony ring





Northern Shore


By Hendrika Ono, August 2022

Towering trees

that cleanse the air

Turquoise water

every where


Endless waves

An inland sea

Carefree days

with you and me


This stolen land

of myth And dream

This secret time from

Time unseen


These tumbled shores

With polished jewels

Where water reigns and

Raven rules


The northern light

The northern hue

The shifting shades

ecstatic blue


Wash Your mind

Refresh, renew

Clean your soul

In mystic blue





The Weaver


By Hendrika Ono

HE asked me what we’re doing

And this is what I said

I weave a loving life

By feeling every thread


And of the greater pattern

There is no master plan

It is the living thread

That motivates the hand


And as I sit here trembling

With music in my head

I am so very grateful

That I am too a thread.





Chained


By Hendrika Ono

I saved myself from the city

I live out by the trees

I spend my days by the river

Doing whatever I please


The river, green and golden

Is minstrel to the trees

We spend the evenings singing

Harmonizing with the breeze


If sometimes I get lonely

Under the indigo sky

Turn my face to the water

And watch stars sailing by


The stars of long lost lovers

Are stars for wondering eyes

Their constant light a promise

Behind ever changing skies


I might spend my whole life watching

Under wide open skies

And maybe I am waiting

r someone to open their eyes


It doesn’t really matter

At last I’m finally free

My heart is chained to the rive

here is where I want to be





Levitate


By Hendrika Ono

Buoyed by colour

Lifted by light

Swept into eddies

By birds in flight


The wind sounds like water

Rippling through the leaves

With each breath

My burdens ease






Bog Dog


By Hendrika Ono, Inspired by Chester

I got a dog, a big brown dog

He is a dog of mine,

With a nudging nose and a scratching paw

And Oh! Such a pleading whine


I got a dog a dog of mine

He is a brown bog dog

With a thumping tail and a drooling mouth

And oh! Such a big bed hog!!


I got a dog a big brown dog

Who yips and whines all day

I got a dog, a big bed hog

Who only wants to play


I got a job dear big brown dog

Where I grumble and whine all day

So go away you big bog dog

I’ve no time to play





The Fall Leaf


By Hendrika Ono

Swirling, swirling the wing sings a harmony

Intervals like a ladder to heaven

Rising floating I spin in light and colour

Falling with the leaves





Last Day


Poem by Hendrika Ono Found on the “top of the pile”, Dec 2022

What do you keep?

What falls away?

On this the last,

the very last day.


What do you ask?

For what do you pray?

At this the close

Of the very last day.


It doesn’t really matter

As long as we stay

As long as we’re together

On the very last day





Twilight


Lyrics and Video by Hendrika Ono, Music by Ken Ono and Hendrika Ono

twilight knows

where the river flows

the day now dark and deep


the moon will glow

on the midnight snow

as the folk get set for sleep


they lay their heads

on the feather beds

and ride the moonlight beam


in twilight state

til the morning break

and this is what they dream


they dream themselves in another light

in another life than this

with angels and demons and all in between

they wander wherever they wish


and though the night

a lifeline of light

lies cradled in their hands


a twilight line

thin and fine

anchors them to this land


this life of dreams under moonlight beams

Has lessons secretly planned

learn to thrive learn to grow

learn about letting go


in their own time , they'll cut the line

they've learned of letting go

the twilight state no more will break

eternity now can flow


( butterflies and lullabies )


twilight knows

where the river flows

the day now dark and deep


the moon will glow

on the midnight snow

as the folk get set for sleep


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Midnight Bells


Lyrics by Hendrika Ono, Melody and Chord Progression - Pachabel’s Canon

Darkness falling, midnight calling, leave behind your

earthly cares, as you climb celestial stairs

Upward, onward, voices now heard, listen to the stars, they’re singing

Can you hear the bells are ringing


Come along join the song

For you the bells are ringing

We are one, we are strong

When every voice is singing

Leading on through the dark, the light of joy they’re ringing

Midnight bells, sounding, love redeeming


Close your eyes, reach inside, and find a new beginning

In this tower of song you’re the bell that’s ringing

Raise your eyes, sound your voice, in praise of time

Lovers playing

Choose a part and join the singing


Midnight flying, darkness dying, stay with us the dawn is breaking

Light of endless day awaking

Lightness, brightness, heal the darkness

Ring the bells and join the singer, bring the dreamers home together



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