World of Wonder

..." We are each of us angels... with only one wing...

      we can only fly... embracing each other..."   -Luciano de Credenza.

...this inscription graven in stone beneath a statue at the entrance to St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto... where I would occasionally visit my brother Peter William Emmett O'Toole when his mental health issues required residency. I believe this lyric was in fact a song sung at a'Songwriters Unite' evening at Hugh's Room some years back... the title, of course, also a novel by Robertson Davies... (but titles are exempt from copyright restrictions.

 walk with me through this world of wonder

smoky mirrors and mystery

even when a soul seems torn asunder

there remains a realm of possibility

...

keep your chin up, and take my advice

both love and lightning have been known to strike twice

walk with me through this world of wonder

open your eyes and see

...

we are each of us angels with only one wing

it's in the embrace lies our hope to fly...

let us join voices, and in harmony sing

raise a joyful noise to the sky

...

take a leap of faith...don't look so pained

it's true; nothing ventured nets nothing gained

soar with me over this world of wonder

don't stop to ask how or why

...

sail with me...across this sea of sorrow

we'll make it through to the far shore...

and bask in the promise and dawn of tomorrow

secure in our dreams once more...

...

take your chances now, you just might beat the odds

as the devil dances

perhaps so must the gods

join with me in this world of wonder

cling to me as a divining rod. 

    ... well ... htis one culled from an old ledger that became a repository of 'song scraps' and notes from various little books... (transcribed August 29th/2018, according to the date at the top of the page, but much older than that). Generally when there is a date on the original piece. I would include that; but dating verse has come to me later in the game than I might have wished. I actually pulled the last line today from my dog-eared copy of Bessie Redfield's Rhyming Dictionary; as the verse/lyric was missing a last line. I've rarely resorted to 'Bessie', but bought the book originally having read that Bob Dylan claimed such a thing indispensable. Mind you, I am of the (humble) opinion that such usage shows in many of the Bobster's later lyric. Sometimes the rhyme seems a little contrived, (but who am I to say, really...). love to all, (you too, Bob), d.

 

 

 

 

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