from Leaf Songs

Dale Pendell

Leaves, leaves, bitter leaves, chew me.

Bitter leaves, bitter leaves, chew me

Bitter leaves, bitter leaves,

chew chew chew me

bitter leaves, singing leaves

wild radish lettuce leaves

arugula leaves, lift off leaves,

chew me, chew me,

sliding leaves, lightly leaves,

lightly leaves, lift off lightly leaves

singing leaves. singing leaves.

***

***

We have come to greet you

from a long long ways away....

We have come to greet you

from a long long ways away....

We have come to greet you

we just want to say hello again

we just want to say hello again

we who caught the light

we just want to say hello again

we who caught the light

we just want to say hello again

sunlight, sunlight,

***

***

listen to your wise people

when they say be kind and do no harm

listen to your wise people

when they say be kind and do no harm

but that's really not what we want to say to you

that's not the really really important point.

what do we want to say to you?

why do you think we speak?

lip leaf lip leaf wind moving

forest streams, catching starlight.

lip leaf lip leaf wind moving

forest streams with sandy banks

silence of the starlight,

just this, is what there is.

recognize your mind, brother, sister,

right here, this is what is.

recognize your mind, brother,

it's the same as ours.

It's exactly the same as ours

these are our words to you.

walking down the sidewalk

rooted in a forest floor,

***

***

soft, moving, soft, moving. soft moving.

we bring you greetings from the sunlight. sunlight, sunlight,

twisted into green stems,

when it gets mixed up with a little water

and some carbon to hold it all together.

and this flows on into you.

we are all plants also,

we are also sunlight,

sunlight, moonlight, wind and starlight

sunlight, moonlight, wind and starlight.

this flows on to you.

a little carbon to hold it together.

this flows on to you.

***

***

Shepherdess

Ease my funky mind

Touch me with your grace

it's ok, it's ok

She say, she say

Joyousness

Wonderment

Energy

Exuberance

Mind of all

Dancing light

Frolicsome

Whirling sight