Autumn Day (Rilke poem)

[Sean Patrick]

I haven't posted anything here since before Warren passed away but have been
lurking ever since. For some odd reason recent house-hunting and
soulmate-searching endeavors compel me at this late (early?) hour to post
the Rilke poem that Warren quoted in the VH1 Inside Out show. This past week
I sent the poem to a co-worker who responded by saying that I was in a bad,
bad place that day. I doubt that she has any appreciation for Warren, or
Rilke for that matter. Her loss, or maybe I misunderstand her. Anyway, here
'tis. Enjoy.

-Sean

Autumn Day

Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by.

Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,

and on the meadows let the wind go free.

Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine;

grant them a few more warm transparent days,

urge them on to fulfillment then, and press

the final sweetness into the heavy wine.

Whoever has no house now, will never have one.

Whoever is alone will stay alone,

will sit, read, write long letters through the evening,

and wander along the boulevards, up and down,

restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing.

-Rainier Maria Rilke

[ImThCat]

Thanks for posting that, Sean.

At first I was surprised Warren named his final album "The Wind," thinking it's
only reference was in the song "Please Stay." I was kind of fond of the "My
Dirty Life & Times" idea.

Now, with the release of EES, I find that there was actually a song called TW
floating around and this poem that obviously touched him has the wind as a
central idea as well.

The title makes more sense to me now, and although I think Billy Bob did an
admirable job, I do wish we had the song with a Warren vocal.

Also, last week marked the fourth anniversary of my last WZ concert, and after
a long period of listening to mostly Springsteen and Dylan, I have immersed
myself in Warren most of the week, and I realize again how much I miss him.

Garry

[peter....@gmail.com]

Warren Zevon - A poet in his own right - "Frozen Notes"

Softly falls the morning rain
Loneliness comes around again
And I sit and sing my song
'Though it never seems to matter
And it never fills the emptiness inside

Frozen notes hang suspended in the autumn air
While someone waits for someone to come somewhere
No one waits for me
'Cause I thought I wanted to be free
Now I'm wondering why I said goodbye
Looking through my window
At the dark and troubled sky
I think I see the ship of the brokenhearted passing by
And I turn away
From today
To where we used to lie
And I cry
Yes, I cry
And I cry
While softly falls the morning rain
Loneliness comes around again