POETRY OF ROD MCKUEN
And Tonight
Because the sky is black
as black as most goodbyes
I've come to see what light
I might find in your eyes
tonight
Because the world is empty
and because I'm empty too
I've come to be here
for a while and look at you
tonight
Because my new life now
is lived inside your smile
I've come to talk to you
and stay awhile
tonight
I have no compass and no chart
no way of knowing where to end
or where to start
I must rely on you
if I can't depend on my own heart
And so, I've come here once again
to talk to you
tonight
And tonight
everything is all right
Because tomorrow's arms
are already real
I've come to find out
how a friendly touch can feel
tonight
Because your back
can hold off even dawn
I thought I'd use it
as the boat that I sail on
tonight
Here with your head
against my chest
whatever else there is
I'll forget the rest
tonight
I know no reason and no rhyme
no need of keeping track
of tide or time
since I discovered you
God knows what else I'll find
here close to you
tonight
And tonight
everything is all right
Because you smell like yesterday
I thought I'd come here
once again and stay
the night
Because my arms have ached too long
I thought I'd rest them here
where they belong
tonight
Because if I'm anything at all
I'm part of you
however small
tonight
I have no compass and no chart
no way of knowing where to end
or where to start
I must rely on you
if I can't depend on my own heart
and so, I've come here once again
to love you
tonight
And tonight
everything is all right
And tonight
everything is all right
Twenty-One
Only a day away
the loneliness is unbearable
if I am not to know again
your warm arms
your shoulder next to my face at night
the quiet talk over strong coffee
the chase along the toll beach
and oh God
so many things
I am afraid of being alone now
it happens every time you close the door
or go into the next room
away from me
I am like a child again
I can't be left alone
Hurry
Dandelion Days
All our dandelion days are done
and so we'll run the fields no more
in search of wild roses
that grow out on the moor
All our dandelion days are done
and so we'll turn our heads away
from every silver morning
and every golden day
But sweet September's open arms
belonged to us and held us once
Remember when the summertime
sang songs to us and only us
All our dandelion days are done
and so we'll run the fields no more
for all the wild roses
ONE
This is the way it waswhile I was waiting for your eyes
to find me
I was drifting going no place
Hypnotized by sunshine
maybe
barking back at seals along the beach
Skipping flat stones on the water
but much too wise for sand castles
My castles were across the sea
or still within my mind
There were the beach bars
and the other beach people
sometimes little bedrooms were my beach
but I was drifting
I must have thought the night could save me
as I went down into pillows
looked up through dirty windows
smiled back from broken mattresses
turned in Thunderbirds
and kissed in elevators
I cried too sometimes
For me
I loved every face I thought looked pretty
and every kindred eye I caught in crowds
But I was drifting
before you
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