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Shorter Days

The days are growing shorter
The sun is moving north
Refreshing rains bring water
To the dry and thirsty earth.

Flocks of ibis now return
To forage in the fields
‘Tis then my heart has yearning
I know that I must yield.

So many miles from my home
Towards rugged terrain
Compelled am I, alone to roam
The wild Bogong High Plains.

When the southern polar storms
Sweep in from the sea
The wintry snowfalls then transform
The mountains and the trees.

To a crystal white wonderland
For a season brief
On this continental island
Where the sun is such a thief.

On skis, in solitude I stride
Across these snowy plains
Steep, across the mountainsides
To find my soul’s domain.

Perched upon some craggy peak
With ranges all around
I hear the voice of nature speak
Without a human sound.

Cawing of the currawongs
Whispers in the leaves
The harmonies of nature’s song
The babbling icy streams.

In liquid golden laughs and cries
A merging of all sounds
Transcending any reasons why
My mind is free of bounds.

The body of the world without
The whole within the part
The spirit of the self within
The stillness in the heart.

I think this would make a beautiful and colorful song.

"The wild Bogong High Plains" sounds like a very exotic place to this Northern hemisphere observer.

Knowing that we had people located in farflung places, and the relativity of 'winter", did influence my decision of our 'topic'. I've not been disappointed.

I also have to add that a poem that offers a perspective of life on skis, grows close to my heart.

Joe

Some members would like authors to "fess up" so I shall begin with one I have written which received scant attention and I think I understand why. This really is a song lyric, hence the emphasis on rhyme and rhythm. I am becoming more conscious of how lyrics scrutinised before the music is heard accompanying; seem to lose something of their sonic quality. Lyrics read after hearing a song have a different impact because the music is recalled by memory(however vaguely).
I wrote this in a few hours after a previously posted submission was rejected on the grounds that it could not be anonymous. (Our Winter Of Life) I understood and appreciated this point of view. "Shorter Days" was written to recall my experience of snow seasons in Australia in the mountains of Victoria (and NSW). This is a relatively foreign experience in our mostly mediterranean and or arid climate.
Here is the complete song with chords and a bridge section which was written after the lyric was submitted to honourable judgy.

Shorter Days E

.... A.........................E.
The days are growing shorter
......A...................E
The sun is moving north
................A..............C#m.
Refreshing rains bring water
.........F#m................G#m
To the dry and thirsty earth.
.............A..............E.
Flocks of ibis now return
.....A................E.
To forage in the fields
.....A.........................C#m.
'Tis then my heart has yearning
..F#m...................B7....E.
I know that I must yield.

So many miles from my home
Towards rugged terrain
Compelled am I, alone to roam
The wild Bogong High Plains.
When the southern polar storms
Sweep in from the sea
The wintry snowfalls then transform
The mountains and the trees.

To a crystal white wonderland
For a season brief
On this continental island
Where the sun is such a thief.
On skis, in solitude I stride
Across these snowy plains
Steep, across the mountainsides
To find my soul's domain.

Bridge.

G#m....................A.............C#m.................B
Snow gums heavy laden and granite standing stark
.........G#m...............A.................C#m.............F#m..B7..E.
Like a painter's colouration, on the lichen and the bark.

Perched upon some craggy peak
With ranges all around
I hear the voice of nature speak
Without a human sound.
Cawing of the currawongs
Whispers in the leaves
The harmonies of nature's song
The babbling icy streams.

In liquid golden laughs and cries
A merging of all sounds
Transcending any reasons why
My mind is free of bounds.
The body of the world without
The whole within the part
The spirit of the self within
The stillness in the heart. © J.W. 2005.

Any guitarists wishing to try this can probably get an idea of the melody by playing these chords and inventing a tune. Play acoustic finger style in 4/4 at slow to moderate speed.

Cheers, Witty.

Witty, I can see why this is in fact a song, it has a pretty manner to it, and comes to the purpose clearly and succinctly. Some nice imagery, you use language well to describe the scene and the mood.