Weep... by: (Cat's husband Steven)

Something everyone can relate to. Alex

He’s a good writer. Maybe it’s not something he does often, I think that’s ok. Harper Lee only published one book. I consider it the most important book of the late 20th century. Steven has a compassionate and brilliant mind.

I was thinking of sharing this the other day and then it escapes me…forgive my eagerness, this is after all, my favorite poet.

Saint Stephen
Lyrics by Robert Hunter

Saint Stephen with a rose
In and out of the garden he goes
Country garland in the wind and the rain (note 1)
Wherever he goes the people all complain

Stephen prosper in his time
Well he may, and he may decline
Did it matter, does it now?
Stephen would answer if he only knew how

Wishing well with a golden bell
Bucket hanging clear to hell
Hell half way twixt now and then
Stephen fill it up and lower down, and lower down again

Lady finger, dipped in moonlight
Writing "What for?" across the morning sky
Sunlight splatters dawn with answers
Darkness shrugs and bids the day goodbye

Speeding arrow, sharp and narrow
What a lot of fleeting matters you have spurned
Several seasons with their treasons
Wrap the babe in scarlet colours, call it your own

Did he doubt or did he try?
Answers a-plenty in the by and by
Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills
One man gathers what another man spills (note 2)

Saint Stephen will remain
All he's lost he shall regain
Seashore washed by the suds and the foam
Been here so long he's got to calling it home

Fortune comes a-crawling, Calliope woman
Spinning that curious sense of your own
Can you answer? Yes I can
But what would be the answer to the answer man?

-----(William Tell Bridge)-----
High green chilly winds and windy vines in loops (note 3)
Around the twined shafts of lavender
They're crawling to the sun

Underfoot the ground is patched
With climbing arms of ivy wrapped
Around the manzanita stark and shiny in the breeze

Wonder who will water all the children of the garden
When they sigh about the barren lack
Of rain and droop so hungry 'neath the sky

William Tell has stretched his bow
Till it won't stretch no furthermore
And/or it will require a change that hasn't come before (Note 4)

(1) the songbooks "Grateful Dead Anthology" and "Authentic Guitar Classics Volume 2" both have "Country garden ..." for this line. But that is a mistake: Robert Hunter's "Box Of Rain" has "Country garland ..." and that sounds to be what the Dead sing. (Thanks to Sam Hoffman for pointing this out).

(2) Bobby added "Except in California" when the Dead played this on 1 March 1969. (thanks to Brian Schnapp for this).

(3) this section was omitted from the version on "Aoxomoxoa" and dropped by the Dead in versions after 1969. It was only played when "Saint Stephen" segued into The Eleven. Because of this, some have questioned whether it should really be seen as part of "The Eleven" instead of part of "Saint Stephen". But Robert Hunter includes these words under "Saint Stephen" in the lyrics in his book "Box Of Rain". Both Ratdog and The Dead began playing this section in 2003 - with The Dead's versions not always segueing into "The Eleven".

(4) in early versions (such as on "Two From The Vault") this was sung as "And when he will release it, will it pare the apple core?"

I knew he was there, he has just been hiding his light under the bushel! I'm glad that he got up to write this down and share it with us!
~ Geez.
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I'm blown away, tell Steve I send accolades for a absolutely brilliant poem.

I have just bookmarked it. I will return tomorrow. With a less fried brain. It's been a bit of a night.

Loads of love to you both always Lilbug xox

He is a exceptional poet. I love his creativity. Beautiful!!!
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Hello, Cat, and Steven,
A brief and sincere piece. Very well said.
L

I have read this 3 times and see things I'd have done different. But by doing is I don't think it would be improved.

What a great way to put into words the worry and concern we all have about where the world is heading and yes we are all feeling guilty at its demise but helpless to change the path or direction it is heading.

Your husband is a great poet succinct and insightful
Poets Hand
Hannah

He is a brilliant writer. So glad he shared with us!

I had to agree with everyone about how amazing is this. I especially like the repetitive weep. How tender this is. It has a great deal of empathy with others all through which is really appreciated
Please tell Steve this is very well done.

A social conscience is the best and noblest most important attribute of a writer of any age thanks for the read regards John :)

A write by your husband he’s a gifted poet too :)

I said I would return it's been a busy week.

I think if more people thought like this than trying to control the flow of power and the narrative the world would be a better place.

I'm all for fighting for a better world but we need to make sure there is a world of species left to save.

I watched a recent protest and though it had merit. I thought what if all that money and effort went into saving extinct species imagine what we could save and the world our dependants would grow up to know. I don't want my great grandchildren to know Koalas from pictures and stories. They have significant health issues.

There are so many of our mammals and other critters that are on the extinction list.

I have petted a Koala in the wild it was during the huge bushfires we experienced a few years ago the poor thing was dying of thirst. I walked a mile to get water and come back finding him in the same spot half dead from heat exhaustion and thirst

Now Steve's poem has the reaction it deserves. My brain was melting the other night.

Steve should make his own account snd publish at his leisure, his thoughts. You're both poets in your own right.

Exceptional poem Bravo.

Love to you both Lilbug xox

that even if he only writes another three poems in the next thirty-five years, it would be worth it to US, for him to have an account! ~ Geez.
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