Embauché malgré moi ... Taken on, against my will, dans l'usine à idées ... at the thought factory, j'ai refusé de pointer ...I refused to clock on Mobilisé de même ... Conscripted just the same dans l'armée des idées ...into the thought army j'ai déserté ...I deserted Je n'ai jamais compris ...I've never understood grand-chose ...much Il n'y a jamais ....There is never grand-chose ...much ni petite chose ...nor little details Il y a autre chose. ...there's something else Autre chose ...something else c'est ce que j'aime ...that's what I like qui me plaît ...what pleases me et que je fais. ...and what I do Embauché malgré moi ...Taken on, against my will...

J'ai mis mon [English translation below] képi dans la cage et je suis sorti avec l'oiseau sur la tête. "Alors... on ne salue plus?" a demandé le commandant. "Non, on ne salue plus" a répondu l'oiseau. "Ah bon, excusez-moi; je croyais qu'on saluait." a dit le commandant. "Vous êtes tout excusé, car tout le monde peut se tromper." a dit l'oiseau. I put my army cap in the cage and went out with the bird on my head "Now then, don't we salute any more?" asked the commander. "No we don't salute any more" replied the bird. "Oh, OK, pardon me, I thought we saluted." said the commander. "You are quite forgiven, because anyone can make a mistake." said the bird.

Memory bird it is your blood not mine that flows Memory bird my fist that closed Memory bird dead pretty bird you should not have dared eat from my hand seeds of oblivion. [S N Solomons] [Original French poem by Jacques Prévert] SANG ET PLUMES Alouette du souvenir c'est ton sang qui coule et non pas le mien Alouette du souvenir j'ai serré mon poing Alouette du souvenir oiseau mort joli tu n'aurais pas dû venir manger dans ma main les graines de l'oubli [Jacques Prévert]

When he killed the Mudjokivis, Of the skin he made him mittens, Made them with the fur side inside, Made them with the skin side outside. He, to get the warm side inside, Put the inside skin side outside; He, to get the cold side outside, Put the warm side fur side inside. That's why he put the fur side inside, Why he put the skin side outside, Why he turned them inside outside [Poem by Rev George Strong]

Elle est près du fleuve dormeur debout mais le saule incliné toucherait de sa cîme l'eau L'église vieille dit les heures de l'île où la nuit descend Je la vois encore son toit de gris dans le gris de l'eau. pressens dans la tour de bois ma demeure la folie la folie le silence clos clos vigilance Oh Ne pas altérer ce qui reste qui reste, et le doit. "Was bleibt aber stiften die Dichter." [Marie Keyser] [English version] It stands by the sleepy river But the bending willow would touch the water with its very top The church an old church tells the hours from the island where the night descends I can still see it, its grey roof in the grey of the water I have a presentiment in the tower of wood, of my dwelling place, of madness, of silence Closed in, closed in but keeping watch Oh never change what remains and should remain Was bleibt aber stiften die Dichter..... "What remains, however, is the stuff of poetry"

The pale gold light creeps into my silent room touching my face I know that you are here. Softly contours form as the colours take the place of grey Translucent gold hits the mirror and reaches my lonely bed. Dispels the grey mist which lingers on the window pane Deepens the image and I see you. Pale blond light where your hair once shone. Lonely shadow of my former self I languish here. But then your dear voice calls with comfort, love and says "I have not left, while your fond memories remain." I think of you and you are here beside and within Your image fades but you are still here in me. You must you must come back if only at dawn. See through the tears of gold, you are here once more Your ghostly presence fills my poor heart, searching my mind once more to be as one, here is your body so close to my own in this spectral world we share our thoughts. My soul now quiet at last my yearnings on hold. The golden glow brings me peace and I might face another day (c) E M Solomons

I'll sing you one o Green grow the rushes o! The 12 verses cumulated become Twelve for the twelve Apostles Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven, Ten for the ten commandments, Nine for the nine bright shiners, Eight for the April Rainers Seven for the seven stars in the sky Six for the six proud walkers Five for the symbols at your door Four for the Gospel makers, Three, three, the rivals, Two, two, the lily-white boys, All dressed up in green oh One is one and all alone And evermore shall be so.

Hence, Care! Thou art too cruel, Come music, sick man's jewel. Fa la la. His force had well nigh slain me, But thou must now sustain me. Fa la la.

Pilons pilons pilons l'orge pilons l'orge pilons la (Crush the barley) Mon père m'y maria pilons l'orge pilons la (My father found me a husband Crush the barley) A un vilain m'y donna Tirez vous cy tirez vous la This husband he gave me was a dreadful man You just have to manage Qui de rien ne me donna Tirez vous cy tirez vous la (and he gave me nothing You just have to manage) Pilons pilons pilons l'orge pilons l'orge pilons la (crush the barley) Qui de rien ne me donna (and he gave me nothing) pilons l'orge pilons la (crush the barley) Puis il dit qu'il me battra (Then he said he would beat me) Tirez vous cy tirez vous la (you just have to manage) Pilons pilons pilons l'orge pilons l'orge pilons la Pilons pilons pilons l'orge pilons l'orge pilons la (crush the barley)

Tria paidia voliotika - three young men from Volos have taken our sweet Annoula away up into the high mountains. This song refers to the nomadic race of the Sarakatsani - who are Greek in tradition but have spread across much of Eastern Europe - some say they are the oldest identifiable race in the area.

Riu, riu, chiu La guarda ribera Dios guardo el lobo De nuestra cordera [ Riu, riu, chiu The river bank protects it, As God kept the wolf from our lamb] El lobo rabioso La quiso morder Mas Dios poderoso La supo defender [The rabid wolf tried to bite her But God Almighty knew how to defend her] Quizola hazer que No pudiesse pecar Ni aun original Esta virgen no tuviera [He wished to create her impervious to sin Nor was there any original sin in this maid ] Este qu'es nacido es el gran monarca, Christo patriarca de carne vestido; [He who's now begotten is our mighty Monarch Christ, our Holy Father, in human flesh embodied] Hemos redemido con se hazer chiquito Aunqu'era infinito, finito se hiziera. [He has brought atonement by being born so humble Though He is immortal, as mortal was created] Yo vi mil Garzones que andavan cantando, Por aqui volando, haciendo mil sones, Diziendo a gascones Gloria sea en el cielo Y paz en el suelo qu'es Jesus nascieta. [A thousand singing herons I saw passing, Flying overhead, sounding A thousand voices Exulting, "Glory be in the heavens, and peace on earth, for Jesus has been born."]

The fifteenth day of July, with glist'ning spear and shield, A famous fight in Flanders was foughten in the field: The most courageous officers were the English captains three, But the bravest in the Battle was brave Lord Willoughby. The next was Captain Norris a valiant man was he; The other Captain Turner, that from field would never flee; With fifteen hundred fighting men, alas, there was no more, They fought with forty thousand then, upon that bloody shore. "Stand to it, noble Pike-men, and look you round about; And shoot you right, you Bow-men, and we will keep them out; You Musquet and Calliber men, do you prove true to me, I'll be the foremost man in fight," says brave Lord Willoughby. And then the bloody enemy they fiercely did assail, They fought it out most furiously not doubting to prevail, The wounded men on both sides fell most piteous for to see, Yet nothing could the courage quell of brave Lord Willoughby. For seven hours in all mens' view the fight endured sore, Until our men so feeble grew that they could fight no more, And them upon dead horses full savourly they eat And drank the puddle water, they could no better get. And when they fed so freely, they kneeled on the ground, And praised God devoutely for the courage they had found, And beating up their colours the fight they did renew, And turning toward the Spaniards, a thousand more they slew. The sharp steel-pointed Arrows and Bullets thick did flye; Then did our valiant Soldiers charge on most furiously, Which made the Spaniards waver, they thought it best to flee, They fear'd the stout behaviour of brave Lord Willoughby. Then quoth the Spanish general, "Come let us march away, I fear we shall be spoiled all, if that we longer stay, for yonder comes Lord Willoughby, with courage fierce and fell: He will not give one inch of way for all the Devils in Hell." And then the fearful enemy was quickly put to flight, Our men pursued courageously and rout their forces quite, And at last they gave a shout, which echoed through the sky, "God and St. George for England!" the conquerors did cry. This news was brought to England will all the speed might be, And then our gracious Queen was told of this same victory, Oh, this is brave Lord Willoughby my love that ever won, Of all the Lord of honour, 'tis he great deed hath done. For soldiers that were maimed and wounded in the fray, Our Queen allowed a pension of fifteen pence a day, Besides all costs and charges she quit and set them free, And this she did all for the sake of brave Lord Willoughby. Then courage, noble English men, and never be dismayed, If that we be but one to ten we will not be afraid To fight with foreign Enemies, and set our Country free, And thus I end the bloody bout of brave Lord Willoughby.

DAWN The new light softly streams, Through the lace curtains, And I try to mend my dreams Till I’m myself again. NOON I look into the sky, Where cirrus clouds collide, Laze in the summer light, While the breeze talks to me. EVENING A time for rose-red thought, Long shadows casting, Memories fleeting, Fading and fraught. DUSK Dusk is for grieving, And for private tears. Perhaps for believing Despite what we fear. © S N Solomons June 16th 2009

Sometimes when you fall asleep, it seems you take me with you deep into a peaceful land far from all the heartache; that you'll understand one day, you will understand one day the quiet way quiet way you move me quiet way quiet way you move me. Sometimes when you fall asleep it seems you take me with you, deep into a peaceful land far from all the heart ache. I find myself complete; I find myself repeating a prayer and smiling at the sky: the quiet way you move me even when you cry. Now within your drowsy eyes I can see why the world has lost all its wonders. A new dream is rising, impatient to begin. A new dream is rising impatient to begin. And when the dream is through, your hungry feelings will find me. My comfort is you. My comfort is you. The quiet way quiet way you move me quiet way quiet way you move me

My belovèd is mine and I am his my belovèd is mine and I am his. The voice of my belovèd behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, bounding o'erthe hills. My belovèd is like a gazelle or a young stag; behold! there he stands behind our wall gazing in at the window. My belovèd spake and said to me: "Arise my love, my fair one and come away for lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone." The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

O vos omnes qui transitis per viam, attendite et videte: Si est dolor similis dolori meo O all you who walk by on the road, wait a while and see: if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.

If there's anybody here like weepin' Mary call upon your Jesus an' he'll draw nigh if there's anybody here like weepin' Mary call upon your Jesus an' he'll draw nigh. Oh glory glory Hallelujah! Glory be to my God who rules on high. "They have stole away my Lord," said weepin' Mary, "and I know not where they have laid him down." "Yes they've stole away my Lord", said weepin' Mary, "and I know not where they have laid him down." "Oh Mary!" "Is it you, Rabboni?" Jesus here is risen and dies no more.

Ach, daß ich Wassers gnug hätte [English translation below] in meinem Haupte, und meine Augen Tränenquellen wären, daß ich Tag und Nacht beweinen könnte meine Sünde! Meine Sünden gehen über mein Haupt, wie eine schwere Last sind sie mir zu schwer worden, darum weine ich so, und meine beiden Augen fliessen mit Wasser, meines Seufzens ist viel, und mein Herz ist betrübet, denn der Herr hat mich voll Jammers gemacht, am Tage seines grimmigen Zorns. [English translation] O, had I but tears enough In my head, and my eyes could be fountains of tears, that day and night I might lament my sin. My sins go over my head like a heavy burden they have become too heavy for me. Which is why I weep so much, and my two eyes are so tearful. I sigh so much And my heart is troubled, For the Lord has filled me with grief On the day of his terrible anger.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: Passus, et sepultus est. He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate: He suffered and was buried.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: Passus, et sepultus est. He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate: He suffered and was buried.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart. Set me as a seal upon thine arm. For love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love. Neither can the floods drown it. Love is strong. Set me as a seal upon thy heart.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the spammers sent to me: Twelve untrue rumors, Eleven bulk e-mailers Ten ads for Viagra, Nine weight loss programs, Eight investment bankers, Seven barred attorneys, Six extremists ranting, Five web site rings! Four MLMs, Three cheap warez, Two Stupid Jokes. And an ad for pornography.