Number 142. Two Rufuses, (an introduction)

Two Rufuses.  (An introduction).

Once upon a while ago,

(Not sure how many years),

Was born a boy you’ll get to know,

(And a dog with hairy ears).

The boy lives down the road a bit,

With sister Genevieve,

The dog’s job is to stay and sit,

To guard and not to leave.

Rufus Two Legs you will see,

Is bold and brave and strong,

While Rufus Four Legs likes to be,

A wet and shaggy pong.

Doesn’t matter what we say,

To Rufus with four legs,

‘Sit, lie down, to bed’ and ‘stay’,

He wags his tail and begs.

Two Legs is a splendid lad,

With character and wit,

There’s so much life he’s not yet had,

Great things he’ll do with it.

I hope you like the tales I’ve told,

Of dog and boy, the two,

As now that I’ve grown rather old,

It’s what I like to do.

At home with paper, ink and pen,

I like to play with words,

While Rufus cocks his ear and then,

Goes out to chase the birds.

© Stephen Saunders 2013

Number 141. King of the World

King of the World.

Rufus Two Legs is no fool,

Just because he changed his school,

He continues to refuse,

All demands to wear his shoes.

Rufus doesn’t understand,

Why his barefoot ways are banned,

All his little life has he,

Kept his toes and tootsies free.

Rufus doesn’t like the rules,

That differentiate two schools,

The older that he seems to get,

He finds more irritating yet.

What was good when he was five,

Now the teachers all contrive,

To tell him must be really bad,

And shoes were what he should have had.

Now his teacher, so she said,

Thinks he’s silly in his head,

But what Rufus much prefers,

Are his ideas instead of hers.

While he may be only seven,

Barefoot’s his idea of heaven,

Running wild and running free,

One day a hero he will be.

In spite of thoughts his teacher’s had,

Rufus won’t turn out so bad,

She really shouldn’t get him riled,

For he’s a bright and happy child.

One fine day she might just see,

That Rufus’ destiny could be,

To rule the world with grace and wit,

And she a little part of it.

© Stephen Saunders. 2013.

Number 140. Hymn

This is a rewrite of a very well known Leonard Cohen song.  The hallelujahs are so wonderful to sing that the song sounds as though it ought to be a hymn. However, the original lyrics are not really suitable to be sung in church, and have been used by others such as K D Laing and Bryan Adams in Shrek which will overlay different connotations and interpretations to different people.  I have tried to keep much of the original intact, especially the rhymes, but adapt it to a theme of Christian love, worship and penitence for sinful lives.  I hope it works, and if you like it well enough, go sing it! 

"Hallelujah"

The choir search out the secret chord
That all might sing to please you Lord
So we hope you really like our music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The organist composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Our faith is strong but we still need proof
We saw the crowds stand on the roof
And gather when they came and overthrew you
They nailed you to a cross out there
And broke your throne, and tore your hair
And from your lips we heard your Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Jesus we’ve been here before
We know this room, we've walked this floor
We used to live alone before we knew you.
We've seen your face on the marble arch
And joined you in your victory march
And now we join in singing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There’ll come a time when you let us know,
Be here again with us below
You never want to leave us to it, do you?
And remember when we move in you
The Holy Dove is moving too
And every breath we draw is Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Praise be to our God above
For all we’ve ever learned of love
It is the same for everyone who knew you
Please hear us when we cry at night
And help us all to see the light
It’s a loud enthusiastic Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

We sin, we take your name in vain
Sometimes we dare not say your name
And ask forgiveness, now we pray it to you.
There's a gleam of light in every word
It hardly matters which you heard
The Holy or our broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

We tried our best, it wasn't much
We barely feel, but we know your touch
We've been untrue, we know we cannot fool you
And even though it all went wrong
We'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on our tongues but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah