I JUST CAN’T WRITE A SONG
C Ra McGuirt
FOR STUART
Well, I just can’t write a song about my Brother
I just can’t write a song about my Friend
And I want to write one for him in the worst damn way
And sing it at the party for his Fiftieth
Year on this strange Plane of Existence
But you can’t write a song just because
You merely want to have it written
And ready to be sung; that seems the Law
I can’t tell you how much he’s meant by being
Just who he is, allowing me the same
I can’t sing how deep we’ve both gone diving
Into thoughts of G-d and the Glass Bead Game
Or the books and looks we have exchanged
The furtive joys we’ve shared, both rarely caught
The serious times and the sad ones
Or all the graphic novels I have bought
For my friend because I bought them for me
Because his pleasure doubled mine, at least
I wish I could sing about his family
How they set a cup out for me at their Feast
You don’t know how much I’d like to tell you
All about his Mama; she has seemed to be
Present when great changes were arriving
Blessing me by her proximity
I guess you’ll never hear about his Father
Whose gruff wisdom’s been imparted to me
With less judgment, and more observation
And if only I could see
My way to write a verse about his Sister
Who has become the one I never had
And her husband Roger with his unassuming skills
But I’ll have to say I’m sorry, it’s my bad
I can’t sing of your children, Scott&Haley
Beautiful and brilliant, or their Light
Inherited from you, which will be shining
When all our Stars have winked out in the Night
Stuart, Brother, I am deeply troubled
Stuart, Friend, you can look and see
I couldn’t get you Cohen or Frank Zappa
So your Blessing will just have to come from me:
Live another 50, Brother Stuart
Live another 50, Mother Rish’
Live another 50, Father Arnold,
Live another 50, Aud and Roger, if you please,
Scott and Haley, may the two of you both outlive
All of us with fruitful lives, and may those lives be long
Don’t forget your Father; I know I never will
Even if I couldn’t write this song,
Even if I couldn’t write this song...
