Soldier of passion

“Act well your part, that’s where honor lies”
Truly carved in stone on a path in Allegheny.
I am a soldier of passion, and bleed roses.
I care for one as a care for many.









Lead foot is a step behind the shadows
But the heart is ahead of the brain.
Shifting in the grass along the cement rows
I pause to look at a frozen angel again.







A staring glance pierces the soul of the living
Yet I’m allowed to break free without despair.
I walk on and act my part of the caring
To honor the passion that’s in the night air.

© 2011 Dave Schipper Rose Riversongs.

The top and bottom photos were found in Flickr, I do not claim ownership of them... they are wonderful though...

Allegheny angel

Back in August I met an angel I will never forget.
Time to kill, so why not in a hip part of steel town
Narrow road, red brick and yellow steel vignette
Whispers of steel workers told me to write them down.

I looked at the curbside sign for the Piccolo Forno
Smiled at the BYOB and decided to venture in
The smell of garlic, now I lust for a bordeaux.
To not feast on the moment would be a sin.

I find a spot against the wall with room to write
Focused and self absorbed I grab my pad & pen
Just as I begin a red leather menu is in my site
I instinctively thank her and begin to write again.

Moments later I hear “do you have any questions?”
I look up and suddenly am swept inside her eyes
We share a smile, “do you have a suggestion?”
I'd agreed to any she said, wow what a prize.

Her choppy black hair bangs and long neck
Quickly I thought this woman is Daphne Moon.
Jokingly I kept asking questions to hear her talk
Papardelle, farro, Lemon Risotto, better order soon.

A panini with soppressata was it, and she left
Also with my thoughts as she turned so graceful
I tried to write but anticipated being bereft
And indeed left with only memories of an Allegheny angel

© Dave Schipper 2011 Rose Riversongs

Late August Revisited.

Was it the late August evening back again?
We were wrapped in a blanket, barely staying awake.
Kate you were so smooth like a mom’s voice,
Like a friend telling good news to take on our way

Thirty some years can fly by like yesterday,
But music binds us together, melodies and vinyl.
So after an impulse stop, a few laughs and raindrops
Now we’re face to face, you with that familiar smile.

So every one stops here to find that same special thing
Now today, I grasp on to a lady from my past
And oh my present, say “Give yourself to Love” will fit.
There you go Kate gracing another a marriage to last.

I’ll revisit the voice again in each of every ten songs
Then move them to technology that you would've smiled at,
Only to someday share it with someone again with smile.
Yep that’s the late Kate Wolf, proud to have fallen asleep to


About in 1980 in LaCrosse.


Rest in Peace Kate.

Here is Kathy Mattae's cover of "Give yourself to Love" "pretty video as well as song."

"Hallelujah" (wedding version)

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
For you today we rejoice with music, with you
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
Beloved king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed love
Saw each other as light rose above
Beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
In a moment both became aware
You now share the throne with loving care
And from your lips, you sing Hallelujah

Today you have been here before
You know this room, You’ve walked this floor
You used to live apart before You knew each
So raise your flag on the marble arch
Love is a victory sacred march
So rejoice and go singing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah



Leonard Cohen song adapted to a Wedding song by Dave Schipper © 2011


Shelly and I love to do this song instrumentally at weddings, and the words would never fit... so I tried my hand on an adaption. Now is it a parody to change the total meaning of the song, but it's not funny unless you consider the irony of making a sacrilegious song religious?
Thoughts?

Put a Stamp

Time has changed and rearranged
Words you wrote remain the same
Forty years have come and gone
Left you in my dreams and in this song.

Take a love from a youthful heart
Put a stamp on the forever part
What will come in forty years?
One could hope for cheerful tears.

A name a search in a book so kind
Left no match to this heart of mine
It would change neither life of ours
But still I took the task just a few hours

An email here, and note over there
Lifelines thrown just like a dare
Silence came back day after day
Adds to the drama of what she would say.

Take a love from a youthful heart
Put a stamp on the forever part
What will come in forty years?
One could hope for cheerful tears.

Now I leave you with no ending
And feels as bad as the writing
A life would change over a few words
But a heart would be strong from being heard.

Dave Schipper © 2011 Rose Riversongs

Morning Regrets

A morning coffee with words
But alone, the silence was unheard.
In this wanton world space rules
To divide out its precious jewels.

The black subtle grace steams coy
It seduces the senses and brings joy
Yet the brain selects another chapter
A time filled with laughter.

The index finger and thumb
The cup and hand as one become
Yet words dissolve in the mouth
And now a love gone south

Caffeine alerts the judicious self
Anxiety is injected into cells
And to this gypsy’s chagrin.
The chapter is closed once again

© 2011 Dave Schipper Rose Riversongs