when you...

When you play within the lines,
but dream outside them
Then you harvest a wild imagination.

When you smirk at someone
but long for their touch
Then you produce a fine tension.

When you stop for the night to ponder
but end up writing instead.
Then you write a prose for retention.

By Dave Schipper © 2009

God looked down...

God looked down on a little tribe in the desert
With infinite knowledge and perception,
God planted the seed of the Bible in Moses words.

The future would bring those to oppose
But God hoped in time the simple stories
Would be understood as words of prose.

The great beasts help form the planet
Yet to explain that to weak of heart
Would bring out another idol of granite.

Now he wonders about the black and white
Why do some believers never see gray
She hopes some day more will see the light

Dave Schipper © 2007

Folk Angel

Just a dead Sunday on a business trip
Found me in a park with my guitar
San Diego makes me feel like an old hick
I don’t care, just take a swig of something dark.

I grab a C chord and start a Greg Brown piece
Down the path I see blue eyes in a fine dopplebock
She passes, wow they could sell ads on those cheeks
Two steps along, she wirls around to look back

My innocent hands sweat and I expect a frown
She pops her ear buds out and smiles instead
“Were you just playing, “If I had known”?”
Ok smooth and graciously I say, “Yep”







She laughs to show me her ipod is playing “Early”
Surprised, “So you have great tastes for one so young”
“Oh I love listening to Greg when I’m lonely
For home back in Iowa or just my mum.”

“I know every Greg Brown song, True!
Now you, I’d expect a sappy Jack Johnson tune.”
That got us both laughing, I offered her a brew.
“Sure, but I really supposed to be back home soon.”

Stories shared about family’s divorce when she was one
Her dad ran off and made a success of himself.
“He sent checks but we were all but forgotten
I think Greg’s music saved mom’s mental health.”


I showed pictures of the family in Wisconsin
And recalled Greg in a chainsaw muscle shirt
“Aha” she blurted, “that was the reason”
Mom named me Steele, that’s it; it for sure.”

More common bonds formed like Bohemian roots
Both saw Greg and Garnett at the Great River Fest
Her mother brought him a jar of canned fruits
And Grandad’s Bluff provided plenty of rest.

We shared names, and myspace addresses
I mentioned my journey as a songwriter
“Let’s play the Poet Game behind the fences”
She winked, “Just kidding you could be my father”

An awkward silence followed, so I started playing.
We sang about that little Iowa town, “Early”
“It’s late, my roommate will start worrying.
You know if you were my Dad I’d love you dearly.”

She said, “If I had only known”
My real dad plays cool guitar, is cute
Aspires to sing and write like Master Brown
I’d howl to the moon, rooty toot toot.”

“You are a folk angel brought to me today.
We have to make this meeting only a start.”
She took my guitar and put it out of the way.
Kissed me whispering, “You sweet old fart”

Folk Angel by Dave Schipper © 2007 Rose Riversongs

San Diego park pic
Lips

Willow....

Willow look at yourself.
When you were born no one could have forseen.
You would turn out more like a scrub pine.

So you are not majestic.
Tall and stunning with long blonde branches
Hanging over a slow moving creek.

You live as a lone tree,
An individual on a grand mountain side.
Providing a source of life to many.

Willow you soften reality.
Basking in God’s glory, you’re a pillow
A small humble respite of joy.

By Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs
Photo Credits

If I could...

If I could,
I would dress you.
The finest cotton
Soft peasant
Dress.

If I could,
I would help braid
Your silken hair
A expose your
Neck.

If I could,
I would kiss you
Once, twice, three times
Softly and longer each
Time.

Goodmorning
My love.


Dave Schipper © 2007 Rose Riversongs

The fog of life

The fog changed everything
There went the plan for easy drive
Eyes fixed, margins razor thin.
Not the moment he craved

The wipers worked like shit
Fluid and defrosters deployed
Almost resembled his life a bit
Both stuck in a cold humid void.

The rearview mirror had the same fog.
The bathroom mirror had the same boy.
Miles away from the last hug
But like that the fog lifts, oh the joy.

A two mile respite is okay
To a life of snippets and texts.
So seize the day they say
Drive out of the foggy complex.

By Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs

Bottomshelf

I am a bottom shelf value
The large shampoo bottle
The roll of garbage bags.

There is no glitz packaging
That’d be nothing but trouble
Simple, just read my tag.

The Lord hid me down here
Knowing someone would look
To grab value that lasts

So just a polite word to all.
True love has no source book
Bend down, look, it goes fast.


Dave Schipper © 2008 Rose Riversongs
photo credit

Solitude

Solitude

If it wasn’t for that hint of traffic noise,
I would know that I was alone.
Ok so mostly it by my own choice
That I sit in the dark in my home.

Yes the world is begging that I tune in.
Isn’t there something on that TV?
No, there is no tape of where we’ve been.
And gasp; no funny man emcee.

So life is there in the solitude of night.
I raise my glass of wine weirdly content.
Passively I took on love without a fight
But tonight I survey the damaged dent.

Something about the way you talked
Looking me straight in the eyes.
I could do nothing but blatantly balk
Then come swinging and spewing lies.

I was trapped in the denial either way.
Ignore or suppress the new passion
Or make it bigger than a passing stray?
So I admit that I’ve learned my lesson.

The night will end without a thunderclap
The day will start without a morning dove
I’ll go and live life like I give a crap
But wonder if you or I are really in love.

By Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs

Family Tree

Family Tree © Roseriversongs 2005 David Schipper

Take a little walk right back in time
Feel the wind cool the warm sunshine
Grab the hand of the one you love
Feel the love lookin from above

Just a branch in the family tree
They’re just folk like you & me
Sim’lar eyes, ears, hands & weight
We’re all linked to a common faith

Promenade to a dosey do
Family history we ought to know
Cowboy boots and petticoats
Dancin to the old timey notes

Chorus

Bridge:
In a farm house out of town
Friends all meet & gather round
Once a year in mid-July
They all travel far & wide

Sing & dance and have some fun
Exactly why they always come
They all leave with memories
Branches of a family tree


ps.. if you watch until the end you will see a fun outake when my son walked thru the room.

Love is Free at Last

Love is Free at Last by Dave Schipper (c) 2009 Rose Riversongs

The field was filled with bare foot girls
The church doors opened wide
The laughter of the children filled
The spirit of these sullen eyes

Solid stone over 100 years old
Means nothing to the little ones
But a spirit binds a new foothold
One to last to their father’s sons

Hallelujah The spirit is passed
Hallelujah Love is free at last
Hallelujah The table is set
Hallelujah No fears, no regrets

A rich patchwork of sizes and colors
A human ebb that flows in waves
Precious fabric of his earth he covers
With the souls he pledges to save.

‘tween the toes are daisy petals
He loves me and he loves me more
He plants the seed and wins the medals
But he weeps at the wages of war Chorus

The field was filled with bare foot girls
The store doors opened wide
The hunger of the people filled
The spirit of these sullen eyes

A rich harvest is bountiful
Grown and watched to maturity
Tastes and words purposeful
Bear love of holy purity. Chorus

Driven to avoid the lamenting
Though streets were really torn apart
She kept her small frame moving
The chaos couldn’t shake her heart

Music played in this City of Dreams
She played the muse with luck
Won the prize, strawberry cream
She left as the melody stuck Chorus

Broadcast it to the void

Broadcast it to the void of space.
I could stare for hours at your face.
Whisper it under dim of the crowd.
I can barely say I love you outloud.
Grab a cliché like a spring coat
I’ve got words stuck in my throat.
Spend some time lost in thought,
I’ve no idea the life you’ve wrought.
Stop over and flash a smile my way
I can’t tell you how you made my day.

By Dave Schipper © April 2007
Photo Credit Eye of God

Beauty in Strangers

They walked along as content lovers.
Her hair pulled up tight in a librarian bun
With a smiling face that would melt hearts

Her flower skirt flowed in the hot August air
And her white blouse was century old fashion.
I could see her beauty was taken for granted.

If I was next to her, one hand would take hers
My eyes would not leave her eyes
And I would caress the nape of her neck.

So if we can unlock beauty in strangers,
Can we do it in ourselves freely.
I would say it starts there first.

By Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs

Free at last

The field was filled with bare foot girls
The church doors opened wide
The laughter of the children filled
The spirit of these sullen eyes

Solid stone over 100 years old
Means nothing to the little ones
But a spirit binds a new foothold
One to last to their father’s sons

Hallelujah
The spirit is passed
Hallelujah
Love is free at last
Hallelujah
The table is set
Hallelujah
No fears, no regrets

A rich patchwork of sizes and colors
A human ebb and flow in waves
Precious fabric his earth he covers
With the souls he professes to save.

In between toes are daisy petals
He loves me and he loves me more
He plants the seed and wins the medals
But he weeps at the wages of war

Hallelujah
The spirit is passed
Hallelujah
Love is free at last
Hallelujah
The table is set
Hallelujah
No fears, no regrets

The field was filled with bare foot girls
The store doors opened wide
The hunger of the people filled
The spirit of these sullen eyes

A rich harvest is bountiful
Grown and nurtured to maturity
Tastes and words purposeful
Bear love of holy purity.

Hallelujah
The spirit is passed
Hallelujah
Love is free at last
Hallelujah
The table is set
Hallelujah
No fears, no regrets

by Dave Schippper
(c) 2009 Rose Riversongs
Photo Credits

Forever Nineteen

Just a pretty face in a busy place
I soon would melt in your hands
And you became regular in my plans.

Forever nineteen, so frozen in time
Twenty years passed so fast
But you are built to last.
Forever nineteen, so frozen in time

The months layered on in this bright salon
A rich text of news and playfulness
Left me wanting more, I confess.

Now suddenly everything’s casually
A spring and surprise to an old friend
Sure funny to look back how it began.

Forever nineteen, frozen in time to me
Twenty years passed by just today
And you still sweep me away.
Forever nineteen, so frozen in time

Still a Metallic Fan livin’ with the postman
A soccer mom queen and forever nineteen.
Forever nineteen, so frozen in time
Forever nineteen, such light shine, frozen in time.

By Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs

boy this will get me into trouble... it's had some changes...