Rusty Bolts flickr photo by junkyardpatinafan shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) license
A song, for and inspired by Terry Elliott, as well as some other swirling things in my mind I couldn’t keep in the box.
Things I Couldn’t Keep
(for Terry)(you know) A life goes by in the blink of an eye
and the stories that we tell
Remind us of days — they slip away
I’ll hold on … as tight as hell(he said) Son, here’s a box of things you’ll need
to navigate the stars
A collection of bolts, sprockets and tools
to remind you … of who you areA cardboard box — Things unnamed
A quiet voice — An act of faith
His story’s running deep
All these things I couldn’t keepHis treasures, what others throw away
what he knew was still good
the coin of man with steady hands
It’s a life … never understoodFor forty years, I watched him walk
watched him pack it all away
Odds and ends into coffee cans
And memories … tucked far away‘Don’t ever say I gave you nothing,’
my grandaddy speaks through him
I hold on tight to hand me downs
It’s my turn now … to begin again
Peace (singing it),
Kevin