“Self Portrait with a Harp” (1791) (detail) by Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux (1761-1802).
Play me a song.
Don’t get me wrong.
I love your singing voice,
But the harp is my choice.
The music soothes my sad soul
From the day taking its toll.
I need the music today.
Please, sit for me and play.
Celebrate the 4th of July.
Let the colorful lights fly high.
Flashing through the sky in hues
of sparkling reds, whites, and blues.
Victory is our day.
We are ready to play.
“Self Portrait with a Harp” (1791) (detail) by Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux (1761-1802).
Play me a song.
Don’t get me wrong.
I love your singing voice.
But the harp is my choice.
The music soothes my sad soul
From the day taking its toll.
I need the music today.
Please, sit down for me and play.
Lights in the night sky
Colors float so high
Raining in hues
Red, white, and blue
Victory is our day
We have come here to play
Music and marching bands
We raise our clapping hands
Celebrate the 4th of July
Let the colorful lights fly high
I gaze at the pink sea so pure,
A vision of delight for sure.
The sun is setting down,
But there’s no reason to frown.
I could see the ocean floor.
Look at me I’m out the door.
The sun may be gone for the day.
The moon will soon be here to play.
A party on Friday 13th
has turned into a horror show.
I’m trapped with my friends
in the basement of End House.
The floor fills with water.
Rotating saws descend.
We swim to the other side
and are faced with three doors.
We open one.
Roars fill the inky darkness.
Wild animals pace their cages.
I turn to run.
Hot breath on my neck.
I glance back.
The cages have opened.
A tiger advances.
I close my eyes.
We are doomed to play
THE DEAD GAME.
I sink with each step
closer to the blue.
The waves tease and spray
and prompt me to play.
But my world is dark and bleak,
and I cannot fall asleep.
I gaze through my window
to the snow-laden bough.
I sigh and shut my eyes tight,
seeking paradise this night.
I get sleepy and go back in time
to the sand and the footsteps of mine.
A place of fantasy there must be,
where blues and green merge in the deep sea.
Clouds create formations into works of art,
resembling soft cotton balls splitting apart.
I raise my face to the sunshine of the day,
the rays shooting sparks as they frolic and play.
The sand is soft beneath my feet,
warming my body with its heat.
Come with me and enjoy the dazzling sun,
we’re sure to have fun till the day is done.
PINK SAND
The sand so pink and soft
Keeps my spirits aloft.
The water so clear and blue,
I want to enjoy that too.
Sun brightening the day,
All I want to do is play.
Take me to Oasis,
where demons roam
and The Dead play.
Take me to Florida,
to the ocean paradise,
where good triumphs evil.
Take me to the shore,
where the residents gather
and The Dead will fall.
THE DEAD GAME
SUSANNE LEIST 