Song Description

As I read this scenic poem I saw a very detailed, short play before my eyes. Like a film...so writing the music for this poem was like composing a film score. Full of drama, sometimes very soft, sometimes stronger and at the end a mighty crescendo!

Lyrics

Waiting For Her Father

She sat on top of an old weather beaten fence;
Her chin rested in the palms of her hands
As she gazed down the dusty, dirty road
Waiting for her father.

She climbed down that old weather beaten fence
To look between the rotted slats
Watched and listened for the footsteps of her father.

She swung on a tattered sun-baked swing
Swinging back and forth
Higher and higher
And looked for any signs
Of the coming of her father.

Slowly she walked along the edge
Of the dirty, dusty road in the direction
Of her father and picked tiny purple
Flowers for him?
While waiting for her father.

On the dusty, dirty ground she prepared a tea party for him
Two plastic teacups, two yellow blades of grass for candlesticks
And the tiny purple flowers as her centerpiece
As she sat legs enter-twined?she looked and hoped
Waiting for her father.

Now sleepy, and ready for her nap
She laid on an old gray porch swing
Facing the dusty, dirty road?and rested
Waiting for her father.

Now deep in slumber and in the valley of her heart
A storm in the distance?.thunder and wind
The sky filled with sand?.she felt her heart beating
As she dreamed?.waiting for her father.

Still deep in slumber
The wind of the storm rocked that old lumber
Where she laid in slumber?the weakened old wood
Made the screws squeak and sing as she slept
While waiting for her father.
From heaven she was lowered
Past clouds and stars
Angels smiled and waved
As she passed them by

So softly she landed in the arms of her father!

June 19, 2001