[jbrent33]

"If" by Kipling is one of my favorite poems. When I was 12 my grandfather offered me $50 to memorize by my 13th birthday. 20 years later and I can still recite it at the drop of a hat.

Like Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zant is a songwriter that many consider a poet. I had listened to this song many times, but it was when I was learning to play it that I really got the lyrics. I highly recommend any of his recordings.

"To Live is To Fly"

Won't say I love you, babe
Won't say I need you, babe
But I'm gonna' get you, babe
And I will not do you wrong

Living's mostly wasting time
And I waste my share of mine
But it never feels too good
So let's don't take too long

Well, you're soft as glass and I'm a gentle man
We got the sky to talk about
And the world to lie upon

Days up and down they come
Like rain on a conga drum
Forget most, remember some
Oh, but don't turn none away
Everything is not enough
Nothing is too much to bear
Where you've been is good and gone
All you keep is the getting there
Well, to live's to fly awe low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
And a sleap out of your eyes

It's goodbye to all my friends
It's time to leave again
Here's to all the poetry
And the pickin' down the line
I'll miss the system here
The bottom's low and the trebble's clear
But it don't pay to think too much
On things you leave behind
Well, I may be gone, awe, I won't be long
I'll be bringing back the melody
And the rhythm that I find

We all got holes to fill
And them holes are all that's real
Some fall on you like a storm
Sometimes you dig your own
The choice is yours to make
Time is yours to take
Some dive into the sea
Some toil upon the stone
Well, to live's to fly awe low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eye
Awe, shake the dust off of your wings
And the tears out of your eye