angels sleep

The poet finally (!) decided to use this poem as the lyrics to the rather upbeat instrumental "Manticore" off of the new CD (cover enclosed so you can join me in making macho howling noises at his remarkable taste in women). Yes, as I understand it, the cover model is "nightblooming" herself and is someone he knows and has "courted" (he declines all other discussion of the topic).

The poem itself, I understand, was a tough choice. Faced with a great instrumental piece by his band, The Gods of Love, the poet was stuck finding a worthy poem. Unfortunately, the piece was very high-energy, upbeat, almost a dance number...but too good to ignore. If you are a constant reader of the poet, you know that bright and bouncy is not a genre he invades often, preferring dark, erotic, self-conscious, twisted, anguished angst-ridden, tortured, loin-sprung madness.

angels sleep

angels sleep a shift when we repose,
knowing that life goes on and that even sentinels
must nod from time to time.
and, knowing that I am safe in your arms,
and you in mine,
they need not watch every moment.

I saw you dance, unconsciously, listening
to Ani DiFranco sing about leaving in the morning
and the futility of shyness
when the clock runs short, like a dead end road
between the towers of downtown Los Angeles.

so, ride with me if you dare
ride with me if you care
ride with me, and your hair
will shine with the jewels you tossed
in small hand across the open fields
when you stopped to contemplate three wishes
already well on their way to being granted,
by being planted in my garden.


William F. DeVault. all rights reserved.