Bucket of Sand (Song)
Here’s another song I wrote this week for April 2015 National Poetry Month. I am no musician so the music (also composed and sung by me) has a rather repetitive and breathy quality–and neither the beginning or end are quite right–but I tell myself it’s a poem song not a pop song; and also that this is April!
Bucket of Sand
You said it was far better
to give than to receive;
I gave all my all to you;
you held it like a sieve.
Fetch me a bucket to carry
a pail that I might fill
so I may gather myself again
where ‘ere you let me spill.
Your smile it was so sparkling,
I thought the flint for me.
But oh, your eyes they were so dark,
I guess I couldn’t see;
so, fetch me a pail of water
find me a bucket of sand
that I may quench the flames you lit
when I thought you were my man.
All the grains in time’s dull hours
all the water in the sea
are not enough to scrub away
the touch you laid on me.
If I have no water
if I’ve no coarse sand,
I’ll fill my bucket with my salt tears
and with my own clock hands.
I’ll look for a sliver of moonlight
I’ll search for a dipper of sky;
I promise I will guard them
from any handsome lie.
If I find that moonlight,
I’ll keep it safe apart,
and if I find some open sky
I’ll use it as my heart.
You said it was far better
to give than to receive
I gave all my all to you
you held me like a sieve;
now I’ve this bucket to carry
this empty pail to hand
all you ever gave me
when you were my man;
now I’ve this bucket to carry,
now I’ve this pail to hand,
all you ever gave to me
when you were my man.
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I am linking to Real Toads Tuesday Open platform. I also wrote this for Hedgewitch’s past prompt on Real Toads on Folly.
PS – final apology! Yes, it’s too long. Maybe sliver of moonlight stanza has to go or be combined with something! Also, I have a couple of other tunes! Agh. One was very Irish, but somehow I ended up with this one! Maybe some day (in another lifetime that is), I’ll post a different version.
Also pps–final final apology! Sorry if late to return comments–I’m getting a bit frayed, but will visit soon.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, songTags: #napowrimo, April 2015 National Poetry Month, Better to Give than Receive song, Bucket of Sand song, forgive the singing song, Karin Gustafson song, manicddaily
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ManicDDaily 
April 21, 2015 at 5:50 am
This is such a beautiful poem… 😀 Loved these lines:
I’ll look for a sliver of moonlight
I’ll search for a dipper of sky;
I promise I will guard them
from any handsome lie.
The imagery is absolutely breath-taking 😀
xoxo
April 21, 2015 at 7:49 am
I love the lilt in your voice, K. You impart an ancient folk feel here, with some striking turns of phrase (held me like a sieve…). Ready to tour…? The Stones might need an opening act this summer!
April 21, 2015 at 8:00 am
Ha. Thanks! My house is being painted right now and I am somewhat allergic to it all so by the end of the day when I was ready to record (ha!) my throat would be a little weirder even than normal! But I found that if I lowered the pitch it was okay! Thanks Again. So glad to see yours and glad you are writing or rather posting as you may always be writing! K.
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April 21, 2015 at 4:41 pm
Thank you. I’m writing and re-writing. That’s the problem: It takes me so long…I truly admire those of you who are up to the poem a day challenge.
April 21, 2015 at 8:07 am
“Too” nothing! Brilliant, enjoyable, melodic, perfectly paced story telling.Gosh. This song would be snatxhed up by many a ballad singing band
!
April 21, 2015 at 8:10 am
I don’t think it’s too long at all. Every word here is part of the song, and that makes the picture you want to convey more clear, and as only songs can, more a melody of the heart’s accompaniment to our lives. I especially loved ‘…and if I find some open sky
I’ll use it as my heart.” but there are so many perfect lines in this, quoting is superfluous. And I too, love the lilt in your voice. So glad you found some inspiration in the whole Folly thing–and this is exactly the kind of Folly I had in mind. I just couldn’t come up with a version I hadn’t done before–this is as fresh as spring air. A fine poem and a craft-full tune, and your voice suits it well.
April 21, 2015 at 8:12 am
It may be that it felt long singing but where ther e is no break it may feel longer to singer!
April 21, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Ha!
April 21, 2015 at 9:37 am
For some reason, I could hear the song, but the rhythm of your words sang in my mind anyway. Thank you 😉
April 21, 2015 at 9:38 am
Hi Jinksy–I am assuming you mean can’t hear the song! I don’t know but maybe you have to click more than once. I’m not sure that you missed much though! k.
April 21, 2015 at 10:37 am
Such a melody it is:) loved it
April 21, 2015 at 10:51 am
I enjoy your singing voice too. I like the play in this song between the contained and the open.
April 21, 2015 at 11:31 am
I love your poem songs, Karin. This has the timeless quality of love’s loss, hopes dashed and too, too many pails of salt tears.
Wonderful and so enterprising of you!
April 21, 2015 at 11:40 am
Now, dearest Karin, I will always read your poetry with your voice in my head… love it.
“All the grains in time’s dull hours
all the water in the sea
are not enough to scrub away
the touch you laid on me.”
The lines above left me sighing for the speaker. How terrible to be left holding a history that just won’t go away.
April 21, 2015 at 11:41 am
P.S. I totally understand that “fraying”, I’m there, too! ♥
April 21, 2015 at 11:53 am
NO! Do not remove that sliver of moonlight! I LOVED this. It is beautiful, poignant, perfect…….I love the idea of a bucket to gather oneself again in…..and admire the salt tears and clock hands……wowzers! A humdinger of a poem!
April 21, 2015 at 2:56 pm
O Karin, this is perfect. When you go to Ireland you should sing it in a pub and everyone would think you were a local. Be prepared, they may ask for more! So Nicely done!!!
These are my lines, they will jerk the final tear:
“ I’ve this bucket to carry
this empty pail to hand
all you ever gave me
when you were my man;
now I’ve this bucket to carry,
now I’ve this pail to hand,
all you ever gave to me
when you were my man.”
..
April 21, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Ha, Jim. Thank you. You are very kind. I would love to go Ireland and sing in a pub! I’ve not been there in many many years. k.
On Tue, Apr 21, 2015 at 3:56 PM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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April 22, 2015 at 12:08 am
Your voice is perfect for it too!!
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April 21, 2015 at 3:32 pm
What a wonderful song.. alas I could not hear it when I played it.. but the words are just perfect with a bluesy melancholy.. the beat was felt in your words. very good.
April 21, 2015 at 5:37 pm
I don’t think it’s one bit too long, I think the simple tune suits it, and the ‘sliver of moonlight’ verse is my very favourite, which I would HATE you to lose – so there!
April 21, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Thanks. I think it felt long as a singer. K.
April 21, 2015 at 11:41 pm
The words, the song are perfect. You mentioned a version that was very Irish, I can hear it in this one. I don’t know if you watch the show, Outlander, on Starz, but your poem/song reminds me of the show’s opening song. Wonderful piece!
April 22, 2015 at 1:53 am
I agree, it’s excellent, don’t cut it. Poetry isn’t all haiku, you know. 🙂 I like the tonality of your voice, but more so, the timelessness of this. It reminds me of a song that would be sung in the fields, and carried on from generation to generation, as a warning to maids. fabulous ~