Cool, clear water

I have not written for sometime. Distractions have been high and words have seemed all but dry. My spirit churns but even now I am leary of too many words.

I have been in Seattle for 11 days to be near my family and father as his life winds down. It is not a pleasant ending to observe. I’m sure it is not one to experience.

At this point he cannot be given food or drink. He is limited to ice chips. Although the medications are affecting him … his mind is still alert.  He clearly is very thirsty and does ‘sneak’ a sip from the ice chip cup when the nurses are not watching. 

Last night my sister Liz and I went back for a late visit. As we sat in the dark quiet room feeding ice chips to Daddy… he suddenly broke out struggling to sing the chorus to the song below.  I had never heard the song and did not quite get it until Liz played the song on her ipod this morning as we shared a cup of coffee. I did not expect to hear words from my father that would pierce my soul … ‘Tonight we pray for water, Cool water. And ‘way up there He’ll hear our pray’r And show us where there’s water, Cool, clear water.’…. and you?

Cool Water

(Bob Nolan)

 

 

All day I’ve faced a barren waste 

Without the taste of water, cool water.

Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry

And souls that cry for water,

Cool, clear water.

 

Keep a-movin’, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan,

He’s a devil not a man

And he spreads the burning sand with water,

Cool water.

Dan, can you see that big green tree

Where the water’s running free

And it’s waiting there for me

And you?

 

The nights are cool and I’m a fool,

Each star’s a pool of water, cool water.

But with the dawn I’ll wake and yawn

And carry on to water,

Cool, clear water.

 

Keep a-movin’, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan,

He’s a devil not a man

And he spreads the burning sand with water,

Cool water.

Dan, can you see that big green tree

Where the water’s running free

And it’s waiting there for me

And you?

 

The shadows sway and seem to say,

“Tonight we pray for water,

Cool water.”

And ‘way up there He’ll hear our pray’r

And show us where there’s water,

Cool, clear water.

 

Keep a-movin’, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan,

He’s a devil not a man

And he spreads the burning sand with water,

Cool water.

Dan, can you see that big green tree

Where the water’s running free

And it’s waiting there for me

And you?

 

Dan’s feet are sore, he’s yearning for

Just one thing more than water,

Cool water.

Like me, I guess, he’d like to rest

Where there’s no quest for water,

Cool, clear water.

 

Keep a-movin’, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan,

He’s a devil not a man

And he spreads the burning sand with water,

Cool water.

Dan, can you see that big green tree

Where the water’s running free

And it’s waiting there for me

And you?