asleep
asleep
beside me
not quite morning
you dream
of first loves and lost loves
you dream
of flying, soaring, time-less-ness
you dream...
...the sky
a sliver of gold glows on the horizon
asleep
beside me
i am awake
and i dream of you

lyrics by JEN, published by Edition Amandla / Universal Music Publishing


rain
between the drops of driving rain
we fall, gather
rejoin
guided by a god of clouds
and darkened skies
and seeing this love
through translucent eyes
between the drops of driving rain
we find what was lost
we lose what was found
in this hushed landscape of moonless nights
we search for meaning
as the world drifts by
on a luminous wave
          of faith and desire
between these drops of driving rain
we fall
we gather
we join our fates
and swim towards the light of a lifetime ago

lyrics by JEN, published by Edition Amandla / Universal Music Publishing

temptation & seduction
long ago, we each had a role to play
temptation and seduction
like a movie without a script
we improvised
because we were so young
and the nights lasted that much longer
and we were grateful for every second of darkness outside
outside in perfectly manicured gardens
the cool grass covered in a midnight dew
soaking through jeans and t-shirts
we kicked our shoes off and dashed into lakes
and laughed and breathed and sang and knew
beyond a shadow of a doubt that no one in the world had ever felt the way
we did
no one on this planet knew the secret of love, the feel of wet grass under
bare feet on late summer nights
we watched the moon and she watched us and she promised to keep our secret
bright and full
in beds of flowers bursting with color
our young bodies bare
not yet knowing what it means to be inhibited
skin like petals
soft and fragrant
the trees shuffling their branches in a private dance only we could hear
the music
lips and whispers entangled
so new and yet ancient
tasting like life itself, fresh and true and hungry
we rolled and turned with the earth spinning beneath us
air so sweet,
sweet with jealousy
as we drank our youth
those nights, now so far and always so near
not a single summer passes without a reminiscence
the trees still dance and the moon still glows
and a year of our youth is peeled off
while our hearts grow cooler
darkness no longer holds the same magic
we grow and grow a greater distance
though you will always remain with me,
a precious charm recalled on late summer nights
while the scent of flowers in first bloom
still brings your name to my lips

lyrics by JEN, published by Edition Amandla / Universal Music Publishing


excerpt from: together
laughter, the sound of glasses--cheers and toasts
and the sensuality of movement among the young and careless
bare skin, revealing
our shirts worn low, exposing us to eyes and looks and short lived desire
until the next beautiful creature crosses your path
the candles burn, subdued light leads to brazen thoughts and lazy actions
words become whispers
we exchange glances
leaden with meaning
music melts the moment, we dance
close   body on body breath on breath
another glass of wine
brilliant chatter surrounds us
we are children no more
now we play the game of sophistication, wearing lust on our sleeves because we know, yes, now we know how to win this game       breaking all of the rules
thick golden ropes of hair tossed over browned shoulders, plump burnished lips split in a seductive smile
we speak
of nothing at all
our eyes searching
combing the room, now combing each other
together we glow
together we leave
together we take the leap from being
to being had
together

lyrics by JEN, published by Edition Amandla / Universal Music Publishing