What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and
beautiful flower? And what if,when you awoke,you had the flower in your hand? Ah, what then?
This is a quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I can't help but wonder if Joe Henry, who wrote the lyrics
to 'Wings that fly us home' was familiar with it.
The first time I heard John sing 'Wings' was at a concert at the NEC in Birmingham. He opened the second half with it
and you could hear a pin drop as the audience listened, enthralled.
I was going through a difficult personal time and feeling rather isolated and misunderstood. When John reached the line
'You're never alone' he seemed to be singing just to me. I felt a kind of stregnth come into me. I never forgot that feeling.
Then, when John died, I couldn't play his music for a few days. Eventually I realised that if I went on like this I really
would lose him, so I made myself listen to him again and this was the first song I played. After that I knew I hadn't lost
him.
This is wonderful video of Wings that Fly us Home on You Tube by Catbrush.
She has made lots of other great videos, too.
A little while ago my daughter asked me a question which really made me think.
I have for some time had health, and family problems have meant that many of the things I wanted to do with my life
were never done.
What my daughter asked was - If I could have the opportunity to live my life over
again and do the things I had wanted to and enjoy good health, but in return would never discover John's music, what would
I choose?
Well that did make me think, not about the answer, I didn't have to think long
about that because there is nothing for which I would give up the discovery of John and his music. I can't and don't want
to imagine my life without him.
What made me think was that that means I did have the thing I wanted most in life.
I had John.
I dreamed you knelt and touched me with a flower
Thank you for this precious day, These
gifts you give to me. My heart so full of love for you Sings praise for all I see. Oh sing for every mother's love, For
every childhood tear. Oh sing for all the stars above, The peace beyond all fear.
John believed that after he died an eagle would fly his soul to the Rockies.
