Gyroscape: a year of the lyrical life
Pieces contained within the first print edition of Gyroscape: a year in the lyrical life
Stealin’ Roses
Put back that fire before you torch the place
Punch a gift horse square in the face
Caught between a clock and a hard chase
You would cut off your rose to spite your space
Read the rest of this page »
Slums of Columbia
Dragged myself home by the crack of noon
Time to spy the setting of the lingering moon
Feeling out of whack and out of tune
A moment too late and yet too soon
Time to spy the setting of the lingering moon
Feeling out of whack and out of tune
A moment too late and yet too soon
Read the rest of this page »
The Prince and The Slave
This ballad was among the very first in this cycle. It is a best effort at conveying the folk tales of John The Conqueror, a rich tradition of fables among the very first African-Americans which are deeply empowering even now to all those who suffer petty or serious tyranny.
Read the rest of this page »
Yippie!
An ode to the Grate Abbie Hoffman
Air thick with talk of sex peace and race
Paradigms shifting all over the place
Boat rocking from alienation and rage
A paradoxical patriot leapt to the stage
Read the rest of this page »
Parnassus
There’s a little light inside my vain
Occluded obtuse overeager brain
It flickers off and flickers on again
Like the lamp of a darting subway train
I dearly wish I could find the switch
But it proves to be an elusive glitch
Occluded obtuse overeager brain
It flickers off and flickers on again
Like the lamp of a darting subway train
I dearly wish I could find the switch
But it proves to be an elusive glitch
Read the rest of this page »
Profit of the Lord
I’ve come to bring you good news
Go on and sign up, nothing to lose
I’m very sure you haven’t heard
The greatest story ever put to words
Go on and sign up, nothing to lose
I’m very sure you haven’t heard
The greatest story ever put to words
Read the rest of this page »
Millie’s Attic-Original
Little old lady with big ambition
Trapped beneath her tightly wound bun
Gave off the vibe of a librarian
But, man, Millie was a girl who knew
How to have her some fun
Trapped beneath her tightly wound bun
Gave off the vibe of a librarian
But, man, Millie was a girl who knew
How to have her some fun
Read the rest of this page »
Millie’s Attic
Millie never shirked a day of work
She was the picture of the perfect clerk
She never typed off key or lost her smile
Misspelled a memo or misplaced a file
She was the picture of the perfect clerk
She never typed off key or lost her smile
Misspelled a memo or misplaced a file
Read the rest of this page »
Clockwork
These are our hands
Counting grains of sand
Splitting infinity into bits
Which we can understand
Counting grains of sand
Splitting infinity into bits
Which we can understand
And here are the gears
Where the cycle appears
Eternally returning
Hours to months and years
Read the rest of this page »
Desert Trance
Desert Trance at Quixotes
Desert Trance at Quixotes –> Click to play audio
set to music and performed by John Kadlecik
Sky was raining question marks
Spirits spinning bodies of dust
Air rippling with cobalt sparks
Finding new life with each new gust
Read the rest of this page »
E=MC^2
We spring from the oil of the ocean
Strings gifted with strange locomotion
Waving our dirty laundry in the air
In case anyone really cares
Measuring success by the shadows we cast
Seeding the future and grading the past
Preparing for what no one’s ever prepared
Energy equals mind times consciousness squared
Strings gifted with strange locomotion
Waving our dirty laundry in the air
In case anyone really cares
Measuring success by the shadows we cast
Seeding the future and grading the past
Preparing for what no one’s ever prepared
Energy equals mind times consciousness squared
Read the rest of this page »
Initiation
This one came from an assignment John offered at our first breakfast meeting; he supplied the verse about the man with the left-handed star from his notebook. He wanted to include ideas from or about Crowley, Blavatsky and Reich, which was a fine notion, but far too vast for a single song. This three-part mystic verse was the result.
Read the rest of this page »
Rule of RAW
Deadicated to the Grate Mahatma Robert Anton Wilson, the imaginary writer
The science of synchronicity
Gratuitous fortuitous serendipity
It’s all that and a bushel of flax
House of cards and house of wax
Read the rest of this page »
Good Friday Experiment
Castaway summons
Siren calls you on
Promising to explain
When all of this is done
Find it in the mind
Or among the coral reefs
Drift in the aquatic deep
To dream or perchance
Eternally sleep
Siren calls you on
Promising to explain
When all of this is done
Find it in the mind
Or among the coral reefs
Drift in the aquatic deep
To dream or perchance
Eternally sleep
Read the rest of this page »
Guarding the Garden
Flinching at the slightest sound
Where golden nuggets grow on trees
Sitting guard both ears to the ground
A pocketful of empty and a head full of needs
Where golden nuggets grow on trees
Sitting guard both ears to the ground
A pocketful of empty and a head full of needs
Read the rest of this page »
Set of Jewels
Sapphire locket wrapped on a spire
Flames licking out at the edge of fire
Insane indeed, but only north by northwest
It can be predicted but never guessed
Flames licking out at the edge of fire
Insane indeed, but only north by northwest
It can be predicted but never guessed
Read the rest of this page »
Trumpets Without Keys
This piece was inspired by a Tucson area wanderer who Amana met at her day job in a smoke shop. It was believed that he was a veteran of both the military and MK-ULTRA. You can probably guess which brand of cheap reconstituted tobacco he preferred to spend his meager pennies on.
Read the rest of this page »
Circuit Tree
This piece attempts to convey the Eight Circuit conception of neurolinguistic consciousness described by Timothy Leary and Robert Anton Wilson, among others. It also may be taken as an ascent through Chakras, although not in order. Notice that each verse includes its cardinal.
Read the rest of this page »
Graphite
Hollywood’s gone awful green these days
To listen to all the stars
They sure are busy recycling scripts
While blowing up all those cars
To listen to all the stars
They sure are busy recycling scripts
While blowing up all those cars
Read the rest of this page »
Ballad of The Lost Hippie
It was a typical hippie tale
He wasn’t buying the lying
Or wars they were trying to sell
He wasn’t cut out to fail
So he grew his mind and hair
And let everything else go to hell
He wasn’t buying the lying
Or wars they were trying to sell
He wasn’t cut out to fail
So he grew his mind and hair
And let everything else go to hell
Read the rest of this page »
The Fool
The Fool was always misunderstood
Always kept his eyes on the sky
Dropping out whenever he could
Just a half step ahead of the FBI
Always kept his eyes on the sky
Dropping out whenever he could
Just a half step ahead of the FBI
Read the rest of this page »
Past the Last Chance
Victory just isn’t in these cards
Dreams and waking don’t line up
Eyes to the side, stiff and on guard
Nursing an empty bottomless cup
Glancing up from mirror shards
Wondering how it got to be this hard
Dreams and waking don’t line up
Eyes to the side, stiff and on guard
Nursing an empty bottomless cup
Glancing up from mirror shards
Wondering how it got to be this hard
Read the rest of this page »
Gilded Cage
Cracked my egg in a gilded cage
Penned in tight, a child of rage
Issued me a list of rules and sins
But I didn’t know what a mess I was in
Penned in tight, a child of rage
Issued me a list of rules and sins
But I didn’t know what a mess I was in
Read the rest of this page »
The Magician
The wizard in an amber robe
Reeling from astral realms he probes
Twisting the system half insane
Rivers of symbols in intricate chains
Reeling from astral realms he probes
Twisting the system half insane
Rivers of symbols in intricate chains
Read the rest of this page »
The High Priestess
Pythia on her tripod
Inhaling Eleusinian fumes
A channel for the goddesses and gods
Passing secrets through the womb
Inhaling Eleusinian fumes
A channel for the goddesses and gods
Passing secrets through the womb
Read the rest of this page »
The Empress
Everlasting cascade waterfall
Feeding the amber waves of gain
Her fertile light uniting it all
Churning glory through the rain
Feeding the amber waves of gain
Her fertile light uniting it all
Churning glory through the rain
Read the rest of this page »
All Due Electricity
Hunting out the words between the words
Listening for visions crying to be heard
It’s a mission measured in melody
Wholeness, integrity and clarity
Listening for visions crying to be heard
It’s a mission measured in melody
Wholeness, integrity and clarity
Read the rest of this page »
Smuggling Smoke
Standby for the catch-phrase king
Hanging on to his high by a very thin string
Superhero quick and Houdini slick
As white rabbits leap from his bag of tricks
Hanging on to his high by a very thin string
Superhero quick and Houdini slick
As white rabbits leap from his bag of tricks
Read the rest of this page »
Xochipilli’s Mask
No Turn Left
How I need a place to park my wheels
Cool my jets and heat my heels
Hardly holding out against the tilt
Racing inside this maze they built
Cool my jets and heat my heels
Hardly holding out against the tilt
Racing inside this maze they built
Read the rest of this page »
Jack of Knacks
I’m a painter with sounds
Mechanic of totaled hearts
Conductor of cut-up clowns
And fluent in six tongues of art
Mechanic of totaled hearts
Conductor of cut-up clowns
And fluent in six tongues of art
Read the rest of this page »
Less Epic
I got something up my sleeve
A trick which will drop your jaw
So slick it’ll bend what you believe
And have you question what you saw
Once you’ve seen a giant rabbit
Pull wizards from a black top hat
The only conclusion left to draw
Is this might be sanity’s last straw
A trick which will drop your jaw
So slick it’ll bend what you believe
And have you question what you saw
Once you’ve seen a giant rabbit
Pull wizards from a black top hat
The only conclusion left to draw
Is this might be sanity’s last straw
Read the rest of this page »
Queen of Strings
There isn’t a thing she can’t do with string
On a mission to tie the world up in a ring
White lotus petals along trails she treads
Catches moonbeams in a bindi crystal
Held to her head by the thinnest of threads
On a mission to tie the world up in a ring
White lotus petals along trails she treads
Catches moonbeams in a bindi crystal
Held to her head by the thinnest of threads
Read the rest of this page »
The Source
I sing yesterday’s refrains
As I dream tomorrow’s tunes
Scrying my soul
Like a scattered plate of runes
Seeking new ways to praise
The beauty of the moon
Sliver of silver painted by night
Carved and filled in endless phase
Content to share the light
From the Source’s glorious rays
As I dream tomorrow’s tunes
Scrying my soul
Like a scattered plate of runes
Seeking new ways to praise
The beauty of the moon
Sliver of silver painted by night
Carved and filled in endless phase
Content to share the light
From the Source’s glorious rays
Read the rest of this page »
Karma Wheel
There are many rides in this carnival
Roller coasters in perpetual festival
Dark houses haunted by greed and guilt
Parades of giant rulers stalking on stilts
Dunk tanks where someone soaks when you win
Pirate planks where you walk off your sin
And halls of mirrors where you talk to your twin
Roller coasters in perpetual festival
Dark houses haunted by greed and guilt
Parades of giant rulers stalking on stilts
Dunk tanks where someone soaks when you win
Pirate planks where you walk off your sin
And halls of mirrors where you talk to your twin
Read the rest of this page »
Manifest Station
Did you ever stop to wonder
Who scattered this trail of silver?
And crafted rafts to save
Some unknown child of the river?
We knew you’d one day crest this wave
A dreamer and a giver
This stream is bubbling with treasures
Only visible to the brave
Who trust us to deliver
Who scattered this trail of silver?
And crafted rafts to save
Some unknown child of the river?
We knew you’d one day crest this wave
A dreamer and a giver
This stream is bubbling with treasures
Only visible to the brave
Who trust us to deliver
Read the rest of this page »
Boom and Bust
In the garden we gathered whatever we’d need
Till we were driven out by our insatiable greed
It was all over once the ape stood up straight
Lifted a hand to redefine fate
Couldn’t see the forests for the wood
Confused by the fruiting body of evil and good
Till we were driven out by our insatiable greed
It was all over once the ape stood up straight
Lifted a hand to redefine fate
Couldn’t see the forests for the wood
Confused by the fruiting body of evil and good
Read the rest of this page »
Own You Back
You may have yourself a gig
Where you dare not be late
A silver claim on which to dig
That now controls your fate
Chasing carrots and fleeing stress
Slaving for freedom and finding less
Where you dare not be late
A silver claim on which to dig
That now controls your fate
Chasing carrots and fleeing stress
Slaving for freedom and finding less
Read the rest of this page »
Too Close To Call
This is where the elements combine
Where the green sheen
Meets the sunshine
Where energy greets
Matter’s fine line
Where the green sheen
Meets the sunshine
Where energy greets
Matter’s fine line
Read the rest of this page »
Let’s Bring the Healing
This palace is quickly losing luster
The courtyard’s cluttered
Broken windows shuttered
Echoing every curse
That was ever muttered
Every misplaced word
That hate has uttered
The courtyard’s cluttered
Broken windows shuttered
Echoing every curse
That was ever muttered
Every misplaced word
That hate has uttered
Read the rest of this page »
Vortex Street
Transcendent tunnels
From here to here
Day devoted to detecting the rare
Wisp of curled siren hair
Luring me into her frothy lair
Skating the shaky surface of uncertainty
Riding the waves of possibility
Yielding all to the power of the sea
And totally
Blissfully
Magically
Free
From here to here
Day devoted to detecting the rare
Wisp of curled siren hair
Luring me into her frothy lair
Skating the shaky surface of uncertainty
Riding the waves of possibility
Yielding all to the power of the sea
And totally
Blissfully
Magically
Free
Read the rest of this page »
Fabric Meets The Flesh
Walking on the deadbeat trail
Hoisting up the silent sail
Opening the seal on the mystic mail
Unleashing the unreal primal wail
Hoisting up the silent sail
Opening the seal on the mystic mail
Unleashing the unreal primal wail
Read the rest of this page »
Tour’s End
It’s the end of tour now
We’ve come to the end of the line
But damn it worked out fine
One day when we rock in leisure
These pleasures we’ll recall
Memory’s precious treasures
Which make the trouble worth it all
We’ve come to the end of the line
But damn it worked out fine
One day when we rock in leisure
These pleasures we’ll recall
Memory’s precious treasures
Which make the trouble worth it all
Read the rest of this page »
Peephole
All I can remember
Is that I always forget
The timing of whatever
Hasn’t happened yet
Is that I always forget
The timing of whatever
Hasn’t happened yet
Drowning in duties
And tangled in debt
Dazzled by beauty
And hedging my bets
Read the rest of this page »
Fox In Sheep’s Clothing
On A Phrase
If you’re testing my patience
I must say you’ve passed
I’ll yield you the difference
If we can get over this fast
I must say you’ve passed
I’ll yield you the difference
If we can get over this fast
Read the rest of this page »
Dharma Map
I went to see the guru
To score some destiny
Just enough to tide me through
‘Til I could fix my color TV
To score some destiny
Just enough to tide me through
‘Til I could fix my color TV
Read the rest of this page »
Key of Now
There is language which is spoken
Giving breath to gasping thoughts
Sent on rafts of air as tokens
To return what time has taught
Giving breath to gasping thoughts
Sent on rafts of air as tokens
To return what time has taught
Read the rest of this page »
Three-Way Chess
Alpine silver star
Angel of abyss
Catch the eye of Horus
In rings of cryptic mist
I am Aiwass
Ancient Ipsissimus
Voice of awe
Author Emeritus
Of the Book of the Law
Therion’s Liber Legis
Angel of abyss
Catch the eye of Horus
In rings of cryptic mist
I am Aiwass
Ancient Ipsissimus
Voice of awe
Author Emeritus
Of the Book of the Law
Therion’s Liber Legis
Read the rest of this page »
Simplicity
There is nothing quite as sweet
As the beauty of a breath
Nor sour as our common defeat
The final gasp of ashen death
As the beauty of a breath
Nor sour as our common defeat
The final gasp of ashen death
Read the rest of this page »
