“Turning Towards the Morning”
by Gordon Bok
(copyright 1975 by Gordon Bok)
When the deer has bedded down
And the bear has gone to ground
And the northern goose has wandered off
to warmer bay and sound,
It’s so easy in the cold to feel
the darkness of the year
And the heart is growing lonely for the morning
Oh my Joanie don’t you know
That the stars are swinging low
And the seas are rolling easy
Just as they did so long ago
If I had a thing to give you
I would tell you one more time
That the world is always turning
Towards the morning
Now November’s growing thin
And December’s coming home
You’ll be thinking of the season
And the sad things that you’ve seen
And you hear that old wind walking
Hear her singing high and thin
You could swear she’s out there singing
of your sorrow
Oh my Joanie, don’t you know
That the stars are swinging low
And the seas are rolling easy
Just as they did so long ago
If I had a thing to give you
I would tell you one more time
That the heart is always turning
Towards the morning
When the darkness falls around you
And the North Wind comes to blow
And you hear her call your name out
As she walks the brittle snow
That old wind don’t mean you trouble
She don’t care or even know
She’s just walking through the darkness
Towards the morning
Oh my Joanie, don’t you know
That the stars are swinging low
And the seas are rolling easy
Just as they did so long ago
If I had a thing to give you
I would tell you one more time
That the world is always turning
Towards the morning
It’s a pity we don’t know
What the little flowers know
They can’t face the cold December
They can’t take the wind and snow
They put all their glories behind them
Bow their heads and let it go
But you know they’ll be there shining
In the morning
Now, my Joanie don’t you know
That the days are rolling slow
And the winter’s walking easy
Just as she did so long ago
And if that wind would come and ask you
Why my Joanie’s weeping so
Won’t you tell her that you’re weeping
For the morning
For the heart is always turning
towards the morning……
Wishing all of my Deaf Pagan Crossroads readers
A Most Joyous Holiday Season
~ Ocean
This beautiful song was written and copyrighted in 1975 by Gordon Bok, who has given his kind permission to repost it here. Gordon is a folk musician who lives in Maine. For more information or to book a concert (which could include this beautiful song!) check out his website at www.gordonbok.com
The beautiful photographs included in this post were taken by “Madison Guy”, an editor/writer/photographer who resides in Madison, Wisconsin. You can find his pictures over at flickr by clicking here or check out his blog Letter From Here to learn more about him and his photography.
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
Deaf Pagan Crossroads 
Beautiful, and Happy Season to you, too!
(wipes away a tear)
This is simply beautiful… the words, the photographs, the message, the whole thing. I love it.
Coming as it does right after your discussion of Old Woman Winter, it seems like the perfect opportunity for us to incorporate what we are learning in your Yule Series into our own individual expressions and experiences of our spirituality. I’m developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Winter Solstice and its true meaning for all of us.
Thank you, Ocean… and a most joyous holiday season to you also.
Happy holidays to you too, Osh. 🙂
We shall soon be turning the corner, and our own wheel of the year shall be “turning toward the morning…”
Blessed Yuletide to all,
MoonStorm
that was awsome seasons greetings to you to
Blessed be.
Thank you, and a merry Yuletide to you.
The poem reminds me of Robert Service’s poems.
Actually Gordon Bok is a folksinger, I think he’s from Maine… somewhere up in the New England area. He wrote this song “Turning Towards the Morning” back in the 1970’s and I believe he has recorded it. It’s a really beautiful ballad.
I agree, it does have a feeling of Ireland to it, which might be part of why it appeals to me. I do think there is something very magickal about this song, or at least very spiritual… and it does seem to have a peaceful, calming influence.
I want to take a moment here to thank all of my readers for your friendship and your support, especially as I have endured troubled times these last few weeks, which I expect will continue the next few weeks as I deal with terminal illness in the family. Your words of comfort mean a great deal to me.
Blessings to all of you, and may you have a most wonderful holiday.
Beautiful, Osh. Really beautiful. 🙂
(And I think these photos are better than anything I could have come up with.)
Merry Meet,
First I want to say, this is an awsome site. You got beautiful photographs and great informations that you share.
My big question is do you have a listing of Deaf Coven or Shrines thru out the US? I am looking for one in MD, DC. Possible start a listing?
Have a Blessed Yuletide to All,
Mahkah
the pictures are beautiful & so is the poetry.
u dont have to be a pagan…
from a non-pagan pilgrim…
best regards.