Be Brave; Work Hard; Do Good (Honoring Ralph Rapson)
Unpublished
Be Brave, Work Hard, Do Good
(Honoring Ralph Rapson)
To be born with one hand was an obstacle.
Children can be cruel with criticism. They would
often call Ralph names not worthy to print.
While other children were busy playing football,
baseball, and sports. Ralph would be drawing,
while other teachers told him, “Ralph it might be too difficult.”
Be brave, work hard, do good
If you can draw the human figure, you can draw
anything. Every time he lays down a line he can
hear the whole world sing.
Cairo, London, Durban, Hong Kong,
Copenhagen, Brazil, and Greece. The shadows
of ancient people sliding down narrow streets.
Be brave, work hard, do good
Asymmetric houses, couches
The nature of nature’s design
To keep exploring new horizons
Between his fingers and mind.
People would tell him, “Stick with tradition.”
Both sides of the wheel are the same.
Unlike ninety, when you flip it over,
Ralph gets younger each and every day.
Be brave, work hard, do good
Just shake it off, stomp it down.
Move yourself to higher ground.
Fall prey to inspiration now.
Sir Tyrone Guthrie drove people crazy.
He pushed Ralph by the edge to fly or fall.
While he kept pushing, Ralph kept building
a premier theatre and concert hall.
Now some functionary, so contrary,
prefers a parking lot.
Instead of Shakespeare, or Miles Davis
blowing their trumpets on stage in the dark.
Be brave, work hard, do good
Just shake it off, just stomp it down.
Just move yourself to higher ground.
Fall prey to inspiration now.
To build a glass cube where walls are windows.
where outdoor is indoor light.
To be here, but not here;
to be seen, but not seen;
to be a jewel of brilliance by night.
Just keep it simple.
Anybody on earth can be complex.
To find balance within creation
is to be an architect.
Be brave, work hard, do good
Words & Music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 2004 | BMI
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