President Barack Obama knew how to get my attention last night. Three times - at least - he used the words "built to last." So here is the poem for this week. Written by Robert Hunter. Set to music by Jerry Garcia. Performed by The Grateful Dead.
There are times when you can beckon
There are times when you must call
You can shake a lot of wrecking
But you can't take it all
There are times when I can help you out
And times when you must fall
There are times when you must live in doubt
And I can't help at allThree blue stars set on the hill
Say no more now just be still
All these trials soon be past
Show me something built to lastWind held by the collar
Yes a cloud held by the breeze
You can walk on coals of fire
But sometimes you must freeze
There are times when you offend me
And I do the same to you
If we can't or won't forget it
I guess we could be throughTwo blue stars set on the hill
Call it back you never will
If the sky now sinking fast
Show me something built to lastBuilt to last till time itself falls tumbling from the wall
Built to last till sunshine fails and darkness moves on all
Built to last while years roll past like cloudscapes in the sky
Show me something built to last or someone built to tryYou might get hit upon
There are times when you must give
There are times when you can barely part
With what you need to live
Don't save your breath to waste your face
When you have done your best
Tell them all forget it
Fate will decide the restAll the stars are gone but one
Morning breaks here comes the sun
Through the sky now sinking fast
Show me something built to lastThree blue stars rise on the hill
Say no more now just be still
All these trials soon be past
Show me something built to lastTwo blue stars set on the hill
Say no more now just still
In the night now in the past
Show me something built to lastAll the stars are gone but one
Morning breaks here comes the sun
Through the sky now sinking fast
Show me something built to last