It Doesn't Matter Inside The Gates Of Eden

OUTSIDE BRIGHT ANGEL CANYON

SOUTH RIM FROM HORSESHOE MESA

MOON WITH ISIS TEMPLE

Bob Dylan: Gates of Eden...5/7/65

of war and peace
the truth just twists
its curfew gull it glides
upon four-legged forest clouds
the cowboy angel rides
with his candle
lit into the sun
though its glow
is waxed in black
all except when
’neath the trees of Eden

the lamppost stands
with folded arms
its iron claws attached
to curbs ’neath holes
where babies wail
though it shadows metal badge
all and all can only fall
with a crashing
but meaningless blow

no sound ever comes
from the gates of Eden

the savage soldier
sticks his head in sand
and then complains
unto the shoeless hunter
who’s gone deaf
but still remains
upon the beach
where hound dogs bay
at ships with tattooed sails
heading for the gates of Eden

with a time-rusted
compass blade
Aladdin and his lamp
sits with Utopian hermit monks
sidesaddle on the golden calf
and on their promises
of paradise
you will not hear a laugh

all except
inside the gates of Eden

relationships of ownership
they whisper in the wings
to those condemned
to act accordingly
and wait for succeeding kings
and I try to
harmonize with songs
the lonesome sparrow sings
there are no kings
inside the gates of Eden

the motorcycle black madonna
two-wheeled gypsy queen
and her silver-studded phantom
cause the gray flannel dwarf
to scream as he weeps
to wicked birds of prey
who pick up
on his bread crumb sins

and there are no sins
inside the gates of Eden

the kingdoms of experience
in the precious wind they rot
while paupers change possessions
each one wishing
for what the other has got
and the princess and the prince
discuss what’s real
and what is not
it doesn’t matter
inside the gates of Eden

the foreign sun
it squints upon
a bed that is never mine
as friends and other strangers
from their fates try to resign
leaving men wholly totally free

to do anything
they wish to do but die
and there are no trials
inside the gates of Eden

at dawn my lover comes to me
and tells me of her dreams
with no attempts
to shovel the glimpse
into the ditch
of what each one means
at times I think
there are no words
but these to tell what’s true
and there are no truths
outside the gates of Eden

--Bob Dylan

BUDDHA TEMPLE
WOTANS THRONE
75 MILE CANYON
MONUMENT CANYON
ROYAL ARCH CANYON
FOOL IN A POOL