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February 8, 2026 Poet: John Frohnmayer Artwork: When Water Becomes Stars by Jolene Monheim

When Water Becomes Stars

*Sung by John Frohnmayer, voice and guitar, to the tune, and part of the words of “Snowbird”

Beneath the snowy mantel cold and clean

The unborn grass is waiting for its summer coat of green

The snowbird sings the song he always sings

And speaks to me of flowers that will bloom again in spring.

When I was young my heart was young then too

And anything it told me was the thing that I would do

But now I feel such emptiness within

For the thing that I want most in life’s the thing that I can’t win

Persephone was mythical and yet

The fundamental wisdom that she gives I can’t forget

How humans treat each other constantly

The changing of the seasons can’t erase our cruelty

So spread your tiny wings and fly away

And take the snow back with you where it came from on that day

The one I’ve loved forever is untrue

And if I could you know that I would fly away with you

Hope is like a flower when it blooms

And water cleanses heartbreak when the darkest future looms

But ask me how my life goes and I’ll say

The snowy egret’s light-wings are the way I’ll fly away

The breeze along the river seems to say

That she would break my heart again if I decide to stay

So little snowbird take me when you go

Unto that land of gentle breeze where quiet waters flow

‘cause if you ask what life’s about

I’ll shake my head and say

That I don’t know