Song by David Homan
Poetry adapted from Shelley’s “An Exhortation” by David Homan

John Cormier, Vocals
Mona Kayhan, Vocals

Nadav Lev, Guitar
Yoed Nir, Cello/Strings
John Davis, Bass
David Homan, Piano
Ziv Ravitz, Drums/Percussion

With Eric Reed, French Horn

Click here to listen to the sound clip on a mobile device

Part I:

Chameleons feed on light and air:
Poets' food is love and fame:
If in this wide world of care
Poets could but find the same
With as little toil as they,
Would they ever change their hue
As the light chameleons do,
Suiting it to every ray
Twenty times a day?

Part II:

Poets are on this cold earth,
As chameleons might be,
Hidden from their early birth
In a cave beneath the sea;

Where the light is, chameleons change:
Where love is not, poets do:
never think it strange
That poets range.

Yet dare not stain with wealth or power
A poet's free and heavenly mind:

If bright chameleons should devour
Any food but beams and wind,
They would grow as earthly soon
As their brother lizards are.

Part III:

Children of a sunnier star,
Spirits from beyond the moon,
O, refuse the boon!
O, refuse the boon!