Making my way down the yellow brick road
The tin man crossed my path.
For so much armor his touch was quite soft,
I could see through his shield all the dreams I had lost.
I told him about the last stay of my trip,
he replied stiffly, “I’m not going that way.”
As he let me oil his rusty parts,
picked up my basket and asked, “Shall we start?”
“Where to?” I replied, because I was surprised
to see such a gleam in the tin man’s eyes.
“You may need help along the way,
I will keep the lions, tigers and bears at bay.”
“Dear man, it’s not the forest I fear,
It’s that you don’t let me get close to your heart.
I’m going to see the Wizard of Oz,
where dreams are filled and pure love rules the laws.”
“What an odd match for the Wizard we shall be,
your foolish heart and a tin heart in me.”
“But Tin Man, you told me my way won’t work.
Without dreams in your heart, Oz is no place for you.”
“I have earned this shield around my heart that I wear
And no one can touch it, so don’t you dare.”
“If you travel with me, you may find
You don’t need armor of any kind.
We’ll keep your oil can safe at hand,
for the road may become stormy on our way to this land.”
“This place you’re going to is not for me,
But I like how your courage has set your heart free.
You don’t even have a compass, water or rope!
Just a basket of faith, joy, love and hope.”
“It’s true, tin man, sometimes I’ve been lost,
but traveling alone is higher the cost.
I can let my heart lead instead of my mind,
But I stopped for you, so I must not be blind.
I see your heart beyond the can
Now, if you’re done objecting, let our journey begin.”
So off we went, the tin man and I,
learn and laugh and let life be.
We share ourselves and get closer every day,
but he knew better than to think that he would stay.
He seemed so willing, so sure and steady,
However, I saw the signs, I just wasn’t ready.
His past had turned his heart to the core,
he needed healing, I needed more.
In my dreams was the future that I had lost,
So why the hell did our paths cross?
Then one day a darkness appeared
and a witch jumped up, laughed and sneered:
“My beauties, aren’t you two the right couple?”
a tin man and such a beautiful girl,
you think you’re on the way to oz
But here I am, so you must be lost!
With my darkness and evil I will divide your bond
and chain you to think about everything that is wrong.
Give me what is precious, that shield and the basket!
Surrender your treasures or I will outlive you!”
“Wicked witch! Fly on your broomstick!
The love of our hearts will send a light!
This light will overcome the evil that you sow,
now is the time, tin man, let your heart shine!”
“I do not agree, it is better to separate,
We’ll go our separate ways, she can’t see in the dark.”
“We can’t either and together we are stronger!
Give up your shield, you no longer need it.
Please take my hand and stay close to me!
We’ll get out of this for sure, I promise you, you’ll see.”
“Go your way, without me, my friend,
and don’t drop the basket regardless of the end.
I need to face this witch on my own.
and find a new way to travel alone.
I was wrong to let you think I agreed.
That your foolish heart could set my tin free.”
“Goodbye then, tin man, but I’ll always believe
that our journey together could have set our hearts free.
I’m not as brave as you saw me that day
I simply refuse to let fear guide my path.
Keep that sparkle in your eyes that I saw
and somewhere over the rainbow to Oz,
maybe we will meet again
and travel together to the end of the rainbow.”
Some time later…
I missed my friend who would get in the way
his memory was clear in my heart every day.
Our laughter, our singing, the feel of his touch,
I wondered if he thought about this much.
It was me with my dreams who was wrong
to open my heart and invite it.
He told me his truth and I ignored it
that glow of hers made me want so much more.
I had been willing to trade in the name of love
my own truth I heard from above.
Maybe it was silly, but oh, what a boy!
We had something special and now I’m sad.
I guess I thought I could change his mind.
and show him a way of another kind.
Darkness came quickly and we weren’t prepared
face it together and we both got scared.
Now he’s out there traveling alone
and me with my basket on the yellow brick road.
I look for it from time to time
And I wish you love as I write this rhyme.
If you’re out there, tin man, and you’ve got ears to hear,
let this message be perfectly clear:
Oz gives us nothing we don’t already have
it’s the journey together that makes it so great.