Pen Jen's Inkwell

Sunday, August 10, 2025

"Hold Me 'Till I Let You Go," A LOVE SONG

VERSE:

Hold me ‘till I let you go.

I don’t want to be alone.

Hold me ‘till I let you go.

VERSE:

Hold me ‘till I feel no fear.

Say you'll never disappear.

Hold me ‘till I feel no fear.

CHORUS:

You don’t know how much I need you.

You don’t know how scared I am.

I don’t want to ever leave you.

You tell me you love me, and I believe you.

VERSE:

Hold me ‘till I’m strong again.

When I am weak, be my defense.

Hold me ‘till I’m strong again.

CHORUS:

You don’t know how much I need you.

You don’t know how scared I am.

I don’t want to ever leave you.

You tell me you love me, and I believe you.

BRIDGE:

One day, I hope that I can stand.

Until then, I'll need your hand.

I'll let go if I can.

VERSE:

Hold me ‘till I let you go.

Walk with me this lonely road.

Hold me ‘till I let you go.

TAG:

Hold me ‘till I let you go.

'Cause I don't ever want to leave you . . .

Sunday, July 13, 2025

THREE SHIPS synopsis

LOGLINE

Three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning!

PITCH

On the first Christmas morning, three ships come sailing into the Land of Judea. On one ship, the Holy Family with baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph sail with a donkey. From that ship, Mary can see another ship of astrologers with great treasure and a third ship full of criminals. When sailing into the harbor, the ship with criminals crashes into the stone jetty, and the astrologers give Mary their treasure to help her escape the dangerous men. She leaves the gold, frankincense, and myrrh on the beach as a distraction for the criminals, and she slips into the cheering crowd with her family to journey to Bethlehem.

SYNOPSIS

One cold winter morning, three ships sail into the Land of Judea. As the sun rises over the horizon, the sound of a baby crying comes from one of the ships. A young mother named Mary, and her newborn child Jesus, huddle in blankets on the side of the deck. She feels tired and cold after spending the night giving birth to her son. A donkey snuggles up next to Mary on the ship. Joseph, her husband, holds her hand. He often kneels in prayer beside Mary and the child. Waves crash against the boat, and the wind blows harder than expected for a clear morning. Every time Mary feels afraid, she sings, “I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas day in the morning.” After all, this is what the angel Gabriel told Mary would happen. Gabriel told her she would conceive and give birth to a son, and he would be the Son of God, and she was to call him Jesus.

Looking from her ship, Mary can see two other ships sailing next to her. On one of the ships are three wise, old men who have chests of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The men have looking glasses used to watch the stars at night. She thinks they must have been trying to receive messages from God. They sing about finding “Our Savior, Christ, and His Lady on Christmas day in the morning.” Listening to their song, Mary thinks the astrologers must have heard about the coming of Jesus, her son, similar to the way the angel Gabriel visited her. On the other ship, she sees thieves and murderers that were chained to the hull of the boat. Unlike the astrologers, the criminals do not raise their voices in song.

As the three ships dock on the coast of the Land of Judea, miles from Bethlehem, a crowd of people sing on the shore. All of a sudden, a gust of wind blows the ships to shore. When she looks up, the prison ship crashes into the stone jetty. She covers her ears at the crunching sound of the boat hitting the hard stone. Surely, this will allow the prisoners to escape. As Mary and Jesus disembark from the ship, the young mother and her child look tired and rugged. The father leads the donkey by a cord while carrying two knapsacks on his own back. Mary sees the astrologers from the one ship talking amongst themselves and looking at her. Then, a wise astrologer stuffs Joseph’s bags with treasure, and the astrologers run as fast as they can from the disembarking prisoner ship in fear. When she sees the third ship emptying, she thinks that she must give the astrologer’s treasure to the prisoners to keep them at bay. Joseph dumps the treasure from his bag on the beach. Then, the family hurries into the cheering crowd to Bethlehem. Mary kisses her son on the forehead, aware of the man that Jesus will one day become.

Monday, July 7, 2025

"My Yuletide Lullaby," A MERRY CHRISTMAS CAROL

VERSE:

Tonight, I hold you in my arms,

Soft and tender.

I try to keep you from all harm,

Love you forever.

PRE-CHORUS:

You are my son.

You are a savior.

You are my love.

You are a baby.

CHORUS:

So, I sing this cradle song.

Watch and guard you all night long.

I sooth you as you cry,

With my yuletide lullaby.

VERSE:

You are not mine; it’s understood.

Time has a purpose.

I give you back to God for good.

I must have courage.

PRE-CHORUS:

Sleep in peace.

Peace be still.

Sleep and dream.

Dream God’s will,

For the world.

CHORUS:

So, I sing this cradle song.

Watch and guard you all night long.

I sooth you as you cry,

With my yuletide lullaby.
My yuletide lullaby.

BRIDGE:

I bless you with my silent tears.

My heart will not give way to fear, oh.

CHORUS:

So, I sing this cradle song.

Watch and guard you all night long.

I sooth you as you cry,

With my yuletide lullaby.
My yuletide lullaby, my yuletide lullaby.

Monday, June 9, 2025

"I Must Be On My Way," A LOVE SONG

VERSE:

Kiss me one last time,

Before I leave.

Distance calls me.

Fate befalls me.

I never thought I’d see,

This day unfold.

My heart is breaking,

But there’s no mistaking.

CHORUS:

I must be on my way.

It’s not right for me to stay,

Here with you.

I must be on my way.

I hope and wish and pray.

Your dreams come true.

VERSE:

The memories we share,

Are bittersweet,

Full of passion,

Fading faster.

Hold me in your heart,

With faith and know.

You’ll move onward.

You’ll grow stronger.

CHORUS:

I must be on my way.

It’s not right for me to stay,

Here with you.

I must be on my way.

I hope and wish and pray.

Your dreams come true.

BRIDGE:

The roads we’re traveling,

Took different turns,

But I won’t regret,

The fire that once burned.

CHORUS:

I must be on my way.

It’s not right for me to stay,

Here with you.

I must be on my way.

I hope and wish and pray.

Your dreams come true.

VAMP:

I must be on my way.

"Whisper," A LOVE SONG

VERSE:

I want to tell you I love you.

I want to tell you so much more.

Don’t know if I have the words.

Don’t know if I have the courage.

CHORUS:

So don’t mind me if I whisper.

Please find a way to listen.

I have so many secrets,

That I’ve been keeping.

If I talk too loud,

My heart starts to pound.

Don’t mind me if I whisper.

VERSE:

I could scream from the mountain.

I could shout from the 50th floor.

But silence speaks louder sometimes.

And I don't need to shout anymore.

CHORUS:

So don’t mind me if I whisper.

Please find a way to listen.

I have so many secrets,

That I’ve been keeping.

If I talk too loud,

My heart starts to pound.

Don’t mind me if I whisper.

BRIDGE:

I’ve been pushed.

I’ve tried not to shove.

I’ve been beaten.

I’ve tried on some gloves.

I’ve been knocked down.

I’ve gotten back up.

I’ve been standing tall.

I hope by now I’ve seen it all.

CHORUS:

So don’t mind me if I whisper.

Please find a way to listen.

I have so many secrets,

That I’ve been keeping.

If I talk too loud,

My heart starts to pound.

Don’t mind me if I whisper.

TAG:

I'm ready to be heard. (Listen for the whisper.)

"More Than Enough," A LOVE SONG

VERSE:

The water dried up in the river,

And all you can see is the sand.

That’s what you think you are,

And I just don’t understand,

‘Cause the river runs into the ocean.

The ocean crashes to the shore.

It’s all waiting for you.

CHORUS:

You’re more than enough,

More than I wanted,

More than I ever,

Thought love could be.

Don’t tell me you’re not.

I’m telling you . . . you’re more,

More than enough.

VERSE:

It’s like a hillside of daisies,

That blooms in the summer wind.

Too many petals to count.

Each flower has a twin,

And the scent sweeps you into fancy.

Oh, what a beautiful day.

That’s how I portray you.

CHORUS:

You’re more than enough,

More than I wanted,

More than I ever,

Thought love could be.

Don’t tell me you’re not.

I’m telling you . . . you’re more,

More than enough.

BRIDGE:

How much love can one person give?

How much life can one person live?

And still, you give even more.

CHORUS:

You’re more than enough,

More than I wanted,

More than I ever,

Thought love could be.

Don’t tell me you’re not.

I’m telling you . . . you’re more,

More than enough.

REPEAT CHORUS

TAG:

More than enough, more than enough.

"Say Farewell," A LOVE SONG

VERSE:

Say farewell to the hard times.

Say farewell to the bitter tears.

Say adios to the dark nights.

Say farewell to the lonely years.

No more heartaches and heartbreaks.

No more foolish mistakes.

CHORUS:

Goodbye, so long,

You’re moving on,

To greater things.

Godspeed, new joy.

Oh, what a difference,

Happiness brings.

So, say farewell.

VERSE:

Say hello to the good life.

Say hello to the golden days.

Say welcome to the best wine.

Say hello to the sun’s sweet rays.

No more sorrow and torment.

No more shadows of lament.

CHORUS:

Goodbye, so long,

You’re moving on,

To greater things.

Godspeed, new joy.

Oh, what a difference,

Happiness brings.

So, say farewell.

BRIDGE:

Don't be surprised,

If you don’t meet,

Misery anymore.

The less you know,

The more you learn,

And stronger than before.

CHORUS:

Goodbye, so long,

You’re moving on,

To greater things.

Godspeed, new joy.

Oh, what a difference,

Happiness brings.

So, say farewell.

TAG:

So, don't look back.

Just say farewell.

Love has come.

So, say farewell.