these are the laws with which all must comply

within the bounds not just of this one state

but under all the norms of human freight

as though we were not only passing by

like winter birds up in the cloudless sky

each on its way towards a waiting mate

with certain knowledge of the coming date

true clarity of vision in each eye

so duty comes upon us and we ( Read more... )

 deep in the forest withies climb each tree
birds cry our presence we are monsters here

beneath our feet the little creatures flee

in each small clearing there's not much to see

the light of morning seems harsh and austere

deep in the forest withies climb each tree

wild pines in the high branches in the lee

of the bright breezes which ( Read more... )

no echoes but the silence is so loud

that we are caught between the dark and pain

of interrupted morning once again

when rushing with all ants in the huge crowd

each is obliged to do what is allowed

take up the load and soak in the old stain

just hope that we are moving with the grain

and all the while refrain from being proud

those are the ( Read more... )

wisdom is but sharp experience read

against the peal of years and given weight

still by the time it matters we are dead

so all your chiding some good thought has bred

within each mind before the hour turns late

wisdom is but sharp experience read

in the cold pages of the tale of dread

as drear hours pass until we reach the gate

still ( Read more... )

 our world turns all experience into test
just so we're measured each and every day

each purpose is the same to be the best

the angry and the ones who acquiesced

in the strict rules by which we willed to play

our world turns all experience into test

they said to us and we thought it a jest

until the last good choices went away

each ( Read more... )

 so much is lost inside the space of dark
where what we see and hear is felt so hard

that when we tear or find the door is barred

to every vision and without a mark

we turn to go we hasten to embark

on one more journey while you stand on guard

with eyes close watching on the final yard

as all our choices now have come down stark

no names ( Read more... )

 no matter what the peak arcs all descend
unto the earth from which they first arose

that's the most certain the most profound trend

even for one who best withstands the blows

of evil fortune or of cruel fate

falls to despair then rises to high state

no epoch should be measured by one rule

yet we insist that far beyond the cool

and shaded ( Read more... )

 partway along the path that all must tread
wrong turning taken in the dusk and muck

no hope to find the proper road ahead

so easy then to say that truth had fled

give up on life along with all my luck

partway along the path that all must tread

while many voices echo no words said

could quite convey how badly one was stuck

no hope to ( Read more... )

 from mountains coloured by no faint regret
there's never pause to think we must be past

the urgent moment when we were beset

by what seemed armies that could not forget

the banner that was once seen on our mast

from mountains coloured by no faint regret

yet we must move to wait would be to fret

and patience is for those who have not ( Read more... )

where no one sits there’s no reason to wait

yet there are many who with sharp regard

look in the distance with eyes that are hard

to see what they can measure of the gait

or bearing of the folk whose heavy freight

will end like all things in the somber yard

together with the honest and disbarred

and all that we can do is blame dull fate

our ( Read more... )