after the battle

we want to say that when the dragon's dead
it was a worthy foe yet when it drew breath
we feared the flames that came out of its head
and cheered when it fell from the sky in death
we want to measure all our little powers
against the largest adversaries that we can
we want to preen and strut in the short hours
that triumph holds for every living man
so we praise once it's dead our giant foe
we claim that it was great and noble when
all it brought to our families was deepest woe
and we never wish to see its like again
against the fires against all the hard knocks
what's left when we are done is paradox

the haunting spectre

emerging late into november light
i shed my coat and joy in the warm day
though clouds hang it is still bright
and to my place of work i take my way
we take the changing seasons of the year
as fixed points as we round the sun
but really it's a matter of our care
and how the winds and breezes run
ahead of rain we feel the steady warm
air coming out of far tropic seas
the clouds above take on fantastic form
we walk outside feeling the mild breeze
too soon the wheel will turn it will be cold
too soon my bones will tell of getting old

distant music

night falls fast shadow stretches to cover all
we wait for the earths turning and our sleep
the world that turns beneath us seems so small

out of the far dark the signals the long call
the music that arises from a distant deep
night falls fast shadow stretches to cover all

the sounds distract the moment does not pall
we want to stay we want the time to keep
the world that turns beneath us seems so small

we know that what's the case is that we'll always fall
between the ones who run and those who creep
night falls fast shadow stretches to cover all

the mighty sun such little while was a golden ball
has vanished in the depths we wait now to see it peep
the world that turns beneath us seems so small

above the moon climbs the goddess high and tall
from her great height the line is always steep
night falls fast shadow stretches to cover all
the world that turns beneath us seems so small