apple valley road

the queue forms early before dawn they hurry
to find a place and wait whether in rain or sun
doesn't seem to matter we watch as they scurry
out of our way but none of them deigns to run
some dignity they have in their long line
mothers with children solitary young men
they're standing patient chatting not a single whine
comes from them though they'll queue again
and again and again if there's trouble with a paper
anything to get their documents in proper shape
and afterwards they're sober no one cuts a caper
after their long day's struggle with red tape
so we look on beyond the wires and rope
at these calm folk who're holding on to hope

marking papers late november

there's nothing like a simple yes or no
to clarify what things actually mean
either you accept that fact or else you go
out of the door and wipe your shoes clean
of all the taint that learning's left on you
in case the idea that you just might think
rises up from the earth like morning dew
the hard-working bees of wisdom drink
but that won't happen here i have to say
you're cant take a position for some reason
you've started but got lost from the true way
perhaps your brain's gone and committed treason
i sign and turn the page and keep on working
hoping that minds behind the words are lurking

no careless comma

some words alone will make the strongest weep
their power is of a kind we cannot estimate
wait too long and all goes sailing into the deep

the fusty ends of day towards us slowly creep
between the start and finish we cannot correlate
some words alone will make the strongest weep

stars in their slow pavane across high heaven sweep
but still we underneath think of it all as fate
wait too long and all goes sailing into the deep

the understanding tells that the sun will peep
over the horizon through the clouds if we wait
some words alone will make the strongest weep

but what's that to the ones who cannot sleep
their minds racing all night to reach the morning gate
wait too long and all goes sailing into the deep

the message is that some things will never keep
unless we recognise their proper state
some words alone will make the strongest weep
wait too long and all goes sailing into the deep

journey

the sounds that soothe are not the normal ones
the days that count are not the normal days
we stand and wait to see the one who runs
and seek to avoid becoming the one who stays
the words that count are ordinary terms
the years that count are ordinary times
we'll take our time before we feed the worms
we'll find ourselves in more human climes
avoid the rush and start before the sun
you'll see more miles of dark but you'll get there
less tired less angered and not as overdone
your task is to done with the proper care
and so it goes we have these moments due
enough to laugh and recognise what's true