those who finish

continuing although there's no more road
is not a thing to ask from every man
gold is we know the surest onward goad
and all that's asked is to do what you can
yet what of those who still are pressing on
though they can hear the winner's shouts ahead
who don't give up who don't say it is done
until the heart stops beating and they drop dead
the honours always go to those bright boys
whose feet are swift who with determined face
endure harsh training ignore all the joys
until they know that they have won the race
life's not like that much credit still should go
to those who go on though their feet are slow

why we stand and applaud

the sound transmits a clarity of sense
we find ourselves transported to new shores
the music with strong meanings now is dense

in the beginning there was no pretense
all significance was stripped down to its cores
the sound transmits a clarity of sense

at first amusing the tone turns intense
jaguar-swift the rowers at their oars
the music with strong meanings now is dense

our spirits seem to offer no defense
the waves beat on us press down into our pores
the sound transmits a clarity of sense

at first we smiled and thought the thing nonsense
a phenomenon that rational mind abhors
the music with strong meanings now is dense

and now like some strange audible incense
we feel the energy that the theme stores
the sound transmits a clarity of sense
the music with strong meanings now is dense