exam week

after ferocious blue the washed-out sky
is sombre but the day at least is calm
the mind's overloaded now we may try
to seek a while for some refreshing balm
to ease the pain of thought the misery
of reading all the essays due this week
work that was substituted by treachery
from that which grants the energy i seek
but nothing tells us what we really need
to learn or know in order to survive
some will not fail they'll venture to succeed
the thought of that keeps my spirit alive
i turn from looking at stark autumn beauty
to do the things that i know are my duty

in time of war

beware of truths that come in deep disguise
the march of progress is not ever straight
we're watched over by the bodyguard of lies

in spite of all we've learned we believe our eyes
the clock will tell us quite soon that we're late
beware of truths that come in deep disguise

statements of fact like colour heft or size
we may or may not in time integrate
we're watched over by the bodyguard of lies

imprudent acts will not bring us the prize
the message we will not reiterate
beware of truths that come in deep disguise

what was once clear is now just a surmise
the answer will the question antedate
we're watched over by the bodyguard of lies

the earnest journey the vaunted enterprise
they find us all not ready at the gate
beware of truths that come in deep disguise
we're watched over by the bodyguard of lies

waiting at vine city station

when the thunder speaks and the odd luminescence
of the storm impinges upon the staring eye
terror itself streams down from the dark sky
and horror transmutes into its own quintessence
the weeping rock's astounding deliquescence
seems beyond natural as the long moments fly
the red leaves on the trees a kind of lie
odd and astonishing this autumnal efflorescence
waiting as the rain pelts down with raging force
time stretches into an new magic form
the gods themselves announce with angry power
the laws of nature forced from their normal course
replaced by newer far more terrific norm
before which all us mortals have to cower