before the journey

what we have done is less than we could do
the way to overcome is never short
but how we do it when we find our port
is not the thing that's easiest to view

in all the ways that we account as sport
do not the marks of victory deny
for what from this perspective we descry
may change appearance once we have it caught

when from the hands of fate the truth we pry
what does it matter if we then forget
all these affairs which led us to regret
with sun's appearance we reject the lie

we know reality in hard ice is set
that can be melted and again refrozen
if we refuse each time to take the chosen
still every deadline will at last be met

winter will end and then the final frozen
shards will to liquid and to summer turn
the time will come when all of us may earn
the prize of patience and the drink ambrosian

and yet with inner heat we will in winter burn
the last of our old selves to cleanse the new
all of our hopes we believe will come through
and for that consummation we now yearn

inspiration

it's not as if a spirit comes before you
and tells you let me in and i will guide
it doesn't know the way and beside
lacks any sense of perspective of view
there isn't some group of chosen few
who know the secret of the moving tide
all of us are along here for the ride
and everyone knows how to make the new
the truth is that each one can read the map
but not enough of us will walk the path
and only a few will choose the rightful way
too many prospects fall into the gap
and far too many fear an aftermath
but some will still go fearless into day

false spring

we know the winter will quite soon return
but for the time we've got we greet the spring
the sun itself in its fresh joy will sing
and for the proper time of year must yearn
but yet we know that we truly cannot earn
the right to all the joys this warmth must bring
still we will with zeal just guard the ring
that holds in place the warmth and gentleness
nothing that we can do will hold back time
but still we want the sun itself to pause
to bring a halt to all our restlessness
to banish time and aging as a crime
and subject us to kinder softer laws

finding a way

at times the way can seem an abrupt slope
a hill too steep for anyone to climb
a monstrous eater of our too-short time
too much for us to understand or cope
too short for the allotted length of rope
that we've got nor can we just prime
this pump without eliminating grime
still we can move and that can give us hope
the mountain cannot daunt the careful eye
nor can it frighten the determined man
the task is not too tough for honest backs
those who discourage only tell a lie
and there's a way if we have the right plan
nor can we all our wisdom and sense tax

a place not visited

we fly faster than time into the nearer west
our thoughts run faster also alas our nerves
what happens to us there we hope serves
as a means of building a stronger nest
and meeting in our way the harder test
yet from our minds the lightbeam curves
around the image suddenly it swerves
and seems to illumine a place of rest
at such times when we wish to organise
our thoughts into some coherent shape
nothing seems to fall right into place
and when we come in turn to criticise
our own attempts we find there's no escape
we judge ourselves the losers of the race

awaiting sunrise

appointing the time
for right action and making
is no proper way

instead of waiting
in darkened rooms full of dread
enter the daylight

no imperative
outranks the urging of life
but can suppress it

remembering tropic night

what we have in this city is not real night
the lights outside guide feet but hide the stars
i can make out the colours of parked cars
but not the milky way that creamy light
stretching across the sky creating a huge bight
empty in contrast with what seem small scars
of brilliance against silky black or reddish mars
aloft at deepest dark truly divine in might
or venus on horizon at fresh dawn
proclaiming coming of the sun's new reign
like a bright sapphire in the morning sky
each luminary seeming the airy spawn
of a great power one who would not in vain
proclaim a sacrifice or falseness sanctify