civil society

each state of nature seems a horrid place
we are confronted with our natural selves
the judgment of the entire human race
requires a civil order well-arrayed shelves
with lawbooks regulations decrees of court
the sayings of the wise men and the kings
with commentaries not a single one is short
all saying that the beast needs leading-strings
the choices seem too many a common force
that takes each of us into a combined whole
that speaks for all that sets for each the course
that they will take that makes clear the role

assured that public greatness makes each great

as masters or as servants of each state

the music leads to dreams

the weather is pleasant enough for a nice walk
the road is not too hilly and the way well-known
it seems like almost spring flowers already blown
and music that's more reviving than mere talk
no one could deny this not a one could balk
at seeing things that long ago were shown
at higher speeds yet now we've seen the bone
of trees the signs inscribed in coloured chalk
from eye-height as we pass along the way
on this suburban street just minutes past
the hour we were expected happy to be late
giving due reverence to the pleasure of the day
and knowing that the die will soon be cast

beyond mere words

there's no reason to hide the thing or name
it at as another there's a hidden sign
or symbol that we see below the line
where it is safe or at any rate is tame
the whole thing's just a dull and dismal game
the answer's not in proclaiming the divine
power of silence but the heavy brine
of tears reminds us that there is no shame
in all the acts that we do out of need
to build or break or to define or mark
the bounds of what is right and what is ours
we've seen the answer hidden in a seed
of true significance snatched from the dark
by what are in the end just human powers