who they were i may never know
all i saw was the crumpled steel
no body visible behind a wheel
and everything moved in a slow
pavane of death we cry out no
not this not now none had time to feel
anything the metal seems to peel
i call for help but then i must go
nothing explodes there's no blaze
just people running faces full of pain
nothing to do nowhere to leap
for these dead ones as in a daze
my mind goes over it all again
and thankful i am living now i weep
each bit of dirt should have a unique name
a label that will allocate true place
define the object and define its space
speech is a complex sort of human game
but no opprobrium attaches no blame
for failing in a thorough way to trace
the ways in which all things interlace
other events will give us guilt and shame
the language doesn't have sufficient weight
to let us balance each and every thought
in order that we properly may class
with proper member at appropriate date
all that falls between our is and ought
and cut off the escapees at the pass
in winter we live for the sudden warm days
that steal in suddenly each a small spring
coming upon us on swift stealthy wing
surprising us with their kind gentle ways
above a bird in cloudless blue sky plays
we wonder what other gifts it may bring
our coats we take off heavy clothes we fling
aside we rejoice in bright sun's blaze
but this is just a break and not the end
winter returns and does so with great force
still we are glad to feel this gentle air
though warmer and more stormy is the trend
still winter must follow it's steady course
but on such days we see the springtime clear
