rowing home

the changes all seem so tiny although the work has been long
too much of the dark of the night has been taken up with thought
we've made once again that distinction between the is and the ought
but no one thinks that any of it is worth a simple little song
we've got the clearest terms to use they are only right and wrong
the way we've come with difficulties still is dangerously fraught
but we've moved successfully onward nothing we do is for naught
those things that do not defeat us will make us hearty and strong
now shaping the words of the sonnet we are given a final choice
to sing all of the tale of the journey whether we like it or not
or to define in a minute all the large steps of the race
we have to speak out very loudly given our limited voice
nothing we do will allow us all of the road to retrace
we have alas only to go on the last of the gifts we have got

For Jeremy at 19

at winter's turning
we celebrate your birthday
wishing you the best

make much of this year
time moves so swiftly onward
never returning

be bold and flourish
show forth your noblest metal
be victorious

enjoy the moment
this is your day be happy
know that you are loved

always some hope

in this soft place all winter is november
moving from autumn warmth to sharply cold
the fire of life will never reach an ember

the sunlight on the trees makes us remember
that we are strong though slowly growing old
in this soft place all winter is november

the sharpest freeze does not make it december
even in february the sun's still very bold
the fire of life will never reach an ember

still leaves are green as in sweet september
the fluffy clouds in warmth will us enfold
in this soft place all winter is november

the harshest winds do not our souls dismember
there's much to hope for that will still unfold
the fire of life will never reach an ember

sweet world of life of which i am a member
rewards my patience with this morning's gold
in this soft place all winter is november
the fire of life will never reach an ember

dreamscape

what light has gone we will no longer see
beyond the day and far beyond the night
a presence glows without emitting light
it issues no command and no decree
but of the day and night it has the key
we wail and cry and ask it by what right
it has the power to dim or to make bright
though of its presence few of us are free
yet all that's seen will come to us again
its force will come upon us in odd shape
not in our thoughts but always as a vision
it comes upon us with both joy and pain
once in its grasp we know there's no escape
but neither is there any true decision