what we want

we want to life in freedom so we say
to rule our lives is our greatest desire
the thing to which we every day aspire
that's the condition we wish to stay
to choose whether we work or play
we can conceive of nothing truly higher
for liberty we would go through the fire
and claim that it is truly the only way
yet we insist that we must here be led
for ruling ones to point us on the path
and that we are freest when not alone
our contradictions demand now to be fed
without a leader we'll explode in wrath
or else each sink like a despairing stone

in the end the only duty

what's lost we cannot find although we try
those things we make are never really pure
of all our powers we never can be sure
there's more to do than work or sell or buy
but when we work it out we have to fly
beyond the places where life can endure
faced with the ill for which there is no cure
we know that in the end we have to die
but while we're here each of us plays a part
in a great play which each of us must write
in borrowed words to take our proper place
as makers and critics of the human art
to hold back for a time the fall of night
and when we make our exit show some grace

the heart's delight

we've had our time and to the edge we've come
all life would seem on this day to have slowed
the only proper cure's a drink of rum

the answers don't add up to a full sum
we've paid in full but still there's something owed
we've had our time and to the edge we've come

we had the pie but could not find the plum
the poem we've got doesn't quite make an ode
the only proper cure's a drink of rum

in point of fact if we were deaf or dumb
we'd find ourselves protected on the road
we've had our time and to the edge we've come

we've seen the city turn to a huge slum
the secret to that's not locked in a code
the only proper cure's a drink of rum

we have made off with nothing but a crumb
the trick to that would make a head explode
we've had our time and to the edge we've come
the only proper cure's a drink of rum

there are no monsters

we ask each other what things may be done
to keep in order each distinctive name
determination by decree who's lost or won
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

discarding what we know to be the case
we point the finger to apportion blame
each worried at the risk of losing face
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

each undertaking brings us to the time
when we are faced with honour or with shame
if victory we weep while we curse crime
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

revolving with the earth we meet the day
we'd know the moment if it never came
each step leads us on to the proper way
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

at night we hear the sweet birds serenade
the sunrise cocks and grackles will proclaim
each has its part in lifes proper parade
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

the year turns on and we've not paid our due
we know that someday there will be a claim
but we may not be numbered in that few
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

it's time to go we say yet at each door
there is a moment between pride and shame
we pause to say a single good thing more
a dragon is a beast that's never tame

constant springs hope

not many things are done to meet the grade
whose expectations fly may make the shore
there's always something changing or far more
enticing something you hope won't ever fade
but that will still be left back in the shade
you'll feel yourself deprived or even poor
compared to the most noble elite corps
when all you've got is the plain hoe and spade
not for all this would we be freed from pain
beyond the moment and beyond the day
to see the time come when the law is clear
that sets a certain limit to the ass's reign
permits the weariest a truly even way
and leads us all at last to the brightest air

to murmur name upon name

too many seeds are here for us to plant
the labourer must get the meed of hire
we observe the true creation all aslant

there's much to do that i will surely grant
the signals run urgently along the wire
too many seeds are here for us to plant

we'll imitate the locust not the ant
that's all our service will of us require
we observe the true creation all aslant

with ease the watching eye we will enchant
the watcher wakes all sunken in the mire
too many seeds are here for us to plant

against all changes vainly shall we rant
the medicines tomorrow shall expire
we observe the true creation all aslant

against the power that comes we cannot chant
what we have got will not be raised much higher
too many seeds are here for us to plant
we observe the true creation all aslant

february ends

moon looms large at dawn
bloody tides reveal nothing
winter declining

under trees flowers
daffodils proclaim springtime
seaonal notice

life continuing
stars in their cycles declare
time goes by swiftly