going forth in march

in principle there's nothing left to do
the multitude has seen its finest hour
a newer form of rule is coming through

you must never the higher tasks eschew
in their small corner the ghosties cower
in principle there's nothing left to do

sunrise will with a new glory imbue
the trees that over our small cottage tower
a newer form of rule is coming through

the morning birds have never ceased to coo
in the deep woods they have their hidden bower
in principle there's nothing left to do

on other days we might some truth pursue
for now we rest and will conserve our power
a newer form of rule is coming through

and soon we'll celebrate a season new
there'll be no reason then to pout and glower
in principle there's nothing left to do
a newer form of rule is coming through

in the beginning

in the beginning there was not a word
silence reigned over all there was of space
no one to listen no one to feel in place
initiations are frequently absurd
they're sensible once they have occurred
but until then they lack both ease and grace
of any sense there's frequently no trace
not even the shadow of a passing bird
since there's no thing no place no time
just a huge swirl of absence in no where
the power that is to be has not been made
the universe has not yet reached its prime
in the absence of rock and sea and air
still every spiral has begun to braid

the nameless ones

if we can give a name to the old powers
then would the fear of them refill our hearts
corrode our minds and shrivel up our parts
we'd see them once again in their grim towers
bodies of children slain at magic hours
and adults slain by their mysterious darts
their corpses taken off in creaky carts
rain falling to the ground in bloody showers
much is forgotten but not the darker shame
of impotence confronting what we know
lurks in the deepest places of the mind
much easier the old grey goat to blame
to send it to the places we dare not go
knowing that we have not left them behind

passing to the rear

where what was said did not matter so much
except to those who sought to meet the case
what happened was not that we could clutch
the flowers that blossomed to each single face
nor that we required others to bow and abase
themselves to us as their new higher power
that would have put them in their proper place
but for gods watching us from their high tower

no matter how the fighting elements don't touch
our hearts no matter that no answer comes apace
truth limps far behind us on its weak crutch
there'll be no failure here and even less disgrace
there's no requirement our old path to retrace
that's left for another and less pleasant hour
we could have bound them all in some small space
but for gods watching us from their high tower

it isn't that we think that in their small hutch
descendants of wild beasts snarl at each face
we don't mind their anger or not so much
as to subject them once again to the old chase
that memory's too new for us yet to erase
we'll let the humbled beasts shiver and cower
they're not too expensive now for us to replace
but for gods watching us from their high tower

prince if you would our noblest cause embrace
take up we beg the sign of our true flower
you'd lend our banners something of your grace
but for gods watching us from their high tower

the shifting light

naming each second
time slides forward a serpent
leaving a dry mark

winter departing
perhaps a blow in reserve
clear is the sunlight

never forgetting
message changing with the day
ordinary things

spinning into place
spring promises a new hope
but the wheel trundles

magical moment
the evening comes with no fuss
relaxing our minds

not simple cowards

truth is we're afraid of both night and sun
the terrors that have hold of us won't go
to sleep either at midnight or noon for no
good reason we scream daily for a gun
to shoot the ghosts and even though one
second's careful thought however slow
would clear our minds there's not a flow
of fresh ideas the time for that is done
not for us here the simple direct facts
our minds are not the sort that think
much better to have all our answers pat
that way we can't be blamed for any acts
we won't ever be driven to the brink
and all we know will be simple and flat