what's thought not heard

the distant sounds of traffic in the dark
strange gatherings on shadowy street
life and death could very quickly meet
life here is not a walk in some neat park
those who bear the eternal walker's mark
will not with cheer our smiles now greet
the road lies hard and rough under our feet
you don't come this way only for a lark
here it seems calm at least for this hour
the radio brings a message of good cheer
outside the shadow has not yet been raised
in the far distance one sits in a tower
observes the turbulence of the dark air
and wonders why we are not more amazed

waiting for sunrise

if there were hope of any new reward
who'd go out there in hope of great gain
knowing that the other answer was a sword

those who had stood for long hours on guard
would have endured the greatest joy and pain
if there were hope of any new reward

they would have taken any for their lord
who would have washed away the human stain
knowing that the other answer was a sword

all who receive guerdon of bed and board
should give of all their hearts with might and main
if there were hope of any new reward

the ones who reached the final goal and scored
must not show any sign of sweat or strain
knowing that the other answer was a sword

the ones who the old paradigms adored
would not have seen the vision clear and plain
if there were hope of any new reward
knowing that the other answer was a sword

A continuing mission

Beyond the stars in deepest hard vacuum
all journeys end or so we have been told;
our job, however, requires us to be bold
so to the deepest spaces we'll presume
to go, not because there's no more room
on Earth for courage, but in spite of cold
equations that would moor or hold
us in one place. Space is not a tomb.
Other continua we know we'll find
where arbitrary powers still hold sway
who wish to subject us to greatest pain.
Still we move forward, with each mind
determined to keep our vessel on its way;
and even androids seek the human stain.
Now, Borg or zombie, it has been quite plain,
will seek to make us from our true path stray
and our desires assimilate and bind.
Yet, we believe that we must win the day,
our virtues keep, and greater wisdom gain,
knowing that vision comes even to the blind.
Captains are bold, and make us understand
that hope and justice are at our command.

that's entropy man

what's to be done we might as well begin
the choice of action won't be open long
we've done no deed to be marked in song
but want success and have the will to win
our efforts could be stigmatised as sin
yet we know that we can't now be wrong
our steps go to the beating of a gong
and nothing beats the quality of spin
so here and there the stars are going out
the world hasn't yet ended we'd be told
if anything should happen to our hopes
still there's no whimper but a noisy shout
the universe is quickly going cold
and all our champions are on the ropes