a cooler day

after this rain cool breeze and sun
colours never faded in the least
blue clear above to furthest east
day continues on its steady run
such clarity will when all's done
promise great rejoicing and feast
all pain and suffering then released
whether or not the race is won
so here and there smallish birds
flit and peck and day rejoices
at their continuing evidence
for life is more than simple words
more appears in their voices
than in ordinary speech or sense

reading term papers

words put together but they tell no tale
instead they drive the reader up the wall
there's not a lick of sense in them at all
but no one here can understand my wail
too early in the day for either wine or ale
but not too soon for an internal squall
to make me want to run along the hall
instead i wonder just where did i fail
to teach just how to set the story down
all parts combining with coherent sense
instead i want to tear my thinning hair
it's not that the writer's a fool or clown
but that they seem so thick and dense
still there is solace in the cool noon air

there's a simple transformation

if we ask for something concrete we will get it that's the fear
but the work that we've been doing will content us not at all
as the leaves return to branches in the greening of the year

what we did when we were younger didn't mean a lack of care
but when we had little setbacks the noon sunlight didn't pall
if we ask for something concrete we will get it that's the fear

if we sang the songs of twilight they were all that we could bear
the world then seemed a large place now it seems to us quite small
as the leaves return to branches in the greening of the year

what we did was not the matter what did matter was the dare
that we faced the harshest times with standing up serene and tall
if we ask for something concrete we will get it that's the fear

if when there's a sudden stalling we consider why life's queer
then there'll be some moderation while we hasten to our fall
as the leaves return to branches in the greening of the year

so that there can be no question let's remember life's not fair
yet there are some simple moments when we hear the magic call
if we ask for something concrete we will get it that's the fear
as the leaves return to branches in the greening of the year

praise all our ignorance

these are the eyes that have not seen
the ears that have not ever heard
the sounds of music nor any word
of all the billions that so far have been
these are the faces of a sombre mien
all of them identical in the huge herd
and here the hands imitating bird
that have not touched the living green
at all events we've not had much
to do with matters set so far apart
that messengers cross in the night
nor would we to our bosoms clutch
the serpent that would swiftly dart
kill and then flee far from sight
instead we venerate the bright
creatures that have fled the hutch
and which will rise up with a start
when with temerity we'll touch
these beings of the mind and heart
and bring them softly to the light

none may imprison

if there's an answer we have not yet heard
we peck at thoughts like birds at a crumb
the syndrome's not expressed in a plain word
there's a better way than simple rule of thumb
but we test things here with a smart plumb
this village comes equipped with its own bars
the line we follow will not leave each numb
our minds are freed by pale light of the stars

the vision we're shown is not yet absurd
we listen but we don't hear the straight hum
our time we halve or quarter or even third
the music is not of the sort we'd strum
yet we are caught in a type of verbal scrum
our thoughts are shaken by the constant jars
our heads reecho to their deep inner drum
our minds are freed by pale light of the stars

in each heart there resides a rebel bird
that has the hardest time in keeping mum
we count the times its hatching has occurred
but don't confuse its egg for some rich plum
our bodies trap us in their private slum
we see the rich speed by in their smooth cars
our mouths may open but we remain dumb
our minds are freed by the pale light of stars

prince who has heard the engines beat and thrum
do not be hasty to condemn these wars
your thoughts do not add up to the full sum
our minds are freed by the pale light of stars

on the spring hillside

glass that reflects the gentle evening light
trees that in their full green are still not proud
words that come from the radio not too loud
we praise the coming of the cooling night
stars here will not shine as blazing-bright
as in those places far from the normal crowd
where darkness comes upon us like a shroud
the moon's a small sword that doesn't smite
within these walls we find a human peace
outside the the darkness has a face that's wild
each day's ending has its sad projection
we'll snuggle under the thick warming fleece
remembering as we do the hidden child
and glad that we no longer face rejection

soneto en mal galego

o meu ser a min da risa
na noite vou viaxando
os ventos xa me van dando
máis nunca teño moita prisa
a lume da tua sorrisa
vale máis que moito gando
máis que el-rei don fernando
o amor resiste a forte brisa
no meio do ceo os astros
arden menos que o meu cor
mentras eu sigo baixando
pasando entre vellos castros
sufrindo sempre o mesmo dor
máis sempre vagamundeando