who rules the forest

the trees are not asleep but shiver in the cold
eyes catch the varied greens in clear sunlight
we've long hours to go before return of night
the brightness calls on us to be brave and bold
and yet on such a day i can't help feeling old
it's not enough to be awake one must also fight
the war of contrasts makes it hard to see the right
the story we've heard was not what was told
so here with books and thoughts i sit afraid
there's much to do and it must this day be done
my mind turns over thinking through all ends
the grass next door is green for it's been sprayed
it seems so bright beneath this wintry sun
while the thermometer shows slight upward trends

future shadows in the past

all distances collapse into no space
the universe is smaller than a nut
mansion is tinier than mountain hut
all places converge into a single place
all species hide behind a single face
all things divided by a simple cut
all tracks united in one shallow rut
in complex unity all things interlace
never do we see the spaces filled
the emptiness replaced by solid time
but think eternity can never end
the sacrifice is always being killed
the victim sanctifies the noble crime
and every enemy becomes a friend

symbols

a light a flag the signs of home
however far they're always there
we do not choose but we must roam

we polish silver gold and chrome
things need to seem refined and fair
a light a flag the signs of home

just out of sight the giant dome
reminds us of the weight of air
we do not choose but we must roam

we dig the soil the rich old loam
it repays well the work and care
a light a flag the signs of home

grooming ourselves with brush and comb
we wonder how our siblings fare
we do not choose but we must roam

and in the end in the sea-foam
we know that still there's more to dare
a light a flag the signs of home
we do not choose but we must roam