all now begins

in the half-light what's seen may not be true
no one yet moves and nothing's being done
pale sky through all the branches is in view

out of this moment nothing yet seems due
somewhere around the corner lurks the sun
in the half-light what's seen may not be true

the sound i hear does not make me pursue
nothing will happen and i should not run
pale sky through all the branches is in view

the cool of morning might just my mind subdue
though later heat might batter us and stun
in the half-light what's seen may not be true

we make our moves and something will ensue
no fear comes to us of stick or knife or gun
pale sky through all the branches is in view

we've seen the moment though the day is new
it may not matter if we greet or shun
in the half-light what's seen may not be true
pale sky through all the branches is in view

patriotism

the love of country begins in the heart
not of the spaces nor of the many views
nor all those faces we've seen on the news
to love your country is a kind of art
we see ourselves both as whole and part
all come together as brain bone and thews
yet we've been given messages and clues
naming ourselves is how we make a start
it's in the voices and half-forgotten songs
in memories of laughter and of pain
in shared burdens and a common yoke
all that we do all of the rights and wrongs
the brightest sunshine and the heavy rain
in sombre moment and in happy joke