a shifting of the breeze

time acts in ways that baffle normal folk
month after month of waiting for events
the same inconveniences annoyances rents
wondering if hopes have turned to smoke
on your shoulder the full weight of the yoke
the friendly nomads all have struck their tents
no steam will come from fumaroles or vents
life seems a tragedy played as a joke
and yet the seasons change the sky is bright
all things may change and yet they may endure
what's given is that we will make some choice
life makes its mark even in deeps of night
what we may face we also want to cure
all answers are expressed in human voice

words of instruction

the weight of air is not the first surprise
falsehoods clouds tell above us in the blue
things become so different to old eyes

when seasons change there's no way to disguise
those things that are so plainly out in view
the weight of air is not the first surprise

when we with our small knowledge do surmise
that what we see must govern what we do
things become so different to old eyes

and yet our hopes are not without allies
time's changes are the same and never new
the weight of air is not the first surprise

all that is done we shall not soon despise
that job is left to quite another crew
things become so different to old eyes

we measure out our answers in small lies
all truths we're given out of manure grew
the weight of air is not the first surprise
things become so different to old eyes

a long slow journey

all that we know's one answer at the last
the human form cannot contain all that
our images have become still and flat
we cannot tell the present from the past
the crew has merged unnoticed into the cast
the bird of sunrise now becomes a bat
in the blue corner now there lurks a cat
odysseus has been lashed firm to the mast
we may not know the siren song of hope
but see the rocks and note both reefs and shoals
with hope that we'll find safe harbour at the end
meanwhile we pay out every length of rope
fill up the brazier with fresh seal coals
and hope that monster turns into a friend