a turning moment

gentle the rain out of the leaden sky
long hours of thought watching the trees
green branches moving in the breeze
in this small forest all are young and spry
for a long moment i lay duty by
i feel the pressure the constant squeeze
that keeps me constantly on my knees
life's too short to be enraged or cry
the light is colder than the present day
i wait for messages and do not tire
thought moves forever at a constant speed
each of us has to find their own hard way
the signal isn't held in by the wire
and word is always justified by deed

seen from verandahs

were we to choose a simple common way
there'd be a million who would follow hard
although we'd never promise better day
each of them growing eager with each yard
none thinking that the upward road was barred
there's nothing to which they might not aspire
and yet we keep hidden the triumphal card
life has its source in water but its end is fire

here in the mountain we can descry the bay
the shoreline now is desolate and scarred
no choice is here allowed either to go or stay
the onward route is not the one that's starred
the faces on the hillside have been marred
once its begun there's no chance to retire
the winner gets his name sung by the bard
life has its source in water but its end is fire

so we are asked to halt and stage the play
on boards now rotten warped and charred
while wild horses above us stamp and neigh
the champions have just come out and sparred
but for their prowess there's been no regard
the sun sinks westward lighting up the mire
its face seems pierced by a sudden shard
life has its source in water but its end in fire

prince of our hearts you know the avant-garde
are ever first in onset and latest to retire
do not be misled by some sly canard
life has its source in water but its end in fire

on the couch

were we to name our fears they would not flee
what's inside is not banished by mere thought
it's not as if these terrors have been caught
we get them all our lives plain and for free
those things we have which let us live or be
are not just matters of would be or ought
achievements are worth far more than nought
we flow through life and come at last to sea
instead of fear we might exalt each life
each way we seek to make the world our own
or build a structure that does more than seem
what we have got arrives in place of strife
takes us from the unmapped into the known
allowing us to remember every dream

and now comes calm

each of us chooses what we'll think or wear
what's put on now we soon will want to strip
your hope is placed on one who does not dare

the horn outside will sometime cease to blare
then we may have a chance for a brief kip
each of us chooses what we'll think or wear

the ordinary maps don't show what's there
someone will tell you somebody who's hip
your hope is placed on one who does not dare

no one expects the sudden trap or snare
but longs for a brief moment to let rip
each of us chooses what we'll think or wear

if we were driven over the edge or spare
on this slick footing we would quickly slip
your hope is placed on one who does not dare

of gloom and light we'll each have the right share
more than enough to halt the witty quip
each of us chooses what we'll think or wear
your hope is placed on one who does not dare

evening concerto

engaged in dance the winds rely
on our attention and our time
the sun has fallen far from prime
we cannot see the blue of sky
but still the branches are so spry
above our heads aircraft climb
not headed though to the sublime
all fits within the human eye
so now the night not calm arrives
we look towards another task
all that is seen announces fate
calmer these moments of our lives
accepting all we thought to ask
returning sun will not be late
the horseman stays within the gate
all bees are peaceful in their hives
our drink remains within the cask
what matter that the wasp now thrives
there is no ghost behind the mask
the road we see is never straight
so what we think that day is done
the job remains we cannot shun