escaping to the past

when the machine responds too slow
our anger rises and our wrath is swift
and yet celerity is a great gift
a lot less natural than the steady flow
of ancient rivers our spirits are too low
when we arrive at the ultimate rift
and we require more than mere uplift
we want to feel the power and the glow
expanse of thought beyond the plain
and ordinary manner of such things
brings us to answers that we must desire
but now we hope for a fresh healing rain
to wash the dust off all the leaves and wings
but that will not extinguish the true fire

too soon to sigh

if we must echo we won't hear
the day arrives without much heat
the weight is heavy on our feet
but still no more than we can bear
this is a turning of the year
the people rushing on the street
are moving to a single beat
of all that they might have to fear
no matter what we want to say
there's still another door to pass
before we resume our true shape
another blasted working day
another failure of true class
but still no real chance to escape

waiting for finals

i wait here for the rush that doesn't come
a trickle now and then the most bright
young women eager to get things right
or hoping that they have found the plum
rightest of answers instead of keeping mum
bring their fresh papers out into the light
i don't anticipate much sleep this night
what i will bear must reach the proper sum
there are the ones who will fall with a look
and those who could with patience say
what needs to be said and will maintain
their argument and go on to write a book
though i hope they will not on this day
i want to see the honest answers plain

rituals of passage

at any time we want to find our way
yet roads are barred we know not why
our honour insists we at least try
the bars to conquer and the beasts to slay
to make ourselves the heroes of the play
above the battle we cannot yet fly
to claim true knowledge would be a lie
yet we must claim mastery of the day
there's nothing new written upon the wall
but we must interpret and claim to find
an answer from a source beyond the world
as for the future we will let matters fall
where they list and bring instead to mind
the flag that hitherto we have kept furled

every blasted semester

their approach to meaning is a bit too lax
words have no weight and yet their minds sink
thought is an effort that appears to tax
all of their powers they have not tried to drink
the waters of the spring of knowledge yet
they want its taste without expense of work
their brains and not their bodies have to sweat
but from that task they all appear to shirk
day after day i've offered every help
but sat in silence seeing not one young face
and wondering just what would aid each whelp
but saying nothing without sense or grace
and now they come each claiming urgent haste
when there is for them not one moment to waste