before sunrise

never until this moment have we seen
the complete vision all that we have set
up not just for worthiness but to get
all that we make become again clean
before it we shall show the proper mien
no room in our hearts today for regret
we turn to hope what was once a threat
our hearts are high and our minds keen
a thousand years are not enough to show
what has been made achieve its flower
but long enough for memories to fade
so to our tasks again we have to go
to build the structure of desire and power
and put all previous history in the shade

fragmentary

each moment shatters as we pass
day seeks to kill us with its heat
our very souls seem made of glass

to tell the truth might just be crass
our kind of people we won't meet
each moment shatters as we pass

makers of history come en masse
their bodies congest every street
our very souls seem made of glass

let each claimed victory surpass
the greatest admiral of the fleet
each moment shatters as we pass

what looks like gold is truly brass
the judge is lolling in her seat
our very souls seem made of glass

we're members of the fighting class
none of our foes will want to greet
each moment shatters as we pass
our very souls seem made of glass