graduation

no clouds no shade just the full sun
students and teachers in cap and gown
happy parents come from out of town
this stage on their long journey's done
and now they must begin their run
all smiles no one's allowed to frown
we listen to the costumed clown
tell of great battles that he's won
another year another time to start
pain long forgotten in the general praise
a precious moment to rest and unwind
secrets stay hidden in the beating heart
while youthful voices in the anthem raise
and this is visible even to the blind

dusty fate and spite

if what is made does not fully requite
all that's been done to keep alive the fire
we'll blame it all on dusty fate or spite

day follows day and also darkest night
while messages are rushing down the wire
if what is made does not fully requite

no one's been caught in this unworldly plight
we know the sort of thing that will transpire
we'll blame it all on dusty fate and spite

our purpose might require a better site
which will be seen without study or ire
if what is made does not fully requite

advantages come easy but they're slight
compared to blessings of the lord or squire
we'll blame it all on dusty fate and spite

the proper setting means that things are right
we've got the notion and we've got the fire
if what is made does not fully requite
we'll blame it all on dusty fate and spite

a glaring tropic light

what we desire is not what we may find
trees seem to wilt in the increasing heat
joy and exhaustion war in the normal mind

what's done is done and that's the only bind
that holds us here beside the glaring street
what we desire is not what we may find

the fruit's been eaten to its very rind
it was so very tempting cool and sweet
joy and exhaustion war in the normal mind

the task is over the work is left behind
it's time to soak my body and my feet
what we desire is not what we may find

the light's enthralling if you're so inclined
but there are things you might not want to meet
joy and exhaustion war in the normal mind

the weight of duties makes the best unkind
time moves in patterns that are rarely fleet
what we desire is not what we may find
joy and exhaustion war in the normal mind

It's just sarong

No reason for strife or for worry,
let's talk here of clothing (or curry);
be polite, remember
to cool wrath to an ember,
and if you get mad the word's 'sari'.

always things change

a different discipline another sort of act
no lack of choices but none are the same
we wonder at the nature of this game
which doesn't reward courtesy or tact
on minds with many questions duly racked
it acts to stimulate the hidden flame
and make the things we do not dare to name
but which provide the solid floor of fact
at times like these we want to soar and fly
but our dull feet are firmly placed on ground
we're not the masters of the upper air
yet we know that we must be by and by
to make a girdle the whole planet round
and venture where the eagles do not dare

the magic of the lute

and right there near the city wall
unto your beauty fell my heart
nature herself could not impart
a greater feeling than my call
although each heart is meant to fall
that's just the opening the start
the rest's a matter of plain art
the troubadour down in the hall
singing knights of time long past
who named the beauties in the song
and set gay learning out in rhyme
far beyond memory they are cast
the journey back there is too long
and we no longer have the time