Rhyming exercise - for Serge Mailloux

You wonder aloud about rhymes for 'bat'
a word, you know, that means quite a lot,
our language with rhymes is, alas, not fat
a rhyme for silver we have never got;
still, there's been considerable chat
defining words as either cold or hot
or saying a great deal in nothing flat.
To indite verse you have to pay your scot
for, if you don't, someone will surely rat
and make you throw your fine into the pot.
You'll never find a place to hang your hat
nor find a certain answer to the plot.
But not to worry, you'll have a lot of time
to craft an answer to this quite silly rhyme.

not all tears are evil

on this bright day it's so easy to weep
i try to hide the slowly-rolling tears
for once the meaning here is truly deep

not one of us has had enough sleep
time has moved so fast these four years
on this bright day it's so easy to weep

the speeches and the minutes slowly creep
like little creatures running to their lairs
for once the meaning here is truly deep

we're still and silent like so many sheep
chewing the cud minds on our own affairs
on this bright day it's so easy to weep

from time to time at the long list we peep
waiting for the turn to shout our cheers
for once the meaning here is truly deep

the journey's long the mountain is so steep
we're here to praise the happy youth who dares
on this bright day it's so easy to weep
for once the meaning here is truly deep

getting on the road

what choices we have don't amount to fate
life's paths are many but few lead to ease
so lead to hells that either burn or freeze
while others halt at a locked high gate
and some are not built to carry any freight
some with great promises entice and tease
while others only masochists could please
too many options merely rub and grate
you'll find your road by both luck and work
you've got the boots and the prepared mind
for a long journey of both joy and strife
i know your soul you are not one to shirk
you'll not be daunted by the things you find
but know that there are no rehearsals for life