utterance

a single word said in a living tongue
does more for us than any ancient text
seeming accessible yet leaving perplexed

the word's been spoken now or even sung
the bird's identified and has been sexed
a single word said in a living tongue

power remains in at least one human lung
those who think know what happens next
while all the masses are still dull and vexed
a single word said in a living tongue

as we have been

let each of us know just when we begin
not just to grow but also to rejoice
the world we know has always been in spin
let each of us know just when we begin

the truth to some has ever been a sin
silence to them is far better than voice
let each of us know just when we begin
not just to grow but also to rejoice

magna est veritas

elevated beyond the normal sort of life
we face the monsters and we do not pause
our measure is the measure of our cause
we march ahead to sound of drum and fife
the day we know must soon come to the knife
we are obedient to the highest laws
we know them all every line and clause
and know they are the reason for this strife
our justice leads us to the hardest fact
the choices are not ever fame and glory
each in the end comes to a final breath
we hide the truth we hide it with sad tact
there is an end to every human story
the final curtain comes and it is death

rolling the dice

in all their brilliance they cannot wait
for one who knows the truth and lets it go
we face each day with a well-written slate

we name the hazard chance and never fate
accepting that there's much we have to know
in all their brilliance they cannot wait

each circle closes shutting off a gate
the winner is the one who's never slow
we face each day with a well-written slate

they play the game and never reach checkmate
with fullest understanding of the flow
in all their brilliance they cannot wait

once raging fires are now banked in each grate
you see in every place their fading glow
we face each day with a well-written slate

facing the truth we know we've got it straight
there's room for patience till the final blow
in all their brilliance they cannot wait
we face each day with a well-written slate

gone ahead

measure for measure we can only hear
the stories that once sad mothers told
we hurry but we know it's coming near
measure for measure we can only hear

a sudden knowledge comes now to the dear
ones whose understanding is quite cold
measure for measure we can only hear
the stories that once sad mothers told

flit

a sudden moment brings out a bright sun
the smile that it brings out will never last
movement so swift that it will always stun
a sudden moment brings out a bright sun

each loser hurries off to claim they'd won
all records must be shoved off to the past
a sudden moment brings out a bright sun
the smile that it brings out will never last

comprehension

we satisfy the basic set of needs
with things that we just cannot understand
the tools that come quickly and smooth to hand

the first beginnings are not only seeds
we note their coming and we form a band
we satisfy the basic set of needs

the pretty flower cannot withstand weeds
one plant to the whole garden will expand
it has to happen but will not be planned
we satisfy the basic set of needs

a piece of work

a mystery evolves beneath the leaves
creatures of many hidden worlds combine
staring out blankly like so many beeves
a mystery evolves beneath the leaves

one who explores knows nothing but believes
can somehow see that there's not been a sign
a mystery evolves beneath the leaves
creatures of many hidden worlds combine

somewhere within the woods of birch and pine
are secrets that old nature has kept well
not one of us could those matters divine
somewhere within the woods of birch and pine

we'll come to other roads in a straight line
but never worry who's out there to tell
somewhere within the woods of birch and pine
are secrets that old nature has kept well

there's power and energy within each shell
so much that far below earth shifts and heaves
these are not factors that we buy or sell
there's power and energy within each shell

we know that we'll soon harken to the knell
not caring who the final spurt achieves
there's power and energy within each shell
so much that far below earth shifts and heaves

on to victory

there's never any reason to doubt force
the bully and the braggart always gain
that's the straight message obvious and plain

we'll win if we can simply stay the course
it does not matter if the structure strain
there's never any reason to doubt force

the leader may be dumber than a horse
but he'll shred other's lives with might and main
in face of suffering he'll feel no pain
there's never any reason to doubt force

some have to stay

a thousand journeys all begin today
and every voyager's seeking the last line
no critic comes to comment on the lay
the ship and the equipment are just fine
all that was done before they hit the brine
there's something about that in this book
where every traveller is shown the hook
the journey will involve some heavy load
under which the hard earth shivered and shook
but still the voyage matters not the road

we want to see the sailors sing and sway
looking as if they'd drunk up all the wine
even before they get out of the bay
but that's because we think them merest swine
we're jealous that they've left behind the kine
we'd rather that the journey they forsook
instead of leaving us to wave and look
since of our greater sense we had long crowed
let them not us stay in the safe warm nook
but still the voyage matters not the road

the journey's one that will not take a day
they'll go far past our signal and our sign
we hope sometime the fatted calf to slay
and see them coming with the morning shine
our fates and theirs no longer seem to twine
for them the sea for us the shepherd's crook
they have the gull we have the cawing rook
and they won't know if it has rained or snowed
but still the voyage matters not the road

prince not the hunter not the humble cook
claims to regret we stayed beside the brook
we don't know if they hastened or they slowed
only the facts and they were not mistook
it's not our task to change or to unhook
but still the voyage matters not the road