legend of the rise

what the time of torture gave us we cannot this day deny
of the torments we have suffered which had made us wail and cry
bearing all the weight of nations weighted down by chains and rope
now we praise the youthful hero who has given back our hope

at the time the tale was started we had no thought of the end
lives were lost and children grew up lacking lover lacking friend
facing all the hells we passed through we could have turned misanthrope
now we praise the youthful hero who has given back our hope

each of us has understanding we could have been easy slain
had we challenged the harsh power that was causing all our pain
not a matter to astonish if we turned to drink and dope
now we praise the youthful hero who has given back our hope

let us now with joy remember how the tyrants met their fall
cheer the ones who joined the rising cheer the ones who heard the call
hail the ones who after fighting marched in triumph down the slope
now we praise the youthful hero who has given back our hope

fading shadows

a sudden movement coming out of dark
lets us announce the coming of the day
all night the dogs had roamed but did not bark
a sudden movement coming out of dark

each of us chooses if we bear the mark
still some deny they are of common clay
a sudden movement coming out of dark
lets us announce the coming of the day

even the wisest man grows tense

allow the change to happen or else die
those are the rules by which we must survive
not taught us till long after we arrive
instead we're told a sweet and pleasant lie
under this uncaring dark weighty sky
we learn to tell what's truth and what just jive
and hope that sense and honour will revive
before we find we are required to fly
messages sent and never understood
flare all around us as we struggle past
to get to the eternal turning point
we never do the things we know we should
faces are always turned towards the blast
the time for us is always out of joint

stalking the beast

explain the process and we will deny
that it means what it obviously means
reason from our presence will swiftly fly
explain the process and we will deny

the ones who laugh beneath the rainy sky
will weep as they are pulling off their jeans
explain the process and we will deny
that it means what it obviously means

the smooth-barked tree on which a hunter leans
has no significance beyond that task
the victim all unknowing smiles and preens
the smooth barked tree on which a hunter leans

we aren't the ones who shudder at such scenes
nor do we hide a smile behind the mask
the smooth-barked tree on which a hunter leans
has no significance beyond that task

we pause a moment and empty the flask
we know that we'll be thirsty by and by
but there's still plenty in the oaken cask
we pause a moment and empty the flask

under the sun we have no time to bask
we are the ones who must confront the lie
we pause a moment and empty the flask
we know that we'll be thirsty by and by

householders lament

no shadow no progress
constant waiting for the rain
too dry the summer

collaborative exercise

a set of words both history and thought
gone a great distance with a single touch
no emphasis we give to matters such

thinking that hours of work may go for naught
completion's hope to my faint heart i clutch
a set of words both history and thought

these are the matters of which i've been taught
no need to marvel nor yet to make much
of a technique that's no more than a crutch
a set of words both history and thought

beyond the sheltered places

what we'll inspire i'm sure we'll never know
our task is simple just to plant the tree
we're not responsible for how it'll grow

choices are made in high summer or snow
great certainties about worlds that should be
what we'll inspire i'm sure we'll never know

no giant changes no swift overthrow
enough to work that mind develops free
we're not responsible for how it'll grow

reasons abound to take things very slow
for what we plant we'll surely never see
what we inspire i'm sure we'll never know

to watch out for the vulture and the crow
is others' task ours is to do not flee
we're not responsible for how it'll grow

we're on a river that's in constant flow
the thing we give is no more than a key
what we inspire i'm sure we'll never know
we're not responsible for how it'll grow

courage in the end

we're sure of nothing but a silly dream
earth may abide or again it may not
hidden right now from the inviting gleam
we're sure of nothing but a silly dream

truth does not hide in what may only seem
to be a shadow or else just a blot
we're sure of nothing but a silly dream
earth may abide or again it may not

the ones who claim to know have lost the plot
telling us lies that any fool can test
a sober one's no better than a sot
the ones who claim to know have lost the plot

there's never been a way to stop the rot
except by doing more than just the best
the ones who claim to know have lost the plot
telling us lies that any fool can test

each of us claims to face the world with zest
but halts when faced with the swift-rising stream
and runs back to the long-abandoned nest
each of us claims to face the world with zest

we know we have to work and cannot rest
yet need to do much more than build up steam
each of us claims to face the world with zest
but halts when faced with the swift-rising stream

googly

let all that serves return to final peace
our job will be to calm and to assure
not one in which we boldly hint and lure

each batsman must step right up to the crease
the terrors of the bowling to endure
let all that serves return to final peace

our time though long is just another lease
none can surrender to the soft allure
nor can the staunchest hope to remain pure
let all that serves return to final peace

unexpected visitor

a stranger come to see the lie of land
or else a spy who wants to test the scene
i think i may begin to understand
a stranger come to see the lie of land

seeing the messenger won't come to hand
i reckon that i must have seemed too mean
a stranger come to see the lie of land
or else a spy who wants to test the scene