long applause

a sound of water flowing over rocks
we seem to waken from too long a sleep
our world is broken by too many shocks

old men will shave to hide their hoary locks
the reason it turns out is not too deep
a sound of water flowing over rocks

each of us hides our secrets in a box
but they stale easy and will never keep
our world is broken by too many shocks

no one will laugh we fear the one who mocks
because so many of us turn to sheep
a sound of water flowing over rocks

the proudest will be clapped into the stocks
as they have sown so must they ever reap
our world is broken by too many shocks

the fleet is lying ready at the docks
it will take longer than a sudden leap
a sound of water flowing over rocks
our world is broken by too many shocks

falling city

within the gates there never has been peace
what duties each may have matter not much
our time here's not a freehold but a lease
within the gates there never has been peace

so it won't matter if we halt and cease
those acts by which we all are kept in touch
within the gates there never has been peace
what duties each may have matter not much

adulthood

all that we know turns out to be a lie
every idea becomes another loss
we aren't supposed to give a flaming toss
the day continues far too hot and dry
life as a whole is still passing me by
but that's no reason to be mad or cross
who does not speak does not disturb the boss
and things will never simply go awry
such are the pains of every working day
off to our jobs and then to suffer long
before the final punching of the clock
we know that this is not the human way
but have no words to say that it is wrong
no key will now open the rusted lock

Cooperation

The shadow of the future does not fall
only on those who claim to know the past;
we, every one, can never live so fast
as to be absent when there comes a call
to urgent duty. All of life's too small
to be defined by the ensemble cast.
The next plain iteration may be last,
and then the shadow will not be so tall.
Rules may be made, and logic may require
that when we act we do so for a reason,
but no one could believe that they'll be firm.
What we now have others will soon acquire
and then a simple choice will seem a treason;
the final victor is the hungry worm.