miles from malvern

we know the upward road has many turns
no one who sees the mountain would have doubt
there is no easy movement in or out
no bridges cross the many little burns
the one who works is also one who yearns
to cross the ridge and give a mighty shout
looking at the new vistas thereabout
he understands who such small things discerns
each milestone tells a story that's well known
about the ones who passed this way before
and paused a moment to admire the view
the world lies open to its very bone
we have so much and yet still seek for more
what may be old for each is always new

transformation

no word escapes to tell just what began
when mountains fell and order was restored
truth is no longer under any ban
no word escapes to tell just what began

each actor in this play woman or man
knows that the story depends on a sword
no word escapes to tell just what began
when mountains fell and freedom was restored

we asked a single man to be our lord
yet he refused and swore by the great tree
that he all power and lordship abhorred
we asked a single man to be our lord

what was required has now gone by the board
we reach the points that we once could not see
we asked a single man to be our lord
yet he refused and swore by the great tree

the price we paid requires that we be free
to see the newer higher mountains rise
the world that we desire will one day be
the price we paid requires that we be free

to no lord shall we henceforth bend the knee
a fact that came as an immense surprise
the price we paid requires that we be free
to see the newer higher mountains rise

another light now enters through our eyes
another river where a dead one ran
truth puts an end to all the easy lies
another light now enters through our eyes

we leave behind the sorrow and the sighs
our vision's focused on the coming span
another light now enters through our eyes
another river where a dead one ran