no other answer

another kind of darkness in the day
eyes cannot see every instance of pain
each of us waiting for the harder rain
not knowing who will each new dragon slay
far distant now from merry surf and spray
we measure things by numerary gain
all life's now complex not a thing is plain
there is no healing light of solar ray
a moment comes when lies will not suffice
we shiver in the light of summer sun
and cannot hope to feel a better heat
there's not a thing that doesn't have a price
we've hardly started and yet we are done
now every hopeful smile will see defeat

an age of lead

mention the name and everyone's aghast
nobody wants to speak all wish to fly
the present's just an echo of the past

above us clouds are moving pretty fast
the ceiling here is never very high
mention the name and everyone's aghast

the coming thunderclap won't be the last
there's no place left secure and snug and dry
the present's just an echo of the past

we keep on waiting for the loudest blast
the tallest ones will always burn and fry
mention the name and everyone's aghast

we take the onomastics at the last
all meaning has been written in the sky
the present's just an echo of the past

the world's now small yet once it was most vast
no truths are now apparent to the eye
mention the name and everyone's aghast
the present's just an echo of the past

only the empty voices

all that is known ends at a wavy line
the boundary of truth and of the lie
we hear the angry and the happy whine
all that is known ends at a wavy line

we wrap the package up in baling twine
that's how we've done it and we don't ask why
all that is known ends at a wavy line
the boundary of truth and of the lie

the answer will not come down from the sky
we ask and ask and only get a stone
we make the effort we still have to try
the answer will not come down from the sky

the dove has died and nothing now will fly
in this large multitude each stands alone
the answer will not come down from the sky
we ask and ask and only get a stone

for others' crimes we've got now to atone
there's nothing left for us to understand
in the far distance all the bombers drone
for others' crimes we've now got to atone

beneath warm skin is cold and brittle bone
the signal is not what had once been planned
for others' crimes we've now got to atone
there's nothing left for us to understand

the speeches have become more flat and bland
intended just to subtly undermine
the ones who'd dare to take a solo stand
the speeches have become more flat and bland

there's only dust left for the grasping hand
dust and the fading scent of burning pine
the speeches have become more flat and bland
intended just to subtly undermine

last drops of gold

 

i see the light bleeds golden in the wood
a sign of kindness as the sun heads west
down the sky hill towards its time of rest
or that was what we all had understood
reality's beyond us bad or good
we watch the bird returning to her nest
and wonder at her energy and zest
as nature seems to vanish under hood
summer must end and autumn shall be back
to tease us and torment us with fair fruit
and then to toss us into winter's cold
time and slow age will place us on the rack
each of us in our shabby human suit
adding day to day soon becoming old