when we must act

our silences say more than when we're loud
winks smiles and words are weapons of the weak
it is not what we say but how we speak
with eyes cast downwards and our heads all bowed
our faces are the opposite of proud
expression is not debonair but meek
each of us claims to stand below the peak
we hide ourselves inside the surging crowd
but time gives nothing and neither does fact
each of us wants to be outside the pile
and have a proper scene and speaking part
this is no time for modesty or tact
nor for the humble mostly pleasing smile
the truest speech is not from mouth but heart

looking upwards

see clarity of blue late-summer sky
a gentle wind moving the tips of trees
silence itself gives every fear the lie

no one in honesty should want to try
to challenge ancient powers on their knees
see clarity of blue late-summer sky

it's morning now night does not yet draw nigh
this is the moment all of us must seize
silence itself gives every fear the lie

there is some order that we may descry
in all the motions of the zephyr breeze
see clarity of blue late-summer sky

from all our sorrows we this beauty pry
in deepest pain to find a place of ease
silence itself gives every fear the lie

the truest pleasure's more than in the eye
both hearts and minds the best of sights must please
see clarity of blue late-summer sky
silence itself gives every fear the lie

arising brick by brick

a distant glimmering of urgent light
requires no thought nor even that we act
too soon the happy day must turn to night

we're every one of us in the same plight
the glass we look into is chipped and cracked
a distant glimmering of urgent light

not one of us who claims the second sight
could tell us what is lie and what plain fact
too soon the happy day must turn to night

right now all matters are both clear and bright
but every face will soon find itself smacked
a distant glimmering of urgent light

the chance of making all things good is slight
nobody by the powers has been backed
too soon the happy day must turn to night

we earn the shadow as a human right
do not insist on delicate contact
a distant glimmering of urgent light
too soon the happy day must turn to night

sit back and watch

 a shadow falls on dark vale and bright tower
we know its meaning but we fear to shout
we have arrived at a noteworthy hour

today the dust could do with a sharp shower
to let the green rise and shine clearly out
a shadow falls on dark vale and bright tower

the river flows today with little power
but still we see the swiftly moving trout
we have arrived at a noteworthy hour

each of us smiles at the last summer flower
it's not the time to weep or sigh or pout
a shadow falls on dark vale and bright tower

no rivalry could make the wakeful cower
too long a season though brings dread and drought
we have arrived at a noteworthy hour

too soon we'll find ourselves in sharpest stour
giving and taking rapid blow and clout
a shadow falls on dark vale and bright tower
we have arrived at a noteworthy hour

rational decision-making

a choice once made becomes one more hard fact
we want to travel but we fear each road
but without going we can't make contact

against our journey all the odds are stacked
only our honour's left as any goad
a choice once made becomes one more hard fact

the glass we hoped would guide us now is cracked
the carrion bird our dim future has crowed
no one has come to lighten our dull load
a choice once made becomes one more hard fact