the normal realm

 

answers that come when you do not believe
that truths are left to find or to declare
the world seems to conspire to drive you spare
and there's not one moment in which to grieve
the ones who tried to lie and to deceive
and who discovered that life could be fair
beyond the need for service and for care
they will our hearts and minds at last relieve
accept that light comes and darkness goes
and that the pattern will in time reverse
we are now held in place by bonds of steel
we listen for the nightly wind that blows
out from the realm of the odd and perverse
and once more put our shoulders to the wheel

honour without profit

 we give each thing we see and sense a name
and think that gives us all the truest power
but cannot see what's real and what's a game

each hopes the rain will fail to douse the flame
but then rejoices in the longed-for shower
we give each thing we see and sense a name

the world we have is never truly tame
each of us in our shelters has to cower
but cannot see what's real and what's a game

you'd seek to blame the enemies who came
and rendered sterile what had been our dower
we give each thing we see and sense a name

each may define the proper shaping frame
and leave pain stranded in the highest tower
but cannot see what's real and what's a game

if we don't shun the glory and the fame
our deepest hopes will not last out the hour
we give each thing we see and sense a name
but cannot see what's real and what's a game