night on the hillside

 

a path of diamonds in the velvet sky
out in the bush we look above in awe
the magic is apparent to each eye

nightbirds alarming as they pass us by
shocking the silence every raucous caw
a path of diamonds in the velvet sky

the world in calm and stillness does not lie
we hear near us the skittering of small paw
the magic is apparent to each eye

the brilliant stars are so clear and so high
we will on them the shapes of mouth and claw
a path of diamonds in the velvet sky

the old man is amazed we are so spry
his wisdom is summed up in an old saw
the magic is apparent to each eye

we've learned the things that no one can deny
and find we're subject to a constant law
a path of diamonds in the velvet sky
the magic is apparent to each eye

superstition

 

in the deep night when horrid demons ride
we keep indoors and wait for the new sun
there's no safety in knife or in big gun
and no place where it's truly safe to hide
each little sound outside is amplified
we're all afraid of death when night is done
knowing that there's no place where we may run
and spirits come at us from every side
horrors may dissipate when morning's here
but we know better what is false and true
and arm ourselves against distressing sight
in darkest dreams the world is hot and sere
we faint beneath the gold eye in the blue
and there's no difference either day or night

far from the shore

 

what ends all honour is the source of strife
the rules we write cannot provide us aid
at noontime there is very little shade

the sunlight cuts each eye like a sharp knife
everyone worries we won't make the grade
what ends all honour is the source of strife

we note the passing of each storied life
the fiery active and the merely staid
each of them in memory too soon must fade
what ends all honour is the source of strife

within reason

 

lay out the answers and the truth is seen
what's most desired is not the thing most known
we watch the yearly fading of the green

you play your parts and then pass from the scene
the normal given's not what is most shown
lay out the answers and the truth is seen

an honest explanation has no sheen
the prettiest flower is the one first blown
we watch the yearly fading of the green

what we call virtues others take for spleen
you seek plain words but find out they have flown
lay out the answers and the truth is seen

truth vanishes from places in between
the only thing that echoes is the stone
we watch the yearly fading of the green

you've never understood just what we mean
and for your crimes we all must now atone
lay out the answers and the truth is seen
we watch the yearly fading of the green