damp autumn leaves

 damp autumn leaves in their slow-growing drifts
slide underfoot and make us want to pause
there's something in the grey that each heart lifts
we're looking for the loopholes in each clause
a market day may come and others go
while footprints on the pavement glow and fade
this is a day to take things nice and slow
so many of us hope to make the grade
we wonder at the signs that point to doom
according to the loudest but they change
into a large and pleasant morning bloom
our only purpose is not to derange
we take this sombre weather for a goad
to get us moving on the homeward road

measure of duty

 

our obligation's never quite enough
we always end up with some sort of grief
while there's some idiot telling us life's tough

each morning we wake up grouchy and gruff
too short a sleep seems not to bring relief
our obligation's never quite enough

we take things easy just when they're most rough
yet mourn the imprint of each fallen leaf
while there's some idiot telling us life's tough

we know something's out there it's not a bluff
there really is some substance solid beef
our obligation's never quite enough

your ear's still warm from sudden ringing cuff
you hope our ship will wind up on the reef
while there's some idiot telling us life's tough

perhaps we'll turn out to have the right stuff
walk tall not creep like hungry furtive thief
our obligation's never quite enough
while there's some idiot telling us life's tough

all comes to those who wait

the golden future signals us to run
there's so much coming that we may obtain
so many things to take away the strain

we learn the old and venerable to shun
what once was gorgeous now seems dull and plain
the golden future signals us to run

something we think just ought to have been done
to get rid of the waiting and the pain
all of our hope is set on some day's gain
the golden future signals us to run

no gleaming knight

we learn that every choice leads to a wall
three thousand years of teaching do not fail
the loser's always one who stands most tall
we learn to love things on their proper scale
and not to seek for treasure or the grail
instead to find the normal use of skill
while others hesitate or even quail
the holly bushes sit up on the hill

we did not answer when you chose to call
the gospel that you sold us has grown stale
so many things that honest hearts appal
occult within each ordinary bale
while rusty swords are hung upon the nail
in sign of heroes who have fought their fill
until the blood has rusted their chain mail
the holly bushes sit up on the hill

we are told nothing but we would know all
about the ones whose mention turns you pale
and what princess managed to miss the ball
to read the message of the glowing sail
we wonder at the ones who seem to ail
for want of what is found in any pill
and those who trust too much in creaking rail
the holly bushes sit up on the hill

prince there's no end to this annoying tale
we have to find a way to keep the thrill
all of your servants know what's here for sale
and nothing holds us but mere force of will
the fruit is thick and juicy in the dale
the holly bushes sit up on the hill
 

in recollection

 we were not members of a fighting band
your mind and ours could not one one thing meet
still you showed that you had the strongest hand
so memory tells us and the thought's still sweet
i'd give so much if i could once more greet
you as i did when young and filled with pride
for even now i cannot feel complete
six years have passed since i learned you had died

there's so much i still cannot understand
about the way that time becomes so fleet
while life's own taste turns out to be more bland
you hated to explain or to repeat
or have your business in the public street
the pain you felt you always had to hide
as fitted one made for the judgment-seat
six years have passed since i learned you had died

the past you said was never great or grand
you threatened but you rarely had to beat
what mattered most of all was owning land
and standing up upon your proper feet
being honest upright fair and always neat
ready to know and take the better side
never to bow the head in frank defeat
six years have passed since i learned you had died

prince you were not you had no great conceit
of what you were but what you knew applied
to all that we could do to face the heat
and keep our place in spite of the great tide
without dishonour and without deceit
six years have passed since i learned you had died

in a wet glow

 

a single element of human thought
becomes a kind of pearl in the grey air
a symbol both of sorrow and of care

this is not what we were so baldly taught
would be a world where everything was fair
a single element of human thought

for all that's good living and dead have fought
and we are so reminded every year
these are the prizes that we have to bear
a single element of human thought

into the quiet

the sun goes down and suddenly it's night
there's no long pause no long and sad twilight

we leave the world to find a better way
our task is simple and it's quickly done
we do not need either the moon or sun

we know that we're just actors in a play
that's somewhere in the middle of its run
we leave the world to find a better way

there's no light falser than the common day
so many things to do and more to shun
we drink and laugh and say it's all in fun
we leave the world to find a better way

agree or not we say that it's not right
to cede the battle and not make a fight