eternal present

 eternal present absent future past
our time and motion take place off the map
memory becomes both great hope and vile trap

actors invented choose to be the cast
some takes some laughter then the final wrap
eternal present absent future past

come and behold the universe so vast
that rises in each tree with leaf and sap
appearances and glances are the hap
eternal present absent future past
 

all's made most clear

 a life is stolen but not one will care
who makes the choices does not see all ends
through all the byways only fools may fare

the purpose is to drive the calmest spare
up mountain roads with many hairpin bends
a life is stolen but not one will care

idiots will journey where goats would not dare
it's simple when you're not the one who wends
through all the byways only fools may fare

such matters it turns out are not as rare
as you might think since you're the one who rends
a life is stolen but not one will care

each sound will carry through the mountain air
to one who fights and to one who defends
through all the byways only fools may fare

let us be sure that we could sit and stare
while you receive whatever the foe sends
a life is stolen but not one will care
through all the byways only fools may fare

(no subject)

 

where no one means to say just what is true
the echoes of the past become less clear
some things are done that others might not dare
what keeps things going is no kind of glue
we make our choices and we do not rue
just what was said and what we had to spare
beyond the normal attitudes of care
we will let happen all that might ensue
a sort of fugue between this time and that
not to be sure just what we most desire
fact after fact is not what we'd proclaim
the message comes out sharp rather than flat
with choristers raising each note higher
and every archer unsure of his aim

spirit of the air

a messenger arrives upon the hour
with symbols that are all too stark and plain
we might expect a little squall or shower
but not a steady needed soaking rain
the demon of the darkness is well-slain
and all the world is waiting for the sight
of other gods to take us through the light
while tinkling musics are proclaimed most fair
we choose the ones who always were the bright
a human spirit moves upon the air

we don't expect that you will scowl or glower
at what we all can see is honest gain
wizard and warlock each laugh in their tower
and boats of stone have been seen on the main
we know some things just go against the grain
but would not put you into the worst plight
had it not been necessity of rite
you were the only one that we could spare
as sacrifice to end the spreading blight
a human spirit moves upon the air

beneath the skin we see the moving power
against great forces it appears to strain
and even deities are forced to cower
facing these creatures of a once-crazed brain
whose only emblem is the sign of pain
we cannot hope to face it day or night
without once feeling sour disdain or spite
in face of it we're simply forced to care
and so we find the means to suppress fright
a human spirit moves upon the air

prince you are given all the oversight
of mortal acts by heritage and right
you are the one who does what he might dare
and will not pause or run away from fight
in all your power and for your best delight
a human spirit moves upon the air

a sense of discipline

 

at no time should we hope to see the end
of all the terrors that beset our folk
we aren't supposed to know what is the trend
beyond the moment when it's not a joke
and we discover that we're wholly broke
before we see redemption or the sun
we know that there's a longish way to run
a fire behind us means no time to pause
we have a way to go before you're done
but we obey the ones who make the laws

there is not one on whom you
could depend but would turn out to be a sorry bloke
we aren't supposed to borrow nor to lend
yet get all things we want at one sharp stroke
leaving the rest behind in dust and smoke
we will not let them have the final fun
who have to die we must not even stun
while all the judge can say are hems and haws
we see the joke is no worse than a pun
but we obey the ones who make the laws

there is another and a stranger trend
which some may see as an odd sort of cloak
for what they could not get or couldn't send
they tell us pine is just as good as oak
even as they in earnest prod and poke
the best of weapons is some sort of gun
we can't evade it and we would not shun
the one who best would know to wield
the taws we will have lost what no one could have won
but we obey the ones who make the laws

prince you behave as would a proper son
and watch as others fill the waiting tun
to honour those who follow the first
clause we have to work but we want to have fun
and give ourselves the chances light or dun
but we obey the ones who make the laws