selva oscura

 

what can be managed will take so much work
that we might find ourselves back in the dark
not only worried about making mark
but fearful of a hand holding a dirk
our only purpose skulking in the murk
is nothing that would seem evil or stark
the tree is told not only by its bark
but by the mosses and the birds that lurk
far from the safety of the sallow light
in places where the spiders seem to speak
and all the creatures fear what they might say
their shadows now are darker than the night
their distant odour makes us all feel weak
and none expects again to see the day

both near and far

 

if the map's wrong you will not find your goal
what shows in vision is just a mistake
you will have failed to comprehend the whole

the task requires that each takes on a rôle
of lord or peasant worker monk or rake
if the map's wrong you will not find your goal

to make the journey first you give parole
but if you cannot reach the mountain lake
you will have failed to comprehend the whole

so many come your good sense to extol
you may no longer tell the real from fake
if the map's wrong you will not find your goal

too soon you pass the last assigned patrol
in unknown places your intent will shake
you will have failed to comprehend the whole

no word we say will serve you to console
in times when even strongest trees shall break
if the map's wrong you will not find your goal
you will have failed to comprehend the whole

the yearly notice

 a presaging of what we cannot tell
but now we find the message has been sent
to all the world had we the best intent
we would the coffers of the needy swell
and help you to break out of the dark spell
but we don't really know just what was lent
by those who signified just what they meant
and then departed for a private hell
music reveals so much about the soul
but those who listen are not always sure
of what speaks to the mind in subtle art
and what partaking of the final whole
exists to teach us how best to endure
while love and patience grow within the heart

by royal command

 

you can't prevent the days getting colder
your greatest wishes will not change a blip
but be recorded in a maroon folder
and so you drink the potion sip by sip
hoping for warmth upon the frozen lip
the symbol and the content are so trite
that we expect no anger and no fight
just the assumption that we are supreme
will make our acts and follies come out right
for we are living the victorious dream

some might with stern practice growing bolder
find our approach to be a little flip
we will leave them in the slime to moulder
and make it clear that we have taken ship
knowing that this is not a common trip
to places that are far from normal sight
we travel out of pleasure and delight
to see the furthest star's romantic gleam
your anger and contumely are just spite
for we are living the victorious dream

you cannot bear weight of heavy boulder
we lay it on your back to punish lip
and laugh to see your submissive shoulder
knowing that you will soon lose all your zip
and feel the greatest pain in leg and hip
since you need that to set your mind aright
with the hard gift of therapeutic fright
your proper punishment for evil scheme
of daring to deny we bear the light
for we are living the victorious dream

slave you may see us as a constant blight
but needs must bow before our force and might
you dare not claim our actions are extreme
since we dictate the words you speak and right
and we shall any insolence requite
for we are living the victorious dream