future perfect

 

we do not hide our light beneath the rock
but jump in horror as bats flee the cave
at top of hill we turn and look and wave
and far below a ship comes in to dock
no one should make the choice to praise or mock
when nothing we can do would help to save
the greatest one from falling into grave
and that should be neither surprise nor shock
the value that we find even in ink
on creamy paper need not make us tense
even if all that we need do is look
the very thought will bring us to the brink
and leave us gasping at the lack of sense
in those who are so easy brought to book

summer swallow

 

no reason now to disregard or flout
any who come in with a noble air
it's far too easy for a fool to spout
all sorts of nonsense without any care
but honesty and decency are rare
while human kindness has not been a thing
of which a single soul has been aware
the summer swallow is not on the wing

the ones who know not what they talk about
will all complain that life is never fair
but none of them has yet been racked with doubt
about the duties that they have to bear
no thought of honour have they now to spare
but all of them desire to have a fling
before the coming of dark and despair
the summer swallow is not on the wing

the ones who talk are not the most devout
regarding their desires but they will stare
at anyone who comes to jump and shout
in celebration at the village square
they will resist the anger and the glare
but should be ready soon to leap or spring
upon the ones who'd never think to dare
the summer swallow is not on the wing

only the coward fears to suffer rout
the rest of us will see what we can bear
in facing perils we hope to be stout
and keep our spirits in the best repair
the best will all the foolery forswear
while to the fray they will their honour bring
that is the fine thing about this affair
the summer swallow is not on the wing

no waiting

 there is no limit to honest desire
but only to the bequest and the dower
it takes but little to set hearts afire

nobody does the things that we require
unless we've come at a propitious hour
there is no limit to honest desire

there are so many who we might admire
who turn out in the end to be a shower
it takes but little to set hearts afire

the ones who work who know how to perspire
will not in face of normal hardship cower
there is no limit to honest desire

choices we have though some are now most dire
but that is not enough to turn us sour
it takes but little to set hearts afire

although hard effort only serves to tire
still it's enough to bring us to full power
there is no limit to honest desire
it takes but little to set hearts afire

duty

 to act or think is never to deprave
for those who do will never have the need
for foolish choices or to fake the brave
demeanour of the folk of truest breed
we are not those who ought to pay due heed
or to be closed and silent as the clam
the one who is determined they'll succeed
will do much more than give a tinker's damn

the ones who think they know will merely rave
at all the excellence and proper speed
we show and when they tell us to behave
discover that we know it's just their greed
they will not listen to those who must plead
for help in countering the old flim-flam
we know however those who hope exceed
will do much more than give a tinker's damn

we understand we must not only crave
the benefits to which we have agreed
but must our golden messages engrave
on walls which any passer-by can read
the tide that comes in too soon will recede
before we all in the last boat might cram
who take the thought for lesser than the deed
will do much more than give a tinker's damn

prince you are much too certain to concede
that full grown sheep's worth more than infant lamb
the proper agent it has been decreed
will do much more than give a tinker's damn