fullest encounter

 

no giants left now for none else would dare
to raise these structures on the mountaintop
you see them and your heart comes to a stop
naught's left of man so high in the clean air

we climb the rocks and have no time to spare
while far below each farmer reaps his crop
each swift machete highest heads will lop
naught's left of man so high in the clean air

allow us for a moment just to stare
while over a low dam the stream will slop
our hearts are awed by sight of the long drop
naught's left of man so high in the clean air

we think a moment that life is not fair
and any innocent's soon for the chop
yet we must know as on the seat we flop
naught's left of man so high in the clean air

what we recall is our duty of care
while with another soul we wouldn't swop
just where we are for any task of shop
naught's left of man so high in the clean air

let the power fall on i

 all rules when we dislike them turn out hard
decrees that bite our feet we do abhor
almost as much as if we had been scarred
by angry tiger springing from the floor
striking each face then heading for the door
and sprinting thence into the shielding rain
leaving us all to think of luck and pain
and happy not to think of might-have-been
yet not willing raging impulse to rein
since sorrow seems much better than chagrin

against our sort the armies stand on guard
the agencies of a superior law
keeping the gate of freedom locked and barred
and every ship most firmly tied ashore
the watchmen stationed upon every tor
will not let any of us flee again
no matter the safe guises we might feign
for help to us is certified as sin
and only the divine can govern plain
since sorrow seems much better than chagrin

change and disaster they hope to retard
all of our actions they will swift deplore
and any subtlety they'll soon discard
lest by some means we equity restore
theirs is the love of flowing blood and gore
the tyrant's measure and the butcher's gain
from every act of kindness they'll refrain
since all they need is to conquer and win
and not at all important is the stain
since sorrow seems much better than chagrin

prince you may hear the ever-rising strain
that tells of what should be the soldiers' bane
that all of us are brothers under skin
to hold the tide the armies strive in vain
as they hear thunder coming down the lane
since sorrow seems much better than chagrin

a sort of hope

 allow no signal to reach honest ground
you fear no power moving on land or sea
but always in the distance is the sound
allow no signal to reach honest ground

you are not sure just what it is was found
by one who saw the thing you would not see
allow no signal to reach honest ground
you fear no power moving on land or sea

all that we know is what might come to be
if we permit a message to get through
the ones who know are swiftest now to flee
all that we know is what might come to be

nothing we do will let any agree
just what should be allowed in common view
all that we know is what might come to be
if we permit a message to get through

there's frost outside where yesterday was dew
almost it seems that we have journeyed far
since everything we see has turned out new
there's frost outside where yesterday was dew

we look above for any sign of blue
but all the clouds form a steady grey bar
since everything we see has turned out new
there's frost outside where yesterday was dew

what has been made we would not deign to mar
the things we see are set out very plain
and nothing that we understand's bizarre
what has been made we would not deign to mar

we wait to see the first revealing star
appear to occupy its true domain
what has been made we would not deign to mar
the things we see are set out very plain

the truth we seek rejects all vulgar gain
as being just another sort of game
we wait so long for the redeeming rain
the truth we seek rejects all vulgar gain

all that is known resolves itself amain
into an entity that's not so tame
the truth we seek resolves all vulgar gain
as being just another sort of game

we do not put out the amazing flame
that will illuminate far past our bound
each gives the new experience a
name we do not put out the amazing flame

there is no reason ever to post blame
when honour is the tune that must resound
we do not put out the amazing flame
that will illuminate far past our bound

only one heart

the world we know is more than just a game
but who can play becomes more than a man
or woman but if we each human scan
we do not find in each a heart of shame
to honour and to prize an honest name
and not let decency come under ban
that's in the end the truest sort of plan
to light in normal hearts the open flame
so that the light will issue from each eye
to guide the ones who walk on wobbly feet
straight on the pathway to the friendly gate
we watch all this beneath a fading sky
not knowing when again with friends we meet
but still secure and happy in our state

enduring purpose

 all good we've done we could not quick forswear
but anger and desire must ever strive
within the heart of each human alive

the limits are so very hard to bear
it's far too easy just to take a dive
all good we've done we could not quick forswear

in the long end we find that each must care
not just for self but that more good will thrive
in every heart and that truth will survive
all good we've done we could not quick forswear

late evening

what's absent from the day is present here
no mention of the shadow is complete
without explaining just how its defeat
brings its return since it is what we fear
most of all things we hold nothing so dear
that we would serve our turn on judgment-seat
to listen as the liars vainly bleat
knowing that what they earned is very near
instead we give ourselves to mistress night
in all her mysteries we sink so deep
that we forget the words we have to say
to pass from dark into another light
when we awake from just a little sleep
to find it has so long been clearest day