the obvious mistake

the lies once you have heard them seem quite plain
truth is a crazy uncle whose tall tales
will drive you mad the thing is that truth fails
to seem as plausible as simple pain
it does not offer us the instant gain
but holds the frame up with its golden nails
beside it the old lie just dulls and pales
but to accept truth seems just too much strain
so the dull lie becomes the one we choose
for brightest truth is read as one more snare
and we are wary of all likely traps
thus in the end we make ourselves to lose
not from the lack but the excess of care
though all seems fine until the last collapse

 

defiance

 

the truth is not something that any blurt
in words and phrases suitable for court
nor yet a matter easy to assert
even on subjects of greatest import
we resent every injury or tort
but will not against any foes combine
our plans are individual by design
and we are not to rash adventures prone
we will not be submissive or supine
but stand as solid as the walls of stone

there's proper time to wave the bloody shirt
as both initiative and stern retort
we would not have you think us just inert
nor think that our hopes are easy to thwart
we're never safe not even in strong fort
but need to stand firm and to hold the line
against the ones we know to be mere swine
our weapons we have ready from the hone
they will not find us to be passive kine
but stand as solid as the walls of stone

our tasks require that we stay on alert
a warning's never seen as jest or sport
we aren't the ones who'll fall into the dirt
only a fool would think to catch us short
and to their shaping we shall not contort
our plans and purposes but will define
the manner how our forces shall align
and cut their bodies right down to the bone
we shall not show weakness or lack of spine
but stand as solid as the walls of stone

prince we shall not to any threat resign
ourselves to be the ones whose heads incline
before some lord who sits upon a throne
to serve him while he and his vassals dine
we will not cower and we shall never whine
but stand as solid as the walls of stone

(no subject)

 

a kind of lethargy fills every limb
there's strong desire the anger to disown
that leads to acting on a silly whim
and gets the bravest idiot turned to stone
each of us faces the monster unknown
to all the other heroes on the hunt
so not a one is there to hear each groan
or laugh at yet another stupid stunt
the loser turns out not to be the runt

where life and horror seem to intersect
as if the stars and planets could align
to proclaim our hopes base and abject
in face of pain and sorrow to divine
just who belongs and who has the death sign
the whole event turns out to be a game
and to the watcher all must seem just fine
with no excuse for pride or even shame
since all that's shown is neat within its frame

a kind of mortal magic we might find
on all the pathways that we choose to tread
we're not the best or worst of humankind
but too few thoughts remain inside each head
and all the lines that lead to home are dead
we have to find our way back through the rain
without a backward glance and without dread
knowing that every step would bring more pain
we do not plan to go that way again

mar atra sol

 we listen for the watcher at the gate
to cry us up and bid us now to wake
proclaiming that the sun is in full state
it's time for the last parting word to make
and slip out swiftly lest there be mistake
though heart and clothing alike may be torn
we must obey the warnings of the dawn

some say that outcomes are products of fate
an utterance by those who lack a stake
or who don't care a fig at any rate
each slumbering body into action shake
one must depart before the sun may bake
and though the heart feel both sad and forlorn
we must obey the warnings of the dawn

each enters and then leaves with stealthy gait
when to all eyes the world's dark and opaque
nobody thinks that time has a swift rate
and when you most will not your soul forsake
you think of all the risks of long heartache
and though we treat this fresh new light with scorn
we must obey the warnings of the dawn

the greatest peril lies in waking late
and knowing you've got little time to take
one final kiss as the rules still dictate
then swiftly down the wall and to the lake
unworried by the threat of fox or snake
if the desire's to greet another morn
we must obey the warnings of the dawn