eagerly listening

the theme repeated gives us a fresh lift
our hearts and minds rise swiftly up the air
this gentle rain's the dying year's last gift

through thoughts and feelings each of us must sift
to find the one that brings us greatest cheer
the theme repeated gives us a fresh lift

it does not matter if some fool is miffed
all that is good must fall within our care
this gentle rain's the dying year's last gift

there's time for lavishness and time for thrift
so long as we aren't taken by a snare
the theme repeated gives us a fresh lift

from all our sorrows we should come adrift
leaving the unwise just to wait and stare
this gentle rain's the dying year's last gift

too soon to duty soon we must be swift
and get back to the heart of the affair
the theme repeated gives us a fresh lift
this gentle rain's the dying year's last gift

fresh hope

 

whatever happens we will see you rise
to heights where others have not been before
the world unfolds itself before your eyes
too often you've been told just to adore
the ones who tell you that they know the score
that those who order are a higher breed
than you or i that they have greater need
for all the benefits money could buy
pay no attention to that ancient creed
the only limits are above the sky

you might have been permitted to surmise
that you had not been taught the complete lore
for fear that too soon would come the goodbyes
perhaps that's so but that touches no core
of all the matters that soon should outpour
from the first moment we planted the seed
we knew a time would come for urgent speed
in consequence we shall tell you no lie
true glory comes in how you do the deed
the only limits are above the sky

we'll send you out with due care and supplies
knowing that very soon you'll take the fore
and proper place among those who are wise
the vastnesses and wonders you'll explore
and find the magic never turns to chore
to all the warnings you'll pay proper heed
always go forward never retrocede
take all the chances that you will espy
don't be detained by foolishness or greed
the only limits are above the sky

young man no future's ever been decreed
nor are there angels that might intercede
there are no magic beings that can fly
but many who might seek you to mislead
learn all the signs to understand and read
the only limits are above the sky

ballade of midwinter

another time will pass with all its shows
and soon enough we'll find we can't recall
the secrets that the mass thought to disclose
each day grew shorter with the year's long fall
over our heads we pulled blanket and shawl
so many things we thought not to forgo
rumours they came and went about the snow
the streets we passed wet or dry still stank
with long ages of putrefaction far too slow
we waited for the stream to burst its bank

there are so many facts we could expose
so many words were whispered in the hall
with many a package tied up in neat bows
the least of things would some small hearts appal
the engines would just sputter and then stall
we'd wait and on our frozen hands would blow
while looking upward at the circling crow
and all was paused behind us rank on rank
elsewhere the urgent seas might ebb and flow
we waited for the stream to burst its bank

the hungry avians gather hawks and crows
there's something here that has issued a call
we dream in vagueness of a summer rose
but all our options have become quite small
the whole parade has halted from a crawl
and not a blessed thing for us to show
but knowledge of just where each has to go
and where the fêted ship was when it sank
all stood there then a single vast tableau
we waited for the stream to burst its bank

prince there are gifts you would not dare bestow
but we are better for the spade and hoe
we know in summer the weeds will be rank
but there'll be time and space for them to grow
as for the rest you do not have to know
we waited for the stream to burst its bank