red beans and rice

 our diet's heavy with red beans and rice
morning weighs on us with a colder sun
too sweet the sugar now too sharp the spice

it's winter but there is no snow nor ice
nor any reason for plain joy or fun
our diet's heavy with red beans and rice

our struggles are not ended in a trice
we have to let the process run and run
too sweet the sugar now too sharp the spice

lacking in method with no good device
to twist things into shape each makes a pun
our diet's heavy with red beans and rice

we learn the value and forget the price
our purpose is to act and not to shun
too sweet the sugar now too sharp the spice

knowledge of virtue is knowledge of vice
we know the end as soon as we've begun
our diet's heavy with red beans and rice
too sweet the sugar now too sharp the spice

the constant duty

 what one could say another could indite
in better verse than i could ever make
and show that none of those who mirth forsake
will ever understand the clearer light
instead we follow the amusing sprite
who leads us on the path to the dark lake
through fevered memories we cannot shake
we are compelled by life herself to write
the truth is clear we do not get to choose
our purposes alone instead we find
coöperation works but out upon it
we know at once just who will win or lose
and put such matters firmly out of mind
just so we properly complete the sonnet

just how to be weak

no one who understands would ever speak
of tiny measures that we must avoid
so few of us know just how to be weak

the mountain is much more than just the peak
the teacher more than one who is annoyed
no one who understands would ever speak

we blame the modern more than the antique
not sensing just what we could have enjoyed
so few of us know just how to be weak

we grant no special grace unto the meek
nor praise to those who with great risk have toyed
no one who understands would ever speak

the plainest cloth becomes finest batik
and in the end joins all the goods destroyed
so few of us know just how to be weak

we face the worst and accept its critique
the path we tread is right above the void
no one who understands would ever speak
so few of us know just how to be weak