fools' gold

 you take the brazen fool for solid gold
and miss the golden threads at highest noon
there are some people who just can't be told

it is a waste of time to shout and scold
we might as well start baying at the moon
you take the brazen fool for solid gold

in face of wolf you swiftly gate the fold
with sheep outside you acted far too soon
there are some people who just can't be told

upon the rope you have taken strong hold
but now you can't let go of the balloon
you take the brazen fool for solid gold

you thought that all the exits were controlled
and now you learn the guard was a buffoon
there are some people who just can't be told

you value brashness at the price of bold
mistake concession as some kind of boon
you take the brazen fool for solid gold
and miss the golden threads at highest noon

harangue

 

we listen and we groan as once again
lie's piled on lie until the world of shit
is lied into perfection cheer fake wit
and do not ever think of all the pain
these lies are built on nor of all the gain
the smiling ones would not ever admit
as privately they turn to hawk and spit
and then tell us that it is just the rain
not one of them would hesitate a beat
to save the life of one who was not rich
compassion's just a word without a sense
you have to have a nicely cushioned seat
for other's goods a finely-tailored itch
and at humanity make some pretense

final option

 

all of our options were presented stark
we faced the same choice in our daily grind
either we conquer or go down to dark

the hungry dog has never ceased to bark
it knows just what the horror is we'll find
all of our options were presented stark

it may have started as some youthful lark
but it has ended with the stars aligned
either we conquer or go down to dark

the secrets that were hidden in the ark
are brought to daylight and are unconfined
all of our options were presented stark

you do not know if we're up to the mark
that has been very much the complex bind
either we conquer or go down to dark

we have to choose either the wolf or shark
the monster strikes with or without a mind
all of our options were presented stark
either we conquer or go down to dark

by what command

by what command we do not know
the words are written and remain
answer has come but very slow
we do not hope to see again

just what the truth was in the press
or who began the count or why
the answer was it no or yes
the reason was it truth or lie

songs that were sung by hasty sorts
have been forgotten but regret
has worked its triumph through the courts
the road is marked the path is set

master and servant disagree
on how the wages shall be paid
one says the other shall not see
the outcome of the final raid

what's eaten is not any food
that we would choose were we to pay
the price is what had once accrued
upon the ones who chose the way

so marching on the road of choice
we lacked the sense to sit and weep
others were fated to rejoice
we were the ones who had to sleep

the fullest heart

 

a better measure of the fullest heart
is all the glory of most needed joy
one thing that all the world cannot destroy

we leave to you the larger harder part
expect to see you with all force deploy
a better measure of the fullest heart

natural glory exceeds that of art
the full-grown man has no need of the toy
but knows the wisdom of the growing boy
a better measure of the fullest heart

by way of explanation

by way of explanation and defence
we mask the feeling and we hide the fact
not out of decency kindness or tact
with suchlike qualities we soon dispense
but since a trial with due speed may commence
and with the future we have no compact
we leave you with the gaoler to extract
what may remain of honesty and sense
rivers may flow but we shall never care
for what the waters might have had to say
we took our silver and we gave our word
to those for whom such things were very clear
regarding what the promise was each day
and in the quiet merely watched the bird