not just a part

 

if what i say should come to matter much
those who would listen hold up to each ear
chains that close tightly when free words appear
and keep the heart and mind firmly in clutch
there are some people who would say that such
concern means that we may have held too dear
a thing that might jam any working gear
and quickly put the mind right out of touch
listen to those who say that when we mourn
the tears that fall do not produce a bit
of anything that can redeem our choice
but since the world is given when we're born
there may be more than any might admit
and something might be said in a small voice

end of summer

 

choices never had been ordinary
until the strike fell sharply from the cloud
and then the city was an ossuary

we did not enter the monastery
to hide our faces from the milling crowd
choices never had been ordinary

so many horrors we had to bury
signs of all the crimes we were allowed
and then the city was an ossuary

bitter cold has eaten at the berry
with emptiness have we been all endowed
choices never had been ordinary

cursing those who had a while been merry
did for a passing moment please the cowed
and then the city was an ossuary

the fee is paid all must take the ferry
a whole society covered by a shroud
choices never had been ordinary
and then the city was an ossuary

resume the mask

 

no matter what the role we take no part
in what you think of as your pain or shock
against your portals many choose to knock
but walls will hold out both the bolt and dart
we load no cargo on the waiting cart
and no ship waits for us at the last dock
the key is waiting to be placed in lock
for kingdoms wait upon the fragile heart
left to itself the world will soon elide
past all the injuries you might inflict
and find itself some other kind of task
there is some manner by which we divide
the shards which into corners had been kicked
revive the victims and resume the mask

to utter the right name

 there is a way to utter the right name
yet none can honestly declare the fact
only the truthful can accept the blame

too many blackguards eager to declaim
turn concrete meaning into vague abstract
there is a way to utter the right name

the hooligan will parade without shame
but honest people are always attacked
only the truthful can accept the blame

shallow the ones who demand all acclaim
with thought of consequence they're never wracked
there is a way to utter the right name

there is no way to honour or to fame
for those who still possess both sense and tact
only the truthful can accept the blame

the wildest creature will feign being tame
it's always easy to trick and distract
there is a way to utter the right name
only the truthful can accept the blame