on the job

 those who are trapped beneath the solid ice
do not deserve the charges that they face
but we must work each day to earn our rice

things are not valued at their highest price
we do not have to spend much time to trace
those who are trapped beneath the solid ice

there are much better means and sound device
to track the paths and laud the ways of grace
but we must work each day to earn our rice

left long ago to gnawings of the mice
we can't forget the ones who were in place
those who are trapped beneath the solid ice

such as you speak of never are precise
to claim that even our sight might debase
but we must work each day to earn our rice

yet through the year we're forced to be most nice
to everyone who says that they still chase
those who are trapped beneath the solid ice
but we must work each day to earn our rice

odd enough on tuesday

 a winter waking to thunder and rain
the bland voice on the radio speaks of snow
there is so much these days that seems arcane

as you get older matters seem less plain
the phone rings and there's much you have to know
a winter waking to thunder and rain

all of your efforts turn out to be vain
a hot drink fails to bring back the good glow
there is so much these days that seems arcane

you send a package from london to spain
you set some things aside to learn and grow
a winter waking to thunder and rain

words on the screen require another strain
your mind is daily much more weak and slow
there is so much these days that seems arcane

and yet your life is pleasant in the main
you win a prize here taste a sweet gateau
a winter waking to thunder and rain
there is so much these days that seems arcane

the way to glory

 

our only job is to shoulder the oar
take each command and bend when we obey
not even raise our eyes to the display
of all the flags of welcome on the shore
the path of duty always requires more
of humble us than what the posters say
and we don't get much notice in the play
we're just supposed to add some shout and roar
there's so much satisfaction in the task
we're always told by those who say they care
that there's no use in raising one last hand
besides no one would notice if you ask
and you'd waste words upon the empty air
better to wait and act when they command

not so still centre

you meet the piping birdies high aloft
and do not feel the need to say a name
while dancers still wheel in the undercroft

the stars sent messages at which we scoffed
thinking that soon we'd have glory and fame
you meet the piping birdies high aloft

singers at distance seem both warm and soft
all of our hopes are shown as weak and tame
while dancers still wheel in the undercroft

others now wear the hats which we have doffed
as each of us now runs away in shame
you meet the piping birdies high aloft

you said it once and we have said it oft
but while we listen no one lights the flame
while dancers still wheel in the undercroft

the last parader his last word has coughed
and all the while you want to spread the blame
you meet the piping birdies high aloft
while dancers still wheel in the undercroft

so unimportant

so many words and not one that would count
listening now to each harsh distortion
no choice in how to get our due portion

an ending comes and each must dismount
even this victory turns to abortion
so many words and not one that would count

pains and experiences we might surmount
but such things never come in proportion
instead to them we make new contortion
so many words and not one that would count

propriety and calm

 

let us pause now and ask each one to drink
out of the pool and refresh each hot part
calm all those things that had worked from the start
such factors draw us swiftly to the brink
of hasty anger thrown far out of sync
our feelings sharpened made both short and tart
these are the matters chased far from the heart
we learn to act before we learn to think
the stillest waters hide no weary shark
monsters are left behind in children's tales
by all the mothers of the former age
no more this horror than a passing dark
those are the tasks at which the hero fails
but we ban those hard words from the pure page