a room in south london

 your only job is setting the right theme
and having done that getting off the stair
all of our eyes are focused on the gleam

we value mote at greater than the beam
of light that bears it through the morning air
your only job is setting the right theme

upon each head there might fall a slight stream
of dusty particles that once were fair
all of our eyes are focused on the gleam

that tells us now just what we should esteem
out of the factors that deserved our care
your only job is setting the right theme

for our reception fill the bowl with cream
and tell us just how distant we must fare
all of our eyes are focused on the gleam

so much we learn from just a simple meme
leaving behind the ones who want to stare
your only job is setting the right theme
all of our eyes are focused on the gleam

at end of empire

there are no reasons for the sky to fail
each heart explodes when bullet reaches goal
honour and courage are just up for sale

we wait as all the weathermen turn pale
no other good thing's written on the scroll
there are no reasons for the sky to fail

the marks of vomit lie upon the rail
and drops of water fall into the bowl
honour and courage are just up for sale

it takes but little to turn this small scale
the weight of what is quite a tiny soul
there are no reasons for the sky to fail

we won't mistake the sardine for the whale
only a little finger blocks the hole
honour and courage are just up for sale

from deadly calm we wait the saving gale
to cleanse our sorry world from pole to pole
there are no reasons for the sky to fail
honour and courage are just up for sale

far past the line

 these are the final bounds of hate and fear
an ocean crossed and many armies fled
yet all one asked was space to earn some bread
a little water and some cleansing air
those who remain might wonder at the care
that had been given by those who were dead
to cast off the last memories of dread
and teach the forms of which we are aware
one tastes the fruit of the most ancient vine
and does not wait to see the next sun rise
in order to learn what will not be news
one must discern just what is not a sign
not let the meaning vanish from one's eyes
for once remembered there is naught to lose

fragmentary

 fragments of history become hard fact
your story is not told to set at ease
the ones who gave us our first guarantees
while laughing at the knowledge that we lacked
the force that could convey or just distract
a challenger who'd knock us to our knees
not listening to our most honest please
we come direct since we are not intact
not one of us who would not choose to fly
if we could lift our feet from this sad ground
knowing our hopes are set on one good throw
we catch our little glimpses of the sky
and wait to hear the cheering morning sound
that will permit us what we need to know