hardest duty

the hardest duty which we have to face
is not the worst thing that might now befall
this is the final hardest sticking place

shadow and silence end in all disgrace
we could not any terror now forestall
the hardest duty which we have to face

the hero is the one who plays the ace
at the high moment of the trumpet call
this is the final hardest sticking place

no monster here has left a single trace
that would the smallest child's plain heart appall
the hardest duty which we have to face

we hide the ugliness in silk and lace
and think our planet is just a large ball
this is the final hardest sticking place

the sternest sergeant now must bear the mace
while lords and ladies prepare for the ball
the hardest duty which we have to face
this the final hardest sticking place

at the exit door

 

what we don't know is what we leave behind
doors have been closed and silences remain
this is the kingdom of the truly blind

the ones who do not speak keep soundest mind
for nothing in this realm has yet seemed plain
what we don't know is what we leave behind

we strip ourselves of all that might hope bind
no further need to stave off the old pain
this is the kingdom of the truly blind

for what we lacked not one of us had pined
we did not think we'd come to it again
what we don't know is what we leave behind

the processes that had been misaligned
have been corrected with a lot of strain
this is the kingdom of the truly blind

the name we have is of another kind
we struggle but we choose not to abstain
what we don't know is what we leave behind
this is the kingdom of the truly blind

the golden river

 

the golden river flows out through the arch
and all the hopes we had end at the gate
knowing that winter must at last abate

our last desires have set us on the march
knowing that we have little time to wait
the golden rive flows out through the arch

we want a little patience and some starch
with stiffer attitude and better gait
we wonder at the vagaries of fate
the golden river flows out through the arch

nameless virtues

these are the virtues that we dare not name
honour and duty with fear must compete
against all hope we feed both pride and shame

we think we're wildest when we are most tame
and slowest when we are truly most fleet
these are the virtues that we dare not name

our silence keeps us from knowing our fame
a common kind of human self-deceit
against all hope we feed both pride and shame

to tell the truth our answers all are lame
nothing we have provides the soul with meat
these are the virtues that we dare not name

you'd think that we would simply take the blame
go out in anger let the fools just bleat
against all hope we feed both pride and shame

this it turns out is more than just a game
it takes so long we cannot taste the sweet
these are the virtues that we dare not name
against all hope we feed both pride and shame

finding a small truth

no matter how the vision has to end
there are some consolations we must get
not only that we learn how to forget
or that we find a path we can defend
the road we climb is one we must descend
and we have paid enough to clear the debt
that journey's one that's made with no regret
we find those things on which we must depend
just so we earn our way to the first wall
what comes past that is normal desire
and empty voices on the forest air
there never was a garden nor a fall
no names were hidden from a primal fire
we learn only to see the what and where