flyblown

 

those who devour the meek win at the game
but do not find the ending's all they wish
we do not always find that the best dish
is served up with a side-helping of shame
the hungry lion does not end up tame
and yet the loser may be fed to fish
while every winner goes out with a swish
nobody knows the price of instant fame
we see the rain as kind and do not wait
to wonder at the slower afternoon
that might have been we lay it down because
some might be forced to blame it all on fate
and yet we know that things happen too soon
and we can almost hear the angry buzz

acrasia

 

show us a wall and we will start to wail
our hearts are weaker than the words we say
we do not think that we deserve the day

all of our honour has been put on sale
as if the whole palaver were a play
show us a wall and we will start to wail

our simplest purpose it seems is to fail
since we are made of an inferior clay
and cannot find even the easy way
show us a wall and we will start to wail

an empty room

an empty room is creature of this art
yours to restore to please the glancing eye
but none can fill the needs of every heart

the actor knows that he's playing a part
and every word and gesture is a lie
an empty room is creature of this art

grey words a standard meaning might impart
yet hide the full import from any spy
but none can fill the needs of every heart

from shade to shade the hero has to dart
with no good means to hold his hope up high
an empty room is creature of this art

this was the message we heard at the start
no pearl that we had from its bed to pry
but none can fill the needs of every heart

we write the place down on the larger chart
and look up at the swiftly clouding sky
an empty room is creature of this art
but none can fill the needs of every heart
 

time of embarcation

 

a single moment and one little slip
not quite enough to hurt or leave a sign
we have been warned it's time to board the ship

we do not have the presence just to sip
but must gulp down all of the new-pressed wine
a single moment and one little slip

our answers seem too rapid and too flip
the enemy's right at the borderline
we have been warned it's time to board the ship

the questions come at far too swift a clip
we think the ones who ask them are such swine
a single moment and one little slip

this has turned out to be a complex trip
so many things we have now to combine
we have been warned it's time to board the ship

the worst response might be a short sharp quip
about the bounds of human and divine
a single moment and one little slip
we have been warned it's time to board the ship