over the edge

in silence safety is not what we seek
so much relies on what we have to hide
we spend our lives pretending we're the meek

all that is said turns into one critique
of both our feigned humility and pride
in silence safety is not what we seek

you paint the ceiling in one bright clear streak
and let the others take on the hard side
we spend our lives pretending we're the meek

no one explains the source of every leak
nor why we cannot hold back the last tide
in silence safety is not what we seek

we catch no fish in the polluted creek
and do not know why our claim was denied
we spend our lives pretending we're the meek

you claim the hero's just another freak
and no one could have stopped the downhill slide
in silence safety is not what we seek
we spend our lives pretending we're the meek
 

grace in spring

where there are corners no broom might yet find
your eye can see what we would name delight
those truths and objects of a better sight
given to us by those who are still kind
a little sympathy's enough to bind
our mortal hearts together in a bright
uncaged and avian moment of pure flight
love is the purpose for which we're designed
the sun may hide behind the slow dull rain
and age is not a power we may defy
but still your voice and smile hold me in place
there is no better remedy for pain
no better vision that could fill my eye
and i am ever grateful for this grace

crick crack

we leave the older forms of joy behind
and do not understand just what they mean
there are too many things to keep in mind

we are to no good purpose now inclined
and will not play at cricket on the green
we leave the older forms of joy behind

with shallow customs we have been aligned
and count each benediction as obscene
there are too many things to keep in mind

you've let the thread of wisdom here unwind
and not one of your followers is keen
we leave the older forms of joy behind

you might have had full vigour unrefined
but that is in the realm of the unseen
there are too many things to keep in mind

from every corner we hear the unkind
voices demanding we depart the scene
we leave the older forms of joy behind
there are too many things to keep in mind

one star

we reach and hope for the one shining star
this is the only purpose we can know
only the open heart can go so far

so many things to make us what we are
a single river twisting in its flow
we reach and hope for the one shining star

you put the blinking insect in the jar
and laugh to see the glass refract the glow
only the open heart can go so far

no one regards the tune on the guitar
as just a gift that goodness might bestow
we reach and hope for the one shining star

instead we have the driver in the car
another one who worries that she's slow
only the open heart can go so far

we think the truest forms of life bizarre
and do not steel ourselves to take the blow
we reach and hope for the one shining star
only the open heart can go so far