into the abyss

 it's not enough to say you know the pain
year after year the world comes down this
one sole demand that you must bear the strain

others receive the prize and get the gain
you are the one who listens to the hiss
it's not enough to say you know the pain

once more your goods are cast upon the wain
you cannot say just what it is you'll miss
one sole demand that you must bear the strain

for all the time that you have to abstain
no one would say that you have been remiss
it's not enough to say you know the pain

others would think that you might still complain
while they each take their turn enjoying bliss
one sole demand that you must bear the strain

the world insists that you have to hold sane
although you won't receive a single kiss
it's not enough to say you know the pain
one sole demand that you must bear the strain

the wrong dream

 

what is best measured is not always lost
we are not sure of what we might soon need
this is the law that others have decreed
we pay for what we owe in heat and frost
the true have long ago seen what was tossed
out of the boat by those who thought that greed
alone would guide us to the greater deed
and known the pain and had to pay the cost
we who remain are sure only that now
others will earn the wages of our work
while we view rivers of our flowing tears
it was so easy then to take a vow
but then the world entire would go berserk
and pass to us the bill for all the years

out into the world

these are the ones who know the hidden name
we do not heed their warning as we pass
so all too soon we fall into the flame

too soon we hunger for praise and acclaim
and do not think the chink of gold too crass
these are the ones who know the hidden name

the chase itself we count as far too tame
and think ourselves early put out to grass
so all too soon we fall into the flame

those who would think an explanation lame
have never been stuck deep in the morass
these are the ones who know the hidden name

this is no trickery late in the game
we do not pay you off for cheek or sass
so all too soon we fall into the flame

yours is the secret not the pride or shame
the value's not contained in weight or mass
these are the ones who know the hidden name
so all too soon we fall into the flame

 

the umpires speak

we set the bounds on what you want of life
you play the fool and do not care who knows
nor what the outcome of the early throws

no eager followers of drum or fife
this is the reason no one comes to blows
we set the bounds on what you want of life

beyond the wall is the great realm of strife
no garden for the lily or the rose
but not the kingdom of the waiting crows
we set the bounds on what you want of life