an older undertaking

what winds come out of the restraining sea
mark every face with a new healthy sign
this should now be the end of all decline

there are new leaves on the starapple tree
and orange fruit on the encircling vine
what winds come out of the restraining sea

a child learns this upon each mother's knee
that all the meanings on the hill entwine
and not all anger should turn out malign
what winds come out of the restraining sea

so early in the morning

 

no one expects to see just where roads end
a setting moon looms brightly for us now
on so much effort do our hearts depend

on these dry hills no one will sell or lend
the honest word or let the truth endow
no one expects to see just where roads end

the pine tree died because you could not send
a single sentence to redeem your vow
on so much effort do our hearts depend

and so we pine and wait for lights to blend
and shadow's weight to rise from this last brow
no one expects to see just where roads end

if we go east we will not note the trend
but others will take up the hoe and plough
on so much effort do our hearts depend

these are the honours that we must defend
between this overture and the last bow
no one expects to see just where roads end
on so much effort do our hearts depend

the cattle are lowing

 

in rain and mist we leave cows to the grass
and hide our faces in the profane word
that we make sacred by our own absurd
sense and desire what is seen through the glass
now becomes what we name the lower class
but in this weather all our sight is blurred
and the full truth has not yet been conferred
so all that we can say is what the raas
give us a voice and we deny the sight
but what true explanation fills this need
unless we can receive the better fire
we need to have things locked up before night
set up the barriers that have been decreed
and have no time to tune the fucking lyre

just about ready

 

we find the absence filling us with fear
and cannot take the weight of all those stars
nature's raw night is more than we should bear

this is the time when we must cast off care
and not a single task our future mars
we find the absence filling us with fear

though chance and changes leave our feelings bare
depend upon it we shall break the bars
nature's raw night is more than we should bear

from time to time we give you a large share
and then expect you to face all the jars
we find the absence filling us with fear

some would have us see this as one more snare
and load our goods into the railway cars
nature's raw night is more than we should bear

leave me the oath and give me leave to swear
play a slow tune on all of your guitars
we find the absence filling us with fear
nature's raw night is more than we should bear