preparation is not enough

 i set my ducks and dolphins in a row
outside the clouds are massing heavy grey
these days we wait to learn about the flow

there are so many secrets there below
that you have no idea just what to say
i set my ducks and dolphins in a row

another journey might end with a blow
those actors tell us how to stage the play
these days we wait to learn about the flow

your agents have not put us in the know
and there are teachers who forget the way
i set my ducks and dolphins in a row

to get beyond the moment we must grow
into our skins and then we must inveigh
these days we wait to learn about the flow

when the rain comes the river will be slow
and we will have no knowledge of the day
i set my ducks and dolphins in a row
these days we wait to learn about the flow

having a last fling

 

so much do do before we lose the track
an echo of the time before we knew
now all of our recalling fades to black

throw your disgust and joy into the sack
and be departed before the first dew
so much to do before we lose the track

your secret agent's the one with the knack
for telling others to forsake the view
now all of our recalling fades to black

survive the mauling and you get the flack
from those who cannot bear the ballyhoo
so much to do before we lose the track

the rule in palace fails in common shack
the queen herself would have to boil the glue
now all of our recalling fades to black

this is the meaning of the firm attack
what happens when we tune the set to blue
so much to do before we lose the track
now all of our recalling fades to black

i have my stick

 

this was the island of no fevered dream
now we forget just how much hope we had
the bomb and gun have driven us all mad

we lost our mind on the mistaken gleam
and took up every single stupid fad
this was the island of no fevered dream

now we watch all the words turn into steam
the culture long ago was driven mad
and not a one of us is even sad
this was the island of no fevered dream