rights of passage

 the tiny daisies blossom by the road
so much of memory must be exposed
this is the way and so the honest code

we wonder why the last cock never crowed
none of the letters ever was transposed
the tiny daisies blossom by the road

this village turns out no secure abode
all of our secrets are too soon disclosed
this is the way and so the honest code

we take up once again the normal load
sooner by far than we had once supposed
the tiny daisies blossom by the road

you did not ask if when the river flowed
the proper music had yet been composed
this is the way and so the honest code

soon all will settle into mortal mode
and you will find out that you have been hosed
the tiny daisies blossom by the road
this is the way and so the honest code

ear to the ground

 

how much we do not know we learn too late
this is the teaching of the school beneath
to leave the weapon safely in its sheath
and not to tamper hastily with fate
no hurry till the storms of time abate
we've seen what monsters lurk on the high heat
hand know the meaning of those shining teeth
there are some certainties beyond the gate
now having wisdom does not mean to smile
only at those who have not paid the fee
but proper kindness has a sharpish price
and there is no simple way we could revile
the ones who thought they had to bend the knee
not knowing that we'd made the sacrifice

all in its turn

 listen and the world resolves in heat
you do not run too fast to reach the line
knowing that soon the morning will decline

some other judge will soon be in the seat
to mete out sentence and impose the fine
listen and the world resolves in heat

other fine players soon must set the beat
and their whole duty is to seem benign
while other heroes come right in to dine
listen and the world resolves in heat