more cannot be asked

this is the point where we must leave the dark
no matter where we go we cannot turn
our greatest teacher yet has been the shark

the dogs of anger never cease to bark
on every shore we watch the fires burn
this is the point where we must leave the dark

we see the moon rise and we have to mark
the place at which our hearts began to yearn
our greatest teacher yet has been the shark

your great mistake was waiting to embark
before you saw the star above the stern
this is the point where we must leave the dark

you treat the whole thing as some sort of lark
but have not seen the waters roil and churn
our greatest teacher yet has been the shark

in this location we value the spark
that each of us has managed to discern
this is the point where we must leave the dark
our greatest teacher yet has been the shark

in the distance cities burn

this is where all the heroes come to fail
you leave so many dead upon the track
while the whole story simply fades to black

we wonder why nobody's left to wail
all of the gold has gone into the sack
this is where all the heroes come to fail

you do not have the energy to rail
just bend and wait while others fill the pack
trudge on and never think once to turn back
this is where all the heroes come to fail
 

a kind of recursion

this does not lead to any sort of fall
but we are fearful of the changing sign
and do not want to be caught out of line
our eyes are always focused on the ball
so that we do not miss it when you haul
our carcasses to safety on the vine
giving us no clear chances to repine
the symbol has been painted on the wall
no reason's given for the change in time
we have to rush to find our proper place
but now the march begins and we must go
i find the meaning put in drasty rhyme
but have no better way to set my face
and no device is left to halt the flow
 

a natural truth

fearing urgent green
we turn our backs on summer
diving into work

missing from the tales

in the last castle dancing nobles wait
as angry peasants raise their banners high
and the republic's day at last is nigh

the frightened king blames silent gods and fate
and does not notice every face is dry
in the last castle dancing nobles wait

the flaming river seems in fullest spate
and voices echo to the cloudless sky
yet no one in the palace dares reply
in the last castle dancing nobles wait

a plea for no excuses

 the youth retreats too long into the child
we smile but we must speak and not be slow
each one knows well how long he has to go

the messages in a huge heap are piled
and now we have to watch out for the crow
the youth retreats too long into the child

by sweet inanities we aren't beguiled
there are some things it is so plain to know
we send you out into that constant flow
the youth retreats too long into the child

de profundis

 

those who see darkness always miss the stars
we give ourselves no credit for good art
the world is not made up of mad bazaars

we are bound in by self-imagined bars
that keep us and our freedom far apart
those who see darkness always miss the stars

you throw our luggage onto random cars
and then laugh madly as you watch us dart
the world is not made up of mad bazaars

all our heroics have left us with scars
our faces each form a sort of odd chart
those who see darkness always miss the stars

we form the ash of some well-smoked cigars
and in the end no one will give a fart
the world is not made up of mad bazaars

in victory some band plays on guitars
a tune that sings in pain to every heart
those who see darkness always miss the stars
the world is not made up of mad bazaars