endless governors wait

 

if we could find a way to lay the ghost

of all our horrid memories and fears

leave it behind in the forgotten years

it would be something of a noble boast

instead we find we still are at the post

responsible for the most ancient cares

and sunk so deeply in those old affairs

that all must know that we are truly toast

there's nothing here left to allay the greed

that drove so many of our culture mad

instead we work hard to build up desire

for all the things that no one has to need

since full possession never made one glad

and all of us must go into the fire

ballade of the long return

 

we do not claim this place as any home

yet are most happy when we see the door

it takes a lot of energy to roam

and we are glad to reach a well-known shore

caring so little of the total score

that we might wonder that we took such pains

and pulled so heavily on all those chains

that hurt so much and calloused our small hands

we know the song and know all the refrains

these are the best we find of all the lands

 

there's something honest about the sea-foam

upon this beach something we adore

about the way the waves gently comb

the weedy rocks with their soapy amour

we take a pleasure in the endless roar

it seems a kind relief from all the strains

a blest reward for our long hard campaigns

and better music than we hear from bands

it eases all the fevers in our brains

these are the best we find of all the lands

 

we won't find written in the longest tome

the secrets that we have been looking for

but on this strand in the fresh morning gloam

we are aware the world holds something more

than horrid monsters good folk should abhor

we turn from seascapes to harder terrains

and look on hills rising above the plains

our feet move slowly on the hard-packed sands

we cannot know how much to us remains

these are the best we find of all the lands

 

prince of your force not one of us complains

since such great power only a god attains

and we are subject to all your commands

let us rejoice that these are your domains

these are the best we find of all the lands

where the road went wrong

 

we don't expect to fall in an abyss

the worst effects of change hit us so hard

we are not tempted when we know we miss

 

the worst that happens we think is a hiss

some sort of answer that we could discard

we don't expect to fall in an abyss

 

the journey we take should not end like this

in a sad place from which justice is barred

we are not tempted when we know we miss

 

we had thought matters were not quite amiss

but at the start all had been fully marred

we don't expect to fall in an abyss

 

the ending should have been in joy and bliss

instead we have only a jagged shard

we are not tempted when we know we miss

 

our full reward is just the traitor's kiss

and loss of all your honour and regard

we don't expect to fall in an abyss

we are not tempted when we know we miss