meeting the hour

 the universe it seems must turn to stone

all of our hopes must vanish into mist

we face the pain and horror all alone

 

you do not hear us when we have to groan

and voices cry upon us to desist

the universe it seems must turn to stone

 

silence is broken by a little moan

not one of you will rush here to assist

we face the pain and horror all alone

 

upon the heights another wind has blown

the blossom by another sun been kissed

the universe it seems must turn to stone

 

for what's been done nobody could atone

this is a force that none could here resist

we face the pain and horror all alone

 

our needs have been stripped to the very bone

we aren't expected ever to persist

the universe it seems must turn to stone

we face the pain and horror all alone

voice at the temple

 so much to say and we are out of touch

with what belongs to our most secret heart

nothing remains not even a small crutch

to hold us up this is not on our part

the source of pain the reason for our smart

what makes us grow will lead us from the fire

take us to ease and much abate our ire

all that we plan to do is outlive shame

ignore the voices of the angry choir

and in our time ignite a living flame

 

what has been hidden in the deepest hutch

becomes a matter for the painter's art

it starts out little but it becomes much

we may not recognise it at the start

but learn to know it before we depart

as something never easy to acquire

a teaching that must pass from child to sire

that might reverse the meaning of the game

this is the thing about which we inquire

and in our time ignite a living flame

 

we make our manses pretty and as such

have many hidden words we must impart

before we let the visions leave our clutch

so we cannot allow the light to dart

our of our hands into the open mart

nor can we let you tune upon your lyre

the sounds that might with ease go even higher

instead we hold you down and keep you tame

insist that you do nothing but admire

and in our time ignite a living flame

 

prince you may think yourself a proper flyer

controller of your own life and desire

but there are forces here you dare not name

that will take over when at last you tire

and in our time ignite a living flame