ill fares the land

 you counted golden the worth of your name

now see it tarnished by this acid rain

not generations will remove the stain

of knowing you thought life and death a game

worth playing just so you won greatest fame

while blood and water swirl down every drain

and soldiers laugh at each new orphan's pain

you speak of cities that might feel the flame

so fools cry out and call on you for aid

while skies turn darker and rivers run dry

your mighty shadow seems to many blessed

by divine power so you lead the parade

smiling as you're the focus of each eye

ready to guide us on with massive zest

but no so eager to confront the test

at sight of hardship your star seems to fade

and calls for effort lead your force to die

we ask for help but you won't make the grade

instead you look down from a brazen sky

as the red sun sinks into furthest west

the journey's long the hills hard to ascend

but choosing you is something we could mend

come walk on mountain

 words seem to scatter down the shadowed hill

like running goats in the fast-fading light

there's too much work to do and soon comes night

and care is needed with this long cane-bill

so much of life seems to defy plain will

beauty is just another boring sight

to be ignored while getting the job right

since practice makes each lad develop skill

this evening dapple under mango trees

comes with an odour of harvested spice

soon we will pass the wall and close the gate

be very grateful for the evening breeze

and happy to have salt-meat with our rice

not thinking how our meanings might translate

eyes long blind

 too easy it is these days to be hip

but one can be a fool at any age

just move towards the door at a fast clip

 

you think that you are wise and not a dip

yet all of us will boo you off the stage

too easy it is these days to be hip

 

so simple to load wisdom on a chip

no effort then to read the weather-gauge

just move towards the door at a fast clip

 

it is no crime to give your elders lip

you have to laugh at their most earnest rage

too easy it is these days to be hip

 

a normal matter to let anger rip

the walls of cities and unbar the cage

just move towards the door at a fast clip

 

until the moment you too lose your grip

and learn your story has a closing page

too easy is it these days to be hip

just move towards the door at a fast clip