the pressure of recall

[fledgist]

 now there are echoes now hear silence fall

along with sunset all across the hill

for one short moment shadows on the wall

seem like the symbols of gigantic will

writing in darkest inks the coming night

not as despair but as remaking right

there is so much to do so much to say

our choices not so clear at end of day

but this is duty we are bound to cope

with all the tasks and burdens on our way

for we have nothing if we have not hope

 

we're told the journey's never for the small

and we don't doubt it there's a monstrous bill

that must be paid and horrors will befall

those who can't argue with sufficient skill

against their masters those with honest sight

have some good chance of seeing the new light

while those whose strategy is to delay

may find there are some other costs to pay

and twists and turns on the trip up the slope

but no great monsters that we'll need to slay

for we have nothing if we have not hope

 

on crest of mountain there's a merry hall

and those who get there do not come to ill

yet there's no triumph that would be so small

a payment for the effort and goodwill

that we put in nor are we folk of might

to carouse and rejoice on the warm height

just actors in one scene of a long play

torn between tragedy and cabaret

happy enough to have some towels and soap

to clean up at the end of a long day

for we have nothing if we have not hope

 

prince you may think that we have gone astray

stepped out of line and lost all our cachet

but there's a lot of play left to our rope

we will be watching for the sun's first ray

for we have nothing if we have not hope