twisted ballade

so much is owed to those who cannot speak

for all their silences and we who jest

at wounding others are the truly weak

too much to do as we go up the creek

computing meanings on our steady way

not knowing what it is we really seek

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

significance has now become antique

opinion is not subject here to test

and any question is dismissed as cheek

every approach can only be oblique

expressed as falsehood or as plain cliché

wondering now if any pain's unique

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

desire cannot lift us above the reek

of those who suffer nor lead us to rest

while bodies remain hale and bones don't creak

we are not yet exposed nor pierced by beak

nor yet the victims of unholy play

we're heading down the last losing streak

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

prince this is not the time for you to freak

at the great weakness of our mortal clay

we're fearful of the end of your critique

yet hoping all the time we will reach day