ballade of eternal war

some parts of memory are never green

pressed into service they cannot retire

nor can they hide behind a pleasant screen

too many symbols have come down the wire

too many songs been belted out by choir

it is the season for us to deceive

not just ourselves but those who have to grieve

and have no time to beg nor to deplore

so much their sorrow that we can't conceive

yet when we started we all knew the score

there is not time for anger nor for spleen

nor any sentiments we don't require

these are not matters to bee heard or seen

you aren't allowed to think nor to aspire

about such things don't bother to enquire

just take a breath and give the foe a heave

tell folks to go when it is time to leave

just say enough and not a sentence more

there is no good that any will achieve

yet when we started we all knew the score

our thoughts have all been branded as obscene

and all our books must go into the fire

our presence here shall soon have never been

that is the goal at which we must conspire

our signal glory is to be denier

of that which honest folk might all believe

remove those things so no one can retrieve

and once we've finished simply close the door

those who thought otherwise are just naïve

yet when when we started we all knew the score

prince there's so much that you will not achieve

because our target you just can't perceive

so many good materials we abhor

since all we do is shatter and bereave

yet when we started we all knew the score