what's underneath the skin

some handy hap will no doubt occur
the next arrival we hope will announce
what does not in its way end but recur
or will out of this room go with a flounce
not now but later measured by the ounce
the answer will not on this day be heard
the prognosticators have yet to pronounce
not given but earned is how we have the word

not from a notional heaven this sharp burr
but from a source that we cannot renounce
the beast within with tooth and claw and fur
upon its target will most lightly pounce
never could we this plain nature denounce
the very thought of doing so's absurd
the syllables of hate we mispronounce
not given but earned is how we have the word

our vision's not one that we can simply blur
the future we can't just now announce
but in its way the sense we have can't err
there's room to move and even more to bounce
the savage beast not only lynx or ounce
our very thoughts and secrets overheard
cannot its own thoughts and mind renounce
not given but earned is how we have the word

prince though your enemies with ease you trounce
you cannot overcome the largest herd
the delators from every side come to denounce
not given but earned is how we have the word