horses passing in darkness

all through the longest hours of the night guard
the marching madness gripped our souls and feet
ghosts and machines ran all through the backyard
the powers and principalities in their circuits meet
what of the night what of the tongues that treat
each of the watches as a source of death and power
the hours pass by each of them yet more fleet
we look down on the valley from the dark tower

what's not so clear is why they'd call it hard
to say the things that folks say when they greet
the allocation of places on the queen's dance card
is not a matter for discussion in the public street
nor what the monarch does in her darkest retreat
those who ask such questions will have to cower
in fear that they might with screams repeat
we look down on the valley from the dark tower

the night that passes is not smooth but scarred
by what we cannot speak of that's not cheat
but an admission that the doors are barred
with resolution we proclaim the coming heat
will not be killing instead we'll walk the beat
while all around us the noisome weeds do flower
the blight has struck the golden orient wheat
we look down on the valley from the dark tower

prince as you think that life and hope are sweet
recall if you may that you've a noble dower
and others have not the gold left to compete
we look down on the valley from the dark tower