moving from the dream

who gives a moment's thought to the first act
to mark the difference between was and is
the sort of thing that makes a simple quiz
turn into horrors we don't have to exact
the meat from matters to know that a fact
each man who does not claim what's his
worlds intersect and clash but we've got fizz
the solid globes into their cases racked
have not been given what they need to get
so we are marked by time and any chance
to find our answers has been given up
we're still not sure as to when we must forget
the sound of battle still we'll couch a lance
and hope this night to drink from victor's cup