arising brick by brick

a distant glimmering of urgent light
requires no thought nor even that we act
too soon the happy day must turn to night

we're every one of us in the same plight
the glass we look into is chipped and cracked
a distant glimmering of urgent light

not one of us who claims the second sight
could tell us what is lie and what plain fact
too soon the happy day must turn to night

right now all matters are both clear and bright
but every face will soon find itself smacked
a distant glimmering of urgent light

the chance of making all things good is slight
nobody by the powers has been backed
too soon the happy day must turn to night

we earn the shadow as a human right
do not insist on delicate contact
a distant glimmering of urgent light
too soon the happy day must turn to night