worn out magic

there are so many maxims we forget
our parents seek to teach us basic laws
but we pass through our childhoods with regret

our adult lives we do not want to set
into the concrete forms of final cause
there are so many maxims we forget

our duty is to hasten without let
towards the goal without a second's pause
but we pass through our childhoods with regret

beings of clay by many pains beset
our lives are patterned only by our flaws
there are so many maxims we forget

each sings a solo none join in duet
even the wisest teacher hems and haws
but we pass through our childhoods with regret

with all our credit we end up in debt
for life itself we pay for our applause
there are so many maxims we forget
but we pass through our childhoods with regret