simple spices

a bit of time and we acquire the taste
no matter what the hour we have to grow
we never find much need for pain or haste

the statue has not been smashed or defaced
it stands for all the things we hate to know
a bit of time and we acquire the taste

we tell our children they have to be chaste
that patience matters that they must be slow
we never find much need for pain or haste

but never speak of those who sped or raced
to beat the tyrant or to speed the glow
a bit of time and we acquire the taste

so much of memory has been erased
that consciousness can't have a steady flow
we never find much need for pain or haste

we never count life as a loss or waste
with final winners being worm and crow
a bit of time and we acquire the taste
we never find much need for pain or haste