out of the circle

no time to pause
a second's glance
reveals the laws
not made by chance
the holy cause
will now advance
no time to pause
a second's glance

await the rule
before you act
don't play the fool
and show some tact
go back to school
and respect fact
await the rule
before you act

do not deny
you want to leave
under the sky
plots we unweave
you have to lie
but can't deceive
do not deny
you want to leave

upon the shore
one last regret
we do no more
the course is set
what came before
has now been met
upon the shore
one last regret

one last regret
upon the shore
you want to leave
do not deny
before you act
await the rule
a second's glance
no time to pause
we know the flaws
you lead the dance
no useful tool
is so compact
the truth is dry
though we believe
justice a whore
we will win yet

nothing to see

the rules are clear
we have no choice
there's no fresh air
no ringing voice
we have to care
but not rejoice

allow some thought
of what we need
twixt is and ought
the monsters breed
all goes for naught
when giants feed

in the deep dark
we see no stars
but still may mark
the sounds of cars
no dogs may bark
but there are jars

allow each heart
to have its say
play no loud part
but smile with day
your simple art
shows us the way

the rules are hard
and cause great pain
each road's now barred
but there's no rain
we've no regard
for those who strain

allow each mind
to search the earth
bring humankind
to better birth
teach dumb and blind
the springs of mirth

no rules are just
no gods will bless
the ones who must
achieve success
and yet their trust
was no excess

permit the true
to end their task
give what is due
without a mask
accept the new
and do not ask

what's left to master

if stories are told
on such rainy days
we might yet grow old
knowing better ways

no sort of measure
even of plain time
no hidden treasure
to fill out the rhyme

a kind of magic
we have required
it's never tragic
to see them fired

one horse and rider
galloping so fast
a crawling spider
survives the great blast

this music flowing
filling up each heart
the maples glowing
will each play their part

there is a cancer
we can't ever cure
to give the answer
means we're not pure

the gate is broken
this we remember
the lie is spoken
truth is an ember

we name the teacher
who gives us all hope
we leave the preacher
hanging on a rope

no time left to pause
no world left to choose
we suffer the laws
and we win or lose

rules for living

soft now the rain
under dull grey
this is the way
we turn again

all that is plain
on this good day
is that we stay
far from the strain

we see the stain
of dirt and clay
no one could say
there is no gain

and so the main
text of the play
sadly we may
account as pain

the imperial burden

We know that young men and women go to die
in this dumb war, begun for no good reason;
their lives were given for nothing but a lie
but pointing that out is defined as treason.

Wherefore and why we may not now enquire
lest we find ourselves cast in a distant prison;
the problem is we're led by a blatant liar
who on dead backs to greatest heights has risen.

We're told he suffers when he learns the news
of deaths and woundings, daily ever more
arriving in silence; we're told these are the dues
of empire's glory, we have not hearts that soar

at knowing that we're doing our sombre duty
to save the lives of millions, or else to keep
great danger from us; sure there's some booty,
some stolen treasures, our soldier's don't sleep

on the job, they're normal working folk
and, if light-fingered, they've got all the right
that keeping us free from some evil yoke
allows them in the watches of each night.

Our leader knows all this, and suffers long
the pain of seeing others do the dying;
but this will serve to keep the country strong,
and that must justify the death and lying.

cantiga de amigo

o dearest one please walk today with me
down to the beach beside the risen sea
to sit a while and watch the surging waves

o dearest one do not deny me this
by the seashore a single long-sought kiss
as we sit here watching the surging waves

o dearest one let us go at once this day
down to the shore to watch the ocean play
and sit a while and watch the surging waves

o dearest one i bid you come with me this night
down to the shore in the bright moonlight
to sit a while and watch the surging waves