time for a change

 

your duty is to serve without a pause

those who are worse than you and who must hurt

your heart and soul and give you justest cause

to overturn them and cast into dirt

all of their forces you must disconcert

those who expect that you are just a pawn

who do not think that you get your desert

night lasts its time but the earth turns to dawn

 

the ones who always get loudest applause

are those who in their way have to assert

entitlement both to tears and guffaws

it takes you little effort to exert

your claim to justice that is not covert

against a force that is not soon withdrawn

it is no easy matter to assert

night lasts its time but the earth turns to dawn

 

we find it written in a complex clause

that scholars have no reason to pervert

reason is subject to no human laws

we must to basic principles revert

and from its course the evil power divert

by dint of honesty as well as brawn

until the force of terror lies inert

night lasts its time but the earth turns to dawn

 

prince we are flattered you have not been curt

and have not chosen our hopes to subvert

these are the times when hopes are not yet gone

we might with many choices have to flirt

night lasts its time but the earth turns to dawn

twisted ballade

 

so much is owed to those who cannot speak

for all their silences and we who jest

at wounding others are the truly weak

too much to do as we go up the creek

computing meanings on our steady way

not knowing what it is we really seek

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

 

significance has now become antique

opinion is not subject here to test

and any question is dismissed as cheek

every approach can only be oblique

expressed as falsehood or as plain cliché

wondering now if any pain’s unique

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

 

desire cannot lift us above the reek

of those who suffer nor lead us to rest

while bodies remain hale and bones don’t creak

we are not yet exposed nor pierced by beak

nor yet the victims of unholy play

we’re heading down the last losing streak

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

 

prince this is not the time for you to freak

at the great weakness of our mortal clay

we’re fearful of the end of your critique

yet hoping all the time we will reach day

traffic control

this is the master key to the great gate
we hold it close and know it keeps desire
as far from us as we would modulate
our patient thoughts so much is on the wire
that we would not expect you to enquire
about such matters we must deem absurd
you would take after your departed sire
we are the keepers of the truest word

we will erase and then rewrite the slate
as long as you sing gravely in the choir
in tones that cheer and do not sneer or grate
you’ll find that we are conqueror and buyer
and that our hand is over you entire
all that you have we have indeed conferred
your very heart we know is out for hire
we are the keepers of the truest word

 

we are the masters of what you call fate
and will place you into the line of fire
for our good reasons and not out of hate
since all you have we easily acquire
we see you as just one suit of attire
or just another member of the herd
who cares how well you play upon the lyre
we are the keepers of the truest word

prince on such matters you are no denier
but keep your eye upon the noble bird
do not with any fools seek to conspire
we are the keepers of the truest word

 

 

 

 

 

at the core of the heart

we give applause at first by mere reflex
but laughter comes from something truly deep
to think about this long would not perplex
the ones who come to this from little sleep
for there are things here that will not long keep
we know of this because of long complaint
out of the heart both gods and monsters creep
joy is the best part of the human taint

we are in this thing right up to our necks
and should be grateful that the hill’s not steep
the better kind could be of either sex
we treat our equals as if they’re a heap
and not plain people we cannot just sweep
all they’re concerns aside without restraint
and not expect even a single peep
joy is the best part of the human taint

 

 

you may just think that your act is complex
and soon enough your profit hope to reap
and all your benefits to you annex
the overall result may seem quite cheap
above our heads you quite expect to leap
while keeping the appearance of a saint
no hostile thoughts into our minds should seep
joy is the best part of the human taint

 

prince you may find that you have cause to weep
as in the end your prospects turn out faint
we are not as you thought just humble sheep
joy is the best part of the human taint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wait for the next tide

the ship we sail on lacks engine and mast
it moves on tides that have no human name
on an eternal ocean each is cast
with hardly knowledge of their sire or dame
but certain plain reality’s a game
there’s only so far anyone could ride
this monster that no normal hand could tame
still each of us must wait for the next tide

on land or sea we fear the sudden blast
that shakes our feelings from their normal frame
knowing that the next blow could be the last
things never change but they are not the same
as when our forebears fought and overcame
for slowly into history they slide
and no one wants to bear the heavy blame
still each of us must wait for the next tide

the journey’s made soon be it slow or fast
though each is different each has but one aim
the future far too quickly becomes past
and each their sad preceders will defame
not caring once just what the earnest claim
had been nor why it was so swift denied
not one of us would think our reasons lame
still each of us must wait for the next tide

prince as the keeper of the brightest flame
you know the things that we still want to hide
and all the penalties of sudden fame
still each of us must wait for the next tide

the human race

we leave so many matters of true art
to folk whose souls have never taken wing
or think that they’re fit subjects of the mart
we want to think that we hear the sharp ring
of honest gold the clear and decent ching
of metal as we strike down from above
the message we all know is not the thing
but the securest bond is human love

we cannot go back now and just restart
with the initial energy and zing
since time and age will urge us to depart
but we desire to see another spring
for summer’s light upon the purple ling
to cast away from us the cumbering glove
hope’s in the child we push upon the swing
but the securest bond is human love

we can’t forget that each must play a part
one plays the fool while you just play the king
the final word is kept safe in the heart
we listen while another plucks the string
upon the winter winds our blessings fling
and give the happy child another shove
joy gives each note an extra sweeter ping
but the securest bond is human love

 prince what you want is what the people bring
while over each head floats the morning dove
each knows the happy moment when we sing
but the securest bond is human love

duty

to act or think is never to deprave
for those who do will never have the need
for foolish choices or to fake the brave
demeanour of the folk of truest breed
we are not those who ought to pay due heed
or to be closed and silent as the clam
the one who is determined they’ll succeed
will do much more than give a tinker’s damn

the ones who think they know will merely rave
at all the excellence and proper speed
we show and when they tell us to behave
discover that we know it’s just their greed
they will not listen to those who must plead
for help in countering the old flim-flam
we know however those who hope exceed
will do much more than give a tinker’s damn

we understand we must not only crave
the benefits to which we have agreed
but must our golden messages engrave
on walls which any passer-by can read
the tide that comes in too soon will recede
before we all in the last boat might cram
who take the thought for lesser than the deed
will do much more than give a tinker’s damn

prince you are much too certain to concede
that full grown sheep’s worth more than infant lamb
the proper agent it has been decreed
will do much more than give a tinker’s damn