Willow Walk

the true republic

the true republic lies beneath the sea

a single bound will take you straightway there

it's our first homeland where we were born free

look where the master will not let you see

far past the fictive kingdoms of the air

the true republic lies beneath the sea

no effort's needed for each one to flee

just leave right now and be at ease from care

it's our first homeland where we were born free

where we learnt justice at our mother's knee

return' so easy we just have to dare

the true republic lies beneath the sea

not far at all we note the mango tree

the purple bloom the old man on his chair

it's our first homeland where we were born free

the place of order where we long to be

and it is simple to end the affair

the true republic lies beneath the sea

it's our first homeland where we were born free

a better kind of tale

a missionary aching to be done

with all the trappings of the muddy past

shed the sad history as a worm its cast

be new and happy in the springtime sun

we know who has this and there is not one

secure or guarded from the sullen blast

of deep-felt hatred striking at the last

signs of old story shouting out they've won

there are some means of easing the old ire

of turning rage back into wholesome ways

of decent living yet we watch each fail

as all our truths are cast into the fire

just so a new world can face different days

and there can be a better kind of tale

o povo é quem mais ordena

no one this day shall say they stood aloof

when the new rose first came into fresh flower

and none dared crush the bloom beneath a hoof

 

we would have faced a certain harsh reproof

no long before but all changed in an hour

no one this day shall say they stood aloof

 

nor that the entire fabric warp and woof

had stayed the same new blossom in each bower

and none dared crush the bloom beneath a hoof

 

for fear of learning just how great the goof

would harm the doer dread would them devour

no one this day shall say they stood aloof

 

the acts are real we see that there's no spoof

of change or meaning the old world we scour

and none dared crush the bloom beneath a hoof

 

today we saw the crowds from every roof

acclaim as honour took the seat of power

no one this day shall say they stood aloof

and none dared crush the bloom beneath a hoof

for all some light

there are no answers but the simple fact

that we have asked will make some things more clear

even to those for whom the worlds appear

as cheap illusions or as the abstract

daubings of visions that might not attract

the subtler gaze here in this colder air

what we must ask is that the wise compare

the truths of things and then that they just act

not all who reach this place have learnt to look

at the right angles where they might discern

those matters not for ordinary sight

yet what we find in not so secret book

for those who have the time truly to learn

is that there is each day for all some light

forbear

in this stark universe no secrets left

for hawk-eyed seekers that's what we must know

to keep our minds still centred on the flow

of bodies moving with uncertain heft

from truth to fact like water from the snow

in this stark universe no secrets left

so what we find is that some sort of theft

has changed the weight of matters it is so

uncertain now and we are trapped below

in this stark universe no secrets left

best means of good accord

resounding horns in deep glittering cave

not music now nor urgent call of hunt

a message that is both banal and blunt

containing nothing that we need or crave

yet full of meaning those who are so brave

may striking upward swiftly to confront

the enemy who blasts may hear them grunt

with sudden shock of nothing left to save

our hope is not in music nor in joy

of victory hard won by those who fought

without the expectation of reward

we seek instead the means to best employ

the tools of wisdom and the ways of thought

to bring about best means of good accord

the better life

those places that are marked on every map

we drew in childhood to ensure our play

had structure in the mind that they would stay

solidly longer than the infant pap

of other games would drift through every nap

shaping the dream out of imagined clay

to make a brightness greater than the day

when ordinary life was only crap

from word to vision the true path is clear

so that you take it with eyes truly cold

through the divisions of a world in strife

with all the forces that would shred and tear

your heart and spirit as you become old

reject them all and choose the better life

to win or lose in grace

all that we know has been subject to loss

of definition and of common sense

so we make of the remnant a pretense

and aim to sneak our last hard words across

the barrier between plain truth and dross

but find that we are caught up on that fence

lacking a guide and with no good defense

our coins have come up wrong side on the toss

no messengers will reach the happy place

where children think that justice is at home

to  give report now that is no regret

for those who stand to win or lose in grace

or find what's hidden underneath the foam

the seat is ready and the board is set

beyond the eastern shore

far out beyond the eastern shore

where all our senses ought to fail

the howling realm of shark and whale

exist dim hints of something more

another place on larger scale

far out beyond the eastern shore

what's there is easy to ignore

the oceans are too wide to sail

waters are deep winds loudly wail

far out beyond the eastern shore

the mistress of wit

not only sounds but senses we require

to build the worlds in which our hearts will fit

all meanings in the end must add to fire

in order that we see that those who hire

the truth in stages do not crimes commit

not only sounds but senses we require

to bring our vision to a place that's higher

beyond the limits where the foolish sit

all meanings in the end must add to fire

when what comes after means we must retire

from all our options while the times permit

not only sounds but senses we require

for matters that will lead all to aspire

far past the normal so that atoms split

all meanings in the end must add to to fire

that is the certainty life is no liar

she's the true joker the mistress of wit

not only sounds but senses we require

all meanings in the end must add to fire

no way back to beauty

when after hard night’s sleep you wake to shock

of world everted by some horrid act

that frightens into childhood though the fact

is not so dangerous as to unlock

those charging monsters that good adults block

assuring you that though we've been attacked

the enemy will suffer the impact

and we will be as stalwart as the rock

the sounds of battle will not this day reach

our tender ears the voices urge stay calm

just go about your life and do your duty

yet they are silent those who ought to teach

the urgent lesson that there is no balm

to ease the pain and no way back to beauty