Willow Walk

man o’war hill

we chose at last the path out of deep night

through tangled vines and withes into clean air

nothing we gained came to us just by right

 

what we'd been told was that the facts would bite

each normal mind and send us to despair

we chose at last the path out of deep night

 

not with relief but knowing that a fight

would have to come and that no one would care

nothing we gained came to us just by right

 

instead we seemed the victims of some spite

from distant past inheritors of fear

we chose at last the path out of deep night

 

although each thought that hope was truly slight

the only thing we had to do was dare

nothing we gained came to us just by right

 

we were the folk throughout bereft of light

who never thought the process could be fair

we chose at last the path out of deep night

nothing we gained came to us just by right

love ties its hopes

love ties its hopes to what it thinks a rock

the furthest outlier of a merry isle

where there's no foe except the hateful clock

 

your modesty inclines you to take stock

in all those things that we would not revile

love ties its hopes to what it thinks a rock

 

impervious to any mortal shock

we hope to land and stay for quite a while

where there's no foe except the hateful clock

 

our ship is not for any normal dock

we've gone way past the ordinary style

love ties its hopes to what it thinks a rock

 

rejects enclosure will break every lock

and has more power still than any bile

where there's no foe except the hateful clock

 

though you despise and though you still may mock

our sacred purpose you cannot defile

love ties its hopes to what it thinks a rock

where there's no foe except the hateful clock

autumn vintage

there's nothing noble in this kind of rot

we weather storms but reach no harbour sure

our choice is clear pay up or lose the plot

 

some day there is an answer this time not

no other means our safety to ensure

there's nothing noble in this kind of rot

 

we tell ourselves there is but we forgot

how much of nonsense we have to endure

our choice is clear pay up or lose the plot

 

like children here with noses full of snot

we cannot breathe and cannot find the cure

there's nothing noble in this kind of rot

 

so we must leave but first undo the knot

that binds with certainty both raw and pure

our choice is clear pay up and lose the plot

 

leaving behind enough to fill the slot

in hope that reason will some day mature

there's nothing noble in this kind of rot

our choice is clear pay up and lose the plot

true gospel

it never matters what you truly think

the prize turns to be only fools' gold

and what is written's just a waste of ink

 

no hero's there to save you on the brink

nor is the story like what you were told

it never matters what you truly think

 

since each of us is just another link

now this whole history is very old

and what is written's just a waste of ink

 

don't whine or argue you'll go in the clink

while all the scoundrels still shall be extolled

it never matters what you truly think

 

as each tortfeasor is passed on the wink

while the examiner will treat you cold

and what is written's just a waste of ink

 

such is the law so just go have a drink

forget about the foolish and the bold

it never matters what you truly think

and what is written's just a waste of ink

majordomo

strange that the monster is not some wild beast

but kind-faced human with a ready smile

ready to welcome victims to the feast

 

not as the guests but to be tied and fleeced

surprised they were so easy to beguile

strange that the monster is not some wild beast

 

as in the stories told in the warm east

simple in form but so complex in style

ready to welcome victims to the feast

 

in such a form they think they'll be released

if they'll just come and wait a little while

strange that the monster is not some wild beast

 

but looks so gentle with face lined and creased

by age and weather absent of all bile

ready to welcome victims to the feast

 

as if he were some calm presiding priest

whose attitude is wholly versatile

strange that the monster is not some wild beast

ready to welcome victims to the feast

no turquoise seas

this journey is the one we do not make

across no turquoise seas to no green isle

do not be anxious there's no chain to break

 

you have been silent for your own soul's sake

knowing that truth is always out of style

this journey is the one we do not make

 

to find the place where no one's on the take

and justice won't delay a goodly while

do not be anxious there's no chain to break

 

except the one that's not so hard to fake

yet that we can't unlink from with a file

this journey is the one we do not make

 

from home to haven down the stream to lake

along with those the ancient would revile

do not be anxious there's no chain to break

 

nor any chime that we want you to shake

but reasons plenty to coax one last smile

this journey is the one we do not make

do not be anxious there's no chain to break