Strutting to a saunter slow
Hooved and tamed three ponies go.

I pray to every god above,
"Return to me my only Love!"
But the sole reply is god below,
"She wants for you in darkest throes."

A cathedral stands the space between
The tears of 'heaven and her Queen'
And whet upon that concrete slab
Man loosens iron grip on Mab.

A fire coursing through these veins
Melts every trace of ice away.

A child in a manger lies
His gentle mother at his side
Her husband silent strong is found
Angelic chorus gathers 'round
A shepherd follows bright! a star
Sages come from lands afar
Then 'neath a roof outside an inn
We sing a silent song to him.

As winter falls the world around . . .
All of Life sleeps in the ground.
Wait we on a royal thing . . .
The Resurrection of the spring.

If we each deserved our lot
Nuthin' we'd 'ave ever got

But 'ere we are with what we 'ave
And there ain't nuthin' wrong with that.

Autumn loves some leaves to gold
And some to red or brown of old,
For she must count all leaves as lost
Once laid low in hoary frost.

So until by Winter's icy breath
All is made as cold as death,
Autumn loves some leaves to gold
And some to red or brown of old.

I watch the lights
Of all the cars ahead
Snake around the bends
And dance along the snow
And through the trees.

The pitter-patter on the panes
Is music of the autumn rains

'Til barren tree and downy snow
Tell the fall, "It's time to go."

For cloud, no starry sky above,
Yet walk we slow in early love.

Father, did you cry then--when you heard?
      Yes, my son ... at every word ...

I paint the skies--above, below--
In deepest shades, in richest blue,
Yet leave I the fire between
For you to fill in as you please.

A cross I wear upon my hand
Enamelled black on silver band--
A ring which speaketh story old,
"Memento mori." writ in bold.

Come, Toy Soldier!  Join de fight!
De Teddies have secured de Height.
Dey took out Wex and Barbie too!
Dey're makin' fools a' me an' you!

We'll make 'em pay for what dey've done!
We'll beat de stuffing out'a dem!
We'll topple d'ose oppwessive Bears,
But we'll hav' to catch dem unawares....

Being, Goodness--Beauty too--
Are with Oneness and with Truth
The selfsame Thing above all things,
The highest King above all kings.

Our Cenotaphs stand guard at night,
Keeping watch with those that died:
With men of war and courage true--
But with boys afraid and maidens too.

Remember, lad, these names now dry:
They bled and breathed as you and I;
As you and I, their vices had--
But were country slain, my lad.
      Remember that.

With our noses in our books,
   Steady ...
      Tranquil ...
         Silence rules....

A full moon lights the land around
For a silvery, howling iron,
Screeching on her rails.

Dimly I recall
Faded suns
Of yesteryears.

A cup of tea
      Warms your hands
            In a chilly air
And kindles then
      A heart
         Or two.

O! soft! mine heart
For it begins!
   An "I suppose"--
      After still
         An' pause....

A dead man on a tree is hanged:
It bores my heart to see
Poured from his side
Blood, water, light--
And his mother at his feet.

She in joyful balance treads
A track of rail, beneath her hid
In veil of waning skylight dim,
Then walks the planks along with him.

Battered bruised I run away
From bickering and spite;
At the doorstep to my broken home
I leave my former life.

I wander now the world alone--
My past is dead to me.
I wander now the world alone--
But the dead can never leave.

All quick the wings
   A' speeding Time!
Yet ever slow the Present
   Trudges on.

Silent slow
A moment passes by
      And then another
Yet, perchance, not the next.

In the rotting cavern of my chest
A thousand crawling things make nest.

Rest ye now in hopeful glee--
Angels, keep her always free
      And light of heart--
            And, God,
When You know that they cannot:
See her through the trial pain
And mend her heart full whole again.

Come with me and be my Love
And we will journey ever on.

You leave now for a foreign land
From whence you cannot come again.
Must I here alone remain?
O! come and be my Love again....

Rock we steady off to sleep
In iron casket parting deep:
It is, perhaps, my lot to live
And drown my soul in sandy sieve.

A wind breathes silent by
As we first embrace.

If Judas sin to you seem fair
Give your heart to Love's repair
And give to fancy Beauty bright
To see you through the endless night;

Then you may on Hope light wings
Begin to see the Good in things.

Your dreams, Young Man,
Where did they go?
      Couldn't tell ya.
      Just dunno.

My boy, it's time to go.
      I know ...
            I know....

Would that I had the words to say
Come and be with me alway.