Villanelle Against War

The monkeys in the trees laugh
Pelt the humans with nuts
The humans kneel before a golden calf

The humans are monkeys by half
Though they live in electric lit huts
The monkeys in the trees laugh

The monkeys scratch their heads at the humans’ craft
at ripping open each other’s mammal guts
The humans kneel before a golden calf

Monkeys don’t understand organized war and graft
They think colonels and artillery shells are nuts
The monkeys in the trees laugh

Monkeys don’t volunteer, hold lotteries or draft
Or risk exposing their smart soft butts
The humans kneel before a golden calf

Monkeys swing free from tree to tree, fore and aft
Humans with tanks and jeeps and feet are stuck in ruts
The monkeys in the trees laugh
The humans kneel before a golden calf

(C)2008, TheIrishSea

voyage of discovery

    you want to see the light within the shade
    but have not strength enough to hold the line
    now is the time to raise the last blockade

    so much depends on how the thing is made
    and on the manner of the early sign
    you want to see the light within the shade

    each morning you get up and ply your trade
    at midday you may pause and recombine
    now is the time to raise the last blockade

    at nightfall the best thinking has to fade
    we can't tell just which order to define
    you want to see the light within the shade

    the risen power discovers just how frayed
    are all the cords that make the ball of twine
    now is the time to raise the last blockade

    salvation is a myth since those who prayed
    and those who did not turn out just as fine
    you want to see the light within the shade
    now is the time to raise the last blockade

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

early up

    flashes of lightning wake me in the night
    and i lie calmly waiting for the rain
    knowing that soon there will not be a light

    so many things are set in black and white
    that are not easy and were never plain
    flashes of lightning wake me in the night

    the thunder says things that are seldom right
    reminding each of us of mortal pain
    knowing that soon there will not be a light

    we have long fallen from the better height
    and live these days for only petty gain
    flashes of lightning wake me in the night

    it is too late to beg the dog to bite
    against the leash we see it will not strain
    knowing that soon there will not be a light

    and you and i caught in the selfsame plight
    we know how much of hope we must sustain
    flashes of lightning wake me in the night
    knowing that soon there will not be a light

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

where now we choose

    there is a reason to stand by your name
    out of dark battles come honest desires
    you hold your place and wait for the new flame

    your knowledge comes from places not so tame
    and from the one who of all things inquires
    there is a reason to stand by your name

    when all's been done nothing remains the same
    the ones who tell you so are all proved liars
    you hold your place and wait for the new flame

    others will seek to pass on all the blame
    not waiting till the last old coot expires
    there is a reason to stand by your name

    not one of them would dare to speak of shame
    as bit by bit the open day expires
    you hold your place and wait for the new flame

    it's not so much that you know it's a game
    as that the answer is within the fires
    there is a reason to stand by your name
    you hold your place and wait for the new flame

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

honourable purpose

    all that will matter is that you get through
    until the clock rings each still gets to dream
    it seems most wrong that all the sky is blue

    someone will note the colour in the flue
    and send you messages of their esteem
    all that will matter is that you get through

    a signal comes for those who're in the crew
    and understand what's in the tightest beam
    it seems most wrong that all the sky is blue

    it will be over once you tie your shoe
    that is the upshot of some clever scheme
    all that will matter is that you get through

    it's not your job to cook somebody's stew
    or worry about what floats down the stream
    it seems most wrong that all the sky is blue

    our single duty is to watch the new
    starlight and then to share in the fresh cream
    all that will matter is that you get through
    it seems most wrong that all the sky is blue

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

old story time

    shards of old story simply must scatter
    we leave the past to grow into its own
    nothing at all that we do could matter

    winds pass and repass and never matter
    no tree could stand here without a groan
    shards of old story simply must scatter

    fools and jesters take the time to flatter
    that tale at least will soon become well known
    nothing at all that we do could matter

    against the wall the dragons still batter
    no one expects that they will break the stone
    shards of old story simply must scatter

    we watch as on the glass the fires spatter
    it will grow hot enough to show the bone
    nothing at all that we do could matter

    the world itself we know will come to shatter
    not a thing we do that is not soon known
    shards of old story simply must scatter
    nothing at all that we do could matter

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

at the boundary of time

    these are commands that all must not deny
    our lives depend on doing what we're told
    we promise heart and mind this is no lie

    so much seems obvious even to your eye
    and this is why we don't want to be bold
    \these are commands that all must not deny

    no one would listen were we now to cry
    you would sell us so quickly for that gold
    we promise heart and mind this is no lie

    reasons in plenty you would soon supply
    before the fires of justice had gone cold
    these are commands that all must not deny

    it is so easy for those who would buy
    your loyalty to cast you in their mould
    we promise heart and mind this is no lie

    another cæsar has to cast his die
    before the final version can unfold
    these are commands that all must not deny
    we promise heart and mind this is no lie

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

not enough horror

    you pause a moment and the shadow fades
    so much was said and then forgotten fast
    a lot of life goes missing in the shades

    the river is not silent it cascades
    in all its glory and it goes so fast
    you pause a moment and the shadow fades

    so many reasons to learn these new trades
    you know so well that magic does not last
    a lot of life goes missing in the shades

    we learn so quickly we'll get paid in spades
    there's barely time for us to be aghast
    you pause a moment and the shadow fades

    what happens now will happen in decades
    it isn't something safely in the past
    a lot of life goes missing in the shades

    not everything is out on the parades
    nor can we trust in just a single cast
    you pause a moment and the shadow fades
    a lot of life goes missing in the shades

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

oblivious

you pass the secret entrance every week
this is no mystery in open air
not knowing what it is you do not seek


such matters do not seem to us unique
with little need and so much time to spare
you pass the secret entrance every week


we know you almost always have to freak
so many reasons you would have to swear
not knowing what it is you do not seek


at times like these there's good cause for critique
we are caught up by princedoms of pure fear
you pass the secret entrance every week


you aren't allowed to envy the most chic
it's almost too much for the wise to bear
not know what it is you do not seek


so duty tells us when we have to speak
and does not give us signs of what is fair
you pass the secret entrance every week
not knowing what it is you do not seek

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

meditation on may day (or, gil scott-heron got it wrong)

    the revolution will be on the screen
    we watch as crowds erupt into the square
    the camera will catch each moving scene

    a smiling pundit with her charming mien
    will have some comment on the daily air
    the revolution will be on the screen

    we'll have a quick sight of some slim marine
    whose mission and whose purpose are not clear
    the camera will catch each moving scene

    we'll note the many banners red and green
    and wonder if the news reports are fair
    the revolution will be on the screen

    someone will tell us that it does not mean
    the same thing as it did in a past year
    the camera will catch each moving scene

    the image and the colour will be clean
    there is a magic that has to appear
    the revolution will be on the screen
    the camera will catch each moving scene

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister

horror show

    we let the monsters fall out of the fray
    the cheers of watchers silent in the dark
    no one knows now exactly what to say

    this is a game that no one knows to play
    we have forgotten just what is the spark
    we let the monsters fall out of the fray

    too easy here to let things go astray
    the answer is not simple clear nor stark
    no one knows now exactly what to say

    shadows fall early on the western bay
    and we see those who bear the ancient mark
    we let the monsters fall out of the fray

    this is not what we hoped at start of day
    the kingdom of the hunter and the shark
    no one knows now exactly what to say

    we don't expect that anyone will stay
    this world is not a safe and gentle park
    we let the monsters fall out of the fray
    no one knows now exactly what to say

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister