Modern Regret

Rehashing regrets
What does it get
But moments of pain
Relived again

Healthy reflection
Will guide projection
But wallowing in woes
No benefit shows

The modern life
With it's added strife
Is headed the way
Of yesterday

Friendly Leaves

In my hours of deepest pondering

When thoughts have turned to darkness wandering

  And hope has all but faded

I think of cold but gentle showers

Which feed the roots to bloom the flowers 

  And the leaves by which I'm shaded

So when the sun will burn too bright

The cool and moist of rainy nights

  Found stored in friendly plants

Then though the weather may be wild

Protected I might find it mild

  As under the boughs I'll dance

A Prayer for Civilization

Open the eyes of those who've closed them

Let them see the heavens and the sun

Starry skies full of glistening gems

Whose light might reach us in years to come

Protect all the children that are to be born

Let them experience a world without scorn

Give us all safe and reliable shelter

For when the rains pour or the sun rays swelter

Let our homes be more than just roofs overhead

With big dinner tables and warm cozy beds

Cover our fault lines with earthquake proof buildings 

So nothing will fall on the heads of our children

Smooth out the stairs at the universities

So everyone can access them more easily

Give us wisdom to percieve our surroundings

And courage to change them with voices resounding

And forgive us when we misstep or misspeak

But let us move closer to horizons we seek

At the end of the day let us look up and smile

Aware that our paths will continue a while

And let us never lose our faith

In ourselves and in a power that's greater

Let us experience true unity

Together we're stronger than alone we can be

Allow us to discover new ways to unite

New melodies as in harmony we sing

Let us learn and grow out in the sunlight

And dance in whatever the weather might bring

Grandfather Clock

Will today's children recognize "tick-toc"

Will they even associate it with clocks

Now that everything's electric

I still remember the sound of the chime

Telling all of my grandfather's house the time

And how his clock would tick

But now I go back to visit and find

That old clock sits in need of a wind

But no one takes the time

So silent in the corner it stands

Holding up it's motionless hands
A relic of days gone by

Follow the Leader

I'm in front if I convince you I am

And you just must go where I lead you

You won't be prepared to see through my scam

Living on the scraps that I feed you

I'll water 'em down so they're easy to swallow

I don't want you thinking I'd make you

But soon you're dependant on someone to follow

Just don't question where I'll take you

I assure you you'll see that you and me

Will make such a like-minded couple

And I'll let you know just how you should be

So you won't go and cause any trouble

And while you're following me around

I might ask for your opinion

And then I'll decide which way we're bound

And you'll be such useful minion

Because I'm the leader if you follow me

And you don't try to compromise

And we'll be as happy as I can be

Or at least as I can devise

Handed

Waiting for words from the mouths of the dumb
Waiting for a day that's already come
But yet the crowd still lingers

If you don't try yourself you won't understand
You won't know the power you hold in your hand
If you never flex your fingers

For strength comes from the arm no more
Ever since the pen's mightier than the sword
It's all in how you say it

Be careful how your words are spelt
And with your hand and how it's dealt
So that it's safe to play it

Epiphenomena

What to save and what to spend

Time and time and time again

Capital showing signs of growth 

While you and I wonder what we're worth

Oppression and depression are cause and effect

The same is true with greed and neglect

Indicators of a scope that's out of focus

But when blur's all you've known it's hard to notice

Manipulative monopolies and coercive cartels

Give out free information to promote what they sell

Until posters plaster every surface you see

And you're never quite sure just who you should be

See what face comes up when you flip a coin

Don't think about the disc on which they're joined

Does the subject or the object hold the value

Does illusion or reality guide you

What to save and what to spend

Time and time and time again

Capital showing signs of growth 

While you and I wonder what we're worth