REFLECTIONS

If the world could have seen
the overall and inbetween,
and if I had only known
what was told but never shown,
I could have danced upon the graves
of every master and his slaves;
I could have sung the very song
that kept the world alive so long.
But I cannot teach the world --
and lies and truth together swirl
thru the minds of foolish men
who live and die -- and live again
to torture those who truly see
that what was will never be.
Yesterday passes into tomorrow,
laughter past is future sorrow.
Such are the words of wisest men
who speak them once and not again.
For having voiced the tragic thought,
they face the unbelieving lot.
Heart torn and spirit broken --
the cruel price of wisdom spoken.
I could have told them had they cared,
only through silence aare we spared.
I am deaf, I cannot see
the sights and sounds disturbing me.
How could I, in my youth,
have seen the uncompromising truth?
And now, when it is much too late,
I see the world around me waits --
But I cannot sing that song,
the unkind years have been too long.
And the ceremonial dance
that was taught to me by chance
will die with me today.
And all the words I could not say
will start again as they began --
in the minds of foolish men.