Expiration

"To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour..."

- William Blake -

...but the poet failed

And the carsons withered

No more than earth uopn my grave

For what can there be left

of our time bereft

When all but life is slain

And the hours were always against us

Night and day,

could not be bent to prolong our stay

And despite our countless efforts

to dethrone the reign of time

The hour came that we so feared

And now the light escapes my eye

As your words of strength escape my ear

For now I know...

That this is no test of courage

No purpose left for all this pain

To which a fool would only adhere to

When there's no prizes left to claim

And 'neath these ever-longing shadows

Your loving words I cannot hear

For my flame has died

and the beasts are drawing near...

With an expired flame I shan't go on

This time I'll let the swans sing my song...