Shade 40: O Ithaca

No suitor can at all compare
To what love hath drove me to
From the darkest depths of the deepest caves
I return for you
The siren song was tempting sure
And the cyclops’ strength immense
But in my heart I was homeward bound
Nothing could stay me hence
From the rocky shores to the deadly pool
Many crew my friends have died
I’ve buried them but stayed my grief
For I would not bury my pride
My love for you will never wan
It flourishes more than you will know
If you insist on testing me here
Just fetch for me my bow

Shade 39: The Rack

Standing in line at the DMV
And the seconds tick tick by
I do not know how long it’s been
But I fear I’ll be here till I die
The circus of employees here
Seem so mad at all of us
I just need my license renewed
I’m trying not to make a fuss
They take offense to everyone
And it’s clear they hate their lives
Why do I need this stupid card
I don’t even like to drive

Shade 38: Hemastis’ Well

The ripest peaches turn to ash
While cool clear lakes turn dry as sand
The vibrant rainbow dulls to grey
The red red rose withers in my hand
And the deepest dreams I’ve dreamt since youth
Once fin’ly reached are shallow tides
For there is no value or beauty for me
Without you by my side

Shade 37: Scale of Emerald

Test my skills and cunning by dropping hurdles in my path
While the path already had hurdles of its own
Try to make it ever harder just to see how I’d react
To see if I’m deserving of the prize that I’ve been shown
But don’t doubt my ingenuity, my cunning, or my skill
They lead me clear through snares and toils and still are at my side
I may not see the answer now but I swear I will prevail
And my vict’ry will be twice as sweet for the depths that I’ve been tried

Shade 36: On the Mountain

The road has been so very long
But at least I’m not alone
You’ve helped me share my burden
Walking t’wards the dark unknown
All this time I feel we’ve been waiting
Though I don’t know whatever for
Now everything is said and done
So I suppose we wait no more
There’s fear and apprehension
Waiting for what tomorrow brings
But my friend, I am glad you are with me
Here at the end of all things

Shade 35: The Spider in Sunlight

A spider sat in sunlight
Basking tranquil on a rock
And a moth flew down at this unusual sight
He said ‘Spider, this is curious
You shouldn’t be here now!
Spiders hide inside their web until the night.’

The spider simply smiled
He said ‘Moth don’t gen’ralize.
I may be a spider, but not like any spider you have seen.
For one, my web is welcoming
And I enjoy the morning sun
And I don’t eat other insects, for its mean!’

The moth was quite surprised
While the spider said ‘It’s true!
So leave me here in peace do not rude!’
‘I am sorry’ said the moth
Embarrassed to be sure
‘But I’ve never met a spider who did not think of me as food’

‘Then sit with me a while’
Said the spider to the moth
‘Have a little trust and you may just make a friend’
So the moth flew to the spider
Where they sat upon the rock
The moth said ‘spider you were right, I didn’t mean to condescend’

The spider smiled charmingly
As he bit into the moth
Saying ‘Never doubt when logic says to run
For nature dictates what we are.’
And the moth knew he was food
But he was right and he sat paralyzed, dying in the sun

Shade 34: Prismatic Spray

Where’s the thunder that I used to know
The bright white light shining through my soul
The fires gone and it left a hole
But that won’t bring me down

Now the days and the nights blend in
It’s so boring that I can’t begin
To shed out of this dying skin
But that won’t bring me down

There’ll be rain in the field one day
Pouring down on the folks who pray
But the clouds are so far away
Still that won’t bring me down

Don’t let them see what they might have won
Keep your faith waiting for the sun
When the rain comes you won’t drown
So don’t let that bring you down