GENERATIONS Copyright (C) 1997 by Not Nice Music
I. IMPROMPTUS by Solomon S. Drogin

141. The Telling

Notice the scene, singer
	See it clearly in mind's eye
Tall grass, weaving slowly
	You and I tread laughing
Distant trees to left side
	Expanse wide to your right
Opening ahead sought
	Our goal, brown road feet strike
Tramp now, silently forward
	Ten miles we must cover

Slowly ever so slowly
	Feet drag, minds lag, hearts sap
[The sun was hot you know]
	Water cool you ken now
Slaking our throat phlegmed thirst
	On and on we plod still
Time for talk will come late
	Evening shadow now glides
We two shade seek, rest craved
	Pipes lit, eyes hold, talk starts

Tragedy, friend of mine
Will I tell, hearken now
Studies began, time planned
To take care of toil, play
Life was running smoothly
And then disaster came
Beautiful, words adequate
Have I not in justice
To describe her, my queen
Ending my work, my study

Toil, play, study, love
Befouled by passion fierce
Can accomplish nothing
Out to my idleness
Was I driven, heart sore
No toil tosweeten life
No play to give toil zest
No study filled my days
No love to sweeten nights
Misery was my lot

Hope never died within
Roads were sought, new ways trod
Mind struggled to answer
Where to begin anew?
At last, friend, I began
An old road to travel
With love to urge me on
On to a happy end
For it will bring to me
The achievement of life

The talk has died, pipes out
Silent evening reigns
My friend has nought to say
He has list to my tale
In his eyes, I see there
Understanding of struggle
Of strife and hardship too
So sleeping bags opened
Composure quieting
Leads our minds to slumber.