Boundaries

Deep within the forest dusky,

Heedless of the conflict rising,

From the caverns, dank and musky,

From the least, unrealising,

See the knife that's poised and gleaming,

See the smiling, friendly stranger,

Know that all is not its seeming,

Far too late to run from danger,

Brace yourself for coming struggle,

Hide amidst the umbral trees,

Learn just how much we can juggle,

Here, within our boundaries.

Now, amidst the blinding sunlight,

With a brand cast out the dark,

Else the world should itself unright,

Else the toll should leave a mark,

Fear the tallying that's coming,

For incarnadined exaction,

Fear the totentantz that's drumming,

For the victim's satisfaction,

If we can these cross-winds weather,

And ignore the carrion breeze,

Learn how strong we are together,

Here within our boundaries.

Autumn's breath is winter's college,

Lessons, we should not pass over,

Though it be unlooked for knowledge,

Harvest hay and gather clover,

Nothing new in strife and peril,

But neither is a sought-for friend,

While we may, sing summer's carol,

While we can, before the end,

Stand we now, shoulder to shoulder,

Heedless of the sophistries,

As the autumn trends to colder,

Here within our boundaries.