Speaking to Power

There is never a moment when autumn begins;

Never a day when summer ends.

The sun on which your power depends

Will lower and weaken, for winter always wins.

 

Before, the chestnuts held their candles to the breeze;

But now they have let their hands fall.

Now StoptheWar has the final call

The evening vigils start to bring us peace.

 

The keys grow thicker on ashes and sycamores,

Yellow and too heavy to hold.

You cannot bind us with laws and gold;

The people are assembling and they will be conquerors.

 

It cannot be long now before the fire ignites

Maple and rowan and sumac.

The power you grip we will take back,

And nurture a fallow ground with human rights.