In his black limo seen the President?

A powerful man, his word is the law;

With a stroke of pen he sets precedent

Worlds tremble when he juts forward his jaw.

Remember Stalin? Remember Hitler?

The world so trembled when they were alive;

And countless other ex-prime minister…

All swallowed up like bees into a hive.

Always remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

At her greased pole have you seen the Stripper

Wriggling her bare arse, tempting hungry males?

Or at Vegas seen the coin-flipper

Hoping to duck out of bankruptcy gales?

All they are trying to make a quick buck

To buy the goods that everyone desires;

Whose fault is it than that Good Mother Luck

Spits in their face and laughingly derides?

Always remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

Dressed in his green gown, rubber gloves and mask

The Heart Surgeon rips the rib cage open;

Transplanting heart to save life is his task.

Do you think he has doubts very often?

Does he think that mortal are both the men

One who gives and one who receives the heart,

One who thanks him with big heartfelt "Amen"

N' one who is carried away on the cart?

He must remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

Screeching in the mike the Pop Star cries loud:

"Oh Baby, Baby I love you so much!"…

"Oh Baby, Oh Baby" echoes the crowd,

With all eyes fixed on his swaggering crotch.

Glory to him and to the young Diva

The other Pop Idol yet to follow

Jumping, wriggling like demented Shiva,

Forgetting ecstasy ends in sorrow.

They should remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

The yuppie Stockbroker in Gucci gear,

Smug smile on his face; the deal was so good.

Mother Luck smiles; there is nothing to fear,

There's good wine, oysters and Cordon Bleu food.

Drives a Mercedes and fast boat to boast;

His life is so sweet, it will never end…

To prosperity he drinks frequent toast,

Oblivious to the crash round the bend…

He should remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

Binary sequence flickers on the screen;

Zero follows one, one follows zero.

Virtual sounds from muffled speakers scream…

The Scientist is "Virtual Hero".

Searching for "Truth" forever to uphold;

Universal answer for everything

Beacons towards him, just like the Fools Gold,

Finding it could make him supreme "King".

He should remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

Heard the preacher addressing the faithful,

Promising eternal glory in high?

Every word uttered artful and zestful

Only the Truth they utterly belie.

Does he believe the message he preaches,

Or is he a vendor of false promise?

Deeply felt hopes he often abuses

Driven by vainglory and avarice.

He should remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

Young Lovers… On their passion filled loins,

Like precious pearl drops glistens the hot sweat;

Entwined legs and arms… groins on groins…

When young on eternal love you may bet...

But autumn soon follows the summer's heat;

In turn, mild autumn recedes into cold;

With intimacy passion can retreat…

And even fades away as you get old.

Always remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

Whoever you might be, poet, writer,

Soldier, tinker, tailor, architect, scum,

Philosoph', teacher, bare-knuckle fighter,

Promising scholar or absolute bum;

Whatever you want, whatever you need,

Whatever you think you wish to behold,

Shun the lure of glory and that of greed,

For all that's young now will one day be old.

Always remember this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same.

Sun rises fast and quickly fades the glow;

Buy your chips, place your bets, all is a game

And all disappears like yesteryear's snow.

…"Ah, but on majestic glacial peaks

Evermore stays the snow; pure, clean and white,

Untouched by footprints of sleek city geeks,

Eternally bathed in shiny star-light;

The snows of last year there never could melt"…

…Oh, but it turns into glacial ice…

Sir Hillary and Tensing once there knelt,

Holding their flags like the greatest prize…

So, remember too this little refrain:

All is finite, nothing remains the same;

Sun rises fast… and one day it will blow…

Then even Everest's great peaks of fame

Will remain, forever, barren of snow…

© P. J. Oszmann  (May 2003) (Revised September 2003)