Change is a constant
while traditions die hard
And they say the more things change
the more they stay the same...
Yet at the end of the game
it's out with the old
and in with the new
An anomaly on which
philosophers chew
The more things seem to be changing
The more they stay the same
We must adapt and go with the flow
Because change is the name of the game
We struggle to keep our heads above water
There are times it's a losing battle
We get caught up in just making ends meet
Sometimes we're like a herd of cattle
However when we reach our senior years
When pressures seem less intense
It's nice to kick back and reflect on life
And remember each happy event
It's then we realize what life's all about
Not about the number of possessions
It's being happy and content in our skin
Using our time left with discretion
The more things change, the more they stay the same
A bit of philosophy that still rings true, same old game
Sometimes we win
But much to our chagrin
Things can turn out bad and parts burst into flames
The more things change, the more they stay the same... NOT TRUE
When's the last time you encountered a knight riding through
Or a Model T Ford
With some flappers aboard
See what I mean, each day's never been duplicated in life's zoo
The King is dead and Malcolm too;
Those who are left include me and you.
Now is the time brother, what shall we do?
The Black Power Stokley left behind
Is gone into decline; faded away—
No one remembers Kwame Toure.
Pass the White House today.
You know what they say:
“The more things change,
The more they stay the same way.
How strange.
We are back at the day of no;
Back to where they called our place.
They took the ‘yes’ out the day before;
Today we remain a struggling race.
Emerald time fades to onyx night
The yoking sun shines on the brave
Energizing ebony warriors of the fight;
Least we chose to die as a slave.
As strange as this all may seem,
Know these are not words of a dream.
The enlighten know what they mean;
Freedom remains to be redeemed.
To be or not to be is not the question.
Ours must remain total liberation—
Freedom awaits its full restoration;
Thirst of the children await its libation.
The morning moon, afloat now in the west
Is white and insubstantial as a cloud
So light is her impress
And vapour hangs about her like a shroud
She stuck around to greet the sun, before
Dissolving at the edges of the earth
Now to her score
Must be added all the miracle of birth
When she returns, as it is clear she must
She’ll differ from the vision of before
Take it on trust
It will be she, though there be less of her, or more
The day you left my orbit I believed
We’d each embarked upon divergent paths
But I have since received
An education in the nature of the past
The things that leave us don’t go far away
The more things change the more they stay the same
I begged you, stay
I had no reason to; the sense of you remained
Watching people's actions in everyday situations
Like parents bashing their kids out of frustration
As I sit in my car
Watching from afar
Things remain the same with each new generation
© Jack Ellison 2015
Different?
The more things change,
The more they stay the same,
That’s what someone said,
Who has no name.
If you say “I’m different”,
From this or for that,
Isn’t it true?
You’re just wearing a new hat?
WHEN JUSTICE TOOK A HOLIDAY
Justice took a holiday today;
Peace fought back the tears.
The mourners came to knell and pray:
Guilt having choked the apathy of the years.
No eulogy can change the present or the past;
No commentary can ease the lingering pain.
What a mockery is made of “free at last”;
Only God has escaped the pointing blame.
Tomorrow will bring new tales to be told.
There’ll be no victory upon this cloudy scene;
Only memories of shades of gray of days of old:
Once again, humanity blinded to what was seen.
Yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same;
God forbid, we’re heirs to lives immune to festering shame.
So keep your eyes watching God while waiting for freedom to come;
The pursuit of happiness, life, liberty and justice, is still only for some.
But let us not whine and wallow in debilitating despair;
Let us not be like those who say they just don’t care;
With our audacious faith, there’s nothing we can’t bear.
So let us keep on keeping on with the last sweet breath that is left;
Let our cry be: “America! Give us liberty! We have given you our death!”
The more things seem to be changing
The more they stay the same
We must adapt and go with the flow
Because change is the name of the game
We struggle to keep our heads above water
There are times it's a losing battle
We get caught up in just making ends meet
Sometimes we're like a herd of cattle
However when we reach our senior years
When pressures seem less intense
It's nice to sit back and reflect on life
And remember each happy event
It's then we realize what life's all about
Not about the number of possessions
It's being happy and content in your skin
And using time left with discretion
© Jack Ellison 2013
The more things seem to be changing
The more they stay the same
We must adapt and go with the flow
Because change is the name of the game
We struggle to keep our heads above water
There are times it's a losing battle
A life long struggle to make ends meet
At times we're like a herd of cattle
However when reaching our senior years
When pressures seem less intense
It's nice to sit back and reflect on our life
And remember the happy events
It's then we realize what life's all about
Not about how many possessions
It's being happy and content in our skin
And using our time left with discretion
The more things seem to be changing
The more they stay the same
© Jack Ellison 2012
first " there's not time like the present" then they say "haste makes waste"
then "don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today"
"the more things change the more they stay the same" some say
and in the next breath"tomorrows another day"
they say "if it don't happen naturally then leave it"
then "if at first you don't succeed try try again "can you believe it?
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