Love and Kindness

[ONE VOICE]
See the stalks are scattered
When the harvest's gathered

[TWO VOICES]
Keep the husks for kindling
And save the seed

[THREE VOICES]
There will be no excess
Nature's what protects us
We will only take
The nourishment we need

Dutiful and willing
Constant and fulfilling
In the soil tilling
As our lives trudge by

Dignity in labour
Is a joy to savour
Keep your gazes level
And ignore the sky

[FOUR VOICES]
Awakened in the morning
By the engines roaring
Materially boring
When there's mouths to feed

Here in love and kindness
We remain united
Keep the husks for kindling
And save the seed

Firm and forward-facing
Future's just sustaining
Pastures green
Remain in harmony

Hail the land we live in
Gentle and forgiving
Save the smile from slipping
Amity

[FIVE OR SIX VOICES SPLIT]
Father, when you kissed us
______________Father, when you kissed us
We were cold and listless
______________We were cold and listless
At kitchen tables
______________At kitchen tables listening to the
Listening to the tales of war
______________Tales of war

Daughter, we were reading
______________Daughter, we were reading
All your special pleading
______________All your special pleading
When the silence fell now
______________When the silence fell now, we shall
We shall learn no more
______________Learn no more

Wise, rejecting reasons
______________Wise, rejecting reasons
Sated by the seasons
______________Sated by the seasons
Watching all we're eating
______________Watching all we're eating as
As the night draws close
______________The night draws close

In deafness and in blindness
______________In deafness and in blindness
Safe in love and kindness
______________Safe in love and kindness
Confident that we've learned
______________We've learned
[ALL] All we care to know

No one represents us
______________No one represents us
Governed by consensus
______________Governed by consensus
Guided by the spirit
______________Guided by the spirit
Now we all agree
______________We all agree

Don't listen to the others
______________Don't listen to the others
They are not your brothers
______________They are not your brothers
Rather love and cherishing
______________Love and cherishing
[ALL] Each family