The Nick of Time

once when the world was young and made sense Back then when sense was so real and solid Before green waves that hid the sky and shuddered feet Well after the candle lit bomb shelter westerns And ineffectual caning for honor's defense When devious means became commonplace To deal with intellectual incompetence It may have been when learning to enter with the jews Thus avoiding the first half hour of assembly And allowing time to do the last night's homework Skills honed to perfection that made insane navy life easier The trick was and is knowing when and when not Without this knowledge trust evaporates in karma's winds But with constant care comes a freer more independent life And satisfaction of having had more precious time With finer responsible friends