"Today. . ."

(Sung to "Today")

 

Today, while the present exists, and the past

is done and forgotten, the future is next--

the tenseless conditions of truth never say

what I can simply supply by-y-y (y-y!) "Today. . ."

 

I know McTaggart and I read my Russell,

and Nathan Oaklander's my hero of date--

still B-theory founders where A-theory champions

what temp'ral indexicals state!

 

Today, while the present exists, and the past

is done and forgotten, the future is next--

 

With Quentin's semantics, two Williams' logistics

large doubt was cast over the B-theorist's way--

but Mellor revealed how indexicals cover

beliefs that prevent temp'ral stray!

 

"Today" thus betokens the date upon which

my co-present wishes must dutifully fix

to be first effective and then pass away,

never revived by a type-tokeni-i-ized: "Today. . ."!