Standard (EADGBE)

What is not but could be if

 what could appear in the morning mist

 with all associated risk

what is not but could be if

What was not but could have been

was my obsession way back when

now I just remember this

what is not but could be if

what is not but could be if

 we could be crossing

 this abridged abyss into beginning

 and failure's got you in its grasp

 and you're reaching for your very last

 vicious beginning

one has lived life carelessly

if he or she has failed to see

that the truth is not alive or dead

the truth is struggling to be said

so how do we get out of this?

family shadows all of this

through what is not but could be if

with all associated risk

what is not but could be if

we could be crossing

this abridged abyss into beginning

and failure's got you in its grasp

and you're reaching for your very last

vicious beginning