Man
I was born as free as the silvery light
That laughs in a Southern fountain;
Free as the sea-fed bird that nests
On a Scandinavian mountain,
Free as the wind that mocks at the sway
And pinioning clasp of another,
Yet in the slave they scourged to-day
I saw and knew—my brother!
Vested in purple I sat apart,
But the cord that smote him bruised me;
I closed my ears, but the sob that broke
From his savage breast accused me;
No phrase of reasoning judgement just
The plaint of my soul could smother,
A creature vile, abased to the dust,
I knew him still—my brother.
And the autumn day that had smiled so fair
Seemed suddenly overclouded;
A gloom, more dreadful than Nature owns,
My human mind enshrouded;
I thought of the power benign that made
And bound men one to the other,
And I felt in my brother's fear afraid,
And ashamed in the shame of my brother.
poem by Florence Earle Coates from Poems (1898)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Related quotes
For Bill - My Brother
Who was aged five when I was born
My brother
Who hid my toys and broke my dolls
My brother
Who avoided his sister at school all day
My brother
Who tolerated my teenage years
My brother
Who as an adult became a friend
My brother
Who mellowed with each passing year
My brother
Who supported my desire to immigrate
My brother
Who was there when others weren't
My brother
Who buried our parents while I was gone
My brother
Who cherished every visit I made
My brother
Who had his ticket to visit me here
My brother
Who unexpectedly died this year
My brother
poem by Evelyn Macdonald
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Answers
What is the end of each man's toil,
Brother, O Brother?
A handful of dust in a bit of soil-
His name forgotten as centuries roll,
Though blazoned to-day on Glory's scroll;
For the lordliest work of brain or hand
Is only an imprint made on sand;
When the tidal wave sweeps over the shore
It is there no more,
Brother, my Brother.
Then what is the use of striving at all,
Brother, O Brother?
Because each effort or great or small
Is a step on the long, long road that leads
To the Kingdom of Growth on the River of Deeds:
And that is the kingdom no man can gain
Till he uses his hand and his mind and brain,
And when he has used them and learned control
He finds his soul,
Brother, my Brother.
And after he finds it, what is the end,
Brother, O Brother?
Upward ever its course and trend;
For this is the purpose and aim and plan
To seek in the soul for the Super-man-
The man who is conscious that Heaven is near-
A bulletin bearer from There to Here,
Finding God dwells in the spirit within
Where He ever has been,
Brother, my Brother.
And what will the God-man do when He comes,
Brother, O Brother?
He will better the world or in courts or slums,
He will do in gladness his nearest duty:
He will teach the religion of love and beauty
In field or factory, mine or mart,
While He tells the world of the larger part
And the wider life that is yet to be
When spirit is free,
Brother, my Brother.
When spirit is free, then where will it go,
Brother, O Brother?
Its uttermost summit no man may know,
For it goes up to God in His holy Tower
To gather more knowledge and force and power;
Like a ray of the sun it shall shine again
To brighten new planets and races of men.
Life had no beginning, life has no end,
Brother and friend-
Brother, my Brother.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sleeping for the Flag
When our boys come home in triumph, brother,
With the laurels they shall gain;
When we go to give them welcome, brother,
We shall look for you in vain.
We shall wait for your returning, brother,
Though we know it cannot be;
For your comrades left you sleeping, brother,
Underneath a southern tree.
Sleeping to waken
In this weary world no more;
Sleeping for your true-lov'd country, brother,
Sleeping for the flag you bore.
You were the first on duty, brother,
When "to arms" your leader cried--
You have left the ranks forever, brother,
You have laid your armies aside.
From the awful scenes of battle, brother,
You were set forever free,
When your comrades left you sleeping, brother,
Underneath that southern tree.
You have cross'd the clouded river, brother,
To the mansions of the best,
"When the wicked cease from troubling," brother,
"And the weary are at rest."
Surely we would not recall you, brother,
But the tears flow fast and free,
When we think of you sleeping, brother,
Underneath a southern tree.
poem by Henry Clay Work
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An Expression Of Love
My brother, do not fear of me
I mean you no woe,
Why not accept me into your flow?
Why are you so afraid, to let me be?
I am not so different from you
I too have a heart filled with love,
My brother, what are you afraid of?
There is more to me than just my hue.
Why do you not allow me, to show you?
I too my brother, laugh and cry.
Why do you want to see a tear in my eye?
I have so much to offer if you only knew.
My brother, I have a history too;
One filled with pride and joy,
My brother, I am not being coy
I am just as brilliant as you.
poem by Della Sarathi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Big Brother He Is Listening
His ears are ever vigilant be careful of what you do say
Big Brother he is listening from you he's never far away
Your words he may put a slant on and one word in the wrong place
Could see you in deep trouble the court you might have to face.
The Government allows free speech free to a point maybe
But when mere words can land you in trouble that does not seem free to me
And big brother is listening and he hears what he wants to hear
The best way of freedom curtailment is the weapon known as fear
And big brother he takes note every time you speak your mind
And if he sees something he does not like in trouble yourself you will find
He is the Government watchdog your words can see you in jail
Big brother is always watching you he even checks your mail.
Big brother he is listening even when your friends you phone
And even those who live on their own in truth are not alone
For big brother is with them though him they cannot see
He remains as invisible and few as treacherous as he.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Brother To Brother
Brother to brother, heart to heart
Theres something Ive been trying to tell you
No matter where you are
From cradle to shining star
Youre someone to look up to
Brother to brother worlds apart
One day Ill promise Ill be with you
Always Ill love you
Now just a memory
A lifetime of rivalry
I couldnt have a better friend than you
I used to criticize the way you used to be
The child that had the look that dreams are made of
A window to the past looks onto everything I see
The fire went out the flame just dies
I couldnt have a better friend than you
Brother to brother, when we meet again
Therell be no differences between us
Free from the darkest night, free till we see the light
Burning ever after
Time is a healer, calming our fears
A thousand questions left unanswered
Oh I believe in you
Brother of mine
Have you ever had somebody you were close to
Become a memory thats larger than life
Have you ever felt theres beauty in distortion
If faiths a crime give me a clue
And if it is then brother its still you
song performed by by Cliff Richard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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All My Brothers
I walk with my brother the Christian,
But I do not believe as he, I am not his Christian brother.
I walk with my brother the Jew,
Not born to his name, I am not his brother.
I walk with my brother the Muslim,
Infidel to him, he does not call me his brother.
They know only their god, not one that I can know.
I walk with my brother the Hindu.
We are love and all are one.
I walk with my brother the Buddhist
He has known me in our past family
I walk with my brother the Taoist
We are on this path but for a moment.
They know god and I am he.
I walk with my brother the Shaman,
He sees the animal spirit within me.
I walk with my brother the Pagan,
He knows only the nature from which we come.
I walk with my brother the Tribesman,
He finds my place with his people.
They know of god in everything.
I walk with my brother the deer
He watches me with curiosity
I walk with my brother the crane,
He wonders if I can catch him.
I walk with my brother the serpent,
He sees me as warmth.
They know nothing of God.
poem by R.L. Ohlhausen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Open Your Arms
Sitting under the money tree
look for the fruits of charity
best to pick them fast for they too far gone
they grow rotten to the core on the greedy man's farm
open your moth the words don't come out
even though the thoughts in your head seem to flow
are you so afraid what everybody thinks
are you so afraid to show what you know
to get along, with your sister your brother
get along, we all the same under this shell
brother to brother and sister to sister
and people are people and...
open your arms
monkey do monkey see
why you want to upset me
monkey go monkey say
but let me live my life today
monkey hear monkey walk
monkey you so full of talk
when are we every gonna learn
to fulfill the need to be free
feel free
be free
stand free
wont need mediocrity
brother to sister and
sister to brother and
brother to brother and sister to sister
open your arms
poem by Harlan Lovestone
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Brother To Brother Hymn
Brother to brother
I know that I can always coun on you
Because you are my brther
And I am your brother also
Brother to brother
Your life is different than mine
You live in Brazil
I live in Canad a country that is more advanced in technology
Brother to brother
I will pray for you
Eventhough you don't believe in God
Brother to brother I will email you more frequently
Brother to brother I will sing you a song
Brother to brother I hope the saints will go to Sao paulo and watch you While you are sleeping
poem by Aldo Kraas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Brother...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
To My Brother...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
The Blood That Binds...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
He Is My Blood...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
Lifelong Bonds...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
Old Age
Somebody finally freed my brother
One more day to free my brother
Help me I wont find a way, no
Im going there to free my brother
No one there to free my brother (dont go there to free my brother? )
Help me I wont find a way, brother
Hes the friend to revive
With all the love I got
In every way I love you (in every way Ill help you? )
Help me know
Going my way
song performed by by Nirvana
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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He Was My Brother
He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty-three Years old the day he died
Freedom writer
They cursed my brother to his face
Go home outsider
This town's gonna be your buryin' place
He was singin' on his knees
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong
He was my brother
Tears can't bnng him back to me
He was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
He died so his brothers could be free
song performed by by Paul Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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He Was My Brother
He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty-three years old the day he died
Freedom writer
They cursed my brother to his face
Go home outsider
This town's gonna be your buryin' place
He was singin' on his knees
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong
He was my brother
Tears can't bring him back to me
He was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
He died so his brothers could be free
song performed by by Simon & Garfunkel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Old Age (Nevermind Outtake)
Somebody finally freed my brother
One more day to free my brother
Help me I won't find a way, no
I'm going there to free my brother
No one there to free my brother (Don't go there to free my brother?)
Help me I won't find a way, brother
He's the friend to revive
With all the love I got
In every way I love you (In every way I'll help you?)
Help me know
Going my way
song performed by by Nirvana
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My brother.
My brother's so sweet
in time's of need.
my brother's so responsible
he taught me a lot of things.
my brother's so funny
we even teared from laughing.
my brother's so fierce
don't mess with him when hes angry.
my brother fell in love
and he's very very happy.
my brother made up his mind
and had a nice sweet family.
my brother is far away
i'm sad when i think of him.
but the most I love about
my brother hes always there for me
when I need him the most.
My brother, his own father.
I have a brother,
When he was young, He was carefree,
I have a brother,
All grown up now, no more not free
I have a brother,
Who struggles to survive
I have a brother, at times be vain
Took my father in, took my father's pain.
I have a brother,
Who takes care of my mother,
Bless him, my brother,
He became his own father.
Copyright Philo Yan August 25,2012