Hamlet: I have heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play have by the very cunning of the scene been struck so to the soul that presently they have proclaim'd their malefactions.
line from Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lines in Defence of the Stage
Good people of high and low degree,
I pray ye all be advised by me,
And don't believe what the clergy doth say,
That by going to the theatre you will be led astray.
No, in the theatre we see vice punished and virtue rewarded,
The villain either hanged or shot, and his career retarded;
Therefore the theatre is useful in every way,
And has no inducement to lead the people astray.
Because therein we see the end of the bad men,
Which must appall the audience - deny it who can
Which will help to retard them from going astray,
While witnessing in a theatre a moral play.
The theatre ought to be encouraged in every respect,
Because example is better than precept,
And is bound to have a greater effect
On the minds of theatre-goers in every respect.
Sometimes in theatres, guilty creatures there have been
Struck to the soul by the cunning of the scene;
By witnessing a play wherein murder is enacted,
They were proven to be murderers, they felt so distracted,
And left the theatre, they felt so much fear,
Such has been the case, so says Shakespeare.
And such is my opinion, I will venture to say,
That murderers will quake with fear on seeing murder in a play.
Hamlet discovered his father's murderer by a play
That he composed for the purpose, without dismay,
And the king, his uncle, couldn't endure to see that play,
And he withdrew from the scene without delay.
And by that play the murder was found out,
And clearly proven, without any doubt;
Therefore, stage representation has a greater effect
On the minds of the people than religious precept.
We see in Shakespeare's tragedy of Othello, which is sublime,
Cassio losing his lieutenancy through drinking wine;
And, in delirium and grief, he exclaims -
"Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!"
A young man in London went to the theatre one night
To see the play of George Barnwell, and he got a great fright;
He saw George Barnwell murder his uncle in the play,
And he had resolved to murder his uncle, but was stricken with dismay.
But when he saw George Barnwell was to be hung
The dread of murdering his uncle tenaciously to him clung,
That he couldn't murder and rob his uncle dear,
Because the play he saw enacted filled his heart with fear.
And, in conclusion, I will say without dismay,
Visit the theatre without delay,
Because the theatre is a school of morality,
And hasn't the least tendency to lead to prodigality.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Not Guilty
Not guilty
For getting in your way
While you're trying to steal the day.
Not guilty
And i'm not here for the rest,
I'm not trying to steal your vest.
I am not trying to be smart,
I only want what i can get.
I'm really sorry for your ageing head.
But like you heard me said:
Not guilty.
No use handing me a writ
While i'm trying to do my bit.
I don't expect to take your heart.
I only want what i can get.
I'm really sorry that you're underfed.
But like you heard me said:
Not guilty.
Not guilty
For looking like a freak,
Making friends with every sikh.
Not guilty
For leading you astray
On the road to mandalay.
I won't upset the apple cart.
I only want what i can get.
I'm really sorry that you've been misled.
But like you heard me said:
Not guilty.
song performed by by Beatles
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Not Guilty
Not guilty
For getting in your way
While youre trying to steal the day
Not guilty
And Im not here for the rest
Im not trying to steal your vest.
I am not trying to be smart
I only want what I can get
Im really sorry for your ageing head
But like you heard me said
Not guilty.
Not guilty
For being on your street
Getting underneath your feet
Not guilty
No use handing me a writ
While Im trying to do my bit.
I dont expect to take your heart . . .
I only want what I can get
Im really sorry that youre underfed . . .
But like you heard me said . . .
Not guilty.
Not guilty
For looking like a freak
Making friends with every sikh
Not guilty
For leading you astray
On the road to mandalay.
I wont upset the apple cart
I only want what I can get
Im really sorry that youve been misled . . .
But like you heard me said . . .
Not guilty.
song performed by by George Harrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hamlet: The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we could carry cannon by our sides.
line from Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2, script by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Sitting In The Middle Of It
My heart feels like it's split open wide and bleeding.
As I'm sitting in the middle of it.
Nothing I had lived prepared me for what I had to see.
As I'm,
Sitting in the middle of it.
I do feel guilty.
I am no saint.
I am not trying to hide away,
What it is that I'm feeling.
I do feel guilty.
I am no saint.
I am not trying to hide away,
What it is that I'm feeling.
Sitting in the middle of it...
I am no saint.
I'm not trying to hide away,
What it is that I'm feeling.
Sitting in the middle of it...
I do feel guilty.
But I'll never hide away from you...
My feelings.
Sitting in the middle of it...
I do feel guilty.
But I'll never hide away from you...
My feelings.
Sitting in the middle of it...
I am no saint.
And I'll never hide from you...
My feelings.
And I'll,
Never hide from you...
My feelings.
And I'll,
Never hide from you...
My feelings.
Sitting in the middle of it.
Sitting in the middle of it,
And I'm...
Sitting in the middle of it.
Sitting in the middle of it,
And I'm...
Sitting in the middle of it.
Sitting in the middle of it,
And I'm...
Sitting in the middle of it.
And I'm...
Sitting in the middle of it.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hamlet: The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
line from Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2, script by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Hamlet: O good Horatio, what a wounded name, things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!
line from Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2, script by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Guilty
Just tried to have fun raised hell and then some
I'm a dirt-talkin', beer drinkin', woman chasin' minister's son
Slap on the make-up and blast out the music
Wake up the neighbors with a roar like a teenage heavy metal elephant gun
If you call that guilty then that's what I am
I'm guilty
I'm guilty
I like driving too fast
Love going too far
It seems the law's on my ass every time I stick it out of the door
If you call that guilty then that's what I am
I'm guilty
I'm guilty
Bad boy on a summer night
When the heat makes me mean and I wanna fight
With my pedal to the metal
And I do what I want to do
Bad girls make me feel all right
When it's hot and they start screaming in the night
Golly gee, it's wrong to be so guilty
I'm guilty
Guilty
I'm guilty
My conscience is on vacation in acute degeneration
Willpower has sunk to all-time low
If you call that guilty well I guess I am
I'm guilty
I'm guilty
If you call that guilty then that's what I am
I'm guilty, I'm guilty, I'm guilty, I'm guilty
I'm guilty, I'm guilty, I'm guilty, I'm guilty
Well I'm guilty
Yeah I'm guilty
I don't care
I'm guilty
I think I've been framed anyway
They said I'm guilty
I'm guilty
They're guilty and everyone is guilty
song performed by by Alice Cooper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hamlet: These indeed seem, for they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show; these but the trappings and the suits of woe.
line from Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Hamlet: Madam, how like you this play?
Gertrude: The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
line from Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Guilty
Guilty, guilty
Guilty, I'm paralyzed with guilt
It runs through me like a rain through silk
Guilty, my mind won't leave me alone
My teeth are rotted
my lips start to foam
Cause I'm so guilty
Guilty, guilty
Ooohhh guilty
What did I say
What did I say
What did I do
Did I ever do it to you
Don't turn your back, ah
I can't look you in the eye, ah
Eye eye eye eye
I guess I'm guilty as charged
I guess I'm guilty as charged
Guilty, huh, guilty ah, guilty ah, guilty
Guilty guilty guilty guilty guilty
Don't do that
Don't do that
Don't do what
Oh you're such a child
real fool child
Guilty
What can I do
I do it to you
but I do it to me too
Cut off my head
Cut off my head
Cut off my head, ah
Hang me from the yardarm
Guilty, I'm paralyzed with guilt
I've got bad thoughts
I've got an evil clit
Guilty
Guilty, my mind won't leave me alone
I've got a bad mind
I've got a bad bone
Guilty guilty guilty as charged
Guilty
Don't do that
Don't do what
Don't do that
Oh you're such a reckless child
You remember when you were a baby
Do you remember when you were a baby
Do you have a jury, yeah
Do you have a verdict
Guilty as charged
Guilty guilty guilty as charged
Do you have a verdict
Do you have a verdict
I'm guilty
You're guilty
Oh you're such a reckless child
I should beat you
I should hit you
I'll put you in therapy, ah
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Guilty Of Love
(coverdale)
I believe my love for you
Is a love that will last forever,
An Im here to testify
Im a prisoner of your heart
Baby dont you believe
When I tell you I love you
That I really mean it,
Dont you walk away,
Dont you turn your back on me
Im guilty of love,
Its a crime of passion
Guilty of love,
An theres no doubt about it,
No doubt about it
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty,
In the first degree
Guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty,
In the first degree
I can never forget the times
When I took what you gave me for granted
So I stand accused
An I plead guilty to the crime
You can lock me away if you want
Just as long as your arms are around me,
An I wont mind
If you just throw away the key
Im guilty of love,
Its a crime of passion
Guilty of love,
An theres no doubt about it,
No doubt about it
Guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty,
In the first degree
Guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty,
In the first degree
Guilty of love...
Im guilty of love,
Its a crime of passion
Guilty of love,
An theres no doubt about it,
No doubt about it
Guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty,
In the first degree
Guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty
Guilty of love,
Im guilty of love,
Im guilty,
In the first degree...
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hamlet: Hic et ubique? then we'll shift our ground. Come hither, gentlemen, and lay your hands again upon my sword. Never to speak of this that you have heard, swear by my sword.
line from Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Queen Gertrude: O Hamlet, speak no more: Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul; and there I see such black and grained spots as will not leave their tinct.
line from Hamlet, Act III, Scene 4 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Note To The United States Of America!
we cannot be a nation proclaiming human rights,
without closing Guantanamo!
we cannot proclaim justice,
as long as money controls out courts.
we cannot proclaim freedom,
while invading other countries.
we cannot proclaim democracy,
as long as corporations have more
rights than individuals.
we cannot proclaim dignity,
while letting our children starve.
we cannot proclaim progress,
till all stand side by side with opportunity.
we cannot proclaim respect,
till all are equally respected.
we cannot proclaim spirituality,
until we live the words we speak.
we cannot proclaim peace,
until we come to peace with ourselves!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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King Claudius: How fares our cousin Hamlet?
Hamlet: Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon's dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so.
line from Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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The Hanging Tree 2
The children play around the tree
Unbeknown to them of their fate to be
If the where to commit an ungodly crime
They would meet their end at a premature time
They play around the hanging tree
Where they strung up the man the say murdered three
The man’s soul could never truly die
When his death was caused by such a lie
They play around the hanging tree
Where I wait for my love still breathing to join me
So at my place of death I will stay
As I await that faithful day
They play around the hanging tree
Where I watch over her and save her for only me
But when she could finally bear it no more
She spilt her own blood upon the floor
They play around the hanging tree
Hoping that we will one day be free
To leave this world for the heavens above
To live a life purely of love
They play around the handing tree
Were a guilty conscience sets us free
The guilty one confessed to ending the life
Then took his own with a knife
poem by My Stolen Identity
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Queen Gertrude: O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
Hamlet: Oh, throw away the worser part of it,
And live the purer with the other half.
line from Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lapis Lazuli
(For Harry Clifton)
I HAVE heard that hysterical women say
They are sick of the palette and fiddle-bow.
Of poets that are always gay,
For everybody knows or else should know
That if nothing drastic is done
Aeroplane and Zeppelin will come out.
Pitch like King Billy bomb-balls in
Until the town lie beaten flat.
All perform their tragic play,
There struts Hamlet, there is Lear,
That's Ophelia, that Cordelia;
Yet they, should the last scene be there,
The great stage curtain about to drop,
If worthy their prominent part in the play,
Do not break up their lines to weep.
They know that Hamlet and Lear are gay;
Gaiety transfiguring all that dread.
All men have aimed at, found and lost;
Black out; Heaven blazing into the head:
Tragedy wrought to its uttermost.
Though Hamlet rambles and Lear rages,
And all the drop-scenes drop at once
Upon a hundred thousand stages,
It cannot grow by an inch or an ounce.
On their own feet they came, or On shipboard,'
Camel-back; horse-back, ass-back, mule-back,
Old civilisations put to the sword.
Then they and their wisdom went to rack:
No handiwork of Callimachus,
Who handled marble as if it were bronze,
Made draperies that seemed to rise
When sea-wind swept the corner, stands;
His long lamp-chimney shaped like the stem
Of a slender palm, stood but a day;
All things fall and are built again,
And those that build them again are gay.
Two Chinamen, behind them a third,
Are carved in lapis lazuli,
Over them flies a long-legged bird,
A symbol of longevity;
The third, doubtless a serving-man,
Carries a musical instmment.
Every discoloration of the stone,
Every accidental crack or dent,
Seems a water-course or an avalanche,
Or lofty slope where it still snows
Though doubtless plum or cherry-branch
Sweetens the little half-way house
Those Chinamen climb towards, and I
Delight to imagine them seated there;
There, on the mountain and the sky,
On all the tragic scene they stare.
One asks for mournful melodies;
Accomplished fingers begin to play.
Their eyes mid many wrinkles, their eyes,
Their ancient, glittering eyes, are gay.
poem by William Butler Yeats
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Epigram
My soul, sit thou a patient looker-on;
Judge not the play before the play is done:
Her plot hath many changes; every day
Speaks a new scene; the last act crowns the play.
poem by Francis Quarles
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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