I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not part of the cultural mainstream.
quote by Mark Strand
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The rate of human invention is faster, and the rate of cultural loss is slower, in areas occupied by many competing societies with many individuals and in contact with societies elsewhere.
quote by Jared Diamond
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A Dainty Thing's The Villanelle
A DAINTY thing's the Villanelle,
Sly, musical, a jewel in rhyme,
It serves its purpose passing well.
A double-clappered silver bell
That must be made to clink in chime,
A dainty thing's the Villanelle;
And if you wish to flute a spell,
Or ask a meeting 'neath the lime,
It serves its purpose passing well.
You must not ask of it the swell
Of organs grandiose and sublime--
A dainty thing's the Villanelle;
And, filled with sweetness, as a shell
Is filled with sound, and launched in time,
It serves its purpose passing well.
Still fair to see and good to smell
As in the quaintness of its prime,
A dainty thing's the Villanelle,
It serves its purpose passing well.
poem by William Ernest Henley
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Villanelle
A dainty thing's the Villanelle.
Sly, musical, a jewel in rhyme,
It serves its purpose passing well.
A doublc-clappered silver bell
That must be made to clink in chime,
A dainty thing's the Villanelle;
And if you wish to flute a spell,
Or ask a meeting 'neath the lime,
It serves its purpose passing well.
You must not ask of it the swell
Of organs grandiose and sublime-
A dainty thing's the Villanelle;
And, filled with sweetness, as a shell
Is filled with sound, and launched in time,
It serves its purpose passing well.
Still fair to see and good to smell
As in the quaintness of its prime,
A dainty thing's the Villanelle,
It serves its purpose passing well.
poem by William Ernest Henley
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Sources Of Inspiration Within Society
realistically thankfully
sources of inspiration
within all cultures
within all historical epochs
within all societies
is not limited
to the rich boys' club
aspirations seem sown
into parenthood
aspirations reflect
dreams and desires
of parents for daughters
for beloved sons
many of the greatest
sporting heroes
actors on film and stage
composers, writers, singers,
adventurers have come
from across the spectrum
within all societies
without their achievements
our cultural heritage
is indelibly diminished
their triumphs successes
inspire dreams hopes
within a child like creativity
imagination within each
generation which enriches
fosters nurtures blesses
all members of society
who dream dreams
their dreams bless us all
love also often renders
both genders suddenly
mysteriously young eternally
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Clear Across America Tonight
(Randy Owen/Teddy Gentry/Ronnie Rogers/Greg Fowler)
Just outside of Austin
I turned on my radio
Turned it in to a satellite station
She was talkin' on a call-in show
She said it was over, she'd made her choice
Her mind was made-up by the sound of her voice
Clear across America tonight
Clear coast-to-coast tonight
She's long gone, she's outta here
But she's comin' through loud and clear
Clear across America tonight
Sounded like he really had it coming
All the times he'd done her wrong
She said, I hope he's listening
And hung-up the telephone
All of a sudden, I realized
It was me she was telling good-bye
Clear across America tonight
Clear coast-to-coast tonight
She's long gone, she's outta here
But she's comin' through loud and clear
Clear across America tonight
Hello dj, put me on the air
Give me the chance to tell her I still care
Get her back on the line, tell her I'm still in love
Said, "sorry son, but you're breaking up"
Clear across America tonight
Clear coast-to-coast tonight
She's long gone, she's outta here
But she's comin' through loud and clear
Across America tonight
Across America tonight
Clear across America tonight
Clear across America tonight
Clear across America tonight
song performed by by Alabama
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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An Epidemic Of Melancholy Proportions
an epidemic of melancholy proportions
is sweeping through many societies countries
despair dejection sadness misery hopelessness
are recession downturn decline consequences
suicide globally haunts many countries cultures
suicide globally engulfs preys upon countries cultures
many countries cultures ethnic societies
never even developed coined a word for depression
yet globally according to recent studies
fifty percent of women suffer episodes of depression
yearly mainly
each at least
a single episode
as opposed
to only ten
percent of men
ask the question
is depression
an issue the world
should take seriously...
one million people a year
are cured permanently
one million people a year succeed
in their attempts at suicide
issue depression needs countries cultures to address
society wide ways to address negative mind problems
depression has become a diabolical mind field killer
when will we learn to honour all our human family?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Denial About Jealousy
do not deny it
you're silent
do not deny it
you're jealous
do not speak
anything about it
i am not yours
and i will not be
around when you
shall be furious
do not deny it
your silence shows
do not speak any word
it glows
do not write about it
it serves no purpose
please let it go
set yourself free
from the frost in your mind
from that dew
that is meant to go
the sun has come
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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America
(Francis Scott Key)
Oh, say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so
Gallantly streaming?
America, America, America
America, America, America
And the rocket's red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
Oh, say, does that star
Spangled banner yet wave
Over the land of the free
And the home of the brave!
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America
ooohhh
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There are cultural issues everywhere - in Bangladesh, Latin America, Africa, wherever you go. But somehow when we talk about cultural differences, we magnify those differences.
quote by Muhammad Yunus
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Yes, I have cherished my "demagogue" role. I know that societies often have killed the people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having bought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is maligant in the body of America - then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine.
Malcolm X in The Autobiograghy of Malcom X (1964)
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Well, if you look at all of the cultures in America, this is a great opportunity for us to really get acquainted with the rest of the world. America is the only place you can do that, but we don't have sense enough to take advantage of that.
quote by Erykah Badu
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The point is not to stay marginal, but to participate in whatever network of marginal zones is spawned from other disciplinary centers and which, together, constitute a multiple displacement of those authorities.
quote by Judith Butler
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Indigenous people
Indigenous people
Live their lives
Unknown, unsure
To a land no longer ours
Lost in wars
Of long ago
Many of us
Cultures no more
We live in societies
Torn from the past
It breeds in us all
A culture no more
We fight our own doubts
About cultures lost
Who are we really?
Natives of this land
I speak for those
Who believe in their dreams?
Only to learn
We are heathens of old
Land once belonged
To the natives of this world
Now it belongs to a system
That is tainted with wars
The wild fields of old
Live on in our dreams
Dreams that our forefathers bared
I'm a native, a warrior
Born of this land
I fight for the freedom
To be indigenous and free
I call forth my forefathers
To claim to all whom I am
An indigenous person
Who fights to be free?
poem by Kaila George
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An act of poetry
Ruin is what we need –
Despair is what we feed
Upon in poetry
A shock resets the nerves –
Helps remould the curves
Of written art
Catharsis helps portray –
Acting out a play
On expurgation
Tears or hidden fears
Release the bottled years
To ink a page:
The pen be our salvation.
Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2010
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poem by Mark R Slaughter
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With Poetry
With poetry
I have found a purpose
With poetry
things just seem easier
With poetry
words will dance the tango
With poetry
I can put meaning to my thoughts
With poetry
I can ramble on and on
With poetry
everything is easier
poem by Cokbod Lodwogo
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Whether something is old-fashioned or not doesn't resolve the question of whether it's true or not. I can see the temptation of simply thinking, 'Well, there's a cultural mainstream which flows neatly in one direction. You just align with it'. And that really won't do.
quote by Rowan Williams
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The Leadership Training Institute of America is a cultural think tank providing training and opportunity in leadership development and cultural dynamics.
quote by Michael Burgess
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Of course as children, we all, in all cultures and societies, learn behavior from observation, imitation, and encouragement of various kinds. So by the suggestion made, we all 'pretend' most of the time.
quote by Gary Gygax
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Cheaper Form Of Writing Poetry Seems!
Articles, novels and short stories are highly awarded;
Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize and Booker prize go to them!
For poetry writings no such high prizes are awarded yet.
Is poetry a meaner form of writing compared to stories?
Fact fused fiction are appreciated as serious kind of novels;
Realism blended romantic stories are highly liked by many.
Poetry is a product of imagination, expression of emotion!
Mere fun without any utility serves no social purpose good.
Poetic philosophy of life and Nature has great value for all!
Wisdom, truth, seriousness, amusement and beauty enrich
Poetry of high value rare to be found in the poetic ocean!
If award is constituted for high philosophic poetry it’s good.
The final abode of all dissatisfied souls seems to be poetry!
Rich experience of all fields poetry blends to give satisfaction;
But many indulge in poetry writing for amusement fast now.
Only pleasure and wisdom make poetry a crown of literature!
poem by Ramesh T A
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I respect every soldier, from every country, who serves beside us in the hard work of history. America is grateful, and America will not forget.
quote by George W. Bush
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