No one is fit to judge a book until he has rounded Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, until he has bumped into two or three icebergs, until he has been lost in the sands of the desert, until he has spent a few years in the House of the Dead.
quote by Van Wyck Brooks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ghosts Of Cape Horn
All around old cape horn
Ships of the line, ships of the morn
Some who wish theyd never been born
They are the ghosts of cape horn
Fal deral da riddle de rum
With a rim dim diddy
And a rum dum dum
Sailing away at the break of morn
They are the ghosts of cape horn
See them all in sad repair
Demons dance everywhere
Southern gales, tattered sails
And none to tell the tales
Come all of you rustic old sea dogs
Who follow the great southern cross
You were rounding the horn
In the eye of a storm
When ya lost er one day
And you read all yer letters
From oceans away
Then you took them to the bottom of the sea
All around old cape horn
Ships of the line, ships of the morn
Those who wish theyd never been born
They are the ghosts of cape horn
Fal deral da riddle de rum
With a rim dim diddy
And a rum dum dum
Sailing away at the break of morn
They are the ghosts of cape horn
Come all you old sea dogs from devon
Southampton, penzance, and kinsale
You were caught by the chance
Of a sailors last dance
It was not meant to be
And ya read all yer letters
Cried anchor aweigh
Then ya took them to the bottom of the sea
All around old cape horn
Ships of the line, ships of the morn
Those who wish theyd never been born
They are the ghosts of cape horn
Fal deral da riddle de rum
With a rim dim diddy
And a rum dum dum
Sailing away at the break of morn
They are the ghosts of cape horn
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There was an Old Man of Cape Horn,
Who wished he had never been born;
So he sat on a chair,
Till he died of despair,
That dolorous Man of Cape Horn.
by Edward Lear from A Book of Nonsense (1846)
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Cant Judge A Book
You cant judge a book by looking at the cover
No, you cant judge a man by looking at the cover
And you cant judge a book by looking at the cover
When I was young and went to school
My mama taught me the magic rule
And what she said I tried my best to follow
She said
You cant judge a book by looking at the cover
No, you cant judge a man by looking at the cover
And you cant judge a book by looking at the cover
Then I left school and moved around
And what I saw and what I found
Made me remember what she said to follow
She said
You cant judge a book by looking at the cover
No, you cant judge a man by looking at the cover
And you cant judge a book by looking at the cover
And now I think, by now Id know, that what appears is not always so
And I remember what she said to follow
She said
You cant judge a book by looking at the cover
No, you cant judge a man by looking at the cover
And you cant judge a book by looking at the cover
song performed by by Rick Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Ship and I
O it's I that am the captain of a tidy little ship,
Of a ship that goes a sailing on the pond;
And my ship it keeps a-turning all around and all about;
But when I'm a little older, I shall find the secret out
How to send my vessel sailing on beyond.
For I mean to grow a little as the dolly at the helm,
And the dolly I intend to come alive;
And with him beside to help me, it's a-sailing I shall go,
It's a-sailing on the water, when the jolly breezes blow
And the vessel goes a dive-dive-dive.
O it's then you'll see me sailing through the rushes and the reeds,
And you'll hear the water singing at the prow;
For beside the dolly sailor, I'm to voyage and explore,
To land upon the island where no dolly was before,
And to fire the penny cannon in the bow.
poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Valparaiso
Chase the dog star
Over the sea
Home where my true love is waiting for me
Rope the south wind
Canvas the stars
Harness the moonlight
So she can safely go
Round the cape horn to valparaiso
Red the port light
Starboard the green
How will she know of the devils Ive seen
Cross in the sky, star of the sea
Under the moonlight, there she can safely go
Round the cape horn to valparaiso
Valparaiso
And every road I walked would take me down to the sea
With every broken promise in my sack
And every love would always send the ship of my heart
Over the rolling sea
If I should die
And waters my grave
Shell never know if Im damned or Im saved
See the ghost fly over the sea
Under the moonlight, there she can safely go
Round the cape horn to valparaiso
Valparaiso
Valparaiso
Valparaiso
song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beyond The Sea
Charles trenet (jack lawrence)
Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailing
Somewhere beyond the sea
He's watching for me
If i could fly like birds on high
Then straigt to his arms i'd go sailing
It's far beyond a star, it's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
My heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
And never again i'll go sailing
Some sailing
song performed by by Billie Holiday
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Cat, The House And The Trees
there is this cat
that looks like a feline version of batman
though without a cape
and a bat-mobile
it sits on a fence
and waits
the trees murmur
and the house stares at it
curiously without blinking
this cat has one life to live
the other eight it lost to the
years of his giving up
that despair and
psychological confusion
now it is prepared to give
the last one
the house is afraid
and closes its door
the wooden fence shakes
like a bridge losing its hold on the other side
tomorrow the cat shall be dead
yet it is prepared with an epitaph
of no regret, its life is always lived
for another
and this is it that really matter
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Best Wishes
best wishes prayed past merge
into vapour continuous present
prayed throughout porous lost years
hoped past years to you were kind
that all your manifold hopes dreams
came into glorious maturity ripe fruition
that your golden bowl your vessel cup
would ever be blessed horn of plenty
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Winds Of Change
Walk softly through the
Desert sands
Careful where you tread
Underfoot are the visions lost
Sleeping not yet dead
Hang on - winds starting to howl
Hang on - the beast is on the prowl
Hang on - can you hear the
Strange cry
Winds of change are blowing by
Mountains crumble and cities fall
Don't come to an end
Just lie scattered on the
Desert floor
Waiting for the wind
Chorus
You got your life planned carefully
But you left out one detail
The hidden hand deals just one round
And the winds of change prevail
Chorus
Walk softly through the desert sand
Old dreams lead the way
Nothing new in the sands of time
Just changes every day
Hang on - it's starting again
Hang on - there's no shelter from
The wind
Hang on - like a fire from the sky
Winds of change are blowing by
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Cant Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover
1: you cant judge a apple by lookin at the tree.
Cant judge a honey by lookin at the bee.
Cant judge a daughter by lookin at the mother.
You cant judge a book by lookin at the cover.
Chorus: oh-oh, cant you see? you misjudged me, baby!
I look like a farmer but--Im a lover!
Cant judge a book by lookin at the cover.
2: you cant judge sugar by lookin at the pan.
Cant judge a woman by lookin at her man.
Cant judge one by lookin at the other.
You cant judge a book by lookin at the cover.
Chorus: oh-oh, cant you see? you misjudged me!
I look like a farmer but--Im a lover!
Cant judge a book by lookin at the cover.
3: you cant judge a fish by lookin in the pond.
Cant judge right by lookin at the wrong,
Cant judge a-one by lookin at the other.
You cant judge a book by lookin at the cover.
Chorus: oh-oh, cant you see? you misjudged me!
I look like a farmer but--Im a lover!
Cant judge a book by lookin at the cover.
4: cant judge a apple by lookin at the tree, baby.
Cant judge honey by lookin at the bee.
Cant judge a daughter by lookin at the mother.
You cant a book by lookin at the cover.
Chorus: oh-oh, cant you see? you misjudged me!
I look like a farmer but--Im a lover!
Cant judge a book a-by lookin at the cover.
Source: mark atkins (by ear), 4/30/00
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Logos
the more you think so clearly
the more you become less of yourself,
this is revolutionary to our essence
as the thinking mammal
that without ideas we become trash,
a shell without flesh
a glass without water,
a house without a home,
a carriage beside the
dead horse,
a desert, vast sands, fierce sun,
mirage in abundance
no matter how hard we look
and focus
we only see dreams....
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Frankie's Trade
Old Horn to All Atlantic said:
(A-hay O! To me O!)
"Now where did Frankie learn his trade?
For he ran me down with a three-reef mains'I."
(All round the Horn!)
Atlantic answered:--"Not from me!
You'd better ask the cold North Sea,
For he ran me down under all plain canvas."
(All round the Horn!)
The North Sea answered: -- "He's my man,
For he came to me when he began--
Frankie Drake in an open coaster.
(All round the Sands!)
"I caught him young and I used him sore,
So you never shall startle Frankie more,
Without capsizing Earth and her waters.
(All round the Sands!)
"I did not favour him at all.
I made him pull and I made him haul--
And stand his trick with the common sailors.
(All round the Sands!)
"I froze him stiff and I fogged him blind,
And kicked him home with his road to find
By what he could see in a three-day snowy-storm.
(All round the Sands!)
"I learned him his trade o' winter nights,
'Twixt Mardyk Fort and Dunkirk lights,
On a five-knot tide with the forts a-firing.
(All round the Sands!)
"Before his beard began to shoot,
I showed him the length of the Spaniard's foot--
And I reckon he clapped the boot on it later.
(All round the Sands!)
"If there's a risk which you can make,
That's worse than he was used to take
Nigh every week in the way of his business;
(All round the Sands!)
"If there's a trick that you can try,
Which he hasn't met in time gone by,
Not once or twice, but ten times over;
(All round the Sands!)
"If you can teach him aught that's new,
(A-hay O! To me O!)
I'll give you Bruges and Niewport too,
And the ten tall churches that stand between
Storm along, my gallant Captains!
(All round the Horn!)
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Memories of Summers Spent
For Faizil
I remember the sand dunes of Aniston
Eastwards on the south of the Western Cape coast
The blue skies hanging over
Illuminated by the burning sun
Within the sand dunes concealed
Lies the bones of shipwrecked sailors of yesteryear
Contrast of desert and ocean
Like two dimension woven in one
Dwarfed by the sands of time
I remember how we raced to the top of the dunes
Breathless without thought
Just the absolute carefree bliss of being children
The race down was a running and a tumbling
Our summers spent camping at Arniston
When finally at the bottom, we would lay exhausted
Panting, catching our breath
poem by Persian Khushi
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Shepherd Turned Sailor
Now Christ ye save yon bonny shepherd
Sailing on the sea;
Ten thousand souls are sailing there
But they belong to Thee.
If he is lost then all is lost
And all is dead to me.
My love should have a grey head-stonee
And green moss at his feet
And clinging grass above his breast
Whereon his lambs could bleat,
And I should know the span of earth
Where some day I might sleep.
poem by Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal
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Most Exclusive Residence For Sale
It was the biggest house in the neighborhood.
He went and bought this house when he made good.
Ten bedrooms and a swimming pool,
Where he entertained all the people that he knew.
But he hit the hard times and had to sell out.
Most exclusive residence for sale.
He went and spent all the money that he had.
Because he had a heart and not a head.
He spent it all on girls and fancy jewelry.
Then he found himself in front of a judge and jury,
And the judge said to pay up, our you must sell out.
Most exclusive residence for sale.
He had to tell all the servants to go away.
Couldnt even afford to pay their way.
He took to the bottle and drunk himself down,
Then he soaked away all the troubles and let them drown.
Then he saw a notice on the wall,
Most exclusive residence for sale.
Most exclusive residence for sale.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Alone Again
'Leaving' that's all you ever seem to say and I'm tired
The wants you have me for have expired
Sleeping and reading ev'ry book I can find to get my mind off
In all I was a soul you were using
I am alone again
You can't believe the tears that I've shed
I'm on a bound down train
Don't desert me now or I am dead
People
song performed by by Bee Gees from Two Years On
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There was an Old Man of the Cape,
Who possessed a large Barbary ape,
Till the ape one dark night
Set the house all alight,
Which burned that Old Man of the Cape.
quote by by Edward Lear
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Beyond The Sea
Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailing
Somewhere beyond the sea
He's watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
Then straight to his arms I'd go sailing
It's far beyond a star
song performed by by Robbie Williams from Swing When You're Winning
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Softened Sounds
Muted music from the brass horn
drowns out the way the notes were born.
Tinny, not full with rounded tones
sounding to me like quiet moans.
Uncover the flare. Let the horn blare
the way it was meant to be.
If you wish to hear quiet melodies
let the hands play soft ivories.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Halcyon Days Of Our Teddy
Tranquil seas they oft' beckoned to me~
From the deep fathoms yes they did call~
Echo's of a peaceful sapphire ocean~
Reverberated against New Englands vast tidal wall;
Oh the days could be so idyllic~
As were the calm seas of yesterdays lore~
Where happiness 'twas e'er so deep and undeniable~
Back in the days of yore;
Oh the halcyon days upon the New England waters~
Sailing off cape Cod as in days and years before~
And at the wheel you could find me-'The Captain'
On my way 'cross the deeps Neptune ruled floor;
The salt air 'twas oh so invigorating~
Breathing in Cape Cods most salty breeze~
Sailing upon tranquilitys waters away from tragedy~
With so much serenity- it would bring me to my knees;
Now I am sailing upon the Sea Of Eternity~
The Shamrock sails are up and at the ready-the go~
Sail on-sail on- beloved Lion of our hearts~
You're now at peace with John, Bobby and your mother Rose...
Dedicated to:
Beloved Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Born February 22,1932
Died August 25,2009
Buried with his brothers John and Bobby
Arlington national Cemetary-Arlington Viginia
Gone but not forgotten.
We Love You!
poem by Theodora Onken
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