The French Revolution is the ultimate modernist statement. Destroy everything. Don't build on the past. There is no past.
quote by John Corigliano

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Remember the refrain: We always build on the past; the past always tries to stop us. Freedom is about stopping the past, but we have lost that ideal.
quote by Lawrence Lessig

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What hadn't been realized in the literature until now is that merely to describe how severely something has been tested in the past itself embodies inductive assumptions, even as a statement about the past.
quote by Robert Nozick

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I see myself as a true modernist. Even when I do a traditional gown, I give it a modern twist. I go to the past for research. I need to know what came before so I can break the rules.
I Don't Know Where The Past Is Gone
I don’t know where the past is gone
I only know most of my own life is over-
I don’t know where the past has gone
I only know so many people I loved
Are no longer here and will never be here again-
I don’t know where the past has gone
I only know that that chance I had that hope for so many years
Can never be mine in the same way again-
I don’t know where the past has gone
So many moments of beauty and love and opportunity missed and longing unrealized-
I don’t know where the past has gone
And what of it I should miss
And why I should long for it so.
I don’t know where the past has gone
And where my life was lost and why I did not do better in it-
I don’t know where the past has gone
And what will be when for me
Everything is only the Past gone
poem by Shalom Freedman

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The differences between revolution in art and revolution in politics are enormous. Revolution in art lies not in the will to destroy but in the revelation of what has already been destroyed. Art kills only the dead.
quote by Harold Rosenberg

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Livin' In The Past
Happy, and I'm smiling, walk a mile to drink your water.
You know I'd love to love you, and above you there's no other
We'll go walking out while others shout of war's disaster.
Oh, be forgiving, let's go living in the past.
Once I'd used to join in every boy and girl was my friend.
Now there's revolution but they don't know what they're fighting.
Let us close out eyes. Outside their lives go on much faster
Oh, be forgiving, we'll keep living in the past.
Oh, be forgiving, let's go living in the past.
Oh, no, no, be forgiving, let's go living in the past
song performed by by Jethro Tull

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Until you heal the wounds of your past, You will continue to bleed into the future,
Until you heal the wounds of your past,
You will continue to bleed into the future,
One can own ones past, but you can heal,
Move on I was told, by a human heart, mine,
A statement I read,
'Until you heal the wounds of your past, you will continue to bleed into the future.'
Gave me the the words,
I now own my future,
My human heart told me, it is time,
I own my past,
Now the past is misplaced,
It will rear it's ugly head, from time to time,
But the future is mine to keep,
Beyond all past examples, the future is mine,
Not knowing the future is exciting,
But it's mine to dream.
poem by Batibchar Mocculta

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I have often said that just as the French revolution, for instance, understood itself through antiquity, I think our time can be understood through the French revolution. It is quite a natural process to use other times to understand your own time.
quote by Ian Hamilton Finlay

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Revolution Now
(m&l - weikath)
Well, I think its really time
Again for a revolution
Not to destroy at all costs but have
A look at what is there
Can you remember a time when
Water was sill water
Or are you too young to even know
What we wont give to our heirs
Inhale the bless of science through your lungs
Skin and brain!
Itll surly make our cildren feel
A lot more sane!
Revolution now!
Revolution now!
I was born when april guaranteed a
Sexual renaissance
And today were all faced with death,
Rubbers and aids
In 68 some people went out
To fight for freedom
They would never ever have through
That their children wear lies
And if you come to san francisco
Youre gonna meet some
Broken people there
Revolution now!
Revolution now!
song performed by by Helloween

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Frozen in Time
Are you giving me a chance?
To see my past
Or to see my future
Just a glimpse to one place
Would I want to see what has already happed?
Or learn what is to become of me later in life
You tell me make your choice
Whether to go forward or back
To the beginning of time
Or the revolution of the future
Will I like either or
Will I feel cold on my past?
Or hate my future
I will never know
For I am stuck in the present
poem by Gabriell Albert

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Past
Past is past.
It never comes.
It helps us something to learn.
Past lives may hurt us.
But It never ruins us.
Don't fight the past.
Let it go, always be simple, always be inspired.
There is no point going with the past.
There is the point going with present.
Past determines nothing.
Present determines something.
poem by Yash Pradhan

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Past Artists Build Build Build On
remember a previous American Literature professor
who believed contemporary poets could experience not
original thoughts had to build on classical established
literary works of past artists build build build on all
that recognized has come before bullocks pull carts
no no rage against such views conceited ripe parodies
be a desert in isolation
become an oasis of startling
thought manifestations
poem by Terence George Craddock

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Breath by Breath
Our moments are precious and
Our time is now.
Use it wisely and use it well!
There is no connecting the past
And future. The presence is the
in-between and only lasts but
Less than a breath.
The presence is so fast,
a blink of an eye and it is the past!
Then are we really living our future with
each inhale and our past goes out
with each exhale?
Are is it really just a pretence of presence?
Future - Past,
Future - Past,
Future - Past!
poem by JDarrell Kirkley

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My Past
I can never let go of my past because my past has marked me
Every time I look down
Every time I look over
There is my past
The notches
The bold the non-mistakable scars
…the scars
My past
Each and every one has a story
Each and every one has a memory
Each and every one has brought tears to my eyes
For no story nor memory are of happiness, triumph, or glory
No, they are of fear, anxiety, self-hatred, paranoia, and loneliness
I can never let go of my past because my past will always be part of me
poem by Scarlet Mo Chroi

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Building The Sandcastles
do not think that it is only children who build sandcastles.
big people do, and worse, they do it
in the air and they are serious about this matter
someone comes along to destroy these sandcastles
his job is simply to destroy and give the hassles
dreams, as we all know them,
someone always has the temerity to destroy all of them
do not blame this dreambreaker, do not give him a bad name
whether you like it or not
the maker of the waves sends the sea to wash away
the sandcastles that we build
the maker of our dreams destroys these dreams
and then be glad
another cleansing has been duly accomplished and done
you see,
everything in this world always works for our own good
and for the best
poem by Ric S. Bastasa

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Vermilion
She seems dressed in all the rings
Of past fatalaties
So fragile yet so devious
She continues to see it
Climatic hands that press
Her temples and my chest
Enter the night that she came home
Forever
Oh (She's the only one that makes me sad)
She is everything and more
The solemn hypnotic
My Dahlia, bathed in posession
She is so into me
I get neverous, perversed when I see her it's worse
But the stress is astounding
It's now or never she's coming home
Forever
Oh (She's the only one that makes me sad)
Hard to say what caught my attention
Fixed and crazy, Aphid Attraction
Carve my name in my face, to recognize
Such a pheromone cult to terrorize
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
(Yeah!)
I'm a slave, and I am a master
No restraints and, unchecked collectors
I exist throught my name, to self-oblige
She is something in me, that I despise
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
She Isn't real!
I Can't make her real!
She Isn't real!
I Can't make her real!
(She isn't real, I can't make her real)
(She isn't real, I can't make her real)
song performed by by Slipknot

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gone
Everything of the past is a memory gone
Remembering my past will only be a sign of weakness
Now life is so cruel, that the past has left no meaning
I am very alone and that is how I have to live my future life.
Anything which reminds me of my past, is to be stayed away from
That is the best and the only way to survive.
If I said I still do love you
Then it would be a big lie now
Since, now the love which I had for you has actually turned into hate
Earlier I loved you a lot and very truly
Now I do not love you
As a matter of fact, the hate is so much that the pain of the past is like a volcano
Which will just blast, if I ever again came close to you
Stay away my past, you are my memory, which is gone.
poem by Rohit Sapra

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A Dark Past
My past is dark
It's full of pain and tears
My past is my story
My past made me stronger
People still don't know why my past is dark
But I will tell you
No more hiding for me
My past is red stained razors
I admit I did cut
But, I will no more
My closest friend was the only one that knew
Me and her alike in so many ways
We helped each other through thick and thin
My future is bright and happy
I am loved and always will be loved
In my future I will not shed a tear
For I will be surrounded by loved ones
My past is erased I have no regrets
My life is better oh..so much better
poem by Jasmine Kayleen

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Revolution Now
they're calling for revolution!
things must change!
the only sword we carry is truth...
as we march with justice
and equality...
what's past is past!
we cannot change
what's already been done.
the only way to heal the wounds
of the past is to create a future...
a future that begins with today!
no longer divided by color or creed,
we march hand to heart as one.
knowing that no man is free
until every man is free!
(and woman, and child...)
no longer owned by the things
we possess, and owning no man.
no longer bound by self-oriented
idealologies... the barrier between us
is no more...
today is the day,
now is the moment....
history waits for no one!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Hungry Rebels
They wanted to make a statement
And was born a movement
From the Hunger's dream
Of breaking from the past
To build anew from the rust.
Words were picked from the soil
Words that stung senses
And made one recoil.
Finesse repelled, they were called obscene
Devoid of literary value, vulgar unclean.
Only a handful, the movement didn't thrive
Deserted betrayed, it couldn't survive.
Still not known their visions hidden in the mist
A rebellion for a lost cause by the hungry realist!
poem by Pradip Chattopadhyay

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