I think it better that in times like these a poet's mouth be silent, for in truth we have no gift to set a statesman right.
quote by William Butler Yeats
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
On Being Asked For A War Poem
I THINK it better that in times like these
A poet's mouth be silent, for in truth
We have no gift to set a statesman right;
He has had enough of medding who can please
A young girl in the indolence of her youth,
Or an old man upon a winter's night.
poem by William Butler Yeats
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The Poet I Am', And 'The Poet I Am Not
The poet I am, and the poet I am not
‘The poet I am’ says
To ‘the poet I am not’,
‘Why can’t I be more like you? ’
And ‘the poet I am not’ says
‘Because you are not good enough’
And ‘the poet I am’ begins to cry,
And ‘the poet I am not’ says
‘Real poets cry for more meaningful things’
And ‘the poet I am’ says ‘I am who I am and what I will be means so much to me. But still I am not the poet I wanted to be’.
And ‘the poet I am not’ says
‘Exactly. Were you less concerned with who you are and more concerned with others you might be a bit more of a poet than you are now.’
And ‘the poet I am’ is silent.
And ‘the poet I am not’is somewhere else being someone else
That ‘the poet I am and the poet I am not’ cannot see or dream.
poem by Shalom Freedman
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This Poet Is Always Beside You
You are reading my poem but,
This poet is never known;
However, this poet is always beside you.
I am on your lips and,
I am in your mouth;
I am in your heart and,
I am in your mind;
Because, this poet is always beisde you.
This poet writes and others read,
This poet speaks and others listen,
And this poet is always beside you;
But, this poet is never known.
The works of this poet are on the internet,
And, they are being read by many! !
But, this poet is never known;
However, this poet is always beside you.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Life's A Gift
Life’s a gift for you to send
Life’s a gift for god to end
Life’s a gift now you’re with me
Life’s a gift for all to see
Life’s a gift when love is true
Life’s a gift when times look blue
Life’s a gift with the one you trust
Life’s a gift even if UN just
Life’s a gift a ray of sun
Life’s a gift though your heads held to a gun
Life’s a gift when its handed on a tray
Life’s a gift even though it’s always on display
Life’s a gift it’s hard to understand how
Life’s a gift so take advantage of it now
poem by SharonAnn Dawson
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Poet is free
Poet is free
No grammarian can guide the poet
Do not tell before a poet you are dare
And I know there are so many grammarians
With so many grammars
The poet is one with truth with love
All the grammars old middle modern
Are of no use for a poet
At the time of poet's thought
Poet's love poet's poetry
Nobody can search research poet's history
Nobody can dare to described poet
Poet can create his own language
His own grammar and it does not bother the poet
Whether you like it or not
Leave the poet on his own way
It is better you to read him love him
If you are alive.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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Silent
Silent when I have nothing to say.
Silent just to avoid the fray.
Silent when I am not sure.
Silent—I can't stand anymore.
Silent when you make me mad.
Silent I am when times are sad.
Silent when I am too shy.
Silent when I want to cry.
Silent as I carry life's load.
Silent... I may soon explode.
poem by Shaqueena Celestin
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L'Ancien Regime
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king,
Our king all kings above?
A young girl brought him love;
And he dowered her with shame,
With a sort of infamous fame,
And then with lonely years
Of penance and bitter tears --
Love is scarcely the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A statesman brought him planned
Justice for all the land;
And he in recompense got
Fierce struggle with brigue and plot,
Then a fall from lofty place
Into exile and disgrace --
Justice is never the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A writer brought him truth;
And first he imprisoned the youth,
And then he bestowed a free pyre
That the works might have plenty of fire,
And also to cure the pain
Of the headache called thought in the brain --
Truth is a very bad thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
The people brought their sure
Loyalty fervid and pure;
And he gave them bountiful spoil
Of taxes and hunger and toil,
Ignorance, brutish plight,
And wholesale slaughter in fight --
Loyalty's quite the worst thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A courtier brought to his feet
Servility graceful and sweet,
With an ever ready smile
And an ever supple guile;
And he got in reward the place
Of the statesman in disgrace --
Servility's always a thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A soldier brought him war,
La gloire, la victoire,
Ravage and carnage and groans,
For the pious Te Deum tones;
And he got in return for himself
Rank and honors and pelf --
War is a very fine thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A harlot brought him her flesh,
Her lusts, and the manifold mesh
Of her wiles intervolved with caprice;
And he gave her his realm to fleece,
To corrupt, to ruin, and gave
Himself for her toy and her slave
Harlotry's just the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king,
Our king who fears to die?
A priest brought him a lie,
The blackness of hell uprolled
In heaven's shining gold;
And he got as guerdon for that
A see and a cardinal's hat --
A lie is an excellent thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Has any one yet a thing
For a gift to our lord the king?
The country gave him a tomb,
A magnificent sleeping-room;
And for this it obtained some rest,
Clear riddance of many a pest,
And a hope which it much enjoyed
That the throne would continue void --
A tomb is the very best thing
For a gift to our lord the king.
poem by James Thomson
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The Final Tax
Said Statesman A to Statesman Z:
'What can we tax that is not paying?
We’re taxing every blessed thing—
Here’s what our people are defraying:
'Tariff tax, income tax,
Tax on retail sales,
Club tax, school tax,
Tax on beers and ales,
'City tax, county tax,
Tax on obligations,
War tax. wine tax,
Tax on corporations,
'Brewer tax, sewer tax,
Tax on motor cars,
Bond tax, stock tax,
Tax on liquor bars,
'Bridge tax, check tax,
Tax on drugs and pills,
Gas tax, ticket tax,
Tax on gifts in wills,
'Poll tax, dog tax,
Tax on money loaned,
State tax, road tax,
Tax on all things owned,
'Stamp tax, land tax,
Tax on wedding ring,
High tax, low tax,
Tax on everything!'
Said Statesman A to Statesman Z:
'That is the list, a pretty bevy;
No thing or act that is untaxed;
There’s nothing more on which to levy.'
Said Statesman Z to Statesman A:
'The deficit each moment waxes;
This is no time for us to fail—
We will decree a tax on taxes.'
poem by Ellis Parker Butler
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Before a Poetry Reading
'Poet! Poet! Poet! Poet! '
I'm feeling nervous but I mustn't show it!
'Poet! Poet! Poet! Poet! '
I hope to heaven that I won't blow it!
'Poet! Poet! Poet! Poet! '
I mustn't reveal that I'm a second-rate poet!
I'm only a rhymer, but they don't know it!
If you've got no talent you'll have to grow it!
'Poet! Poet! Poet! Poet! '
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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A True Gift to God
Love for humanity,
is true gift to GOD.
save environment,
is true gift to GOD.
always speaks the truth,
is true gift to GOD.
having no lust for money,
is true gift to GOD.
bounty love,
is true gift to GOD.
no discrimination,
is true gift to GOD,
be honest what you are doing,
is true gift to GOD.
be polite to others,
is true gift to GOD.
help others,
is TRULY TRULY a true gift to GOD.
poem by Suniya Garg
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Time Of Separation
Once again to strive, to beat it out
over and over again.
so worn, worked over
with the intention to kill.
to watch him die and smile
at his dismay,
his pain,
my deliverance.
my cleanliness a gift of freedom.
my walk purified.
my peace given by God.
What else is there
after slipping away,
when every thing is silent
and nothing else is around?
alone.
looking deep inside.
hearing the echo of my soul,
no one can know.
In these times of silence,
these times of separation,
i find there is a void that rises up,
a peace that brings my tears,
a comfort that no one else can offer.
So why do people run away?
why do they look elsewhere
and base their self on opinions
when the truth is so evident that this God of
love is so constant?
destruction and storms.
my Jesus stands to help
song performed by by Zao
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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World view
Come to poet
And enjoy life.
Come to poet
And see beauty.
Come to poet
And know truth.
Come to poet
And have patience.
No non-sense can
Disturb you
And you have
At your hand
World view.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A statesman wants courage and a statesman wants vision; but believe me, after six months' experience, he wants first, second, third and all the time - patience.
quote by Stanley Baldwin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.
quote by Adlai E. Stevenson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Adage 4
'Don't make use of another man's mouth unless it has been loaned to you.'
Belgian Proverb
if i let you borrow
my mouth
will you follow what it will say?
or will you tell it
what to say?
i am a poet
without a motive
my words speak for themselves
the only function of my
mouth and my tongue
is to eat
and shut up.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Where Have You Been?
Verse 1:
Somethings funny bout your touch lately
Its like youve been touching someone else
And the sound of your voice,
Well somethings stopping you from being yourself
Weve always been honest -
And painfully so -
So tell me though I dont want to hear
I have to ask you
Where have you been?
cause I think I know the answer
And its not what I wanted to hear
Dear, where have you been?
Ive been waiting up for you
I dont want to accuse but
Your eyes and mouth they tell a different story
I dont want to hear it but -
The truth -
Where have you been?
Verse 2:
(well) I know its easy to lose faith
We look simply for a change of pace
And I know my moods, they go up and down
But when youre climbing walls, dont I stick around?
You caught me
On some little white lies
Its you who taught me
About silent goodbyes
I have to ask you
Where have you been?
cause I think I know the answer
And its isnt what I wanted to hear
Dear, where have you been?
Ive been waiting up for you
I dont want to accuse but
Your eyes and mouth they tell a different story
I dont want to hear it-
But the truth-
Where have you been?
Bridge:
A silent cry fills the room
I hear it no sooner than the words ring true
I knew it all along
Please erase this song
End this harsh reality
What did you do to me? oh.....
I have to ask you
Where have you been?
cause I think I know the answer
And it isnt what I wanted to hear
No
Ive been waiting up for you
I have to ask you
Where have you been?
I think I know the answer
Its written all over your face
No-no-no
No-no-no-no
I dont want to know - yeah
Your eyes and mouth they tell a different story
I dont want to hear it -
But the truth -
Where have you been?
I dont want to hear it - but tell me
Where have you been?
No...
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
song performed by by Debbie Gibson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Poets Era
They whispered as thunder clapped
and the rain fell
the bird hid as they songs
were awfully silent
nothing was said as the
television remained silent
the creatures stayed and stared
as the all stayed mouth open
pen to paper he wrote
the night were cold
and day brutal
sleep cometh not to these
eyes as my hand shake
retired from it all
fell sick as i stand tall
had to come back
said it was my last
but the mind of a poet
just refuse to quit
inspiration ran through
my veins as my body ache
the books took dust
but they story they tell
now pen to paper i see
when i write people listen
and through that peace evolves
so pen to paper its glad to say
In the dawn of my day
and the silence of the night
a poet time is never ended
cause in death our tale still tells
so my time is an era to be told
so here i go
poem by Robert Roberts
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A Poet's Life
A Poet's life is:
A whole day of inspiration,
Coupled with a lot of observation,
A poet is not right,
And not wrong,
They have foresight and don't prolong,
A poet is neutral at all times,
They are the past, present and future,
Possess knowledge of culture,
And in a way is a teacher,
So there you have it,
All summed up as one,
A Poet's Life. My work here is done!
I Am Just a Poet
I am just a poet.
A philosopher of sorts.
One who cohorts with others...
With common ideals as if at sport.
I am just a poet.
Observing those in an environment.
Trying to make sense of activities done.
And why some are done without consciousness.
I am just a poet.
Blessed to have what I do as a gift!
And living each moment to understand more of life.
As I share this point of view through the poems I write.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Today... 'The Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift
God's Unspeakable Gift descended down from heaven
when from the Father of Lights to earth it was given.
The Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift shows
no variation and no shadow of turning knows.
For every good and perfect gift comes from above
and is bestowed upon men from the Father of Love.
With His arms outstretched reaching out to all who believe
He brings the gift of forgiveness for us to receive.
(see also the additional information in the Poet's notes box below)