The Escape of the Old Grey Squirrel
Old Grey Squirrel might have been
Almost anything -
Might have been a soldier, sailor,
Tinker, tailor
(Never a beggar-man, though, nor thief).
Might have been, perhaps, a king,
Or an Indian chief.
He remained a City clerk
Doubled on a great high stool,
Totting up, from dawn to dark,
Figures, figures, figures, figures,
Red ink, black ink, double rule,
Tot-tot-totting with his pen,
Up and down and round again -
Curious Old Grey Squirrel.
No one ever really knew
What he did at night,
In his room so near the roof,
Up those steep and narrow stairs.
Old Grey Squirrel wasn't quite
The same as other men.
What he said was always true;
He was like a little child
In a thousand things.
Something shy and delicate,
Cold and grave and undefiled,
Seemed to keep him quite aloof.
You could never call him lonely,
Though he lived with memory there.
When he knelt beside his bed
He had nothing much to say
But the simplest little prayer
Learned in childhood, long ago,
And he didn't know or care
Whether Calvinists might call it
Praying for the dead.
Father, mother, sister, brother -
Memories clear as evening bells;
Yes, the very sort of thing
All your clever little scribblers
Love to satirize and sting,
So let's talk of something else.
He collected stamps, you know,
Commonplace Old Squirrel.
Ah, but could you see him there,
When the day's grey work was done,
Poring over his new stamps
With that wise old air;
Looking up the curious places
In his tattered atlas, too
Lands of jungle and of sun,
Ivory tusks and dusky faces,
Whence his latest treasure flew
Like a tropic moth, he thought,
To flutter round his dying lamp. . . .
Visions are not bought and sold;
But, when the foreign mail came in
Bringing his employers news
Of copper, sulphide, zinc and tin
(And the red resultant gold),
Envelopes were thrown away,
So, of course, one clearly sees
He could pick, and he could choose,
Having, as he used to say,
'Very great advantages.'
Rarities could not be bought.
Bus fares don't leave much for spending
On a flight to Zipangu.
All the same, one never knew.
All things come to those who wait -
Isles of palm in rose and blue,
India, China and Peru,
And the Golden Gate.
So he'd turn his treasures over -
Mauve and crimson, buff and cream -
Every stamp an elfin window
Opening on a boy's lost dream.
'Curious, curious, that's Jamaica,
That's Hong Kong (the twopenny red),
I've no doubt they are well worth seeing,
Well worth seeing,' Old Squirrel said.
'Curious' - curious was his word -
Old Grey Squirrel remembered a day
Sitting alone in a whispering fir-wood
(This was in boyhood before they caught him)
Writing a story of far Cathay,
A tale that his friends would think absurd
But would make him famous when he was dead.
'Curious' - thinking of all those years,
All those dreams that had drifted away -
Once, he had thought - but the years had taught him,
Taught him better, and bowed his head.
'Curious' - memory clings and lingers -
Clings - the smell of the fir wood - clings . . .
Through his wrinkled ink-stained fingers,
'Curious, curious,' trickled the tears,
Curious Old Grey Squirrel.
No, you'd hardly call it weeping.
Old Grey Squirrel could not weep.
Head on arm, he might have been
Sleeping; but he did not know.
Most of us are sound asleep;
And, that Christmas Eve, it seems,
He awoke, at last, from dreams.
Gently, as a woman's hand
Something touched him on the brow,
And he woke, in that strange land -
Where he lives for ever now.
All things come to those who wait -
Palms against a deeper blue,
Far Cathay and Zipangu,
And the Golden Gate.
poem by Alfred Noyes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Squirrel Said
The Squirrel said.
'Attention all! '
He stands tall.
On a wooden fence,
in suspense.
Their Squirrel Head,
Their squirrel said,
'My nuts are gone,
My nuts are gone! '
Did you check under your bed?
Another squirrel joking said,
'Of course I did! ' the squirrel said,
'I am the Squirrel head'.
Maybe you forgot you've ate,
Autumn now, it's not too late,
Just look for more, Squirrel Head,
An elderly wise squirrel said.
Curious
Straight as a dye
On us we rely
Yet watch how my head is turning
Distracting my eye
Its no reflection on you, yet who would believe me
Troubled by the thought of it, I cant deny
That Im curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I cant deny
That Im curious, never have decieved you
Just curious, I cannot lie
Give me a reason
Ill hide my delight
Shamelessly Ill seize the moment
Just my needs in sight
Its no reflection on you, yet who would believe me
Troubled by the thought of it, I cant deny
That Im curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I cant deny
That Im curious, never have decieved you
Just curious, I cannot lie
Its no reflection on you, yet who would believe me
Troubled by the thought of it, I cant deny
That Im curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I cant deny
That Im curious, never have decieved you
Just curious, I cannot lie
song performed by by Olive
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Im So Curious
So curious
So curious
Im so curious about our love
I dont understand
Why don;t you take my hand
And tell me you care (u care)
I see all the signs
But if u wanna be mine
Dont leave me up in the air.
Oh baby
U better let your love show
Heres what Im telling you
Let me know
Let me go
Chorus:
Im so curious
Do u love me?
Do u wonder the way I do? (I do)
Im so curious
What do u think of me] (of me)
Boy, am I just a game
Or do u feel the same way as I do?
So curious
So curious
Im so curious about our love
If its make believe
Why dont u set my heart free
And tell me goodbye? (goodbye)
But if its for real
Tell me u feel for me
Way deep down inside
Oh baby
Is it goodbye or hello?
Herez what Im telling you
Let me know
Let me go
(repeat chorus)
So curious
Yea, yea
All day and night I just dream of you (of you)
I think about all the things that we could do
Im dying for and Im feeling for the day
When you could open up and say
You feel the same
You feel like I do (yeah)
(repeat chorus)
(repeat chorus)
song performed by by Britney Spears
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Curious Thing
There was this guy, he was down on his luck
He was truly povertys child
Well, he had no home and he had no car
And he wore a weary smile
Moved out to l.a., knocked around for awhile
But he was getting nowhere
Then he did this movie and it did really well
Now hes a millionaire
See, life is a curious thing
Life, ooh life is a curious thing
I know a man who could paint the town red
Had a college degree in fun
till the doorbell rang and a long lost flame said
This little boy is your son
Gave him a suitcase and a bear
Left em in a cloud of dust
Now hes checking out schools and driving carpools
Learning to adjust
He says life is a curious thing
Life, ooh life is a curious thing
Well, I know that it can be demanding
I know that it can be unkind
I dont really understand it
But lord sure knows I try
Life is a curious thing
Life, ooh life is a curious thing
Let me tell you bout a kid I knew
A pudgy girl back in school
She had greasy hair and geeky glasses
Object of ridicule
The other day in the check out line
They were ringing up my rice and beans
There she was, a pretty little face
On the cover of a magazine
And I said life is a curious thing
Life, ooh life is a curious thing
(chorus)
Just goes to show that you never know
Just what tomorrow may bring
But Ill tell you this that what it is
Is seldom what it seems
cause life is a curious thing
Life, ooh life is a curious thing. . .
song performed by by Amy Grant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Curious
Welcome to the great unknown
Take a journey into the O zone
Feed your fire, feel the burn
And I'm learning the thing that you learn
Let's play the game
And I'm sure that you'll be so glad that you came
You never know till you let go
And discover your potential
There's nothing wrong with being curious
Adventurous
Step out of your mind
If something inside makes you curious
Then free it up
Initiation begins
When you jump right in
This is the end, let's begin
Lose your fear like you're shedding your skin
Nothing's lost when all is won
So I'm do all the things that you done
Feel the sound
And try to write a simple rhyme of spinning round
Before I leave, you ought to know
The more you scream, the faster that you go
There's nothing wrong with being curious
Adventurous
Step out of your mind
If something inside makes you curious
Then free it up
Initiation begins
Free up your inside
You're gonna like what you will find
You're never gonna know until you try
There's nothing wrong with being curious
Adventurous
Step out of your mind
If something inside makes you curious
Then free it up
Initiation begins
There's nothing wrong with being curious
Adventurous
Step out of your mind
If something inside makes you curious
Then free it up
Initiation begins
When you jump right in
There's nothing wrong with being curious
Adventurous
Step out of your mind
If something inside makes you curious
Then free it up
Initiation begins
When you jump right in
song performed by by Holly Valance
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am Curious
(carole pope / kevan staples)
Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
The noise that announces a seduction
Im a volcano
In a state of eruption
I live life with a wild intensity
Need to be aroused
To the point of intimacy
What are your motives?
I got to know
Im doing research
I got to know
What are your motives?
I got to know
Tell me your motives, oh, oh
cause Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
The fusing, the melting of two bodies
Im addicted to lethal sexuality
I live life on the edge of ecstasy
Need to be desired
Nothing else fulfils me
What are your motives?
I got to know
Im doing research
I got to know
What are your motives?
I got to know
Tell me your motives, ooh, ooh
Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
Yes, Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
I am curious with myself
Too delirious from singing
cause Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
song performed by by Dusty Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Curiosity
Because of curiosity
All the Vandals had to see
The golden throne
Of Ancient Rome
And brought the city to its knees
Because of curiosity
Because of curiosity
I'm just riddled with anxiety
I'm the lowest level
As a matter of fact
I often dwell for days on this
But when I see your smiling face
I'm so disgraced
And if you're holding out on me
I get curious
As curious as I can be
Curious
Because of curiosity
Curiosity killed the cat
But satisfaction brought it back
In terms of this cat
As a matter of fact
I'll meet you at the old mouse hole
I'll meet you at the old mouse hole
When I see your smiling face
I'm so disgraced
If you're holding out on me
I get curious
As curious as I can be
Curious as I can be
Curious as I can be
Yeah, curiosity
song performed by by Iggy Pop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I say to mankind, Be not curious about God. For I, who am curious about each, am not curious about God - I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least.
quote by Walt Whitman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dead Serious
[verse 1]
Who's that girl with the Bible in her hands?
The smile on her face, she doesn't get it, I don't understand
The way she walks with her head in the clouds
She doesn't care who laughs, walks straight through the crowd
(pre-chorus)
That's right, that's me, I don't care what you think
People talk all day, I don't care what they say
[chorus]
You think I'm delirious,(a typical reaction)
Aren't you curious,(about my satisfaction)
Maybe you're envious, a little curious
You can laugh, but I'm dead serious
[verse 2]
Watch her as she goes, there's something different and she knows it
Ask her why, and she'll flash that silly smile
She says she's got a purpose and she's done with all the games
Jesus saved her soul and she'll never be the same
(pre-chorus)
That's right, that's me, I don't care what you think
People talk all day, I don't care what they say
[chorus]
You think I'm delirious,(a typical reaction)
Aren't you curious,(about my satisfaction)
Maybe you're envious, a little curious
You can laugh, but I'm dead serious
[bridge]
Eternity won't wait for me
I've made my choice, it's where I want to be
All I want to be seen is the light of God shining in me
I may be young, but I an free
You can't change what I believe
(pre-chorus)
That's right, that's me, I don't care what you think
People talk all day, I'm okay anyways
[chorus]
You think I'm delirious,(a typical reaction)
Aren't you curious,(about my satisfaction)
Maybe you're envious, a little curious
You can laugh, but I'm dead serious
Serious, I'm serious
You can laugh but I'm dead serious
song performed by by ZoeGirl
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How Curious Is Nature
How curious the occasion
Of the funeral procession
Of a young and innocent being
The ceasing of song,
and the darkness of death, The sunlight
thought no more to be seen
How curious that Nature
All around this sad event allows the sun
to yet shine and the birds to still sing
Perhaps Nature knows more than
One would suppose, and that death is
No more than a soul taking wing
Aye, how curious
Tis death
And the nature of things
poem by David Whalen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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SONG On: Animal Love
There lived a girl called Lovina,
Whose animal-love was great;
Tall, she was and so much lean, ah!
She sang songs for a treat.
She had a sister, with whom she fought,
Right from her child-hood days!
Both were aged, a year’s diff’rence;
And so they fight-her mother says.
She did her home-work, in a short time,
Dreamt while her mother cooks!
In argument, she was so good,
And loved to read animal-books.
Once there fell down, a small Squirrel,
As she stood ‘neath a Mango-tree;
She laid it gently in a box,
The Squirrel-babe was no more free!
She fed the Squirrel, fruit and nut,
And lullabied it to a sleep;
The baby Squirrel loved her much,
Their friendship grew so deep.
She sang to it and fondled it,
And talked to it whenever free;
She kept it cosy, neat and clean;
Her holidays, went off in glee!
One day, the Squirrel fell so ill;
Perhaps, it thought of its mother!
So, you must set the Squirrel free;
Her doctor-uncle advised her.
With Squirrel ill, her heart turned sad,
Poor Lovina, could not sleep well;
For long, she kept awake and cried;
Was the Squirrel ill ‘cause it fell?
The poor girl prayed, all night and day;
She prayed to God to make it well;
And wished, she could become a fay!
Her life now seemed to look like hell!
She kissed her Squirrel, one more time;
Her Uncle let it up a tree;
The Squirrel squeaked and wagged its tail;
And jumped with joy, away, afree!
Lovina too now wept with joy;
Her pet-Squirrel seemed quite alright!
Her heart leapt like the Squirrel, Boy!
Her Uncle’s words were quite correct.
But Lovina missed her Squirrel;
She visited the Mango-tree;
She hopes to meet her pet some day,
Her friend, never turned up to see!
Ye love your God through animals!
Ye love thy sister first, then else;
Man hath a soul, animals don’t,
“Love thy neighbour, ”the Poet tells!
specially dedicated to my neice Rubina, an animal-lover herself, a true incident in her life!
poem by John Celes
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Tavern
I'll keep a little tavern
Below the high hill's crest,
Wherein all grey-eyed people
May set them down and rest.
There shall be plates a-plenty,
And mugs to melt the chill
Of all the grey-eyed people
Who happen up the hill.
There sound will sleep the traveller,
And dream his journey's end,
But I will rouse at midnight
The falling fire to tend.
Aye, 'tis a curious fancy—
But all the good I know
Was taught me out of two grey eyes
A long time ago.
poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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The Old Grey Squirrel
A great while ago there was a schoolboy
who lived in a cottage by the sea,
And the very first thing he could remember
was the rigging of the schooners by the quay.
He could watch 'em from his bedroom window
with the big cranes a-hauling out the freight,
And he used to dream of shipping as a sea-cook
and a-sailing for the Golden Gate.
He used to buy the yellow penny dreadfuls,
he'd read 'em where he fished for conger eels,
As he listened to the slapping of the water
the green and oily water round the keels,
There were trawlers with their shark-mouthed flatfish
and the nets a-hanging out to dry,
And the skate the skipper kept because he liked 'em
and the landsmen never knew which ones to fry.
There were brigantines with timber out of Norway
just oozing with the syrups of the pine,
There were rusty dusty freighters out of Sunderland
and clippers of the Blue Cross Line.
To tumble down the hatch into a cabin
was better than the best of broken rules,
For the smell of 'em was like a Christmas dinner
and the feel of 'em was like a box of tools,
And before he went to sleep in the evenings
the last thing that he would ever see,
Was the sailormen a-dancing in the moonlight
by the capstan that stood beside the quay.
Now he's sitting on a high-stool in London,
the Golden Gate is far away,
For they caught him like a squirrel and they caged him,
now he's totting up accounts and turning grey,
And he'll never get to San Francisco
and the last thing that he will ever see,
Is the sailormen a-dancing in the moonlight
by the capstan that stands beside the quay.
To the tune of the old concertina
by the capstan that stands beside the quay.
poem by Alfred Noyes
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The Grey World
Grey nights in the wind,
And the grey-faced dead.
Grey hairs in my head,
And grey eyes in my mind.
Grey mists in the morn,
And grey waves that rave,
Grey mould on my grave,
And grey eyes forlorn.
Grey clouds in the sky,
And the grey world asleep,
Grey ghosts that sigh,
And grey eyes that weep.
poem by Leon Gellert
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Curiosity
I am curious to know whats out there.
In space the galaxies and different worlds.
Exploring and moving forward.
I wonder what we will do in the 100 years.
Destroy the earth. Mass poverty.
What? I am curious to know.
poem by Autumn Winds
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Won't it be Curious
WON'T it be curious when I am dead;
Some one, unknown to me, here in my stead?
Curious surely for others to see
Trifles I made or marred outlasting me;
All my possessions - bracelets and rings,
Young and unaltered like immortal things
Young and unaltered, always the same
Changeless the lamp though we blow out the flame.
poem by Alice Duer Miller
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Curious Child
In a room full of harlots and fantasy
Destiny beckoned us there
Curious child on the balcony
We took the dare
Careless I was 2 caress thee
Yet never regretting the time
The joy that we shared, it was meant 2 be
And not a crime
No, its not a crime
If memory serves us, we will align
2 the truth that we most often share
Curious child, u are on my mind
Do u care?
song performed by by Prince
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.
quote by Marie Curie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The curious are always in some danger. If you are curious you might never come home.
quote by Jeanette Winterson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Peep on You
I peep on you
When you say
You don’t love me
I saw your rose pulps
I peep on you
I saw you rested your love
On the bowl
I peep on you
I saw your barbaric tits waving
Water dripping from there
Right to your squirrel
I peep on you
I saw your squirrel
Wet but breathing
Seems like in hunger
For partner
I peep on you
When you say
You don’t love me
I saw your beautiful face
As horny
As your squirrel
poem by Sulaiman Mohd Yusof
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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