The End of the World
Quite unexpectedly, as Vasserot
The armless ambidextrian was lighting
A match between his great and second toe,
And Ralph the lion was engaged in biting
The neck of Madame Sossman while the drum
Pointed, and Teeny was about to cough
In waltz-time swinging Jocko by the thumb
Quite unexpectedly to top blew off:
And there, there overhead, there, there hung over
Those thousands of white faces, those dazed eyes,
There in the starless dark, the poise, the hover,
There with vast wings across the cancelled skies,
There in the sudden blackness the black pall
Of nothing, nothing, nothing -- nothing at all.
poem by Archibald MacLeish
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Related quotes
Dream Woman
I. At a time he dreamed about a woman
At a time he dreamed about a woman
and started longing after her
who at night stared at him
reaching out with her hands to him
but it’s only in his dreams that he see her
and when he closes his eyes she is there.
At a time he dreamed about a woman
and started longing after her
then he went into the wide world
trusting his friends with his secret
who scoffed at him, sometimes heckled at him
and he really wanted to experience her love,
at a time he dreamed about a woman
and started longing after her.
II. There is a day that he meets her
There is a day that he meets her
looking unexpectedly into the depths of her eyes,
when they gaze at each other for the first time,
both fall into love with the first greeting
and her lips are soft and sweet beneath his
and she embraces him with each gesture.
There is a day that he meets her
looking unexpectedly into the depths of her eyes,
and his friends warn him against danger
but her eyes are black like soot
and he feels silly like an impertinent child
cannot stop his feelings,
there is a day that he meets her
looking unexpectedly into the depths of her eyes.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Love is a dream that comes unexpectedly
Love comes in wild nights-
In wildest night of my dreams
When two hearts become one
And all my sorrows are finally gone.
Love comes like shooting stars.
One can wish upon his fate
To ask someone for a date
Awaiting her best responses.
Loves comes unexpectedly. And yes!
No one knows whether it's good or evil.
Sometimes love is honest, generous, peaceful,
Selfish, hate, painful, and ruthless.
Love is a dream, a beautiful dream
That comes unexpectedly.
You deserve it and yearn for it
That no one will ever question your heart.
Love is a dream that comes unexpectedly...
poem by Alon Calinao Dy
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The Crowd Roared
The crowd roared, the lion roared, another christian faced death,
And one was as hungry as the other for another's final breath.
No tears were shed as he lay dead, no thought, no regret, no sob.
And the slaves and the lion keeper went back to do their job.
The stake was set, the fire burned, the witch screamed for her god
And the crowd of flickering faces cursed the path she trod.
But when night covered their sight they huddled round their hob
And were glad it hadn't been them who'd had to do the job.
The blade fell, the head rolled and madame murder committed,
And the crowd roared while another madame sat and knitted.
But the noise went dead when its terror bred a terror for the mob,
And none cheered too loud after that when madame did her job.
No lion roared, no fire burned, no blade flashed in the sun
But when the crowd breathed in the gas their death was as one.
Their flesh was mean when buried unseen 'neath a dark and rocky knob.
And at last a tear was shed when executioners did their job.
In court they sat their faces stone, their eyes had never known a sob
And one by one they stood and said: 'I was only doing my job.'
But the crowd saw through their law and hissed and spat and sputtered
When one person used those words another person suffered.
It's dawn again, that time again, the sun has made the day
And see again that fatal sight of wood and rope and clay.
The crowd sighed but never cried as the trapdoor life did rob
And the executioner went away well pleased with his job.
poem by Paul Anthony
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Beyond enemy lines
Above me there’s an onyx sky
and the tarry night is fading fast
and I hear the roar
of enemy armour
and the crunching of tracks
echoes and sound very
near to me.
An electronic signal rushes
thousands of kilometres far
and goes into a night
filled with bright white stars
like a lighting bolt
falling in a dark black sky
and branching out to where
it has to go
to a place where Jacaranda trees
stand in purple bloom.
I match my wits against my fate
and crawl deeper into cover
of a thorn bush
and gird my soul to face
the enemy in war
and we lay and wait
and there are three of us
against a horde of enemy armour.
The light of dawn is still grey
and they get very near
and it’s a thundering sound
when the first tanks
and armoured cars appear
like hungry dragons
coming to the feast.
I look up in an indigo sky
and eagles and vultures
bend down out of the sun
and descend in deadly haste
transforming into Cheetah
and Mirage fighter jets
and the radio
let me talk to them
and the end of life
and dire chaos
is unleashed unexpectedly.
Only the birds of prey
save me from the hate
of great steel monsters,
that is ready to squash and kill
and missile and rocket arrows
leap descending out of the air
and red and yellow flames appear.
After a while the planes of war
thunder away to the South
and the fire fades
and around us there are
upturned and destroyed wrecks
of man’s war machines
and a slaughtering of humans
and the smell of death
cuts right through my breath,
as if it wants to engulf
and I retch and feel inhuman
and my comrades smile bravely
and say very well done
and around me
all other life is gone,
but for the three of us.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Piano Key Color Stream
The white and black spruce
That edge so well
In sharp melodies of contrast.
The piano key color stream
Mesh like light in a simile
And jive so unexpectedly,
And sway
with a rhythm
that contrives intravenously
Over interlocutor’s musical frequency’s
.
Black and white.
Hard.
Keys.
Ledgers.
Who build and perform
With nouns and adjectives
And odd punctuation.
But are so different?
poem by Michael Timothy Rose
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Bells Ringing
bells ringing...
thousands and thousands
of bells.... ringing....
the chorus of crows,
the sound of the whip
cracking on thousands
of backs, , ,
black and white,
brown and red....
the fat-bellied ticket taker
stands with hand outstretched...
cant pay the fare... cant ride....
left standing on the corner
of lost, and nameless.
marching to death, leaving
no trace, no footprints....
the bastard children of freedom,
no home to return to....
look up, look up!
the skies full of wings!
bells are ringing!
thousands and thousands
of bells... and each one
has a name!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Dark dragon wings
Skies beneath black wings
That binds and lashes winds
Knight of the night ride dark
Brash flames rain to burn lark.
Cast on the castle as thunder
And shadow the land under
Dark wings they've a hole and tear
Dark dragon through red eyes stare.
The skies defence revel in mist
And dawn a kingdom to resist
This warrior wear blood of night
As dry air burns in to light.
Dark dragon in skies dark your hidden
Rapture and reign the forbidden.
poem by Andrew Lockley
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A Big Black Rabbit
A big black rabbit passed right under the moon
On great dark wings to soar and swoon.
I called, “Oh great black rabbit where are you off? ”
An old fool beside me did chuckle and cough
“That’s just a raven, which is only a bird.”
The old man drew out slowly each word.
But it was a rabbit that I saw soaring,
My cause for assurance is birds are boring.
poem by Matt Johnston
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The Avenging Angel
1 When the last faint red of the day is dead,
2 And the dim, far heaven is lit
3 With the silvern cars
4 Of the orient stars,
5 And the winged winds whimper and flit;
6 Then I rise through the dome of my aerodrome,
7 Like a giant eagle in flight;
8 And I take my place
9 In the vengeful race
10 With the sinister fleets of night.
11 As I rise and rise in the cloudy skies,
12 No sound in the silence is heard,
13 Save the lonesome whirr
14 Of my engine's purr,
15 Like the wings of a monster bird.
16 And naught is seen save the vault, serene,
17 Of the vasty realms of night,
18 That vanish, aloof,
19 To eternity's roof,
20 As I mount in my ominous flight.
21 And I float and pause in the fleecy gauze,
22 Like a bird in a nest of down;
23 While 'neath me in deeps
24 Of blackness, sleeps
25 The far, vast London town.
26 But I am not here, like a silvern sphere,
27 To glory the deeps of space,
28 But a sentinel, I,
29 In this tower of the sky,
30 Scanning the dim deep's face.
31 For, sudden, afar, like a luminous star,
32 Or a golden horn of the moon,
33 Or a yellow leaf
34 Of the forest's grief,
35 When the autumn winds are atune;
36 There is borne on my sight, down the spaces of night,
37 By the engines of evilment sped,
38 That wonderful, rare,
39 Vast ship of the air,
40 Beautiful, ominous, dread.
41 One instant she floats, most magic of boats,
42 Illusive, implacable, there;
43 Throned angel of ill,
44 On her crystal-built hill,
45 O'er a people's defenceless despair.
46 Then sudden, I rise, like a bolt through the skies,
47 To the very dim roofs of the world;
48 Till down in the grey,
49 I see my grim prey,
50 Like a pallid gold leaf, uncurled.
51 And I hover and swing, until swiftly I spring,
52 And drop like a falling star;
53 And again and again,
54 My death-dealing rain,
55 Hurl to the deeps afar.
56 Then I hover and listen, till I see the far glisten
57 Of a flame-flash blanching the night;
58 And I know that my hate,
59 That has lain in wait,
60 Has won in the grim air-fight.
61 Then I curve and slant, while my engines pant,
62 And the wings of my great bird tame;
63 While the sinister Hun,
64 In his ill, undone,
65 Goes out in a blinding flame.
poem by William Wilfred Campbell
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The Two Swans
There's a big park just close to where we live —
Trees in a row
And shaggy grass whereon the dead leaves blow.
And in the middle round a great lagoon
The fair yachts sail
In loveliness that makes the water pale.
Last night I went to walk along the road
Beside the park
And feel the kisses of the wintry dark.
It's the best place to watch the evening come
For mists are there
And lights and shadows and the lake is fair
And last night looking up I saw two swans
Fly overhead
With long black necks and their white wings outspread.
Above the houses citywards they went,
An arrowy pair
In secret — white and black and dark and fair.
poem by Lesbia Harford
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Starless
Sundown dazzling day
Gold through my eyes
But my eyes turned within
Only see
Starless and Bible black
Ice blue silver sky
Fades into grey
To a grey hope that oh years to be
Starless and Bible black
Old friend charity
Cruel twisted smile
And the smile signals emptiness
For me
Starless and Bible black
song performed by by King Crimson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seventh Heaven (triolets)
The moon hangs almost solitary
shining like a searchlight
while it reflects on the sea
The moon hangs almost solitary
triggers a memory
before the blackness of the fall of night,
the moon hangs almost solitary
shining like a searchlight
reminding me of the way
which things between us once used to be,
before you went away,
reminding me of the way
we used to kiss and play,
emotions come quite suddenly,
reminding me of the way
which things between us once used to be.
One we were in spirit and body.
Two persons falling for one another,
and immediately we were very happy and giddy.
One we were in spirit and body,
much happier than everybody,
going everywhere together,
one we were in spirit and body.
two persons falling for one another.
Three in a relationship to you,
to you seemed much better
but at the end it caused us to be through.
Three in a relationship to you
unfastened our glue,
and suddenly I get your letter,
three in a relationship to you,
to you seemed much better.
Four gulls fly past screeching,
but there’s something familiar in your smile,
your eyes are bright and touching.
Four gulls fly past screeching,
and this can be far-reaching
as it’s obvious that you want to reconcile,
four gulls fly past screeching,
but there’s something familiar in your smile.
Five years ago when we unexpectedly met again
I saw your face light up like the sun
on a winter day full of sieving rain.
Five years ago when we unexpectedly met again
I was still full of pain
and here you are just after the new day have begun,
five years ago when we unexpectedly met again
I saw your face light up like the sun.
Six times we have been in touch
over the last twenty years
but then you did not care much.
Six times we have been in touch
and our feelings are now such
that you drive away my fears,
six times we have been in touch
over the last twenty years.
Seven diamonds were in your ring
and I still owe you a honeymoon
which we did not have with our wedding.
Seven diamonds were in your ring,
we feel as if our love is blossoming
and this time I will not let you leave soon,
seven diamonds were in your ring
and I still owe you a honeymoon.
poem by Gert Strydom
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I was a Child
I was not the one
Who killed my father
I was quite young
When he died.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
They say he loved me
Willed me grow great
He played with me
We sang in the eves.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
We hoped for brightness
And for tomorrow
Then he slumped
To breathe his last.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
Dirge for me I pray
Papa lives no longer
Beady salt water drops
From my sockets.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
Things happened fast
Leaving me stunned
I racked my brain
I rack it still.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
I cling onto mama
Perhaps she'll keep
Will console me well
For days gone by.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
I search her eyes
To find some faith
She must stay here
Ever at my side.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
She too escapes
Abandons me quick
I am raw and untaught
I have learned no trade.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
My father's brothers
Like not my face
Gang together, they say
We must squelch him.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
He must not be great
Like his father
How he struts
Like the old block!
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
This chip will be a cyber
If we lag and tarry
Hound him like the jackal
Aim at his blood.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
I run fast and scurrily
I fain would live
Great to be like papa
Greater even than he.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
Now I am a man
I truly can know
I am not too dazed
Even to think.
I was a child, what could I know
I was too dazed even to think
poem by Samuel Munachim
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Earth Bound
Funk upon a time
In the days of vanglorious
The tri-dimensional houses of energy
released the original powers
to the translators of the interplanetary funk code
Funkin religion, funkin lesson
Key bearers, funkin to the East
Earth bound
[Professor X]
Mmmm
We are messengers, of Ra
Whispering the secrets of the ages
Vanglorious! This is protected
by the red, the black, and the green
with a KEY! SISSSSSY!
"It was nearly eleven, when I started to return.
The night was unexpectedly dark.
To me, walking out of the lighted passage of my cousin's house
it seemed indeed black."
[Brother J]
What is.. we are..
Dum-diddy-dum to the God's new drum
Devils run, here comes the sun
Brothers travel for ages
Scroll and stake from planet to planet
I take a ride on the cosmos
The utmost toast of my raft
Now mortals want a dose of the voice of key
with the bass of the great war chant
So now it's on to the garden at a million vibes a second
The pyramid tries to beckon
The sands of time, survive the flood
The bricks of blood, the house of the heart
on the tri-dimensional level
On to balance with the feather
Funkin lesson vibes to earth, from Ra on to Jeb
My verse it bled, bring chaos to order
The abyss to the earth to the waters
Vanglorious sound on the rain comin down
Verbalizer with scroll, earth bound
[Professor X]
I am, the blood of the pharoahes
The spear bearers, the elephant riders
The everlasting conquerors
I AM, the original power of blackness
The strength exampled, in our people as a whole
I am the voice of unearthly soil
Earth bound, by will of the Creator
[Brother J]
From amongst the stars, in
song performed by by X-Clan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Earth Bound
Funk upon a time
In the days of vanglorious
The tri-dimensional houses of energy
released the original powers
to the translators of the interplanetary funk code
Funkin religion, funkin lesson
Key bearers, funkin to the East
Earth bound
[Professor X]
Mmmm
We are messengers, of Ra
Whispering the secrets of the ages
Vanglorious! This is protected
by the red, the black, and the green
with a KEY! SISSSSSY!
"It was nearly eleven, when I started to return.
The night was unexpectedly dark.
To me, walking out of the lighted passage of my cousin's house
it seemed indeed black."
[Brother J]
What is.. we are..
Dum-diddy-dum to the God's new drum
Devils run, here comes the sun
Brothers travel for ages
Scroll and stake from planet to planet
I take a ride on the cosmos
The utmost toast of my raft
Now mortals want a dose of the voice of key
with the bass of the great war chant
So now it's on to the garden at a million vibes a second
The pyramid tries to beckon
The sands of time, survive the flood
The bricks of blood, the house of the heart
on the tri-dimensional level
On to balance with the feather
Funkin lesson vibes to earth, from Ra on to Jeb
My verse it bled, bring chaos to order
The abyss to the earth to the waters
Vanglorious sound on the rain comin down
Verbalizer with scroll, earth bound
[Professor X]
I am, the blood of the pharoahes
The spear bearers, the elephant riders
The everlasting conquerors
I AM, the original power of blackness
The strength exampled, in our people as a whole
I am the voice of unearthly soil
Earth bound, by will of the Creator
[Brother J]
From amongst the stars, in
song performed by by X-Clan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Primer For Blacks
Blackness
is a title,
is a preoccupation,
is a commitment Blacks
are to comprehend—
and in which you are
to perceive your Glory.
The conscious shout
of all that is white is
“It’s Great to be white.”
The conscious shout
of the slack in Black is
'It's Great to be white.'
Thus all that is white
has white strength and yours.
The word Black
has geographic power,
pulls everybody in:
Blacks here—
Blacks there—
Blacks wherever they may be.
And remember, you Blacks, what they told you—
remember your Education:
“one Drop—one Drop
maketh a brand new Black.”
Oh mighty Drop.
______And because they have given us kindly
so many more of our people
Blackness
stretches over the land.
Blackness—
the Black of it,
the rust-red of it,
the milk and cream of it,
the tan and yellow-tan of it,
the deep-brown middle-brown high-brown of it,
the “olive” and ochre of it—
Blackness
marches on.
The huge, the pungent object of our prime out-ride
is to Comprehend,
to salute and to Love the fact that we are Black,
which is our “ultimate Reality,”
which is the lone ground
from which our meaningful metamorphosis,
from which our prosperous staccato,
group or individual, can rise.
Self-shriveled Blacks.
Begin with gaunt and marvelous concession:
YOU are our costume and our fundamental bone.
All of you—
you COLORED ones,
you NEGRO ones,
those of you who proudly cry
“I’m half INDian”—
those of you who proudly screech
“I’VE got the blood of George WASHington in MY veins”
ALL of you—
you proper Blacks,
you half-Blacks,
you wish-I-weren’t Blacks,
Niggeroes and Niggerenes.
You.
poem by Gwendolyn Brooks
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A Raven
Dark bird
Black raven with black wings,
Black eyes as dark as midnight,
Wind flutters his wings,
Shadows turn his head,
And movement catches his stare.
He looks down upon you and watches in dismay,
No black is with in you,
No night in your eyes,
No wings to up lift you,
No shadow to attract you,
And movements pass your gaze.
A raven, A raven, A moonlight silhouette.
Waltz Into Mischief
The latest and greatest
Amazing arrival
No conscience no shame
For the game of survival
Theives and villians
And fraudulent swindlers
Gathered in tribute
With masks of respect
A big hand hooray
Oh come all ye trustful
Let the band play
A waltz into mischief
The chairman is speaking
Instructs the apprentice
All faces are turned
To the wizard of sentence
Years of experience
Fall from his tongue
Like teardops to puddles
They ripple among
A big hand hooray
Oh come all ye trustful
Let the band play
A waltz into mischief
This king of the cowboys
Holds fast his deception
Rides their misgivings
To rapturous reception
Calls on the crowd
Of white pointed heads
To check under carpets
(while were in our beds? )
A big hand hooray
Oh come all ye trustful
Let the band play
A waltz into mischief
A big hand hooray
Oh come all ye trustful
Let the band play
A waltz into mischief
A big hand hooray
Oh come all ye trustful
Let the band play
A waltz into mischief
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Blackness Of The Black Black Night
THE BLACKNESS OF THE BLACK BLACK NIGHT
The blackness of the black black black night
The blackness inside-
‘The wretch concentred all in self’
Why oh I oh I oh I?
A million times the question comes
Focusing only on number one.
Who are we
And what can we be
If we are only
‘me me me’?
The blackness of the black black night
The blackness deep deep inside
Why oh why oh why oh
Always always always ‘I’?
poem by Shalom Freedman
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The Barn Owl
In late summer
I feel the chill again
the first marauding
from the high plateau
I can sense the teeth in everything
and claws under rock and ti-tree
biting down
in the dry sand of the creekbed
I find the skeleton of a barn owl
and snap off its skull
with a twist of my thumb and forefinger
I string it
with a length of fishing-line
and for days
I wear it around my neck
dreaming at night
of the crack of lizard-bones
the death-cries of small marsupials
the hard beak
as I work
knocking against my chest
the great, absent eyes
as I sleep
watching from eucalpyts
or waiting in dark rafters.
poem by David Brooks
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