The Art Of Drowning
I wonder how it all got started, this business
about seeing your life flash before your eyes
while you drown, as if panic, or the act of submergence,
could startle time into such compression, crushing
decades in the vice of your desperate, final seconds.
After falling off a steamship or being swept away
in a rush of floodwaters, wouldn't you hope
for a more leisurely review, an invisible hand
turning the pages of an album of photographs-
you up on a pony or blowing out candles in a conic hat.
How about a short animated film, a slide presentation?
Your life expressed in an essay, or in one model photograph?
Wouldn't any form be better than this sudden flash?
Your whole existence going off in your face
in an eyebrow-singeing explosion of biography-
nothing like the three large volumes you envisioned.
Survivors would have us believe in a brilliance
here, some bolt of truth forking across the water,
an ultimate Light before all the lights go out,
dawning on you with all its megalithic tonnage.
But if something does flash before your eyes
as you go under, it will probably be a fish,
a quick blur of curved silver darting away,
having nothing to do with your life or your death.
The tide will take you, or the lake will accept it all
as you sink toward the weedy disarray of the bottom,
leaving behind what you have already forgotten,
the surface, now overrun with the high travel of clouds.
poem by Billy Collins
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Breathing
Outside
Gets inside
Through her skin.
Ive been out before
But this time its much safer in.
Last night in the sky,
Such a bright light.
My radar send me danger
But my instincts tell me to keep
Breathing,
(out, in, out, in, out, in...)
Breathing,
Breathing my mother in,
Breathing my beloved in,
Breathing,
Breathing her nicotine,
Breathing,
Breathing the fall-out in,
Out in, out in, out in, out in.
Weve lost our chance.
Were the first and the last, ooh,
After the blast.
Chips of plutonium
Are twinkling in every lung.
I love my
Beloved, ooh,
All and everywhere,
Only the fools blew it.
You and me
Knew life itself is
Breathing,
(out, in, out, in, out...)
Breathing,
Breathing my mother in,
Breathing my beloved in,
Breathing,
Breathing her nicotine,
Breathing,
Breathing the fall-out in,
Out in, out in, out in, out in,
Out in, out in, out in, out...
(out!)
In point of fact it is possible to tell the
(out!)
Difference between a small nuclear explosion and
A large one by a very simple method. the calling
Card of a nuclear bomb is the blinding flash that
Is far more dazzling than any light on earth--brighter
Even than the sun itself--and it is by the duration
Of this flash that we are able to determine the size
(what are we going to do without? )
Of the weapon. after the flash a fireball can be
Seen to rise, sucking up under it the debris, dust
And living things around the area of the explosion,
And as this ascends, it soon becomes recognisable
As the familiar mushroom cloud. as a demonstration
Of the flash duration test lets try and count the
Number of seconds for the flash emitted by a very
Small bomb; then a more substantial, medium-sized
Bomb; and finally, one of our very powerful,
High-yield bombs
What are we going to do without?
Ooh please!
What are we going to do without?
Let me breathe!
What are we going to do without?
Ooh, quick!
We are all going to die without!
Breathe in deep!
What are we going to die without?
Leave me something to breathe!
We are all going to die without!
Oh, leave me something to breathe!
What are we going to do without?
Oh, god, please leave us something to breathe!
We are all going to die without
Oh, life is--breathing.
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Red Carpet
Uh, yeah (ooh yeah-yeah-yeah)
Check one, two, it's the Piper, AKA Kels (ooh yeah-yeah-yeah)
I'm in the building right now and uh (whoo)
I'm looking for nothing but steppers
(Tell me where the steppers at)
So get on the dance floor and come on
(Where are all the steppers at?)
(Ooh-ooh...) uh, I feel good
(Ooh-ooh...) I mean, I don't mean to brag, but uh
Custom green suit, apple 'gators
Hundred thousand on my wrist (whoo)
Pinky shining, Coup reclinin'
White TL linen outfits (whoo)
Jump out styling, ladies smiling
Paparazzis everywhere (whoo)
Hummer, stretches, limo, Lexus
Pull up while people stop and stare
(The whole scene looks like we're all on TV)
Ooh sometimes life can be like a dream
When you're living on the big screen
Fancy cars, movie stars
Red carpet and big applause
Limousines and search lights
This is how we gon' do it tonight, so...
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
You and your partner are so, so clean
So take a picture for the memory
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Ooh I wanna go steppin' now (whoa)
Step contest you know I'm 'bout to clown (yeah)
(All I need is my partner; we go together like a hand in glove)
Ooh DJ put the record on (yeah) picture it's my favorite song
(Step in the name of love) (whoo) one more time (step in the name of love) yeah
(Oh the whole scene looks like we're all on TV)
Ooh sometimes life can be like a dream (like a dream)
When you're living on the big screen (big screen)
Fancy cars, movie stars
Red carpet and big applause
Limousines and search lights
This is how we gon' do it tonight, so...
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
You and your partner are so, so clean
So take a picture for the memory
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
You know us (you know us) whoa
(You know how we like to dress up) and go out
(And go out and hit the club)
I'm not leaving here 'til I take me a picture, whoa
(Camera man) oh yeah (just wait til I'm ready) oh yeah
(And then you can take a pic)
On three y'all, one, two, three, say cheese
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Fancy cars, movie stars
Red carpet and big applause (whoa)
Limousines and search lights
This is how we gon' do it tonight, so...
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
You and your partner are so, so clean
So take a picture for the memory (ohh)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Fancy cars, movie stars
Red carpet and big applause (whoa-whoa-whoa)
Limousines and search lights (oh)
This is how we gon' do it tonight, so...
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
You and your partner are so, so clean
So take a picture for the memory
Pause (flash) pause (flash) (oh)
Pause (flash) pause (flash)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home
song performed by by R. Kelly
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Praecaveo Lectoris (Reader, Beware)
We watch the fireflies flicker
dim and dangerous in the darkness
and dream of stars above so bright
that they outshine the moon
We laugh at water rushing in around us
as we sink, sink, sink
and drown eventually
in our fears and even our hope
We shape the heavens in our dreams,
wondering at the impossibilities
and glitter at the clouds,
and dance for the stars and sing for the lost
We look at one another,
laughing, grinning, joking, enjoying...open our eyes
and gasp at the mirror before us
throwing back nightmares and fear
It is not the predator that hunts us,
that lingers in the afterglow, waiting
It is not the shadows that plot against us,
waiting for us to blow out the light
It is the crushing feeling in our chest
that leaves us empty, choking, wanting,
It is the flash of heat in our back
that paralyzes us and chains our tears
and smiles silver in the moonlight...
pushing us deeper into the night
where the sounds whisper in our ear to let it go...
to let the chance pass
We take ourselves home for the day
and rush, rush, rush to arrive
and search the tube for meaning
and think dark thoughts...
Until the scent, so common now,
wakes us up to eat and drink and laugh...
and fall asleep
like practicing for death
poem by Poet Dragon
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Flash's Dream
Scene: mr. black's army is closing in on flash & the spivs.
After a long day's campaigning flash, having overindulged
The alcohol, has fallen asleep in his den.
Voice: cooee. cooee. flash. flash
Flash: who is this?
Voice: wake up flash. can you hear me flash?
Flash: who is this? who dares to wake me from my slumber?
Voice: need i announce myself? am i such a stranger to you?
Flash: say your name. speak!
Voice: i am your soul.
Flash: my soul?
Voice: i have come to show you who you are.
Flash: show me who i am? i know who i am you upstart! how
Dare you intrude.
Voice: you lied and schemed and took over a simple village and
Turned it into a vulgar playground for your own money-
Making ends. before you came people lived simple lives.
This was a happy place. then you ploughed up the fields,
Sold off the land and lined your own pockets with the profits.
Flash: lies! lies! i did it to help the nation
Voice: you did it for your own preservation!
Flash: no! no!
Voice: prepare yourself flash, there are many who suffered at your
Hands. they are craving for vengeance. time is running out.
Flash: can this be the end? can this be the swan song? the final
Elbow? i will not go. the people need me.
Voice: men like you will always come and go, but the people will go
On forever. take one final look at the past flash. enjoy it,
Because you have no future.
Flash: no! no! no! i can't stand this.
Trumpets herald the final confrontation between flash and himself.
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Flash's Dream (The Final Elbow)
Scene: Mr. Black's army is closing in on Flash & The Spivs.
After a long day's campaigning Flash, having overindulged
the alcohol, has fallen asleep in his den.
Voice: Cooee. Cooee. Flash. Flash
Flash: Who is this?
Voice: Wake up Flash. Can you hear me Flash?
Flash: Who is this? Who dares to wake me from my slumber?
Voice: Need I announce myself? Am I such a stranger to you?
Flash: Say your name. Speak!
Voice: I am your soul.
Flash: My soul?
Voice: I have come to show you who you are.
Flash: Show me who I am? I know who I am you upstart! How
dare you intrude.
Voice: You lied and schemed and took over a simple village and
turned it into a vulgar playground for your own money-
making ends. Before you came people lived simple lives.
This was a happy place. Then you ploughed up the fields,
sold off the land and lined your own pockets with the profits.
Flash: Lies! Lies! I did it to help the nation
Voice: You did it for your own preservation!
Flash: No! No!
Voice: Prepare yourself Flash, there are many who suffered at your
hands. They are craving for vengeance. Time is running out.
Flash: Can this be the end? Can this be the swan song? The final
elbow? I will not go. The people need me.
Voice: Men like you will always come and go, but the people will go
on forever. Take one final look at the past Flash. Enjoy it,
because you have no future.
Flash: No! No! No! I can't stand this.
Trumpets herald the final confrontation between Flash and himself.
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ride The Lightining
Guilty as charged
But damn it, it ain't right
There's someone else controlling me
Death in the air
Strapped in the electric chair
This can't be happening to me
Who made you god to say
"I'll take your life from you!!"
Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flame
Wait for the sign
To flick the switch of death
It's the beginning of the end
Sweat chilling cold
As I watch death unfold
Consiousness is my only friend
My fingers grip with fear
What am I doing here?
Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flame
Someone help me
Oh please God help me
They are trying to take it all away
I don't want to die
Time moving slow
The minutes seem like hours
The final curtain all I see
How true is this?
Just get it over with
If this is true, just let it be
Wakened by horrid scream
Freed from this frightening dream
Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flame
song performed by by Metallica
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Flash (Flash's theme)
Flash - Ah - Saviour of the universe
Flash - Ah - He'll save ev'ry one of us
Seemingly there is no reason for these
Extraordinary intergalactical upsets (ha ha ha)
What's happening Flash?
Only Dr Hans Zarkov formerly at N A S A
Has provided any explanation
Flash - Ah - He's a miracle
This mornings unprecedented solar eclipse
Is no cause for alarm
Flash - Ah - King of the impossible
He's for ev'ry one of us
Stand for ev'ry one of us
He'll save with a mighty hand
Ev'ry man ev'ry woman ev'ry child
With a mighty Flash
General Kaka Flash Gordon approaching
What do you mean Flash Gordon approaching?
Open fire all weapons
Dispatch war rocket Ajax to bring back his body
Flash - Ah
Gordon's alive
Flash - Ah - He'll save ev'ry one of us
Just a man with a man's courage
He knows nothing but a man
But he can never fail
No one but the pure in heart
May find the golden grail oh oh oh oh
Flash Flash I love you
But we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth
Flash
song performed by by Queen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Red Lights
(d. pickerill/p. odonoughue)
You stop on a red light, your life starts again on green
You watch all the colours then fall back into a dream
Theres headlights behind you, they flash out a silver surprise
You go for the hand brake, theres madness behind your eyes
Chorus:
The road goes on for mile and miles
You rush cos you havent got the time
Stop, stop, stop for the red light
Yay, yay, yay is for the green
One, one, one Im on a blue light
Keep your licence clean
He flicks on the amber, a machine gun in all but name
You push down the lever, well, two can play that game
As red lights rush by you theyre vivid and red as blood
The chase makes you feel so good
The road goes on for mile and miles
You rush cos you havent got the time
Dont, dont dont go on a red light
Yay, yay, yay is for the green
One, one, one Im on a blue light
Keep your licence clean
The flash lines are flowing, streaking by so fast
Signposts are flying and grey rain is slanting past
The colours are spinning, a pain on the side of your face
And blackness surrounds you, you finally lost the race
The road goes on for mile and miles
You rush cos you havent got the time
Dont, dont dont go on a red light
Yay, yay, yay wait for the green
One, one, one Im on a blue light
Keep your licence clean
song performed by by Lisa Stansfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Visions
Kaleidoscopic visions of you
Flash fleetingly or ride majestically
On the cusp of my mind
In a rush of disjointed pictures.
The stark bare bones of your life;
The sum of its days.
Its tricle of hours.
Held fast like an insect in amber
Marching to your hearts tattoo
To conjuror the past - a replay.
Half remembered conversations.
A touch, a taste and kisses
Butterfly light that tingled the soul.
Your bright eyes, soft hair.
Settling the past into focus.
A flash of colour.
That emerald green dress.
As you danced carefree and joyous
Like you skipped in and out of my life
Leaving only the echo of your laughter.
Until one day you were absent.
To become a pale memory
Leaving only secondhand images.
A faded photographs.
Living only in the memory.
Copyright P H Brookes 2012
poem by Paul Brookes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Flash
Words and music by brian may
Flash - ah - saviour of the universe
Flash - ah - he'll save ev'ry one of us
Seemingly there is no reason for these
Extraordinary intergalactical upsets (ha ha ha)
What's happening flash?
Only dr hans zarkov formerly at n a s a
Has provided any explanation
Flash - ah - he's a miracle
This mornings unprecedented solar eclipse
Is no cause for alarm
Flash - ah - king of the impossible
He's for ev'ry one of us
Stand for ev'ry one of us
He'll save with a mighty hand
Ev'ry man ev'ry woman ev'ry child
With a mighty flash
General kaka flash gordon approaching
What do you mean flash gordon approaching?
Open fire all weapons
Dispatch war rocket ajax to bring back his body
Flash - ah
Gordon's alive
Flash - ah - he'll save ev'ry one of us
Just a man with a man's courage
He knows nothing but a man
But he can never fail
No one but the pure in heart
May find the golden grail oh oh oh oh
Flash flash i love you
But we only have fourteen hours to save the earth
Flash
song performed by by Queen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Purblind
If some one were to flash a light
Would you be able to see
All those things
Which are lost in the deep swarthy
Liquid of darkness
Life's configuration
Death's face
Body of sadness
Lips of sound, dimples of pain
marble-white feet of happiness
Henna-colored fingers of love
Universes of beloved's tresses
Indeed, the divinely musical shadow of God.......
If some one were to flash a light
Would you be able to see
Wrapped up in the primordial fog
Waiting since life's beginning
Some one's eyes!
(Translated by Dr. Satyapal Anand)
poem by Naseer Ahmed Nasir
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Death Is Quite
Death is quite
Stands, waiting, watching
As your life flash’s
Before your eyes
He waits for you
To make the choice
Do you want to live?
Or do you want to die
In a flash
In a moment
You see highlights
Of your life
The good, the bad
The what ifs
And what you do have
Then one singular voice
Whispers softly in your ear
Reaches out to you
As he says his little prayer
Don’t let her die
Let my mum live
Eyes flutter open
A silhouette comes in view
Small head bent
Tear tracks spent
Then you know
Right then and there
I have a life to live
poem by Kaila George
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Frog Of Basho
the frog of basho
made its
jump into the water.
others say
there was this
flash that made the frog famous
not in Hollywood
but in the pages of an old poetry book.
the pond is forgotten.
it was it who said: flok!
not really flash, like light
bending itself to the power of the water.
basho of course
the poet, lives forever.
is this what we really want?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Flash at Midnight
The flash at midnight! - 'twas a light
That gave the blind a moment's sight
Then sank in tenfold gloom;
Loud, deep, and long, the thunder broke,
The deaf ear instantly awoke,
Then closed as in the tomb:
An angel might have passed my bed,
Sounded the trump of God, and fled.
So life appears; - a sudden birth,
A glance revealing heaven and earth
It is - and it is not!
So fame the poet's hope deceives,
Who sings for after time, and leaves
A name - to be forgot,
Life - is a lightning-flash of breath;
Fame - but a thunder clap at death.
poem by James Montgomery
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Madrigals
Im not so sure what i was dreaming
About but im sure it was better
Than this and ill hope you suppose
That im alright im buying you flowers
You told everyone, they know everything
And your madrigals and your silver rings
I still see a flash
From the time i opened my eyes too wide
I couldnt have asked you to stay
Im already falling to pieces
From this and ill hope you suppose
That im alright im sending you flowers
You told everyone, they know everything
And your madrigals and your silver rings
I still see a flash
From the time i opened my eyes too wide
I said to know your troubles... (repeat)
song performed by by Howie Day
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Madrigal
im not so sure what i was dreaming
about but im sure it was better
than this and ill hope you suppose
that im alright im buying you flowers
you told everyone, they know everything
and your madrigals and your silver rings
i still see a flash
from the time i opened my eyes too wide
i couldnt have asked you to stay
im already falling to pieces
from this and ill hope you suppose
that im alright im sending you flowers
you told everyone, they know everything
and your madrigals and your silver rings
i still see a flash
from the time i opened my eyes too wide
song performed by by Howie Day
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ive Been High
Have you seen?
Have not, will travel.
Have I missed the big reveal?
Do my eyes
Do my eyes seem empty?
Ive forgotten how this feels.
Ive been high
Ive climbed so high
But life sometimes
It washes over me.
Have you been?
Have done, will travel.
I fell down on me knees.
Was I wrong?
I dont know, dont answer.
I just needed to believe.
Ive been high
Ive climbed so high
But life sometimes
It washes over me.
So
I dive into a pool so cool and deep that if I sink i
Sink
And when I swim I fly so high
What I want
What I really want is
Just to live my life on high.
And I know
I know you want the same
I can see it in your eyes.
Ive been high
Ive climbed so high
But life sometimes
It washes over me.
Washes over me
Close my eyes so I can see
Make my make-believe believe
In me.
song performed by by REM
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Into My Life
Carpet stained with my red wine
Ive been staring at the fire
I keep looking at the time
Im waiting on you
I can hear the howling wind
Yes the sound is getting higher
As the night is closing in
Im waiting on you
Those big black eyes wicked smile
That you flash as you walk through my door
Into my life
Into my life
Into my life
Wont you come in and sit right down
Here let me pour a stolichnaya
Why is it when you come around
Im waiting on you
We drink until we get too tired
Even though you try to dance for me
I still cant light up your fire
So Im waiting on you
From time to time I feel so blind
And theres still so much more left to do
Into my life
Into my life
Into my life
You call me on the telephone
You say that I am always busy
So why am I here all alone
Waiting on you
I pick you up in my white car
I could fall ever so easily
Why you keep me hanging on
Im waiting on you
Still, those big black eyes wicked smile
That you flash as you walk through my door
Into my life
song performed by by Men At Work
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Orange Colored Sky
I was walking along minding my business, when out of an orange colored sky
Flash, bam, alakazam, wonderful you came by, I was humming a tune,
Drinking in sunshine, when out of that orange colored view
Wham, bam, alakazam, I got a look at you
One look and I yelled timber, watch out for flying glass
cause the ceiling fell in and the bottom fell out, I went into a spin
And I started to shout, Ive been hit, this is it, this is it
I was walking along minding my business, when love came and hit me in the eye
Flash, bam, alakazam, out of an orange colored sky
Musical interlude
Well, one look and I yelled timber, watch out for flying glass
cause the ceiling fell in and the bottom fell out, I went into a spin
And I started to shout Ive been hit, this is it, this is it
I was walking along, minding my business, when love came and hit me in the eye
Flash, bam, alakazam, out of an orange, colored, purple stripes
Pretty green polka dot sky, flash, bam, alakazam, went the sky
song performed by by Natalie Cole
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Falling In
A life has died in precious time
I’m falling in, I’m falling in, I’m falling in
This darkness pulling me by my skin
My never ending crime-dragging my weight through space and time
I am falling, I am falling, I am falling, I ‘m falling within
The flash of light, the gravity erasing my life
My mind is fading… Innocence, innocence, innocence, innocence……My mind is ending
This darkness pulling me by my skin
I’m falling in, I’m falling in, I’m falling in
My justice disappears-the black hole sucking in everything I hold dear
My eyes are burning, the road is gone, and my will is turning
I touch the stairway of corpses, leading me down
I am able to see again the demon with the horny crown
poem by Kreshnik musa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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