Carl Sandburg

Gypsy

I asked a gypsy pal
To imitate an old image
And speak old wisdom.
She drew in her chin,
Made her neck and head
The top piece of a Nile obelisk
and said:
Snatch off the gag from thy mouth, child,
And be free to keep silence.
Tell no man anything for no man listens,
Yet hold thy lips ready to speak.

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The Same Story, The same History

...and so the same story is told
the same history is made....

why always speak of descrimination
why always speak of war
why always speak of class
why always speak of injustice
why always speak of poverty
why always speak of rebellion....

why not speak of equality
why not speak of peace
why not speak of respect
why not speak of wisdom
why not speak of production
why not speak of working together...

...and so the same story is told
the same history is made.

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Speak To Me

Speak to me when you're feeling alone
Hurt or lost you're thrown

Speak to me when all else fails
And nobody seem to listen


Speak to me when I'm the one you trust
Speak to me I'm all ears
Have no fears
I'm listens
Don't hold back
I won't attack

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Shut my Mouth

There are those whom wish
I would just shut my mouth.
For my words cut them to
the bone when I speak of
an abuse child. Or a person
drowning in the sea of his or
her own addiction. They real
wish I would shut my mouth when
I speak of equality for all. Also when
talk about suffrage one goes through
from AIDS, Cancer to Death. I done had my
words crumbled in thrown back in my face.
I have been given looks as if they want to shove
my words back down my throat until I choked on them.
But for all those who want me to shut my mouth I have
got three times as many who want me to speak.
So speak I will. As long as I got something to say I will speak.
And only when I don’t have anymore to say is when I will
Shut My Mouth.

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Speak With Kindness (Or Do Not Speak At All)

speak with kindness,
or do not speak at all.
speak not of judgement,
you are not the judge.
speak not of salvation,
let your living be your scriptures.
speak not of scriptures,
let your actions be your holy book.
speak not as apostle or teacher,
speak as a human being.
speak not of god,
then god will speak through you!
speak not as a man,
for you are woman too.
speak not with hateful malice,
for love does not work that way.
speak not as a prophet or seer,
speak as compassion made flesh.
speak not of morality,
speak of connection.
speak not of authority,
the tree and the leaf have just as much.
speak not of holiness,
for all that lives be holy.
speak with kindness...
or do not speak at all!

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Em 3

about you
what shall i say about you?

ah, i prefer my
silence

this is my cure about
you
yes, my silence

it shall speak about
you my silence

my very own silence
to speak about your
long silence

now we are at peace
in our silence

both shall speak about
us yes our silence

our marital silence in
the silence of our bed

the root of all our
troubles freud say is in

the silence of our beds
two beds now

four meters apart
speaking in silence

the silence of the house
and the chairs

and the staircases
and the carpets and

the ticks and the
empty glasses or those

cold coffee and
frozen butter.

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Mother Once Said...

My mother once said
'Don`t open your mouth before
Elders and those with white hairs'.
My mother also said
'Don`t speak unless asked'.

My mouth asked me once,
'What is my role in your life? '
I said, 'My mother has said nothing about it'.
I added, 'You swallow and eat'.
My mouth has been quiet since.

My friends said, 'Your mother is wise'.
My father said, 'She is my strength'.
I wondered how she could be so great!
Then was born my kid brother with a big mouth.

My mother said to my kid brother too
Not to do those old things
But his mouth spoke everything
Everything that I never dared.
And his mouth swallowed, ate and spoke.

Today my mother is no more
And my father is is weak and worn out.
I still remember my mother`s words.
While my kid brother speaks out his mind
My mouth refuses to speak out its regrets....

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Love And Anger

it lay buried here
it lay deep inside me
it's so deep I don't think that I can speak about it
it could take me all my life
but it would only take a moment to
tell you what I'm feeling
but I don't know if I'm ready yet
you come waltzing into this room
like you're walking into my arms
what would I do without you?
CHORUS
take away the love and the anger
and the little piece of hope holding us together
looking for a moment that'll never happen
living in the gap between past and future
take away the stone and the timber
and a little piece of rope won't hold it together
if you can't tell your sister
if you can't tell a priest
cause it's so deep you don't think
that you can speak about it to anyone
can you tell it to your heart?
can you find it in your heart
to let go of these feelings
like a bell to a southerly wind
we could be like two strings beating
speaking in sympathy
what would we do without you?
two strings speak in sympathy
(what would we do without you?)
CHORUS
you might not think so now
but just you wait and see
(someone will come to help you

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In a Child's Voice

Listen to the voice of a child
You will hear the wisdom of the ages
A book ready to be written
Filled with many unwritten pages
Learn from their innocence
Honestly brutal but real
For they haven’t yet been tarnished
telling you exactly how they feel
So simple yet so wise they speak
feelings never compromised
For whatever words they speak to you
You should not be surprised
Listen to the voice of a child
You can always feel their pain
They will always bring you sunshine
When the world is filled with rain
Their laughter is the music
That comes straight from the heart
So learn to sing their praises
Rejoice in every part
Never let that child within
Escape or get away
For every child is a part of us
Each and every day
Listen to the voice of a child
Hear each and every word
For every question asked of you
From sublime to the absurd
There are many lessons to be taught
And dreams to be realized
We learn from each other every day
Yet we always act surprised
If we listen a little bit closer
You will hear that inner child
A lifetime of knowledge
Mostly tame but occasionally wild
In a world that’s constantly changing
You can always find a choice
In the wisdom of our childhood
You will truly find your voice

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Speak The Word

Unsettled hearts
Promise what they cant deliver
Bring me the wine
And the cold night air to clear my head
Gray matter memory house
Master of this trembling flesh
Steady still my doubts
Let me speak the word that precedes bliss
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
These weakened knees
Have not touched ground or pew in ages
I havent bowed my head
I offer thanks to any God or to ask for favors
But watch me now
Im falling down
Praying
To speak the word that precedes bliss
To speak the word
To speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

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Your Silence

I have spoken long enough
I have spoken well enough
Now let me be silent
And see how Silence speaks
Hear the words unspoken
For you could never speak
And whenever I asked you
All I could ever hear, was:
Your Silence…

Yes, that very Silence of yours
Which sucked all my life out
making me feel miserable
day in and day out
Still I kept holding on,
hoping on and hanging on…
If you could ever speak

Yet you never spoke up
Instead, offered me a challenge
A challenge to a broken heart?
A challenge to a defeated soul?
Oh! How Ruthless you could be…

And still you ever want me
To keep hearing your silence
And make some meaning of it all
I told you long before
Silence never works for me
I am a woman of words…
It might work well for you
So be it, my love…
If that is what you call ‘friendship’

Let you be silent
And me be too
And we can still remain ‘friends’
For if you speak
And I speak too
Who knows, One day
We might become foes…
And I would rather die
A Friend of yours
Than choose to be a Foe.

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The Acid Queen

Gypsy:
If your child aint all he should be now
This girl will put him right.
Ill show him what he could be now
Just give me one night.
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Ill tear your soul apart.
Give us a room and close the door
Leave us for a while.
Your boy wont be a boy no more
Young, but not a child.
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
Im the gypsy the acid queen.
Ill tear your soul apart.
Gather your wits and hold on fast,
Your mind must learn to roam.
Just as the gypsy queen must do
Youre gonna hit the road.
My work is done now look at him
Hes never been more alive.
His head it shakes his fingers clutch.
Watch his body writhe
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
Im the gypsy - Im guaranteed.
To break your little heart.

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Acid Queen

Gypsy:
If your child aint all he should be now
This girl will put him right.
Ill show him what he could be now
Just give me one night.
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Ill tear your soul apart.
Give us a room and close the door
Leave us for a while.
Your boy wont be a boy no more
Young, but not a child.
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
Im the gypsy the acid queen.
Ill tear your soul apart.
Gather your wits and hold on fast,
Your mind must learn to roam.
Just as the gypsy queen must do
Youre gonna hit the road.
My work is done now look at him
Hes never been more alive.
His head it shakes his fingers clutch.
Watch his body writhe
Im the gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
Im the gypsy - Im guaranteed.
To break your little heart.

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Song VII: Dawn Talks to Day

Dawn talks to Day
Over dew-gleaming flowers,
Night flies away
Till the resting of hours:
Fresh are thy feet
And with dreams thine eyes glistening,
Thy still lips are sweet
Though the world is a-listening.
O Love, set a word in my mouth for our meeting,
Cast thine arms round about me to stay my heart's beating!
O fresh day, O fair day, O long day made ours!

Morn shall meet noon
While the flower-stems yet move,
Though the wind dieth soon
And the clouds fade above.
Loved lips are thine
As I tremble and hearken;
Bright thine eyes shine,
Though the leaves thy brow darken.
O Love, kiss me into silence, lest no word avail me,
Stay my head with thy bosom lest breath and life fail me!
O sweet day, O rich day, made long for our love!

Late day shall greet eve,
And the full blossoms shake,
For the wind will not leave
The tall trees while they wake.
Eyes soft with bliss,
Come nigher and nigher!
Sweet mouth I kiss,
Tell me all thy desire!
Let us speak, love, together some words of our story,
That our lips as they part may remember the glory!
O soft day, O calm day, made clear for our sake!

Eve shall kiss night,
And the leaves stir like rain
As the wind stealeth light
O'er the grass of the plain.
Unseen are thine eyes
Mid the dreamy night's sleeping,
And on my mouth there lies
The dear rain of thy weeping.
Hold silence, love, speak not of the sweet day departed,
Cling close to me, love, lest I waken sad-hearted!
O kind day, O dear day, short day, come again!

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To Afraid to Speak

There are words that my mouth is too afraid to speak.
I fear if I speak them then all that I know will be destroyed.
But then again I am also afraid if I don’t speak them I will never grow.
And without growth all I hold dear could fade away.
What should I do?
Should I live in fear and never speak the words?
Or should I take a chance and speak them in hope of growth instead of destruction?
I don’t know.
Who would believe a man as brave as I am would be afraid to speak three little words…?
“I Love You”

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The Story of River Nile with Egyptian Women

Once upon a time in the beautiful ancient Egypt
The sun asked the river Nile
From where you got this golden color?
The river Nile said
It's the color of the Egyptian women skin
When they come to bath
I melt some of their skin's color
The sphinx asked the river Nile
From where you got this sweet taste? The river Nile said
My sweetness is from the sweat of the Egyptian women.
The pyramid asked the river Nile
Why you flooding up every year
The river Nile said
When i feel longing to have more women
The Egyptian men protested against the Nile
Please stop your sexual harass
They always come back asking for more
The river Nile asked
So do you give them what they need?
The Egyptian men said
Yes we must do..We can't resist their temptation.
The same with me
The river Nile said.

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The Difference

I can have wisdom AND knowledge,
With proof to show I do.
And be willing to volunteer my time away,
To those disrespecting I had valuable information,
That could benefit their lives.
And not ask from them a single dime.

I could be that person with no knowledge at all.
Had no wisdom to speak of and no time to volunteer.
But...
If I had made a name for myself,
And made 'claims' of my abilities.
With my name bright up in lights for all to see them flash,
People would flock to pay to see me.
And the doing of that may not be beneficial to them,
A bit.
But just to say they witnessed it.

The difference?
Someone who makes claims,
And has established a name...
With no wisdom to share proving knowledge is there,
Would be more respected to those not receiving benefit,
Than the one having what they need.

Why?
People have become more impressed,
By those addressing pretentions.
Than they are receiving opportunities,
Handed to them for free to meet their needs...
By those who do not impress them with image.

And those with image they seek to pay huge sums,
To get nothing for them done.

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Love & Anger

It lay buried here. it lay deep inside me.
Its so deep I dont think that I can speak about it.
It could take me all of my life,
But it would only take a moment to
Tell you what Im feeling,
But I dont know if Im ready yet.
You come walking into this room
Like youre walking into my arms.
What would I do without you?
Take away the love and the anger,
And a little piece of hope holding us together.
Looking for a moment thatll never happen,
Living in the gap between past and future.
Take away the stone and the timber,
And a little piece of rope wont hold it together.
If you cant tell your sister,
If you cant tell a priest,
cause its so deep you dont think that you can speak about it
To anyone,
Can you tell it to your heart?
Can you find it in your heart
To let go of these feelings
Like a bell to a southerly wind?
We could be like two strings beating,
Speaking in sympathy...
What would we do without you?
Two strings speak in sympathy.
Take away the love and the anger,
And a little piece of hope holding us together.
Looking for a moment thatll never happen,
Living in the gap between past and future.
Take away the stone and the timber,
And a little piece of rope wont hold it together.
Were building a house of the future together.
(what would we do without you? )
Well, if its so deep you dont think that you can speak about it,
Just remember to reach out and touch the past and the future.
Well, if its so deep you dont think you can speak about it,
Dont ever think that you cant change the past and the future.
You might not, not think so now,
But just you wait and see--someone will come to help you.

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I Like Your Silence For The Past Few Days

i like your silence for the past few days
nonetheless,
i am hearing more what you do not have to say
there is this silence of absence
that speaks well of you

there is this fondness that was not there before
there is this whisper that is more patient than the scream
gentler, so filled with wisdom

more beautiful than the routinized hellos
more meaningful than everyday

i guess it is when you speak less
that you speak most wisely.

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Silence of the victim

I was a victim.
I am not any longer.
But within my head and heart I still am the victim.
I cant forget nor can I move on.
I never spoke out.
I had the silence of a victim.
To afraid to speak.

Silence of the victim.
I didnt speak untill it was to late.
More crap followed.
I put my family in danger.
I should of kept shut.
Most of it never was told.
Cos I had the silence of the victim.
Never did dare to speak.

To be the victim
It was hard.
But still I seem to be that victim.
I cant move on.
I am weak

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Man Of A Thousand Faces

I'm the man of a thousand faces
A little piece of me in every part I take
I hold the tape for a thousand races
A different point of view in every speech I make
Cut me a piece of my divided soul
Cry me a river, call it rock and roll
Speak to a leader with the voice of command
And when I talk to God I know hell understand
I speak to machines with the voice of humanity
I'll Speak to the wise with the voice of insanity
Im the man of a thousand faces
A little piece of me in every part I take
I hold the tape for a thousand races
A different point of view in every speech I make
Cut me a piece of my divided soul
Cry me a river, call it rock and roll
Give me an attitude and watch me make it lie
Pass me a microphone
I need to testify
Well I speak to machines with the voice of humanity
Speak to the wise with the voice of insanity
Speak to the present in the past and future tense
Speak to a slave with the voice of obedience
Im the man of a thousand ages
You see my face in the stones of the Parthenon
You hear my song in the babble of Babylon
Im the man of a thousand riches
Be my guest at the feast of Satyricon
You spend the money that my logos printed on
Well I'll speak to machines with the voice of humanity
Speak to the wise with the voice of insanity
Speak to the present in the past and future tense
Speak to a slave with the voice of obedience
I stole a fire but it burned up much too soon
I took a leap and I landed on the moon
Look at my life and it looks like CNN
You see something once yknow its gonna come around again
Well Ill speak to machines with the voice of humanity
Speak to the wise with the voice of in

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