In Sparta
He didn't know, King Kleomenis, he didn't dare—
he just did not know how to tell his mother
a thing like this: that Ptolemy demanded,
to guarantee their treaty, that she too go to Egypt
and be held there as a hostage—
a very humiliating, indecorous thing.
And he would be about to speak yet always hesitate,
would start to tell her yet always stop.
But the magnificent woman understood him
(she had already heard some rumors about it)
and she encouraged him to come out with it clearly.
And she laughed, saying of course she would go,
indeed was happy that in her old age
she could be useful to Sparta still.
As for the humiliation—that didn't touch her at all.
Of course an upstart like the Lagid
couldn't possibly comprehend the Spartan spirit;
so his demand could not in fact humiliate
a Royal Lady like herself:
mother of a Spartan king.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy

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Related quotes
Wish I Didn't Know Now
I've never ask you where you're goin'
I've never ask you where you've been
I've never called and checked your story
You stayed out with all your freinds
I've never tried to catch you lyin'
I didn't want to know the truth
I'd rather go on lovin' blind girl
Than go on lovin' without you
I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then
I wish I could start this whole thing over again
I'm not sayin' it's you could never be true
I just don't wanna know how it ends
You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hands
I'd still look like a fool in front of your friends
Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then
I've always said what I don't know
Couldn't hurt as bad as leavin' you
Turns out I knew what I was thinkin'
It ain't an easy thing to do
Well I guess I should be goin'
I sure found out too much to stay
Please don't say your sorry
I might wait another day
I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then
I wish I could start this whole thing over again
I'm not sayin' it's you could never be true
I just don't wanna know how it ends
You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hands
I'd still look like a fool in front of your friends
Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then
You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hand
I'd still look like a fool in front of your freinds
Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then
Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then
song performed by by Toby Keith from Toby Keith

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Come, O King of the Lacedaimonians
Kratisiklia didn't deign to allow
the people to see her weeping and grieving:
she walked in dignity and in silence.
Her calm face betrayed nothing
of her sorrow and her agony.
But even so, for a moment she couldn't hold back:
before she went aboard the detestable ship for Alexandria
she took her son to Poseidon's temple,
and once they were alone
she embraced him tenderly and kissed him
(he was "in great distress," says Plutarch, "badly shaken").
But her strong character struggled through;
regaining her poise, the magnificent woman
said to Kleomenis: "Come, O King of the Lacedaimonians,
when we go outside
let no one see us weeping
or behaving in any way unworthy of Sparta.
At least this is still in our power;
what lies ahead is in the hands of the gods."
And she boarded the ship, going toward whatever lay "in the
hands of the gods."
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy

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From the Lips
Excuse:
'I didn't want to see them like that.
That is why I didn't come by to see them,
Before they passed away.'
Excuse:
'I know I should have asked you
How you were doing!
But I was told you were doing fine,
And that's why I hadn't called! '
Excuse:
'Even though I know most of our relatives
Attended.
I didn't get an invitation.
My father got one.
I should have received one too! '
Excuse:
'I really didn't tell lies on you and things you did.
I just told them what I heard.
And when I saw you the other day,
You didn't speak to me.
But I didn't tell them you didn't see me...
And what I heard came from someone,
Who hasn't seen you at all! '
These excuses come from the lips,
Of those who will swear they know you!
Everything about you...
And more!
Why they stay amazed,
You would rather keep away from them...
Day and night to remain in peace,
Will not stop a dropp of their gossip!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Faint Of Heart
I wish you could have read
The Letters that I didn’t write
Would’ve liked for you to have heard
Words I didn’t say
I wish you could have felt the touch
Of hands that didn’t reach out at night
Would’ve liked to know
What you didn’t feel…
When you didn’t hear the words…
Words I didn’t say…words I couldn’t write
poem by David Whalen

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Sincerely
If I had been You I would have left
Said there's nothing else that I can do
But You saw somethig deep inside of me
I had no idea but I was crying for you
Didn't have to make the sacrifice
Didn't have to come and save my life
Didn't have to pay the price for me
Sincerely I'm not worthy
Didn't have to give all that You gave
No way I could ever walk away
Here's the only thing that I can say
Yours truly thou art worthy
I can't believe You've chosen to reveal
Never ending mercy towards a heart that's been so faithless
The fact that You want to show Yourself to me
My knees grow weak can hardly speak
For your love has been relentless
Didn't have to make the sacrifice
Didn't have to come and save my life
Didn't have to pay the price for me
Sincerely I'm not worthy
Didn't have to give all that You gave
No way I could ever walk away
Here's the only thing that I can say
Yours truly thou art worthy
How can I repay You for the things that You've done for me
Dear God
I call to You
Make me more like You
My way to say thank You
Is do all that you say
Didn't have to make the sacrifice
Didn't have to come and save my life
Didn't have to pay the price for me
Sincerely I'm not worthy
Didn't have to give all that You gave
No wayI could everwalk away
Here's the only thing that I can say
Yours truly thou art worthy
song performed by by Out Of Eden

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Didn't Hear It
Lover:
I've got a feeling twenty one
Is going to be a good year.
Especially if you and me
See it in together.
Father:
So you think 21 is going to be a good year.
It could be for me and her,
But you and her-no never!
I had no reason to be over optimistic,
But somehow when you smiled
I could brave bad weather
Mother:
What about the boy?
What about the boy?
What about the boy?
He saw it all!
Mother and Father:
You didn't hear it
You didn't see it.
You won't say nothing to no one
ever in your life.
You never heard it
Oh how absurd it
All seems without any proof.
You didn't hear it
You didn't see it
You never heard it not a word of it.
You won't say nothing to no one
Never tell a soul
What you know is the Truth.
song performed by by Who

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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King Lear
If you didn’t dream up always new ideas
And if they didn't empower you
To make our dreams to become more real,
If you didn't dance in the rain,
If you didn't cry
For not being a child
Any longer,
If you were able to forget yourself
For falling away into your body,
If you never screamed
In the darkness,
If you didn’t have
Enough courage
To make love
In the snow,
To feel
That snow melting on the ground,
Certainly you couldn't touch my soul,
Because I would prefer
To walk around
And to put my love in my hands
And, like a beggar, to stretch my left hand in your direction.
Moreover,
Like king Lear, to stretch my right hand in your direction,
Because if you really loved me,
I would never let you go.
poem by Marieta Maglas

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Letters I Didn't Write
I wish you could have read…
The Letters
that I failed to write
I wish you could have felt the touch…
Of hands that failed to
reach out at night
Would’ve liked for you
to have heard…
Words I couldn’t say
Would’ve liked to have felt
The emotions missed…
When I failed to ask you to stay
What you didn’t feel…
When you didn’t hear …
The words I didn’t say
I wish you could have
At least…Felt the love
That you didn’t feel that day
I wish you could’ve known …
The feelings
that I didn’t show
The words I couldn’t bring to light
And tell you
Long ago
I wish somehow,
you could know now
Of things you knew not then
Of words I didn’t say or write
Of touch, or love
Of things... that might have been
poem by David Whalen

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Didnt Know
Didn't know what you had
Until you lost it
Didn't know what you own
Until you got it
Didn't know of your sins
Until you fought it.
Didn't know what you needed
Until you sought it.
Didn't know your lies
Until someone spoke them
Didn't know of the truth
Until someone wrote them
Didn't remembered your dreams
Until someone awoke them
Didn't know they died
Until someone chocked them.
Didn't know you had guilt
Until you cried
Didn't know you felt sadness
Until you tried to hide
Didn't know you felt shame
Until you lied
Didn't know you believed in GOD
Until you asked him why.
Didn't know you felt sorrow
Until you shed a tear
Didn't know that you were scared
Until I saw your fear
Didn't know that you hated
Until you were near
Didn't know that you were unhappy
Until you looked in a mirror.
Didn't know who you truly were
Until your ways you sewed
Didn't know that you were evil
Until the truth was showed
Didn't know you did this before
Until I saw all of your woe
Didn't know who you really were
Though I wished then I did know.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave

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On The Same By Palladas
A Spartan 'scaping from the fight,
His mother met him in his flight,
Upheld a falchion to his breast,
And thus the fugitive address'd:
'Thou canst but live to blot with shame
Indelible thy mother's name,
While every breath that thou shalt draw
Offends against thy country's law;
But if thou perish by this hand,
Myself indeed, throughout the land,
To my dishonor, shall be known
The mother still of such a son;
But Sparta will be safe and free
And that shall serve to comfort me.'
poem by William Cowper

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From The Greek Of Julianus
A Spartan, his companion slain,
Alone from battle fled;
His mother, kindling with disdain
That she had borne him, struck him dead;
For courage, and not birth alone,
In Sparta, testifies a son!
poem by William Cowper

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Didn't We Meet
Pardon me
But you see I've seen that face before
I know those eyes
Unearthly wise
I feel it more and more
To look at you
Deja Vu
Chills me to the core
They say that you are the king of this whole damn thing
But that only confused me
They say I don't stand a ghost of a chance with my host
And it frankly amused me
So let's drink a few
Here's looking at you
I swear
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere?
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere?
Gradually I could see
Things are getting clear
That ancient face
Satanic grace
This sudden rush of fear
They say that you are the king of this whole damn thing
Now they got me believin'
They said I don't stand a ghost of a chance with my host
So I better be leaving
So let's drink a few
Here's looking at you I swear
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere?
Here I am
The door's been slammed
They're gonna roast my hide
Make me bleed
Til I plead
For you to let me die
They say that you are the king of this whole damn thing
Now they got me believin'
They said I don't stand a ghost of a chance with my host
So I better be leaving
So let's drink a few
Here's looking at you I swear
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere
song performed by by Alice Cooper

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
I didn't mean to treat you so bad
You shouldn't take it so personal
I didn't mean to make you so sad
You just happened to be there, that's all
When I saw you say "goodbye" to your friend and smile
I thought that it was well understood
That you'd be comin' back in a little while
I didn't know that you were sayin' "goodbye" for good
But, sooner or later, one of us must know
That you just did what you're supposed to do
Sooner or later, one of us must know
That I really did try to get close to you
I couldn't see what you could show me
Your scarf had kept your mouth well hid
I couldn't see how you could know me
But you said you knew me and I believed you did
When you whispered in my ear
And asked me if I was leavin' with you or her
I didn't realize just what I did hear
I didn't realize how young you were
But, sooner or later, one of us must know
That your just doing what you're supposed to do
Sooner or later, one of us must know
That I really did try to get close to you
I couldn't see when it started snowin'
Your voice was all that I heard
I couldn't see where we were goin'
But you said you knew an' I took your word
And then you told me later, as I apologized
That you were just kiddin' me, you weren't really from the farm
An' I told you, as you clawed out my eyes
That I never really meant to do you any harm
But, sooner or later, one of us must know
That you a just did what you're supposed to do
Sooner or later, one of us must know
That I really did try to get close to you
song performed by by Bob Dylan

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One Of Us Must Know
I didn't mean to treat you so bad
You shouldn't take it so personal
I didn't mean to make you so sad
You just happened to be there, that's all
When i saw you say "goodbye" to your friend and smile
I thought that it was well understood
That you'd be comin' back in a little while
I didn't know that you were sayin' "goodbye" for good
But, sooner or later, one of us must know
You just did what you're supposed to do
Sooner or later, one of us must know
That i really did try to get close to you
I couldn't see what you could show me
Your scarf had kept your mouth well hid
I couldn't see how you could know me
But you said you knew me and i believed you did
When you whispered in my ear
And asked me if i was leavin' with you or her
I didn't realize just what i did hear
I didn't realize how young you were
But, sooner or later, one of us must know
You just did what you're supposed to do
Sooner or later, one of us must know
That i really did try to get close to you
I couldn't see when it started snowin'
Your voice was all that i heard
I couldn't see where we were goin'
But you said you knew an' i took your word
And then you told me later, as i apologized
That you were just kiddin' me, you weren't really from the farm
An' i told you, as you clawed out my eyes
That i never really meant to do you any harm
But, sooner or later, one of us must know
You just did what you're supposed to do
Sooner or later, one of us must know
That i really did try to get close to you
song performed by by Bob Dylan

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Damaged
Didn't you hurt yourself
Couldn't you wash the blood away
Didn't you love yourself
Couldn't you see the truth
Didn'y you wake to see the light
Couldn't you hear the truth
(GOD YOU'RE SO SHAMELESS)
Stand up to me I know what you'll say
(GOD YOU'RE SO SHAMELESS)
Why don't you wake up and stop all the pain
How could you really know as your
blood flows
The damage left inside
If you should ever see the pain in me
You'd wish it away
Didn't you hurt yourself
Didn't you love yourself
Couldn't you find yourself
Such a shame it's a waste of a life
Couldn't you save yourself
How could you really know
[Chorus repeat 4x]
song performed by by Sevendust from Animosity

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I'm Gonna Be My King
I didn't see it-no I didn't hear it I was just trying to
Remember all the things I'll never know
Well I was walking along-and I'm trying to stay strong-but
It's always so hard because something's going wrond-but
I try to remember all the things I'll never know
And then it crashes on down without a warning there's a sound
And the next thing I know is I'm flying off the ground
I try to remember all the things I'll never know
If you could hear mt heart-it'd sound something like this
Not from my memory-what do you want from me
Spinning through the ages left laughing at the dazes-
left me nothing that I want nor I need
My pain is running plenty, my anger's nearly spent me-
getting harder from the suffering
Chorus:
You crash my world and you're going down, run away and
I'll hunt you down
Start me up and that's the way it gonna be
I gotta rule my world I'm gonna be my king I got it all set up
I'm gonna be that everything
Ssh! now listen up...my heart's got something else to say!
Out of my memory...that's all that's left of me
I'm tired of your lying, have no more of your denying...
never want the future to turn to that past
Thoughts annihilated-you're mentally constipated-
to disturb, it from the things that don't last
Chorus
I'm gonna be my king
Ripping apart at the mind
Ripping apart at the mind-you mentally try to slay me
Ripping apart at the mind-why you trying to do me
Ripping apart at the mind-why a king couldn't save me
when you mentally slay me
A simplistic introduction to a complex destruction-
from the friction that they're sponsoring
Unable to delete the memories incomplete-
cause the hope and joy they're conquering
It's spiritually uncleansing-the nightmare's never-ending-
now you're striking the proverbial kill
But you underestimated how highly agitated-
was my purpose and my power and will
Chorus
Can't nobody stop me can't nobody stop me
I'm gonna be my king
I didn't see it, no Ididn't hear it I was just trying to remember
all the things I'll never know
song performed by by Infectious Grooves

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Daughter's Wish
I wish I had a mother,
That would love me the way she should.
I wish I had a mother,
To accept me for who I am.
I wish I had a mother,
Who wouldn’t belittle me the way she does.
I wish I had a mother,
Who would trust me some of the time.
I wish I had a mother,
That would listen to me when I’m in pain.
I wish I had a mother,
Who would trust me just abit.
I wish I had a mother,
Who would help me when I asked.
I wish I had a mother,
Who didn’t criticize me the way she does.
I wish I had a mother,
Who would understand the pain she’s caused
I wish I had a mother,
Who didn’t have to be right all the time.
I wish I had a mother,
Who would see the good that I’ve done.
I wish I had a mother,
Who wouldn’t make me beg for her love.
poem by A.M. Belsey

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Father Boy
Oh Father Boy, Oh Father Boy
You didn’t see the signs
You didn’t hear a thing did you
Oh Father Boy, my dear
You didn’t see, you didn’t look, you didn’t listen either
You didn’t try to understand
You didn’t take the time
You weren’t a Father, Father Boy, you weren’t a Father, Father.
Oh Father Boy, Father Boy
When a Father has a Boy
To be a Father, Father see
You have to see the Boy
The Boy inside the Father
And the Father in the Boy
But Father Boy, Oh Father Boy
You just didn’t pay attention
For a Boy to be a Father, Father
He cannot be a Father Boy.
(Previously published in Megaera, #4, Fall 2000)
poem by Laurence Overmire

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Didn't Mean To Fall In Love
I didn't mean to fall in love
I didn't mean to fall in love
And all I mean to say
I can't go on the way things are
How can I lead the way
It feels so wrong to be so far away
Ooh, from you tonight
If I, if I lose you, I can't survive
Didn't know you would've come tonight
Didn't hang on long enough
Didn't want to go and start a fight
Didn't mean to go, go and fall in love
It's like an avalanche
Once you fall you're swept away
I didn't stand a chance
Hangin' on every word you say
Hey, we can find a place for love
Ooh, do you want it bad enough
I didn't mean to fall in love
I didn't mean to fall in love
So could you catch a plane
Come back home for one more try
I'll never be the same
I fell so hard out of the sky today
For you, you see
And you would never believe what you do for me
Can't you see you're all I need
Didn't know you would've come tonight
Didn't hang on long enough
Didn't want to go and start a fight
Didn't mean to go, go and fall in love
(Tom Scholz, Curly Smith, Janet Minto)
song performed by by Boston

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Well, I liked it - that was the main thing. I liked it, but I didn't think of it in terms of a career. I didn't really know; I didn't really think about it. One thing just led to another until finally I quit my job as a salesman and found myself working as a photographer.
quote by Herb Ritts

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