Trojans
Our efforts are those of the unfortunate;
our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
Somewhat we succeed; somewhat
we regain confidence; and we start
to have courage and high hopes.
But something always happens and stops us.
Achilles in the trench before us
emerges and with loud cries terrifies us.--
Our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
We believe that with resolution and daring
we will alter the blows of destiny,
and we stand outside to do battle.
But when the great crisis comes,
our daring and our resolution vanish;
our soul is agitated, paralyzed;
and we run around the walls
seeking to save ourselves in flight.
Nevertheless, our fall is certain. Above,
on the walls, the mourning has already begun.
The memories and the sentiments of our days weep.
Bitterly Priam and Hecuba weep for us.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
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Related quotes
Efforts
I'll not make
Any special
Efforts to
Please you
If you get
Pleased by my
Usual efforts
I'll thank my luck
If my efforts
Displease you
I'll say
Hard Luck
And wish you
‘Better Luck'
With someone else's
Efforts
Though I know
You'll not go
Anywhere
And still
Cling to me,
Expecting me
To please you
With more
Concerted efforts
As if your pleasure
Has always depended
On my special efforts!
poem by Aparna Chatterjee
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A Hope Without Resolution
Hopes, ambitions, aspirations,
They are useless if not marked by graveness,
Keep on weaving the trap,
Who prevents you?
You may think to conquer the Everest
Without any solid planning,
You may dream of being a millionaire,
While your pocket is penniless,
And your efforts are not up to the mark,
Always remember that without sincerity and resolution,
Your hopes end in smoke,
And your dreams are shattered.
poem by Mohammad Akmal Nazir
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Conducting Business
Within the walls of their lofty dreams,
There are many who live seeking...
Fame, fortune and notoriety for their efforts.
And they keep beliefs from limited visions...
What is sought,
Is going to be given.
Not true said one wise who tried to enlighten them.
And because wisdom like this was accessible,
Attempts to share it...
Was thought to be from one,
Ego driven.
And of course familiarity breeds contempt.
So in one ear and out the other...
What was shared,
In the air it went!
Within the walls of their lofty dreams,
There are many who live seeking...
Fame, fortune and notoriety for their efforts.
And they keep beliefs from limited visions...
What is sought,
Is going to be given.
Although these folks still believe,
Simply having talents will bring them notoriety.
Being able to market and package one's craft...
Guarantees an attention one day comes to last.
And those sitting on the sidelines,
Laughing at the ones that get things done...
Learn too late,
How conducting a successful 'business'...
Eventually stands on its own legs to run!
Many do not get this.
They believe their bubbles blown...
Take flight if protected in plastic.
But if not shielded in titanium,
With no faith attached to them...
Drifting dreams will quickly burst.
To leave those without vision...
Discouraged,
Over and over and over again!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Walls
Walls of stone and walls of brick,
Some walls thin and some walls thick,
Walls so high and walls so low,
Walls to hide and walls to show.
Walls quite short and walls quite tall,
Some walls, last well, some walls fall,
Walls for comfort, walls of hate,
Walls for security, walls ornate.
Some as a barricade, some to support,
Walls of wood and walls of iron wrought,
Walls as a barrier, walls to enclose,
Some are to sit on, some to lean and doze.
Walls we build ourselves, these aren't good,
Walls for privacy, walls that have stood,
So many years through weather foul or fine,
Walls, that are yours, walls that are mine.
Brick by brick they are built to last,
Whether built now or in the past,
They shelter us from so many things,
And shield us from whatever this life brings.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Who Knew? Did You? Oh...Of Course Not!
I can understand you wish not to see,
My efforts gleam and shine.
I can understand that,
Yes I do!
Because those efforts,
Getting attention I did not pursue...
Are not those of yours,
But mine.
I did not know that would become fact.
I've been too busy toiling with sweat,
To remove obstacles carried...
Too long weighted on my back.
No...
I didn't realize my conscious efforts,
Would one day get attention.
Or attract like that!
Who knew?
Did you?
Oh...
Of course not!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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On Reading a Recent Greek Poet
After the wailing had already begun
along the walls, their ruin certain,
the Trojans fidgeted with bits of wood
in the three-ply doors, itsy-bitsy
pieces of wood, fussing with them.
And began to get their nerve back and feel hopeful.
poem by Bertolt Brecht
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The efforts you make will surely be rewarded. If not, then you are simply not ready to call them efforts.
quote by Sadaharu Oh
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In the past ABC has made half-hearted efforts or, worse, cosmetic efforts, to do something about news and I wasn't certain about what their real aim was - nor am I now.
quote by Roone Arledge
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own efforts.
quote by John D. Rockefeller
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Men judge us by the success of our efforts. God looks at the efforts themselves.
quote by Charlotte Bronte
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Drowning
M drowning in this pain
I cant ignore a battle lost
My efforts were in vain
And my pride, the battle cost
U may have killed my smile
But i got my spirit, still by my side
I'll surely come back in a while
To conquer back my throne wid pride
Ur celebrations wont last long
I'll surely bring a big win with me
cuz' i've put my efforts in so many ways
It can be nothin elz than victory
For my revenge i'll rise
I've got a new zeal to fight
Now m free n very wise
to learn that u had cut my wings,
before my acquaintance with the heights................
poem by Pooja Ladyluck
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Amma
Mother, words will not suffice.
Overwhelmed am I thinking of your face.
Tears deep from my heart come up
Hiding my eyes from looking you up.
Efforts control me. There, memories refreshed.
Remote days. Feeling the warmth of you
'Mum mum', I sucked along with ethics fed.
Oh mom, my school of morals are you
Much to the 'will be' of my values.
More to say as I grew on
Abundant you nurtured me to perfection.
Moulded my character and wisdom of great use.
Another woman of her own desires
Meaningfully is absent in you.
An institution yourself of ethereal love is true.
All along caring for my health and efforts
Magnanimity has been your quality.
Marvellous you've been my teacher and philosopher.
Amma your love is incomparable in eternal purity.
poem by Indira Renganathan
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Open Other Doors
They would often find fault,
And balk and chastise my efforts.
They found that comforting.
Not realizing my efforts,
Began paving their way...
When many were chasing each other,
In elementary school hallways.
Not seeing 'who' was opening doors for them
To walk easily through.
To eventually do nothing.
Or proceed to open other doors.
However...
They are quick to have a good time,
Not too far beyond the doors...
Already opened for them.
Even in their cries for unity...
They seem unable to do that!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Part of the Dialogue Between Hector and Andromache
She ceas'd; then godlike Hector answer'd kind -
(His various plumage sporting in the wind)
'That post and all the rest shall be my care;
But shall I then forsake the unfinish'd war?
How would the Trojans brand great Hector's name!
And one base action sully all my fame,
Acquired by wounds, and battles bravely fought!
Oh! how my soul abhors so mean a thought.
Long have I learnt to slight this feeble breath,
And view with cheerful eyes approaching death.
The inexorable sisters have decreed
That Priam's house and Priam's self shall bleed:
The day shall come, in which proud Troy shall yield,
And spread its smoking ruins o'er the field.
Yet Hecuba's, nor Priam's hoary age,
Whose blood shall quench some Grecian's thirsty rage;
Their souls dismiss'd through many a ghastly wound,
Can in my bosom half that grief create,
As the sad thought of your impending fate:
When some proud Grecian dame shall tasks impose,
Mimic your years, and ridicule your woes:
Beneath Hyperia's waters shall you sweat,
And, fainting, scarce support the liquid weight:
Then shall some Argive loud insulting cry,
'Behold the wife of Hector, guard of Troy!'
Tears, at my name, shall drown those beauteous eyes,
And that fair bosom heave with rising sighs!
Before that day, by some brave hero's hand,
May I lie slain, and spurn the bloody sand!'
poem by Samuel Johnson
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All dreams not come true###(in 500)
All dreams may not come true
All credits due may not accrue
But with true reflection in mind
Ideas newer and newer may emerge and find
though may not be the nature too so kind
Dreaming in day time is not at all good
Good thoughts and efforts work as food
Earnest efforts to come out of wood
Failure may stun and you loose the hope
Still not difficult to walk on tight rope
It is not bad to dream for high sky
Speak always truth and do not lie
You may not have wings to fly
Still nothing wrong to work and try
No need to think or needlessly cry
You must have third sense to rise
All acts should be sensible and wise
Rise and fall is part of the game
Goal and ideas you must frame
No use trying luck or fate to blame
What ever you do must be with resolve?
Take full blame and never try to absolve
Put in best efforts to come out and solve
Full dedication and make everybody to involve
Try to mix with all as soluble dissolve
Despite put in best efforts it may not materialize
Failure may be sure but we may not visualize
All draw backs reasons before us but can’t analyze
Complete system may run into trouble and paralyze
Still strive very hard to see the reason and synchronize
Complete days routine and reflections of day’s thoughts
In night, thoughts clash and hard won battles are fought
Freedom and joy sincerely thought and brought
Stealing in day time but not easily caught
Simply night dreaming when lying in the cot
Continue to seek solution in dream,
Energy not focused but travel in beam
Try very hard and work as team,
Good efforts in direction but not as power game
Not letting any opportunity with excuses lame
So I find easy way to seek refuge in night
Lie low and have good say without light
more and more attention I try to pay
Always hope to find way in form of ray
washing shores with water at feet of bay.
Life doesn’t end with setting of day
Sun may rise again with bright ray
Your hopes may be high and tall
Vast horizon may lie open for all
Try for success without any fall
Come what may be the slogan
Life and opportunities may begun
Nothing to loose with worth attempt
Sometimes you may gain with action prompt
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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The efforts
The pain of failure will outweigh
The pleasure of the efforts made.
The pleasure of the success will outweigh
The pain of the efforts we made.
Efforts give us pleasure
Till we get the results
09.08.2008
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Try not to the Unreachable
For putting the moon on my palms,
and setting my foot on Kailash,
I wished at heart….!
All of my efforts backfired
and with the depression sat here.
Hoping to count the stars,
flapping my wings to Mars,
I lost my strength to look up
and host not guests to warm up.
All of my efforts backfired
and with the depression sat here.
Entangled in the trade,
and perturbed seeing fraud,
sleep too forgot to wink my eyes
and lugubrious I was by the worst guys.
All of my efforts backfired
And with the depression sat here.
---------- 30.11.2011.
poem by Rajendran Muthiah
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Sorrow Makes One A Hero Tomorrow
Without sorrow life is zero
We must accept fate's arrow
If our efforts are thorough
Our sorrow, God will borrow
Sorrows nicely shape our mind
Sorrows stop our being blind
Via sorrows, remedies we find
Sorrows are indirectly kind
In the absence of sorrow
Our mind does not grow
We think not like a hero
Our attitude is made narrow
Sorrows must be overcome
For which efforts we welcome
At last strong we become
This is sorrows' outcome
Our will-power, sorrows increase
To our heart, sorrows supply grease
Our talents, only sorrows release
In a gist, sorrows supply peace
Every sorrow at last dies
Not because of our cries
But because our soul tries
Life and success, sorrow ties
Sorrow less person is none
Sorrow is sure, if life has begun
'Sorrow trains brains' is a slogan
Sorrow is a tamable dragon
In sorrow, all must dip
By coming under its grip
All are lashed by sorrow's whip
To every life, sorrow makes a trip
Now sorrow will somehow vanish
But you cannot fully relinquish
Further sorrows, time will furnish
From life, sorrow, none can banish
Life and sorrow are closely associated
By life, sorrow is very much fascinated
By sorrow, peace is initially confiscated
Sorrow grows when life is sophisticated.
poem by Mailrangam Visvanathan Venkataraman
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Great efforts
Great efforts
No rewards
No awards but set backs
No let up in preparation
Strong enthusiasm with indication
"Come what may" push hard with resolution
Port is sighted
All sailors are delighted
Birds hover over head
May be far away some open bodies of dead
Destiny not far away
Cautious move with all alerts on the way
Eyes on high seas to tackle the danger
Arms in hand with readiness of trigger
Black natives are seen similar to those niggers
Shore is in sight
"Hurrah, Hurrah" sailors shout
New land is found to make the mother land
Natives to be approached and made friends
Anchor the ship with arms down
Make our wish loudly known
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Getting Unlonely
It should be easy
To get unlonely
But isn't.
Everything I do
To end my loneliness
Ends in failure
Or misadventure.
To keep on trying
With all my efforts not flying
Is easier said
Than done.
Maybe I should examine
My efforts and methods
And keep on trying
With different ways of vying
To connect with some buds.
poem by Lonely People Champion
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