To emphasize the afterlife is to deny life. To concentrate on Heaven is to create hell. In their desperate longing to transcend the disorderliness, friction, and unpredictability that pesters life; in their desire for a fresh start in a tidy habitat, germ-free and secured by angels, religious multitudes are gambling the only life they may ever have on a dark horse in a race that has no finish line.
Tom Robbins in Skinny Legs and All (1990)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Afterlife
Do you believe in the afterworld
Or the afterlife?
Do you agree there's a place for us
Beyond our life
Where the timeless call for life
Is lost and you will see
The forgotten dreams
That you once had become reality
They will be set free - another day
You cannot leave if you do not want to stay
In the afterlife - in the afterlife
Life's a dream that you will forget
In the endless space
And the scars you got on planet Earth
Will be erased
You were blind until your eyes have stopped to see
And your powers unfold by the moment
You hit eternity
You will be set free
But you'll never return
That's the price you have to pay
In the afterlife - in the afterlife
Now you're gone without a word
You didn't say goodbye
I miss you here where are you now
An angel in the sky?
Your visit here has been so short
You left to be set free
But I believe we'll meet again
And together we will stay
In the afterlife - in the afterlife
In the afterlife - in the afterlife
song performed by by Gamma Ray
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Keep Gambling
Keep gambling
As questions
Instinctive living
Memories go blunt
Dark slums
Keep gambling
Survival game
Gets beyond guts
On the street
Dead mother floating
Religious riot
Keep gambling
A small hope of love
Running hiding
Betrayals of friends
Masters and jealousies
Keep gambling
Satire and irony
Hardest reality
Brute law
Third world slum
In urbanity
Away the fantasy
Platoon of dancers
Keep gambling
To find answers
Follow the signs
From the past
As life unravels
Keep gambling
In faith
Nothing as adverse
Nothing so unusual
Broken sword
Of fate
Never let it a chance
To kill
Keep gambling
For life itself
From life itself
11/3/2009
(After watching the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”)
poem by Sadiqullah Khan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Horse Life
In a horse life.We can play with a burlap feed
bag, an empty milk jug, or chew on the barn stall
door.Just to kill some time, or to kill some every
day bordom.In a horse life.We get names like
Black Beauty, Flicka, Seabiscuit, or Secretariat.
In a horse life.We do tricks like bowing our heads
down, or placing our shoe upon a pedastool.Picking
up the cowboy hat.While tapping our feet rata-tat-tat.
In a horse life.We like a good block of salt.With lots
of minerals, to lick upon.A wholesome bale of hay.To
start off a brand new day.Or a bucket of grain.To keep
us all healthy, fat, and sane.And a fresh bucket of water,
to wash it all down.In a horse life.I could be losing a
horseshoe.While the rider is losing his mind.In a horse
life.We can be a workhorse, a race horse, or a trick pony.
Or maybe a showhorse, or possibly a circus horse.With
out all the phoney baloney.In a horse life.We can run all
day in the open sun, or run the race trak.While the betters
place their wagers.Of course, at the horse racing track
betters window.In a horse life..
A Horse Life Poem by Kim Robin Edwards
Copyright 2011.All rights reserved.
poem by Kim Robin Edwards
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
If There Were No Afterlife
Don't lie to me darling,
Is there an afterlife?
Or is this sad mortal thing,
This thing we call ‘love'
Is it all I can do to be your wife?
If this short time,
Is all there is for truth,
What's the point in prayer?
All I want is you.
And if there is a hell,
A hell for you and I,
That can't be really be hell, now can it,
So in that hell I confide.
But if the earth were heaven,
And you were here no more,
I would choose a damned life any day,
For heaven without you is none.
If tomorrow I were hanged,
Would you meet me in the afterlife?
And if there were no afterlife,
Would you still let me be your wife?
Darling,
What if there is no heaven?
Could I still call you mine?
Darling,
What if there is nothing?
Could we still be friends?
Darling,
What if there is everything,
What of us then?
poem by Dayna Mortimore
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Race Towards Home
No need to sit in despair for very soon we will meet Him in the air.
We need to prioritize our life and begin with The Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only is He The Only Way but the author and finisher of our Faith.
In this life we sometimes call a race; He alone sets the winning pace.
Upon Jesus Christ we must fix our eyes if we desire to win the prize.
We must be focused upon The Lord and not run on our own accord.
One thing you must consider too, is get rid of all that hinders you.
For in this race if you want to win, you must cast aside your sin.
Consider more than grievous sin, all your cares you must cast on Him.
Anything that wastes your time could impede you at the finish line.
No need to enter leery, with Christ you will run and not grow weary.
When you’re established in the race you receive God’s Awesome Grace.
Faith’s not hindered by many things as we sore with eagle’s wings.
Remembering those who finished before gives you strength to endure.
Many run the race as fools but you only finish if you obey the rules.
Some who believe they had a start will only hear the Lord say depart.
But a faithful race will warrant Christ saying well done faithful servant.
This earthly race soon will end, and then we’ll see our Lord and friend.
On the day He parts the skies; all the faithful will gain the prize.
From this earth the Church will rise to gain a body that never dies.
Many have entered without a change to find they ran their race in vain.
For the reason that they must depart is they ran without their heart.
Riding The Dark Horse
Riding along on the dark horse of sadness.
Each day or night.
The dark horse is my companion.
We ride through life.
On a dark stream of light.
Riding along side is depression.
My second companion.
We ride together in search of happiness.
We never find.
Riding the dark horse through this life.
I'm filled with sorrow.
Tears are inside.
As I reflect on my journey through life.
I see that the dark horse has always been,
what I ride.
The dark horse of sorrow.
Has always been by my side.
I will continue to ride,
The dark horse in this life.
Until I die.
Exchanging the dark horse for white,
as I cross the great divide.
Entering the gates of life on the other side.
Where happiness I may finally find.
Leaving the dark horse of sorrow behind.
Taking the two companions,
sorrow and depression with me.
As I ride to the other side.
Changing their apperance to laughter and joy.
As I dismount on heaven's shore.
Filled with so much joy.
As I look back on my journey.
That I rode to heavens door.
I finally see the beauty of my companions.
That rode with me upon life's shores.
They changed before my eyes.
Becoming laughter and joy.
Beautiful spirits of love to behold.
That rode on the dark horse of life with me.
Till reaching heavens shore.
poem by Weeping Willow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Free Flight
Head on down the highway
Across the county line,
Ive had my fill of small town thrills
Gonna leave it all behind.
Free flight, free flight.
Im careless in my loving,
Shameless in my style,
If I get caught by the short n curlies
Ill just hide out for awhile.
Free flight, free flight.
On an on the road goes on
Itll go on forever,
An just the same Ill live my life,
Hell bent for leather.
Free flight, free flight.
Heaven knows its driving me crazy,
Its a feeling inside.
Heaven knows its in my blood
As long as I try, I just cant deny.
Free flight, come tomorrow dawn youll find me gone.
Free flight, make no bones about it, Im moving on.
Free flight, free flight, free flight.
Free flight, free flight, free flight.
Head on down the highway
Suitcase in your hand,
When you get down with your feet on the ground
I know youll understand.
Free flight, free flight.
Heaven knows its driving me crazy,
Its a feeling thats driving me wild.
Heaven knows its in my blood,
Fool if you try, you just cant deny.
Free flight, come tomorrow dawn youll find me gone.
Free flight, make no bones about it, Im moving on.
(solo)
Free flight, free flight, free flight...
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Finish Line
Wind blows snow outside my windows
Crowd below runs wild in the streets
Two rented brothers race down two separate alleys
Heading for the finish line
Down in the train yard out by the stockyard
Butchers with aprons hack meat in the snow
Blood has the brothers pulsing with envy
Heading for the finish line
Two rented brothers. their faces keep changing
Just like these feelings I have for you
And nothings forever not even five minutes
When youre headed for the finish line
Down in the depot out by the meat rack
Down by the tunnels surrounding the jail
Prisoners are marching in squares and in circles
Theyre heading for the finish line
Theyre lining up for noahs ark
Theyre stabbing each other in the dark
Saluting a flag made of some rich guys socks
Heading for the finish line
Close to the line the ice is cracking
Two rented feelings sitting in the stands
Two mothers, two fathers and both of them are paid for
All of a sudden it comes back to me
Just up ahead is the finish line
Two rented referees and two checkered rags
Out of the corner of my eye comes a dark horse with black wings
Headed for the finish line
Im five years old the room is fuzzy
I think theres also a very young girl
Its hard to remember what happened exactly
As Im staring at the finish line
First came fire then came light
Then came feeling then cane sight
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Gambling Man
Walking into the betting shop
his heart pounding within;
he'd studied form and was quite sure
the horse he backed would win.
Mountains of his cash he wagered
did this hyped-up gambling man
and beads of perspiration fell
when the horse, with gusto, ran.
Stakes were high! A richly sum
lay in the coffers there...but
as the horse began to weary
distress was hard to bear.
A chance to win a fortune
dissolved before his eyes;
the losing horse was an 'also-ran'
That's life, for gambling guys.
poem by Joyce Hemsley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
That man can destroy life is just as miraculous a feat as that he can create it, for life is the miracle, the inexplicable. In the act of destruction, man sets himself above life he transcends himself as a creature. Thus, the ultimate choice for a man, inasmuch as he is driven to transcend himself, is to create or to destroy, to love or to hate.
quote by Erich Fromm
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Life unbelievable
Life is a circle,
Life is a miracle,
Life is challenge
It is strength dependent,
Life is a rotation
That comes back with some kind of production,
It teaches you addition
But sometimes rewards you deduction,
It is bigger than the bigest mountain
That when you climb up there you feel the pain
But when you come again you feel the rain,
Life laying living longing for the latest lamboghin,
Life so desperate to destroy and diminish the devil
Demon diabolic dilemmas,
Life is so confusing that no one can have a prediction
But can only have education,
And with my quotation: life from monday to sunday
Must be like life from oneday to dream day,
Life with gratitude
That it describes a fellow man's attitude,
Turning, tumbling tremendously that Tom and Tim
Do not tend to tenaciously talk to the tenants for the take.
Life so huge and great
That no one can rate
But can only debate,
And only G.O.D can re-create.
Life so wonderful,
Life incredible,
Life unpredictable,
Life unbelievable!
poem by Thando Mashinini
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Rainbow Of Life
What happens after a rain?
When the sun comes out
A rainbow is formed
What's at the end of it?
That's the age old question is it not?
But really what's at the end?
You might say gold or you might not
What's at the end of it?
Is there two worlds
Is there gold
What is there?
I think there are two worlds
One world is more of a magical one
That everyone wants to go to
But the other one is dark and not so magical
And almost no one wants to go to
For we live in the middle
Our world is good and evil
Magical but dark
Filled with death but new life
If we are good people here then we go to heaven
The magical world
Heaven is like riding trough beautiful meadows
On a gorgeous horse
But if we are bad people we go to hell
The dark side and not so magical world
Hell is as if you were to bath in a sea of blood
With all tears of misery surrounding you
Witch one are you going to
Have you been a good person?
Done all the right things
In your life time
Or have betrayed the angle on your shoulder
I'm going to heaven not because I've
Done all the right things in my life
Because I'm a good person
Maybe not out side but inside
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Angels Are
Angels are your friend through life,
Angels are there for you in your pain and strife,
Angels will always be around,
Even when your feeling down.
Angels are friend to the very end,
Angels help you to transcend....
into the lovely person you were meant to be,
making you filled with love, joy and glee!
Angels help you be free with wonderful creativity,
Making your days here on Earth Joyfull and Happy!
Copyright 2006 & 2010 Suzae Chevalier
www.suechevalier.com
poem by Suzae Chevalier
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse.
quote by Isaac Asimov
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
My burning desire to create
MY BURNING DESIRE TO CREATE
So intense and so powerful
Like a furious burning fire
My desire to create is so powerful
So painful and so throbbing
Like a hungry child crying for food
My desire to create is so hopeful
So rigid and so consistent
Like a passionate entrepreneur
My passion to create is so unshakeable
Every hour that passes by I want to create
Every moment I spend I long to create
I have a living urge and desire to create
A living passion to express myself
A burning desire to live my true life
Sometimes I hide myself in the midst of business
At times I deliberately cloud my space with my busy life
Sometimes I try to hide away from my passion to create
Sometimes I try to narrow down the size of my passion
But regardless of all my efforts my desire always finds me
I am so transparent inside, my passion to create
Has invaded all my privacy inside
So strong and so powerful
Like a helpless child looking for love and security
My desire to create is so seeking and so burning.
poem by Tsholofelo Mooketsi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sonnet: Things Can Happen Fast
One move that’s false can cost a man his life;
One mortal sin can deny soul, Heaven;
One vain desire can land a man in strife;
One blunder made can land in jail some man.
Wary must be a man in earthly life,
In choosing aims and friends and things he’ll do;
Scary is life whenever comes some strife;
All evil acts attract punishments due.
One split second can change a sinful heart;
Remorse/ penance can win a soul, Heaven;
The state of soul matters when you depart;
’Tis Purgatory or Hell for sinful men!
A prudent man will always keep his soul;
To reach Heaven will be his only goal.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Train To Heaven
(4/10/12)
It was a long wait - but soon they would
Be at that gate.
The train that would take him to heaven
To join all his family and friends
Where a new life would begin and never end.
A life where there is nothing but beauty and peace
And the heart would find relief.
The conductor showing you everything in your past life
Some bad - a lot nice.
Of people you touched along the way
And of things they had to say.
everybody when they pass away
Boards this train on a given day.
This train makes three stops
As strange as it may seem
Heaven, hell, and purgatory
"Sounds like a familiar story"!
Purgatory being the place of things
In your past life - you must face.
But you are on the "7th ave. express."
Cause you passed all the tests.
You had a heart which was pure as gold
And all the angels have been told.
All these other passengers that are on this train with you
Have gone through the same things too.
All of you had came to this "times square station"
Because you had found your salvation.
They gathered together like fallen needles from a pine tree
Multitudes of souls that were finally free.
At the gate you will be greeted by SAINT PETER
Who will show you the way to all your family and friends
And this joy will never end.
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Steeplechase l
I will pass you!
You won't!
I will beat you out!
Don't even think of it.
Out of my way, comrade!
Bloody bloke.
Mind the breach! Over. Oof!
That was a big one!
Onward. Onward.
I shall win, finally. I am confidant.
Not while I'm here.
I love you in the abstract but hate you face to face.
Take that!
Ow!
Bloody race. Bloody steeplechase.
My life is your death.
Your death is my life.
Disappear!
I won't!
Is this necessary?
For the moment.
Is it warm in here? Is it dark?
Don't be silly. It's the hour of 'rush'.
Hasn't it been awhile?
Wuss. Forgeddabowdit!
Can't we quit, now?
Never! Those are the rules.
How did I get into this?
Better not ask, if you're a man.
There's a 50% chance I'm not.
Your problem. Outta my way!
Bloody horse race.
Without horses.
Who will win the purse? The glorious winner's crown?
Who shall disappear in that lake? Drown in ecstasy?
Me! I shall be that happy, drowned fly.
No, me, me.
Idiots. Only me.
What's that ahead?
The finish! The finish!
How big it is! It shimmers. It breathes. It seems alive.
Oh, it is, believe me.
It beckons. I want to go there.
Fool!
What are those things stuck all over it? Those 'tenacles'.
Dunno. Hardly looks Elysian, though.
Not like what....
poem by Morgan Michaels
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Heaven N Hell! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! : (
A place of wonder,
A place of grief,
Where float angels and demons.
Flowers n flames surrounding em,
In a place they call HEAVEN n HELL.
Heaven is like sweet surprise
While, OH! Hell is where torture rise
Heaven blooms with happiness n wise,
While hell craves for revenge n cries.
A lovely place, many say,
With faces beaming day and day
I'm dying of misery, many cry
With dark faces and tear soaked eyes.
Angels gaze at heavens door,
The evil sneer of demons that stroll.
Darkness fails to conquer heaven
While light captures hell
Happiness starts from heavens door
While hell is filled with grief n more
U cannot escape the misery in hell,
While heaven is a place free from spell.
poem by Harshika Ram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A tidy everything!
A tidy me a
A tidy you
A tidy clean body or soul
Is a tidy human?
No…
Four tidy bedrooms
A tidy lounge
A tidy kitchen
An evenly cut grass
An organised garage with a freshly washed car is a
Peaceful shelter?
No…
An eventful upbringing
A functioning family
A good manner scheme
Is a blissful gift?
No…
A perfect persons snap
An excellent picture?
No…
A well-educated father
A knowledgeable mother
A lenient couple
An ideal parent?
No…
An old man,
An old woman
A young boy
A child
A toddler
Age concern is it?
No…
A black girl, boy
A white girl, boy
An Asian girl, boy
A Chinese maybe even a mix-race
What does this matter?
It is a multicultural union.
Yes…
A graduate
A chav
A weirdo
A mad man
What does this matter?
Not at all…
Civilisation rolled in one piece - in our hearts, is what makes a single, a “WHOLE”
Not a flash motor or a colourful photograph.
Or a “Rich man” with golden rules!
Life isn’t a race
There aren’t any “winners” nor “losers”.
It is all a myth
Errr…YES!
poem by Noorie Ali
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!