Variation on a Theme by Rilke
A certain day became a presence to me;
there it was, confronting me--a sky, air, light:
a being. And before it started to descend
from the height of noon, it leaned over
and struck my shoulder as if with
the flat of a sword, granting me
honor and a task. The day's blow
rang out, metallic--or it was I, a bell awakened,
and what I heard was my whole self
saying and singing what it knew: I can.
poem by Denise Levertov
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
The Bell From Europe
The tower bell in the Tenth Street Church
Rang out nostalgia for the refugee
Who knew the source of bells by sound.
We liked it, but in ignorance.
One meets authorities on bells infrequently.
Europe alone made bells with such a tone,
Herr Mannheim said. The bell
Struck midnight, and it shook the room.
He had heard bells in Leipzig, Chartres, Berlin,
Paris, Vienna, Brussels, Rome.
He was a white-faced man with sad enormous eyes.
Reader, for me that bell marked nights
Of restless tossing in this narrow bed,
The quarrels, the slamming of a door,
The kind words, friends for drinks, the books we read,
Breakfasts with streets in rain.
It rang from europe all the time.
That was what Mannheim said.
It is good to know, now that the bell strikes noon.
In this day's sun, the hedges are Episcopalian
As noon is marked by the twelve iron beats.
The rector moves ruminantly among the gravestones,
And the sound of a dead Europe hangs in the streets.
poem by Weldon Kees
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Mean Old Fireman
Written by (traditional).
I went down to the station
I leaned up against the door
Yeah, I went down to the station
I leaned up against the door
I said good-bye to my sweet, ride on
I said now, she couldnt use me no more
It was a mean old fireman
And a cruel old engineer
He was a mean old fireman
And a cruel old engineer
Yes, takin way my sweet woman
And left me standing here
Break:
I used to roll my baby
Till she - was forced to jump and shout
I used to roll my sweet baby
Till she was forced to jump and shout
Now that train pulls in boys
And Ill come walkin out
I heard the fireman blow the whistle
And the engineer ring the bell
I heard the fireman blow the whistle
And engineer ring the bell
I knew it was time boys
To - bid my baby farewell
Um
song performed by by Fleetwood Mac
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Tarrant Moss
I closed and drew for my love's sake
That now is false to me,
And I slew the Reiver of Tarrant Moss
And set Dumeny free.
They have gone down, they have gone down,
They are standing all arow -
Twenty knights in the peat-water,
That never struck a blow!
Their armour shall not dull nor rust,
Their flesh shall not decay,
For Tarrant Moss holds them in trust,
Until the Judgment Day.
Their soul went from them in their youth,
Ah God, that mine had gone,
Whenas I leaned on my love's truth
And not on my sword alone!
Whenas I leaned on lad's belief
And not on my naked blade -
And I slew a thief, and an honest thief,
For the sake of a worthless maid.
They have laid the Reiver low in his place,
They have set me up on high,
But the twenty knights in the peat-water
Are luckier than I!
And ever they give me gold and praise
And ever I mourn my loss -
For I struck the blow for my false love's sake
And not for the Men of the Moss!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
On This Day
(michael p. heeney, david scarlett)
The kids were up before dawn this morning
Right to the christmas tree they ran
Called up the stairs for us to hurry
Wait for this day for about as long as they could stand
While trading presents the little one asks me
Why do we have christmas each year
I said long ago a child was born this day
Hes a gift more precious then all you see here
Chorus:
Cause on this day
A child was born
In the town of bethlehem
And on this day
God sent his son to bring peace and goodwill
To all men
Oh on this day we call christmas
We honor his name
On this day
We recall all the reasons he came
On this day
On this day
Grandma and grandpa arrived after breakfast
The rest of the gang by noon
We spent the day watching football and breaking in toys
Helping out in the kitchen
Catching up on old news
When the dinner bell rang
We all took our places
Grandpa said who wants to say grace
Before anyone else could utter a word
Oh the little one bowed her head
And she started to say
Repeat chorus
Oh on this day we call christmas
We honor his name
On this day
We recall all the reasons he came
On this day
On this day
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Don't Walk Away
I don't know why you keep lying
about your sanity
Always keep on fighting 'til the end
And I can't stop you from shining
up your vanity
Never taking chances to pretend
Chorus:
We get one chance to sip the wine
And life don't come on borrowed time
He just cries with no reply
If we only knew just what it takes
To leave the others making their mistakes
If you care to say that life ain't
worth it anyway
Beze's gonna grab you in the end
If you see a fool in memories that
belie the rule
Always take the chances to pretend
I heard the voices of the people as
they started praying
I heard them singing songs of laughter
as they started saying
Well don't walk away
I heard the voices of the people as
they started praying
I heard them singing songs of laughter
as they started saying
Well I know why you have lied
about your vanity
Always, never fighting till the end
And I can't stop you trying to save
your sanity
Heaven will protect us in the end
Chorus:
We get one chance to sip the wine
And life doesn't come on borrowed time
He just cries with no reply
If we only knew just what it takes
To leave the others making their mistakes
song performed by by Zebra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Church-Bell
As I was lying in my bed
I heard the church-bell ring;
Before one solemn word was said
A bird began to sing.
I heard a dog begin to bark
And a bold crowing cock;
The bell, between the cold and dark,
Tolled. It was five o'clock.
The church-bell tolled, and the bird sang,
A clear true voice he had;
The cock crew, and the church-bell rang,
I knew it had gone mad.
A hand reached down from the dark skies,
It took the bell-rope thong,
The bell cried "Look! Lift up your eyes!"
The clapper shook to song.
The iron clapper laughed aloud,
Like clashing wind and wave;
The bell cried out "Be strong and proud!"
Then, with a shout, "Be brave!"
The rumbling of the market-carts,
The pounding of men's feet
Were drowned in song; "Lift up your hearts!"
The song was loud and sweet.
Slow and slow the great bell swung,
It hung in the steeple mute;
And people tore its living tongue
Out by the very root.
poem by Elinor Morton Wylie
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I started singing for The Phantom in January, and we started filming in October and I sang all the way through to the next June. In fact, I was singing for about two months before I even knew I had the role.
quote by Gerard Butler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
A Memorial To Martin Luther King Jr.
Words would fail me if I might assay
To articulate the courage of this man.
The numerous facets of his dossier
Are subject for song in a distant land.
Awakened in youth from serene dreams
By the melodious blast of Israel’s horn.
Tall standing received earth’s esteems,
Accepting God’s charge wherefore he was born.
His marble image cleaves the bluest sky,
And his halo is now a crown about his brow.
His peace of mind earth can no longer deny,
For he has now fulfilled his earthly vow.
It can only suppose with the midnight of the mind,
What may be reason’s welcome morning star.
One day he may return even more divine,
With a holier task from God who reigns from afar.
There’s no thunder heard from Sinai’s height,
And we see no parting waves at Jordan’s bank.
We have followed no truer soldier in our darkest night,
And now are marching on bravely in file and rank.
Rolling on in faith toward the welcome dawn,
The good fight won he’s earned the honor of Moses.
Now trekking the soul’s desert to the divine throne,
He follows God’s light up the street of yellow roses.
poem by Albert Price
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Blow Away
Day turned black, sky ripped apart
Rained for a year til it dampened my heart
Cracks and leaks
The floorboards caught rot
About to go down
I had almost forgot.
All I got to do is to love you
All I got to be is, be happy
All its got to take is some warmth to make it
Blow away, blow away, blow away.
Sky cleared up, day turned to bright
Closing both eyes now the head filled with light
Hard to remember what a state I was in
Instant amnesia
Yang to the yin.
All I got to do is to love you
All I got to be is, be happy
All its got to take is some warmth to make it
Blow away, blow away, blow away.
Wind blew in, cloud was dispersed
Rainbows appearing, the pressures were burst
Breezes a-singing, now feeling good
The moment had passed
Like I knew that it should.
All I got to do is to love you
All I got to be is, be happy
All its got to take is some warmth to make it
Blow away, blow away, blow away.
song performed by by George Harrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Harold Arnett
I leaned against the mantel, sick, sick,
Thinking of my failure, looking into the abysm,
Weak from the noon-day heat.
A church bell sounded mournfully far away,
I heard the cry of a baby,
And the coughing of John Yarnell,
Bed-ridden, feverish, feverish, dying,
Then the violent voice of my wife:
"Watch out, the potatoes are burning!"
I smelled them ... then there was irresistible disgust.
I pulled the trigger ... blackness ... light ...
Unspeakable regret ... fumbling for the world again.
Too late! Thus I came here,
With lungs for breathing ... one cannot breathe here with lungs,
Though one must breathe.... Of what use is it
To rid one's self of the world,
When no soul may ever escape the eternal destiny of life?
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A little Ghost Story
As I was going to bed
I turned out my light
tucked myself in
on a long winter's night
All of a sudden
I heard a door squeak
I thought someone was in my house
so I decided to take a peak
I heard the wind blow hard
and started to shiver with fear
and heard some noises again
but this time I knew I was near
I went into the living room
and noticed my door was opened wide
squeaking back and forth
I laughed so hard I almost cried
So I decided to go back up to my room
When I heard some terrible cries
I rushed to my room real quick
but a ghost stopped me in surprise
I ran and yelled
and I ran outside my house right then
and decided I would never
go back to that house again
At my new house
I turned out the light
you can probably guess
what went on that night
poem by Shaina Lloyd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Starman
Didnt know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin down some rock n roll lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That werent no dj, that was hazy cosmic jive
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hed like to come and meet us
But he thinks hed blow our minds
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hes told us not to blow it
Cause he knows its all worthwhile
He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, thats far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the tv we may pick him up on channel two
Look out your window I can see the light
If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Dont tell your papa or hell get us locked up in fright
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hed like to come and meet us
But he thinks hed blow our minds
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hes told us not to blow it
Cause he knows its all worthwhile
He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
Starman waiting in the sky
Hed like to come and meet us
But he thinks hed blow our minds
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hes told us not to blow it
Cause he knows its all worthwhile
He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la-la (repeat until end)
Culture club faithfully covered this david bowie hit (it reached no.10 in the uk and no.65 in the us in july 1972) on their 98 re-wind tour so well that it has become a fixture at culture club concerts, got a joint a-side single with cold shoulder and also features on the new album, dont mind if I do.
song performed by by Culture Club
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Bellman
He rang it in the marketplace,
He rang it in the street,
Old Silas was the Bellman
In the village of Purfleet,
He'd rung the bell for sixty years,
He'd rung the bell for war,
He'd rung it for the harvest
But would ring the bell no more!
The Mayor and all his councillors
Had met within the Hall,
Discussed the ponderous questions
That would bear upon them all,
Their gowns were trimmed with ermine
And the mayor, he wore his chain,
The solemn Majesty of State
Was heard in their refrain!
‘We must dismiss the Bellman, '
Said the hoary Abel Creep,
‘He rings it at the strangest times,
I just can't get to sleep! '
‘Agreed, ' said Horace Fumblewit,
It's more than time enough,
I thought that he'd be dead by this…'
‘Hear hear! ' said Toby Gruff.
They called him to the chamber
And delivered him the score,
Old Silas staggered back in shock,
They'd rocked him to the core!
He raised the bell above his head
And gave a mighty ‘Clang! '
Then jumped up on their table
Where they sat, their ears rang!
‘I've been the Bellman sixty years,
My father taught me then,
His father went before him, rang
The bell for Inkerman;
But way, way back before that time
My forebears had a stake,
They warned of the Armada,
Rang the bell for Francis Drake! '
He stomped along their table
In his coarse old hob-nailed boots,
He silenced their authority
To rule in mean disputes,
For every time a councillor
Would seek to raise his voice,
The bell would drown his utterance,
It gave them little choice!
‘There's been a Bellman in this burgh
Right back, before King John,
You think you petty underlings
Can rule once I am gone?
Your ancestors lie buried in
The gravel by the Church,
While mine live on in history…
I'll knock you off your perch!
He raised the bell and made it peal,
It rocked the ancient hall,
The walls shook with vibrations
‘Til the roof began to fall,
The beams came crashing down in a
Scenario from Hell,
‘Your time is not forever, ' cried
The man who rang the bell!
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Angel On My Shoulder
Written by natalie cole and richard marx
I never thought Id ever make it, I cant believe the hell Ive been through
Couldnt see the light at the end of the tunnel, I didnt know what to do
Ive been through the rain, Ive been through the fire
There was something that I never knew
Chorus
I had an angel on my shoulder, with a plan for me divine
Must be an angel on my shoulder, who was right there all the time
(angel, must be an angel) this world can be so cold and so heartless
Its hard to find your way alone, I used to run so fast, no one could catch me
I couldnt find the way back home, but Ive laughed, Ive cried
I almost died, but my broken heart just never knew
Chorus
I had an angel on my shoulder, with a plan for me divine
Got to be an angel on my shoulder, who was right there
Right there all the time, everybody needs someone to cling to
With an unchanging love, I finally found a hand to hold on to
A shelter to run to, now I see hes watching over me
Chorus
(angel on my shoulder, angel) Ive got an (angel on my shoulder)
Angel on my shoulder, with a plan for me divine
Got to be an (angel on my shoulder), angel on my shoulder
Who was right there, right there, right there all the time
Got to be an angel, an angel, an angel, right there all the time
song performed by by Natalie Cole
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
A Lover's Melody or And from the Oboe Came a Pretty Sound
And from the oboe came a pretty sound
The crescendo called love
From the bell that was his lover's heart
More beautiful than anything
Vivaldi could compose
True, she was an oboe
Alone, in an orchestra of drums, saxophones, and pianos
But she met a guitar
A beautifully carved acoustic instrument
That made a sound like no other
She'd ever heard
Together they made sweet, sweet music
The love-struck oboe wanted to stay
With the guitar, cut a deal, and
Make some records
But, alas, the guitar
Was completely unaware
Of the melody the oboe was playing
From the oboe came a pretty sound
And the guitar, he sung back
Of the returned love
The oboe was looking for,
It was a tune of lament—sad and slow
For he knew he could not give her
What she desired
So he set himself on fire
And from the guitar came a descend
When the oboe found her lover she
picked up what was left of he
and put it in a box of oak
and sailed it off to sea
the oboe knew no sad songs
but she wanted to sing him a tune
so on the beautiful sunset on June
she hummed him what she knew…
…and from the oboe came a pretty sound
poem by Alecia Carroll
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Starting Again
Music: Barry Manilow
Lyrics: Marty Panzer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And it started again And I meant every word
And I liked what I said
And I liked what I heard
And I started to think
I could think about starting again
We were laughing again
Over memories and wine
And the years in between
Didn't seem a long time
When I smiled she knew why
In a while it was starting again
And I started to think I could feel again
All the bad times seemed unreal
When I looked in her eyes
The cheating, the lies,
The things that were wrong seemed far behind
And I started to think I could care again
And my fears all disappeared
When she called me by name
I knew that she'd changed
The flaws were all gone
The Saint remained
But it started again when I asked her to stay
And she said, "There's this friend who's in town just today"
And she really felt bad, but she had to be leaving again
And she left me again as she'd left me before
Still pretending she cared when we kissed at the door
But I saw in her eyes that the lies were all starting again
Just when I started to feel again
When all the bad times seemed unreal
When it all seemed so right and I thought that tonight
If she said she cared, she really might
Just when my fears disappeared again
And I heard what I wanted to hear
It all started again
And I knew what that meant
It wasn't the start
It was really the end
song performed by by Barry Manilow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
My fore people
My fore people
Birth the spiritual
Because God wanted
To hear it
He said ‘I feel your pains
Sang it away, sang’
And they opened their mouth
And the spiritual rang out
Go tell it on the mountain.
My fore mothers
Birthed the blues
Because they knew
That life in Americus
Wasn’t fair
So their souls said to them
Lady Day croon
Bessie Smith zoom
With the blues
Strange Fruits
My fore father
Birth jazz
Out of necessity
Out of chains around
Their ankles
They blow the sounds
Of the death bell
To tell that the struggler
Was not in vain
They blow jazz from
Within and still
There was more to give
Around midnight
poem by David E. Patton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
His Words
"His Words"
At the crack of dawn
Light breaks and rays
Make all gold and day
Gradually goes on its way,
Dew drops drop
And play part
Being part of nature
With rapture and nurture
All things with its hallowed water
Nature song is purred
And Supreme Being is praised
And all beings are raised
By flying and singing
Song birds,
and roaring water roars
Waves strike on shore.
Bell chinks on winks
In morn sound emerges
from Church
Of first light incense
Sweet smell and burning
Candles honor ‘His' presence
"Holy Bible" verses
Are rehearsed to welcome
The day with "His" words…
Written by: Narendra Rai
Talhar Badin, Sindh...
poem by Narendra Rai
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When Love Starts Talkin
I thought I had my life worked out
I thought I knew what it was all about
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
I had my mind on the open road
I thought I knew where I wanted to go
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
(chorus)
When love starts talkin
You got no choice
But to shut up and listen
Its a powerful voice
Open the door
And let it walk in
Thats what you gotta do
When love starts talkin
I thought I had it wrapped up neat and nice
I didnt need nobodys advice
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
(repeat chorus)
I thought I heard it all before
I thought I didnt need to hear no more
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Love started talkin
song performed by by Wynonna Judd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
When Love Starts Talkin
I thought I had my life worked out
I thought I knew what it was all about
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
I had my mind on the open road
I thought I knew where I wanted to go
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
(chorus)
When love starts talkin
You got no choice
But to shut up and listen
Its a powerful voice
Open the door
And let it walk in
Thats what you gotta do
When love starts talkin
I thought I had it wrapped up neat and nice
I didnt need nobodys advice
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
(repeat chorus)
I thought I heard it all before
I thought I didnt need to hear no more
Then love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Your love started talkin
Love started talkin
song performed by by Wynonna Judd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!