Pentecost
Better a jungle in the head
than rootless concrete.
Better to stand bewildered
by the fireflies' crooked street;
winter lamps do not show
where the sidewalk is lost,
nor can these tongues of snow
speak for the Holy Ghost;
the self-increasing silence
of words dropped from a roof
points along iron railings,
direction, in not proof.
But best is this night surf
with slow scriptures of sand,
that sends, not quite a seraph,
but a late cormorant,
whose fading cry propels
through phosphorescent shoal
what, in my childhood gospels,
used to be called the Soul.
poem by Derek Walcott
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
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!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Concrete Jungle
No sun will shine in my day today
The hich yellow moon won't come out to play
I said darkness has covered my light
And the stage my day into night
Where is the love to be found
Won't someone tell me
Cause life must be somewhere to be found
Instead of concrete jungle
Where the living is harder
Concrete jungle
Man you got to do your best
No chains around my feet
But I'm not free
I know I am bound here in captivity
yeh-I've never known the happiness
I've never known what sweet caress is
Still-I'll be always laughing like a clown
Won't somebody help me 'cause
I've got to pick myself from off the ground
In this ya concrete jungle
I said what do you got for me now
Concrete jungle ah won't you let me be now
song performed by by Bob Marley from Catch A Fire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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People On The Street
People on the street need a place to go
People on the street need a place to go
Walkin with the beat if its not too slow
Walkin with the beat if its not too slow
When the nights dark shadow falls
On the sidewalk scenes and the concrete canyon walls.
People on the street need a place to go
People on the street need a place to go.
Walkin through the night up and down the avenue
Lookin for a place,
A place to go,
A place to go.
Theres a muffled scream from the alley scene
From the alley scene comes a muffled scream
And the siren wails while the system fails
In the steaming heat people walk in the street
People cant run and hide
If you want to feel good then you gotta feel good inside.
People on the street need a place to go
People on the street need a place to go.
Rising through the grates come the fumes of industry
Floating to the sky
Keep walkin with the beat, walkin with the beat
Keep walkin with the beat, walkin with the beat
Keep walkin with the beat, walkin with the beat
When the nights dark shadow falls
On the sidewalk scenes and the concrete canyon walls.
People on the street need a place to go
People on the street need a place to go.
song performed by by Neil Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hymn
I got holy children to show me the light
Singing hallelujah, brother how bout you.
Yeah, we got a holy scriptures here that prove us to be right,
In believing out loud what we wish to be true.
I got stoned out neighbors to take me in tow
Singin close your eyes, singin open wide.
Watch the world fall away below, let the winter wind blow;
And where will we hide when it comes from inside?
Oh, hear me now, hear me now, hear me now,
Hear me now, hear me now, hear me now,
Hear me now, listen I got sweet, sweet music inside.
Is a child inside me was alone in the night
Now has come to me, love has set my soul free.
Is a man and a woman stand alone in the night;
Here is reason to be like sun on the sea.
song performed by by James Taylor
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Where people live in the concrete jungle
Where people live in the concrete jungle
with apartments as their property
and no one knows of grass or flowers
or any natural life source
lorries drive the whole time with ton upon ton
of rocks and sand to construction sites that amazes.
Where people live in the concrete jungle
with apartments as their property
they see nothing of nature from their balconies
while just more and more arrives in the city,
disguised from the essence of existence,
with only the charm of the rays of the sun,
where people live in the concrete jungle.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sunset By The Sea
I'm unable to visit a seaside town, and not see the mighty ocean;
I find myself being pulled there, with a sense of magnetic motion.
I sit surveying the sea, for a while, with a completely rested mind;
Moments like these, in everyday life, can be so very hard to find.
The lamps which line both sides of the long, wooden panelled pier,
Shine brightly, through the gathering gloom, bringing some cheer.
Despite the bitterly cold weather, and the now fast fading daylight,
Dozens of joggers disappear down the prom, running into the night.
Between the sea and sky, there is usually a distinct horizon to see,
But the sight which I see before my eyes, seems very strange to me:
The sea and sky seem to appear as one: both a shade of light grey;
To onlookers, only the foam crested waves, give the game away.
Waves rapidly rush towards the beach, and they furiously foam.
Along the water's edge, only the odd few stragglers still do roam.
On the shining, sodden sand, I see a young couple's reflection;
Looking relaxed, they stroll, hand in hand, in the sea's direction.
A couple rest on the railings, watching the roaring, rolling surf;
Nothing can measure what moments, like these, are really worth.
The pearly sky is streaked with shades of greys, blues, and pinks.
In the far distance, a string of white lights seems to urgently wink.
The light is fading, but, still, people are drawn towards the sea;
For some, it seems the only place where they really want to be.
The effect which water has on people, seems to be very calming;
Towns situated by the sea, are always considered very charming.
Once I'm stood before the ocean, I so desperately want to stay,
And I find it almost impossible to have to drag myself away.
But, in the end, I have to leave, as tonight I have a concert date;
It is the sole reason for my being here, so I really can't be late.
poem by Angela Wybrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A London Thoroughfare. 2 A.M.
They have watered the street,
It shines in the glare of lamps,
Cold, white lamps,
And lies
Like a slow-moving river,
Barred with silver and black.
Cabs go down it,
One,
And then another,
Between them I hear the shuffling of feet.
Tramps doze on the window-ledges,
Night-walkers pass along the sidewalks.
The city is squalid and sinister,
With the silver-barred street in the midst,
Slow-moving,
A river leading nowhere.
Opposite my window,
The moon cuts,
Clear and round,
Through the plum-coloured night.
She cannot light the city:
It is too bright.
It has white lamps,
And glitters coldly.
I stand in the window and watch the
moon.
She is thin and lustreless,
But I love her.
I know the moon,
And this is an alien city.
poem by Amy Lowell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Reigning Snow
In the name of, my blue view I,
Brought it all, it was all untrue I,
Know I’m left desperate, and it shows
And through the reigning snow I'm, now very very slow
Within the name of choice I,
Chose the path of voice and I,
Speak loudly with points to show
But the reigning snow leaves me desperate and slow
Who keeps pouring the reigning snow upon my bow I’l,
Shoot poisoned arrows to the sky igniting all and every rainbow but I,
Left before I had to go, due too the reigning pouring freezing snow
So from here where do I go
In the name of my blue view I,
Steal away one day from you and I,
Will escape the charade which shapes the reigning snow
Released from my hell and too heaven I shall go,
But there’s room for too but only if you wanted too
Im a little slow desperate and it shows
poem by Daniel Richards
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wintertime
Snow falling on the ground,
Little white flakes to be found.
Lift your head to the sky,
And watch the snow zippin’ by.
Cold wind at your back,
Nothing winter seems to lack.
A blanket of snow covers the Trees,
Winter can’t end. No please!
Can’t Jack Frost do his Job?
For a little longer, don’t make me sob.
Can’t I stay in this Wonderland?
I don’t want to return to golden sand.
But under the layer of cold, white snow,
Lies little seedlings ready to show.
I must say a grateful farewell,
To winter fun, for it was swell.
And say hello to summer sweat,
Instead of getting cold, we get wet.
Hello Spring! Hello Summer!
Goodbye Fall! Goodbye Winter!
Love Street
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ohh...ho...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ohh...ho...
It seems we've lost our touch
Used to be so in love, yeah, uh
But somehow we've gotten off-track
And we never really got it back, no, yeah
I think we better find a way, yeah
And get right back to them good old days, good old days
Wanna make it to Heaven's gate, yeah (oh)
And we need to escalate, I need
I need direction (whoo, I need direction)
To that street called love (to that street called love, yeah)
Lead me to that road (trying to get home, yeah)
Trying to get home (oh take me to love street, yeah)
Now life is gone and skipped a beat
Tell me where are all the dancing feet? Yeah
Boy I tell you there's always something going wrong
Tell me why can't we all just get along
Keep struggling (yeah) just to get by, oh (oh yeah)
So many hills, mountains to climb, yeah
We should all be ashamed of ourselves
'Cause if we don't love ourselves
Tell me how can we love somebody else?
I need direction (whoo, we need direction)
To that street called love (to that street called love yeah)
Lead me to that road (I'm trying to get home)
Trying to get home (come on and take me to love street)
Easter Sunday morning (yeah)
We weredressed up (yeah)
Ready to go and have some... Church
(And I remember feeling so joyful)
Whether East side or the West side
Or the North side or the South side
You were at... Church
(So tell me what is all this fighting for?)
So what is all this pouting about? (and whoa)
What is all this hating about? (whoa)
(We have got to figure out how to get right back to love street)
I need directions (we need direction, whoa)
To that street called love (to that street called love, yeah)
Lead me to that road (trying to get home)
Trying to get home (would you take me straight to love street, yeah)
I need directions (I need some direction yeah) (ohh)
To that street called love (yes I do, yes I do) (yes I do, yeah)
Lead me to that road (please let me lead me to that road) (yeah)
Trying to get home
Heard somebody say (Toot-toot, beep-beep)
Heard somebody say (Tell me how to get to love street) yeah
Heard somebody say (Toot-toot, beep-beep) yeah
Heard somebody say, yeah (Tell me how to get to love street) yeah
Here we go, here we go, here we go
You make a right on L
Make a left on O
Come to a green light
And that's when you can go (whoa)
You keep straight on V
Until you come to E
That's when you see a big sign that says
Welcome to Love Street
I need direction (welcome to my street sign)
To that street called love (yeah, yeah) (welcome) (yeah, yeah, whoo)
Lead me to that road (lead me to that road yeah)
Trying to get home (oh yeah) (oh ho...)
(Tell me how to get to love street)
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, yeah, ohh...
(Tell me how to get to love street)
Pied Piper, your music weatherman
It's love o'clock y'all
And ya'll listing to the sounds of the Chocolate Factory
This next one goes out to the ladies
Ladies Night, Happy People baby
song performed by by R. Kelly
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Unspoken
Unspoken
By: Adam M. Snow
You torment me with your bladed tongue;
if only you knew my life is left unsung.
Now I am broken;
blind, and left unspoken;
with my dreams shattered by you;
for now I know not what to do.
I am left with a voice of silence;
all alone in the distance.
My words I want to say remains unspoken;
for I wonder, 'Will I ever be unbroken? '
Your words still scorn my soul;
for it feels that I am left to rot in this hole.
You showed me your heart of ice;
yet I ask, 'Is my life the price? '
Your bladed tongue pierced my heart;
all because of you, I have fallen apart.
You speak of broken truth;
yet you say I am uncouth.
You push me away and call me a freak;
for all you have done, now silence is what I speak.
I am a ghost with words left unspoken;
standing over my essence, shattered and broken.
Your words are torment;
is this not your intent?
I am tainted by your selfishness;
for my feelings I cannot express.
I am broken because of you;
I only wish you knew.
poem by Adam M. Snow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Bell Buoy
They christened my brother of old--
And a saintly name he bears--
They gave him his place to hold
At the head of the belfry-stairs,
Where the minister-towers stand
And the breeding kestrels cry.
Would I change with my brother a league inland?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
In the flush of the hot June prime,
O'er sleek flood-tides afire,
I hear him hurry the chime
To the bidding of checked Desire;
Till the sweated ringers tire
And the wild bob-majors die.
Could I wait for my turn in the godly choir?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
When the smoking scud is blown--
When the greasy wind-rack lowers--
Apart and at peace and alone,
He counts the changeless hours.
He wars with darkling Powers
(I war with a darkling sea);
Would he stoop to my work in the gusty mirk?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not he!
There was never a priest to pray
There was never a hand to toll,
When they made me guard of the bay,
And moored me over the shoal.
I rock, I reel, and I roll--
My four great hammers ply--
Could I speak or be still at the Church's will?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
The landward marks have failed,
The fog-bank glides unguessed,
The seaward lights are veiled,
The spent deep feigns her rest:
But my ear is laid to her breast,
I lift to the swell--I cry!
Could I wait in sloth on the Church's oath?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
At the careless end of night
I thrill to the nearing screw;
I turn in the clearing light
And I call to the drowsy crew;
And the mud boils foul and blue
As the blind bow backs away.
Will they give me their thanks if they clear the banks?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not they!
The beach-pools cake and skim,
The bursting spray-heads freeze,
I gather on crown and rim
The grey, grained ice of the seas,
Where, sheathed from bitt to trees,
The plunging colliers lie.
Would I barter my place for the Church's grace?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
Through the blur of the whirling snow,
Or the black of the inky sleet,
The lanterns gather and grow,
And I look for the homeward fleet.
Rattle of block and sheet--
"Ready about-stand by!"
Shall I ask them a fee ere they fetch the quay?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
I dip and I surge and I swing
In the rip of the racing tide,
By the gates of doom I sing,
On the horns of death I ride.
A ship-length overside,
Between the course and the sand,
Fretted and bound I bide
Peril whereof I cry.
Would I change with my brother a league inland?
(Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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A Hell In A Concrete Jungle
A hell in a concrete jungle
A hell in a concrete jungle
We have already turned animals
and lost our sixth sense,
merely to fill the stomachs
we run days, months and years
after unreal wealth.
Love has turned into lust
Romance is no more pure
Violence encroaches
every inch of our being
Peace is long perished
and is burried in the land of demons
God is helpless. Yes god is helpless
to help humanity in this concrete jungle
Heaven has vanished and
this planet is now a hell
and the people live in sorrow and grief
poem by Sakthi Ravichandran
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Sidewalk Talk
Watch where you walk 'cause the sidewalks talk
And you can't keep a secret from the ground beneath you
Step very lightly on the earth below
Or before you know it everyone will know
Streets were paved with a thousand eyes
And try as you may you can't disguise
There's only two things that you can't hide from
That's you and the ground you're walking on
Chorus:
Watch where you walk, 'cause the sidewalks talk
You better watch what you do, what you do
'cause the sidewalk talk can get carried away
You better watch what you say, what you say
Think when you speak 'cause you gotta 'long the street
They can read what you say so you gotta stay away
From words that sting, words are not true
And the things you say make a fool of you
Little white lies make the sidewalk cry
And you can betray with the things you say
Words won't last when you say 'em too fast
And you've been mislead by the things you've said
(chorus)
Intermediate:
When you're living on the street
Life can be full of misery
Find a place to call your own
Make your heart into a home
You can do it, uh huh
(repeat 3 times)
You can do it
After every word there's a place that heard
Every time your shoe hits the avenue
And when you've gone they'll sing a song
Of the stories you told when you felt so bold
You better think twice when you cross the ice
Everything you do comes back to you
When you're shedding a tear sidewalks will hear
When your laughter's true they'll run with you
(chorus)
(intermediate)
You can do it, uh huh
(repeat 3 times)
You can do it
(repeat 3 times)
(chorus)
Sidewalk talk
(repeat 3 times)
Let me tell ya 'bout sidewalk talk
Sidewalk talk
Sidewalk talk
Sidewalk talk
(repeat)
Watch out for sidewalk talk
Sidewalk talk
Sidewalk talk
Sidewalk talk
Let me tell ya 'bout
Let me tell ya 'bout
Let me tell ya 'bout
Let me tell ya 'bout sidewalk talk
song performed by by Madonna
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Spiders And Fireflies
It is July,
Where have all the fireflies gone?
The fireflies from my childhood,
The ones that used to amuse me,
The ones I used to chase,
and capture,
and make my own.
I guess they symbolize the
Innocence from my Childhood,
and I guess,
They have ran off with the
Innocence from my Childhood.
Now I'm overwhelmed with spiders.
Everywhere I turn,
There's another spider at my back.
Where did they come from?
Where did the fields go,
that I once captured fireflies in?
poem by Carey Noelle
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Winter Message
A flake of snow in flurry thro’ the air
Had landed as a kiss upon my cheek:
A secret message, just for me to share;
To take to heart but never dare to speak
About or presuppose to other eyes
Your open feelings – distant though they are.
And so, upon your lips, my OWN surprise:
A flake of snow returned from me afar.
Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2010
winter winter winter winter icy winter
winter winter winter winter icy winter
winter winter winter winter icy winter
winter winter winter winter icy winter
poem by Mark R Slaughter
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sidewalk Annie
She told you about it through a broken bleeding windpipe
It shook your bones and made your life feel skintight
Well, sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
The howlin winds could never care what she liked
Rhythm and blues or a stranger in the night
It tore up the trailer with the sounds of a howlin wolf
The cellar was stone, even the garden was bulletproof
Well, sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
Little girl in your white ice skates
Weve seen your face walkin around the old school gates
With a hand on your hip and the other one on your head
You realized it wasnt gone, but lost instead
Sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
Invested a nickel into the banks of a wishing well
And blew out the candles and hoped for somethin that she
Could, she could sell
Sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
song performed by by Wallflowers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sidewalk Annie
She told you about it through a broken bleeding windpipe
It shook your bones and made your life feel skintight
Well, sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
The howlin winds could never care what she liked
Rhythm and blues or a stranger in the night
It tore up the trailer with the sounds of a howlin wolf
The cellar was stone, even the garden was bulletproof
Well, sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
Little girl in your white ice skates
Weve seen your face walkin around the old school gates
With a hand on your hip and the other one on your head
You realized it wasnt gone, but lost instead
Sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
Invested a nickel into the banks of a wishing well
And blew out the candles and hoped for somethin that she
Could, she could sell
Sidewalk annie
Now your coattails have come undone
Your whispers a scream now
Since you dont speak to anyone
song performed by by Wallflowers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last night
Last night your skin
was warm and soft
and I could feel your breath
against my cheek.
The winter wind
was rattling the roof
and sand was blown against the window
like a burst of rain.
Somewhere a neighbours’ dog howled
at the moon and I could hear,
the big old avo tree
whipping on the roof.
Every now and then
a avo fell with a bang
against the roof,
but you slept on.
The big bed was hot
and fire flamed in my blood
and as you twisted and turned
to sleep on,
your scent filled my head.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Her Own Two Feet
Natalie Wood's ghost is haunting me
She looks just like you
It's a shame my tastes are getting so old
So few
You flew down to Baltimore
With your brand new wings
I stayed and filled my life with useless, useless things
Doesn't really matter where we spend our time
Two years ago
Just another long goodbye
Your words have frozen in a cold November rain
Let me pretend that I don't care
Kimberley watches from afar
She won't stand too close
Cause when I'm lost in my head
Is when I miss her the most
I wrapped you up inside my heart
And folded you up tight
Didn't realize you meant what you said
Meant what you said
Those days are over
No more splendor in the grass
Two years ago and it's fading fast
It's all washed away with the castles and the sand
Can't tell tomorrow by the lies in your head
song performed by by Nine Days
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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