I Am Raferty
I am Raferty the Poet
Full of hope and love,
With eyes that have no light,
With gentleness that has no misery.
Going west upon my pilgrimage
By the light of my heart,
Feeble and tired
To the end of my road.
Behold me now,
And my face to the wall,
A-playing music
Unto empty pockets.
poem by Douglas Hyde
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Strict Joy
To-day i felt as poor O’Brien did
When, turning from all else that was not his,
He took himself to that which was his own
— He took him to his verse — for other all he had not,
And (tho’ man will crave and seek)
Another all than this he did not need
So, pen in hand he tried to tell the whole tale of his woe
In rhyming; lodge the full weight of his grief in versing: and so did:
Then — when his poem had been conned and cared,
And all put in that should not be left out — did he not find and with astonishment,
That grief had been translated, or was come
Other and better than it first looked to be:
And that this happened, because all things transfer
From what they seem to what they truly are
When they are innocently brooded on
— And, so, The poet makes grief beautiful.
“Behold me now, with my back to the wall,
Playing music to empty pockets!”
So, Raferty, tuning a blind mans plight,
Could sing the cark of misery away:
And know, in blindness and in poverty,
That woe was not of him, nor kind to him.
And Egan Rahilly begins a verse —
“My heart is broken, and my mind is sad …”
‘Twas surely true when he began his song,
And was less true when he had finished it:
— Be sure, his heart was buoyant, and his grief
Drummed and trumpeted as grief was sung!
For, as he meditated misery
And cared it into song — Strict Care, Strict Joy!
Caring for grief he cared his grief away:
And those sad songs, tho’ woe be all the theme,
Do not make us grieve who read them now —
Because the poet makes grief beautiful.
And I, myself, conning a lonely heart
— Full lonely ’twas, and ’tis as lonely now
Turned me, by proper, to my natural,
And, now too long her vagrant, wooed my muse:
Then to her — let us look more close to these,
And, seeing, know; and, knowing, be at ease.
Seeing the sky o’ercast, and that the rain had
Plashed the window, and would plash again:
Seeing the summer lost, and the winter nigh:
Seeing inapt, and sad, and fallen from good:
Seeing how will was weak, and wish o’erbearing:
Seeing inconstant, seeing timidity:
Seeing too small, too poor in this and yon:
Seeing life, daily, grow more difficult:
Seeing all that moves away — moving away
… And that all seeing is a blind-mans treat,
And that all getting is a beggars dole,
And that all having is bankruptcy …
All these, sad all! I told to my good friend,
Told Raferty, O’Brien, Rahilly,
Told rain, and frosted blossom, and the summer gone,
Told poets dead, and captains dead, and kings!
— And we cared naught that these were mournful things,
For, caring them, we made them beautiful.
poem by James Stephens
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Light Lift Me Up
Oh searching tired of love grown up, now it all falls out
Oh lovely dreamer - magic prince - swoop you up, swoop you up
But no no i, just one guess - man at all
While I grow up, came your way
Nobodys so special in this way, nobody to sweep you away
Oh light, oh light come and lift me up
Oh light please come lift me up
Oh sweet light come lift me up
When you go down remember your steps
As a baby rememberin how he walked
Rememberin all the sweetest dreaming you did
While you tick-tock along, but now all gone
Theres nothing here for your dream but hope in a song
Just like the bent back of an old woman that you know
Its all gone and severed and alone, so I rhyme
So now all you see is sad
All look the same as the wall inside
She feels swallowed up, she feels tired as she could
Creepin along this wall
And this wall its so long
Its a wall, and lips theyre alone
Sweet lips theyve lost their way a while
Like the bent back of an old woman
Whats true that way?
Whats true, hey way?
I came crying to you, came on me knees
Begging father lift me up please
But no as I came down, no flowered sound
Just emptiness in side me
Oh light lift me up, please lift me up
Come down and pick me up already
Forgive me all my selfish ways sweet light
Pick me up from my misery
Im gonna get away - Im back to you
The way that I do
The way that I picture you
The way that I picture you
Lift me up, from the bottom to the top
Lift me up, sweet light
Lift me up, from the bottom to the top
Lift me up, sweet light
Lift me up, bottom to the top
Lift me up, sweet light
Lift me up, from the bottom to the top
Lift me up, sweet light
song performed by by Dave Matthews Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Light O my Light - Original by Rabindranath Tagore
Light O my Light!
The world is full of Light!
Light has washed my eyesight!
I love the Light!
Light dances near my soul; Light is so cute!
Light makes sound of music in my heart’s lute!
Sky wakes up and wind blows!
Everyone laughs of course!
In the current of Light
Hundreds of butterflies sail themselves!
In the ripples of Light
All the creepers dance in God’s names!
There is gold in the clouds in this morning!
Countless gems are out there O the best King!
Even leaves are laughing!
Music overflowing!
poem by Asif Andalib
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Light
Light that can be kind. Light that can smell sweet. Light that can be soft.
Light that can be porcelain. Light that can be silent. Light that can speak.
Light that can hold many colors. Light that can be romantic. Light that can be harsh.
Light that can be cold. Light that can be warm. Light that can be dry.
Light that can be loud. Light that can be love. Light that can be faith.
Light that can be full of strength. Light that can be pure. Light that can be dark.
Light that can be fragile. Light that can be crazy. Light that can be weird.
Light that can be old. Light that can be new. Light that can be inbetween.
Light that can be swift. Light that can be sharp. Light that can wonder.
Light that can be insane. Light that can be smooth. Light that can dream.
Light that can be free. Light that can be everlasting. Light that can be wild.
Light that is the lord. Light that is Jesus. Light that is holy.
Light that is the trinity. Light that can belong. Light that can be fast.
Light that can sing. Light that is the holy ghost. Light that is the Bible.
Light that can be a mith. Light that can be still. Light that can be different.
Light that can be hole. Light that can be true. Light that can be whimsical.
Light that can be bright. Light that can be formed. Light that is blessed.
Light that can be full of presence. Light that can tell a story. Light that can be intelligent.
Light that is like no other!
poem by Shania K. Younce
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Shall Be Released
They say everything can be replaced
Well then distance is not near
I remember every face
Of everyone who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now
Any day now
I shall be released
They say everyone needs protection
They say everyone must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some where so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now
Any day now
I shall be released
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears hes not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
That he swears he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now
Any day now
I shall be released
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now
Any day now
I shall be released
Any day now
Any day now
I shall be released
song performed by by Indigo Girls
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I Won't Close My Eyes
(chorus)
I won't close my eyes
To the sufferers plight.
In a world full of sadness
I won't turn off my light.
Our cries for justice are shots in the dark
But our strength's in our bite
And not in our bark
It's time to stand
And shout it out loud
And the louder we scream
The sweeter the sound.
(chorus)
I won't close my eyes
When i know that i'm right
When i'm drowning in tears
I won't turn off my light.
We're shown no respect
But that can't break our pride,
When our backs to the wall
We won't run and we won't hide
It's time to stand, face the oncoming crowd
And the louder we scream
The sweeter the sound.
(chorus)
I wont't close my eyes
When the future don't look bright
Though the road seems too long
I won't turn off my light
In a world full of darkness,
I won't turn off my light
song performed by by Ub40
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Light?
Have you ever wounderd from where light came
If the wondering of light is just a game
If light is playing a trick on our eyes
If light is just a bunch of lies
If light has a tempreture cold as ice
If light is actually hot as rice
If light can run around the room
If light will lead us to our doom
If light can catch a traveling ball
If light can hear our pleading call
If light needs us to see ing the dark
If light can produce a menacing bark
If light can flow as fast as sound
If light is only on earth bound
If light can take a human form
If light can get caught up ina storm
I often wonder what light can do
but its secrets are not for me and you
poem by Samantha Ridley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
In The Light
(jones/page/plant)
And if you feel that you cant go on. and your wills sinkin low
Just believe and you cant go wrong.
In the light you will find the road. you will find the road
Oh, did you ever believe that I could leave you, standing out in the cold
I know how it feels cause I have slipped through to the very depths of my soul.
I just wanna show what Id give you it is from every bend in the road
Now listen to me
Oh, whoa-whoa, as I was and really would be for you, too, honey
As you would for me, oh, I would share your load.
Let me share your load. ooh, let me share, share your load
And if you feel that you cant go on
In the light you will find the road
Though the winds of change may blow around you, but that will always be so
When love is pain it can devour you, if you are never alone
I would share your load. I would share your load
Baby, let me, oh, let me
In the light
Everybody needs the light.
In the light, in the light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light, ooh, yeah
Light, light, light, in the light
song performed by by Led Zeppelin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
Divided, divided; world was divided
Great Chinese wall was broken by artillery bullet
Great wall of among two worlds was broken
Berlin wall broke and collapsed
Keeping ruins of
Broken wall of Berlin
Remnants seen by stopping
Broken heart burnt
Boundary of black and white world
Shows the whole picture
When looked at by white color world
Everybody is silent
Blackness of the red world
Come and see from the eye of west
Even there are no positives
Such a hidden thing would be constant
To see the ruins
People are on pilgrimage
Eyes of look are quite
A gap of instances
Digging tunnels
Jumping over the wall
Looking for the west freedom
Have found expected goal?
Being Disappeared past
Are showed to new generation
Children are playing
In two sides of difference
Without having recognized
Broken down
It is not only the wall of Berlin
Broken down
Left branch dream
Though it is shown by hiding
Teaches a lesson
World is a field of Freedom
Is not one and only problem
Udaya R. Tennakoon
poem by Udaya R. Tennakoon
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Empty Pockets
what does it mean to be free
does anybody care
the lost sounds of liberty
the last honest prayer
if Jesus died for my sins
then why do i still hurt
cant justify where i've been
drawing circles in the dirt
does love have a face
or no face at all
yes, and is there any place
for the little man to fall
and if God still cares
why are things so hard
crosses burning in the night
empty pockets in the heart
now what's the price of life
will anybody pay
children lost in the night
children lost in the day
no work, no jobs, and no hope
and nothing left to pawn
at the end of my rope
chasing shadows in the dawn
does love have a face
or no face at all
yes, and is there any place
for the little man to fall
and if God still cares
why are things so hard
crosses burning in the night
empty pockets in the heart...
what does it mean to be free...
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sun-Woman
Let the sun show
over the hills, I love it so
Life is the sun,
the sun is life
let life rise, brightly, slowly, funly
let life never set.
But it does.
light turns to night, the
darkness comes
my eyes close slowly
sun, please don’t go.
please don’t go.
but wait-in the light of the setting sun
I see some hope
a slender shape
walks over the hills in the distance
the sun halls to a stop, seems
to look at the figure
seems to stare, decide if it’s worthy
then the sun starts flying,
back up into the sky.
the figure keeps walking, closer,
closer.
the sun keeps moving, as fast as light itself,
into the middle of the sky above me.
the shape is hope, hope itself
she is light, and for me, the only
way to avoid darkness.
She is not far now, I see her face.
she says, “Are you all right? ”
“Don’t worry, ” I tell her, “the sun is not
my enemy anymore. He is my ally.”
She smiles at my healing face, and then I say,
“You were my hope, you are my hope. You
are my only hope of avoiding the darkness.”
“And you are the same to me, my love, ”
She says.
I jump up and I take her hands,
and I sing, “My love, my hope,
when you go the darkness comes,
but as long as you come back
light will shed on my weary face.
I owe my life to you, Sun-Woman.
I owe my life to you, my love.
I owe my life to you.
I owe my life to you.”
poem by Llew N. Rmail
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Straight To The Heart
Words & music: michael w. smith and brent bourgeois
When Im down when my souls in need of rest
Come your words of comfort and of hope
I see your face always smiling back at me
A stream of light shining straight to the heart
Child of god, child of light
Therell be no more lonely nights
Cause you have brightened up my life
Theres a road that leads me to this place
A path of love running straight to the heart
Over the years Ive learned one important thing
Its that real friends shall never truly be apart
You were there in my darkest time of need
With a hand reaching straight to the heart
Child of god, child of light
Therell be no more lonely nights
Cause you have brightened up my life
Take this gift, it is all I have to give
A prayer of love forever straight to the heart
song performed by by Michael W. Smith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Hope
Life on earth is hard,
It is something we earned,
Every day a body is burned,
What a terrible fate,
Then I saw you,
Your smiling face,
You filled my life with grace,
What a beautiful fate,
So I took a deep breath,
Found the courage to keep going,
This might be my fate,
In your eyes,
In your eyes I saw hope,
In your eyes I saw life,
In your eyes I saw love,
In your eyes I saw the love of life,
I chose to live,
I chose to live for you,
In everything I do,
To always be with you,
Together we will live,
To others we will give,
Hope we will deliver,
With love, no one will suffer,
In your eyes,
In your eyes I see hope,
In your eyes I see life,
For you I'd give it all up,
For you I'd give up life,
Life on earth is hard but not with you,
Your eyes shine with the light of love,
With you I feel the blessings from above,
Your eyes see the depths of my soul,
Shining your light into my life,
I hope your love is my fate,
In your eyes I see love and light,
With you my hope is for life!
28 May 2012
poem by David Andre' Klopper
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Linda Paloma
At the moment the music began
And you heard the guitar player starting to sing
You were filled with the beauty that ran
Through what you were imagining
Dreaming of scenes from those songs of love
I was the endless sky
And you were my mexican dove
Now the music that played in your ears
Grows a little bit fainter each day
And you find yourself looking through tears
At the love you feel slipping away
Though its not the kind
Of love you might hope to find
If tears could release the heart
From the shadows preferred by the mind
Like a wind that comes up in the night
Caressing your face while you sleep
Love will fill your eyes with the sight
Of a world you cant hope to keep
Dreaming on after that moments gone
The light in your lovers eyes
Disappears with the light of the dawn
But the morning brings
Strength to your restless wings
And some other lover sings
To the suns bright corona
I know all about these things
Linda paloma
Fly away
Linda paloma
song performed by by Jackson Browne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I Shall Be Released
They say evrything can be replaced,
Yet evry distance is not near.
So I remember evry face
Of evry man who put me here.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
They say evry man needs protection,
They say evry man must fall.
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,
Is a man who swears hes not to blame.
All day long I hear him shout so loud,
Crying out that he was framed.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Faith
A wall
Gray and tall,
And a sky of gray,
And a twilight cold;
And that is all
That my eyes behold.
But I know that unseen,
Beyond the wall,
On a lawn of green
White blossoms fall
In the waning light;
And beyond the lawn
Curtains are drawn
From windows bright.
And within she moves with her gracious hands
And the heart that loves and that understands,
Waiting to succour poor souls in need,
And to bind with her blessing the hearts that bleed.
I know it all, though I cannot see;
But the tired-out tramp,
Dirty and ill,
In the evening's damp,
In the Spring's clean chill,
Knows not that there
Is the heart to care
For such as I and for such as he.
He slouches along, and sees alone
The gray of the sky and the gray of the stone.
Lord, when my eyes see nothing but grey
In all Thy world that is now so green,
I will bethink me of this spring day
And the house of welcome, known yet unseen;
The wall that conceals
And the faith that reveals.
poem by Edith Nesbit
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Blue Light
Oh well, here we are again
Lookin 4 something 2 get us in the mood
I tell each and every one of my friends
That the love we make is really pretty rude
But they dont believe me cuz its written all over my face
Like evian and the deep blue sea
U and me got different taste
U like it in the dark but I like a
Blue light
Can u turn on a blue light
Then cuddle up 2 me so tight
Just u and me all night
Alright, blue light
Can u turn on a blue light
Then everything will be alright
Oh, blue light
U say u wish I was shy
I always take a simple thing and push it way 2 far
But baby, thats the problem with u and i
U say not in public but I say in the car
Say, we need to get wild again like it was when we first met
Close your eyes and count 2 ten and when u open em -
Ill be standing naked with nothing but a smile on
Blue light
Can u turn on a blue light
Then cuddle up 2 me so tight
Just u and me all night
Alright, blue light
Can u turn on a blue light
Then everything will be alright
Oh, blue light
Ill be 117
Ull be still sayin baby not 2 nite
Its easy 2 see us on the cover of a magazine
double heart attack, couple both die in a fight
Oh baby! I dont wanna cross that road cuz I love u 2 much
Id do anything just 2 heat up your cold touch
Anything I would do, but up until u tell me 2
Blue light
Can u turn on a blue light
Then cuddle up 2 me so tight
Just u and me all night
Alright, blue light
Can u turn on a blue light
Then everything will be alright
Oh, blue light
Blue light
Can u turn on a blue light (cuddle up 2 me)
So tight
Cuddle up next 2 me baby
U and me all night, alright blue light
Light (u turn on a) blue light
And every thing will be alright
Oooh blue light
Blue light
Blue light
Blue light
Blue light
Blue light
song performed by by Prince
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Villanelle Of Sunset
Come hither, child, and rest,
This is the end of day,
Behold the weary West!
Sleep rounds with equal zest
Man's toil and children's play,
Come hither, child, and rest.
My white bird, seek thy nest,
Thy drooping head down lay,
Behold the weary West!
Now eve is manifest
And homeward lies our way,
Behold the weary West!
Tired flower! upon my breast
I would wear thee alway,
Come hither, child, and rest -
Behold the weary West!
poem by Ernest Christopher Dowson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Villanelle
Come hither, child, and rest,
This is the end of day,
Behold the weary West!
Sleep rounds with equal zest
Man's toil and children's play,
Come hither, child, and rest.
My white bird, seek thy nest,
Thy drooping head down lay,
Behold the weary West!
Now eve is manifest
And homeward lies our way,
Behold the weary West!
Tired flower! upon my breast
I would wear thee alway,
Come hither, child, and rest -
Behold the weary West!
poem by Ernest Christopher Dowson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Shall Be Released
(b. dylan)
Originally performed by bob dylan. jeff performed it live on air at wfmu, on september 6 1992.
They say everything can be replaced,
Yet every distance is not near.
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
They say every man needs protection,
They say every man must fall.
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,
Is a man who swears hes not to blame.
All day long I hear him shout so loud,
Crying out that he was framed.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
song performed by by Jeff Buckley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!