Compensation
I'd like to think when life is done
That I had filled a needed post.
That here and there I'd paid my fare
With more than idle talk and boast;
That I had taken gifts divine.
The breath of life and manhood fine,
And tried to use them now and then
In service for my fellow men.
I'd hate to think when life is through
That I had lived my round of years
A useless kind, that leaves behind
No record in this vale of tears;
That I had wasted all my days
By treading only selfish ways,
And that this world would be the same
If it had never known my name.
I'd like to think that here and there,
When I am gone, there shall remain
A happier spot that might have not
Existed had I toiled for gain;
That someone's cheery voice and smile
Shall prove that I had been worth while;
That I had paid with something fine
My debt to God for life divine.
poem by Edgar Albert Guest
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Related quotes
Life's Slacker
The saddest sort of death to die
Would be to quit the game called life
And know, beneath the gentle sky,
You'd lived a slacker in the strife.
That nothing men on earth would find
To mark the spot that you had filled;
That you must go and leave behind
No patch of soil your hands had tilled.
I know no greater shame than this:
To feel that yours were empty years;
That after death no man would miss
Your presence in this vale of tears;
That you had breathed the fragrant air
And sat by kindly fires that burn,
And in earth's riches had a share
But gave no labor in return.
Yet some men die this way, nor care:
They enter and they leave life's door
And at the end, their record's bare—
The world's no better than before.
A few false tears are shed, and then,
In busy service, they're forgot.
We have no time to mourn for men
Who lived on earth but served it not.
A man in perfect peace to die
Must leave some mark of toil behind,
Some building towering to the sky,
Some symbol that his heart was kind,
Some roadway where strange feet may tread
That out of gratitude he made;
He cannot bravely look ahead
Unless his debt to life is paid.
poem by Edgar Albert Guest
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The Truth
They called you a failure
They called you a lost cause
They said you would never become anything at all
The love generation, With no direction
But when I look in your eyes I see the prize yet to be claimed
[chorus]
I'll say it once, I'll say it twice
That your life was worth the price
Paid for you, Paid for me
And I believe in you
And I know you'll find the truth
I know you've been broken
'Cause I've seen the abuse
I know there's a place inside your heart begging for truth
For a soft spoken answer
That won't wake your spirit
And when I look in your eyes I see the prize that's yet to be claimed
[chorus]
I'll say it once, I'll say it twice
That your life was worth the price
Paid for you, Paid for me
And I believe in you
And I know you'll find the truth
That's not what they told you
When they said they gave up for you
And your nothing
And you'll never be anything
I wait for the day when you stand up and say
I can do all things
Through Him here who strenghtens me
[chorus]
I'll say it once, I'll say it twice
That your life was worth the price
Paid for you, Paid for me
And I believe in you
Yes I believe in you
And I know you'll find the truth
..........
Life, not just any kind of life
This is eternal life
It's easy to understand, simple to get
It's as simple as ABC (life)
A - Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a saviour
B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord
C - Confess your sins and committ your life to Him
D - Don't wait until tomorrow
song performed by by ZoeGirl
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Life Called Mine
This life called mine
Is not under your shadow.
Not under your beck and call.
Not living under that,
Not living it or giving it under that.
This life called mine...
Is exactly what it is.
Mine.
And not yours to say,
When I should put out.
Or when you feel the need to put in!
This life called mine...
I call it a condo.
I own all that which is inside.
And all that is outside of me...
God takes care of.
And I'm not charged a maintainance fee.
And I'm not trying to break my lease...
Either.
Or leave unexpectedly!
At least...
Give me some kind of a 50 year notice.
This life called mine.
And I've become fond,
Of Mother Nature's wholesomeness.
Fine it is,
This life of mine.
Fine it is,
The gloriousness of it.
I'd be out of my mind,
Not to fine the life I love to live...
Fine.
And I thank The Divine.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Sonnet: Abide in God
God, help me live as per Thy divine Will!
Enamored by the world, let me not live;
Let temptations not make my heart/ soul ill;
Let me for Thy sake live and my life give.
Nothing is worth living for in this world;
The righteous path is but one thing worthwhile;
And life is God’s greatest gift that we hold;
And sin which God detests, let us not pile.
What divine love gave us our human for?
Let us return that love a hundredfold,
By living life as per the Maker’s norm;
Heaven is worth all earth’s treasures and gold.
The Maker strict is kind in umpteen ways;
And soon over will be our earthly days.
20-2-2001
poem by John Celes
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Smoker
I billowed calmly as a cloud
Upon a course for acid rain,
When in the fog of smoking crowd,
My lungs collapsed in searing pain.
Full of soot and black with tar,
I coughed in vain for chest to clear;
At least my lungs had got this far
Despite my years of toxic air.
But Smokers' Lounge was home to me,
Where fellow addicts puff with joy:
Our pipes in hand, all friends are we,
‘Let's fine cigars now share, my boy! '
‘So gasp away! ' my motto cries,
‘And light another cigarette
Before a further smoker dies,
Which happens often - you can bet! '
Copyright © Mark Raymond Slaughter 2009
life life life life life life life life life
life life life life life life life life life
life life life life life life life life life
life life life life
poem by Mark R Slaughter
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Does It Pay?
If one poor burdened toiler o’er life’s road,
Who meets us by the way,
Goes on less conscious of his galling load,
Then life, indeed, does pay.
If we can show the troubled heart the gain
That lies always in loss,
Why, then, we too are paid for all the pain
Of bearing life’s hard cross.
If some despondent soul to hope is stirred,
Some sad lip made to smile,
By any act of ours, or any word,
Then, life has been worth while.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Life of a Saint
A life of piety and fortitude;
A life of sacrifice and prayer;
A life of suffering, self-denial and solitude;
A life without lucre and luxuries;
A life of frequent ‘commune with God’.
A life of divine intervention, guidance and protection;
A life that’s looked down by the world but blessed by God;
A life that’s wholly lived for God’s sake;
A life full of miracles that astound the world;
A life that causes miracles even after life;
A life that tells the world about God’s special love;
A life that draws more souls to Heaven.
A life that communes with God’s presence after death;
A life that reveals some corporeal stigma of sanctification;
A unique instrument in God’s hands, used in
A divine way;
A life of even martyrdom;
An exemplary and holy, earthly life;
A soul chosen by the grace of God;
A soul destined to enjoy eternal proximity to God!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-21-2007
poem by John Celes
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Life long...
Life long dreams made
Life long debts paid
Life long fights won
Life long task done
Life long sorrow averted
Life long disasters diverted
Life long promises kept
Life long tears were wept
Life long hate is bound
Life long Love is found
Life long hearts as one
Life long end will come
poem by Troy Williams
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Fine, Fine, Very Fine Love
I never knew how good a love could be
all i'd ever known was make beleive
so many times i played the fool
baby till i met you
now everything has fallen in place
you can tell by the smile on my face
for every lonely tear that i've cried
i'm that much satisfied
(Chrous)
We've got a fine fine very fine love
We''ve got a fine fine very fine love
You know it when you find one shining like a diamond
It's so fine fine very fine love
You are more precious to me every day
life is better now in every way
you don't have to lay the world at my feet
you have made my world complete
(Chorus)
I've got no apprehensions
you've got the best intentions
we've got a we've got a ..
fine fine very fine love
(Chorus)
song performed by by Pam Tillis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Way Of The World
Words and music by robin zander and rick nielsen
Its the way of the world...
Remember you were in school and I followed you home.
I remember, didnt think I existed but were comin together right now.
Ive been runnin, Ive been hidin, its the way of the world.
You say its over, but the world keeps turnin round.
Remember, I knew Id be good for you.
No one better remember, really meant what I said, wanna be your lover right now.
Ive been runnin, Ive been hidin, its the way of the world.
You say its over, but the world keeps turnin round.
World goes round, life goes on, and on, and on.
You say its over, but the world keeps turnin round.
Its the way of the world.
Remember, you were at work and then friday at five, I remember, felt like a pawn, was I dead or alive?
I remember, thought no one could hear me, I was goin insane.
I remember, it was a real fine line, now youve changed my life around.
Ive been runnin, Ive been hidin, its the way of the world.
You say its over, but the world keeps turnin round.
World goes round, life goes on, and on, and on.
World goes round, (Ive been runnin)
World is round (Ive been hidin)
Life goes on and on and on ((its the way of the world).
(repeat to fade)
song performed by by Cheap Trick
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Very Fine Love
(bob dipiero / jim photoglo)
I never knew how good love could be
All Id ever known was make believe
So many times Ive played the fool
Baby, til I met you
Now everything has fallen in place
You can tell by the smile on my face
For every lonely tear that Ive cried
Im that much satisfied
Weve got a fine, fine, very fine love
Weve got a fine, fine, very fine love
You know it when you find one
Shining like a diamond
Its so fine, fine, very fine love
How did I ever live without your love?
Its the only thing Im certain of
No matter what Im going through
I know I can count on you
You are more precious to me every day
Life is better now in every way
You dont have to lay the world at my feet
You have made my world complete
Weve got a fine, fine, very fine love, oh, oh
Weve got a fine, fine, very fine love
You know it when you find one
Shining like a diamond
Its so fine, so fine, very fine love
Ive got no apprehensions
Youve got the best intentions
Weve got a, weve got a, weve got a fine, fine, very fine love
Weve got a fine, fine, very fine love
A very fine
A very fine love
Very fine love, ah, ha, ooh, hoo
So fine, hey, so fine
So good, so good love
song performed by by Dusty Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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More Than Useless
I feel like
I would like
To be somewhere else doing something that matters
And I'll admit here
While I sit here
My mind wastes away and my doubts start to gather
What's the purpose
It feels worthless
So unwanted like I've lost all my value
I can't find it
Not in the least bit
And I'm just scared, so scared that I'll fail you
And sometimes I think that I'm not any good at all
And sometimes I wonder why, why I'm even here at all
But then you assure me
I'm a little more than useless
And when I think that I can't do this
You promise me that I'll get through this
And do something right
Do something right for once
So I say if I can't
Do something significant
I'll opt to leave most opportunities wasted
And nothing trivial
That life could give me will
Measure up to what might have replaced it
Too late look
My date book
Is packed full of days that were empty and now gone
And I bet
That regret
Will prove to get me to improve in the long run
I'm a little more than useless
And when I think that I can't do this
You promise me that I'll get through this
And do something right
Do something right for once
I'm a little more than useless
And I never knew I knew this
Was gonan be the day
Gonna be the day
That I would do something right
Do something right for once
I noticed
I know this
Week is a symbol of how I use my time
Resent it
I spent it
Convincing myself the world's doing just fine
Without me
Doing anything of any consequence
Without me
Showing any sign of ever making sense
Of my time
It's my life
And my right
To use it like I should
Like he would
For the good
Of everything that I would ever know
song performed by by Relient K
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Just One Smile
Smile, smile and smile,
Will make your life versatile,
Like a linn in the isle.
Smile can give you boundless joy,
It is the greatest eternal toy.
If smile is absent,
Your life will destroy.
Smile, smile and rise,
Your life would be a paradise.
Your heart will gush and face will shine,
Your life would be lissom and divine.
So please,
Smile, smile, smile and smile,
Journey of life would become agile.
poem by M.A.K. Pathan
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A Dapper Old Fellow
I know this old bloke in his eighties he is such a dapper old man
A batchelor and one without children he nears the end of his life span
Always well dressed and never unhappy with a full head of silver gray hair
As he walks down the street in the morning he whistles some happy old air
He has lived a life of adventure and to distant places he's been
And all of the World's great Cities and Landmarks of note he has seen
Now too old for distant travel but in him the longing does remain
For to travel roads he has not travelled the highways and the byways again
A dapper old fellow in his eighties for years he has lived on his own
And the good and not so good times in his life he has seen and has known
But time it is running out on him and the clock on his life it ticks on
And the wanderlust it is still in him though his better days are long over and gone
Yet a happier or nicer person one hardly could wish for to meet
And he whistles with the joy of living as he slowly walks down the street.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Worth While
It is easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows by like a song,
But the man worth while is one who will smile,
When everything goes dead wrong.
For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
And the smile that is worth the praises of earth
Is the smile that shines through tears.
It is easy enough to be prudent,
When nothing tempts you to stray,
When without or within no voice of sin
Is luring your soul away;
But it's only a negative virtue
Until it is tried by fire,
And the life that is worth the honor of earth
Is the one that resists desire.
By the cynic, the sad, the fallen,
Who had no strength for the strife,
The world's highway is cumbered to-day;
They make up the sum of life.
But the virtue that conquers passion,
And the sorrow that hides in a smile,
It is these that are worth the homage on earth
For we find them but once in a while.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Soul-Time
I can not un-regard
I can not deny the sustain,
I can not over-refrain
acknowledging the kind gifts
you gave.
I'll not ever repay
the time
you spent
and came
when I needed
time
time
to cry
time to cry;
I cannot re-pay
all that
but offer
only that
if you need me
if you need me
I'll be there
to pay my Soul-Debt-
the most sacred kind
of debt owed
and debt re-paid.
So here's
my IOU,
my promise
to come through
for you
when
it's your turn
to need
Soul-Time.
Time when
souls mix
and renew.
poem by Lonnie Hicks
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Days
- Album: Reality
- Lyrics and music by David Bowie
Hold me tight
Keep me cool
Going mad
Don't know what to do
Do I need a friend?
Well I need one now
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
All the days I owe you
All I've done
I've done for me
All you gave
You gave for free
I gave nothing in return
And theres little left of me
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
All the days I owe you
With redeyed pain I'm knocking on your door again
My crazy brain in tangles pleading for your gentle voice
Those storms keep pounding through my faded heart
I'll play your sooth my sorry soul
All the days of my life
(All the days of my life)
All the days of my life
(All the days of my life)
All the days I owe you
All the days of my life
(All the days of my life)
All the days of my life
(All the days of my life)
All the days I owe you
All the days of my life
(All the days of my life)
All the days of my life
(All the days of my life)
All the days I owe you
All the days of my life
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In Your Own Ways
You are smart in your own ways
you are lovely in your own ways
you are beautiful in your own ways
You smile in your own ways
So crazy in your own ways
The madness of your own ways
such mysterious in your own ways
Those eyes of your own ways
You inspire me in your own ways
You talk in you own ways
you love me in your own ways
You suprise me in your own ways
Your kindness of its own kind
Your love of its own loveliness
your touch of its own comfort
And your kisses of its own sweetness
There is nothing so much worth to
treasure in my own ways than the
sweet memories of your own ways
Your life in your own ways
changes mine in its own way
God must have taken His own time
for sush a creation of its own kind
With everything in its own way
I must live your way.
poem by Moffat Mbuzi
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Maasai Country
Across the hills, across the plains,
The Maasai people roam,
Sometimes to pause for short term gain,
Sometimes to build a home...
They hate our modern stress and strife
And flash technology,
They'd much prefer the simpler life,
The way life's meant to be.
Their vibrant coloured garments share
The fashion sense they own...
They have an independent air,
Such that they are well-known...
They fight for rights they still possess,
Just like all people do...
They want their share of happiness,
The old ways and the new.
What right have we to undermine
The ways they've lived for years?
What right have we to think it's fine
To bring their children tears?
So live and let live, that's my stance,
Our world is theirs as well...
Together we all stand a chance,
Each with a tale to tell...
Denis Martindale, copyright, February 2011.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Maasai Country'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
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Sonnet: Have Mercy on him, Lord
Preserve this soul, Almighty God, I pray:
A person known to me in life on earth;
Forgive his iniquities, sins, this day;
Prepare his soul to gain eternal mirth.
Ignore his blatant lies by habit made;
Have mercy on this gentleman somehow;
Remind the good things done and taxes paid;
Forget his foolish thoughts and acts, right now.
Perhaps, the world had paid him in same coin;
His wealth, ill-gotten will remain on earth;
May be, he wore a chain of gold for loin;
Forget his trespasses, Lord, since his birth.
Give him another chance to cleanse his soul;
Show lenience on his failed divine role.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-2-2008
poem by John Celes
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