E.C. Culbertson
Is it true, Spoon River,
That in the hall-way of the New Court House
There is a tablet of bronze
Containing the embossed faces
Of Editor Whedon and Thomas Rhodes?
And is it true that my successful labors
In the County Board, without which
Not one stone would have been placed on another,
And the contributions out of my own pocket
To build the temple, are but memories among the people,
Gradually fading away, and soon to descend
With them to this oblivion where I lie?
In truth, I can so believe.
For it is a law of the Kingdom of Heaven
That whoso enters the vineyard at the eleventh hour
Shall receive a full day's pay.
And it is a law of the Kingdom of this World
That those who first oppose a good work
Seize it and make it their own,
When the corner-stone is laid,
And memorial tablets are erected.
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
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Related quotes
Those who first oppose a good work, seize it and make it their own, when the cornerstone is laid and memorial tablets are erected.
quote by Edgar Lee Masters
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Keys To The Kingdom
The keys to Heaven’s Kingdom, open up eternal things to come,
They’re keys that you do receive, when in Christ you do believe.
A Truth revealed to us from, The God of Heaven about His Son,
That His Son is indeed The Christ, and in The Son we have life.
Christ dear friend is The Key, to open hearts and minds to see,
This Truth will help you to see, that God’s Kingdom is in Eternity,
Eternal truth of God from above, the Truth of God’s Eternal Love.
Keys that open up Truth of God, on this earth we presently trod.
To reach men of every nation, with the keys to God’s Salvation.
With the Keys we will enter in, His Eternal Kingdom with no sin.
He will build His Church with us, as in Christ men place their trust,
Living stones upon one foundation, Christ our Rock and Salvation.
All Authority is given to the Son, to build the Church and Kingdom.
His Authority gives men power, to live for Him each day and hour.
To share this access with others, bringing to Christ many brothers.
Access we receive from Christ, is used by God through every life,
With access comes responsibility, helping other men come to see,
It’s His Name we must confess, the name of Christ to gain access.
Whatever you bind on this earth, will become for you eternal worth,
And whatever you do not bind, upon this earth, shall be left behind.
You must deny your earthly plan, when you follow The Son of Man,
Dying to our worldly needs, to share with men The Kingdom’s Keys,
Becoming for Him a living sacrifice, to gain New Life in Jesus Christ.
Leading men from the dark of night, into the Kingdom’s Eternal Light,
This by passing on the only Keys, to His Kingdom that will not cease.
(07/2006)
Perry Zoll
My thanks, friends of the County Scientific Association,
For this modest boulder,
And its little tablet of bronze.
Twice I tried to join your honored body,
And was rejected,
And when my little brochure
On the intelligence of plants
Began to attract attention
You almost voted me in.
After that I grew beyond the need of you
And your recognition.
Yet I do not reject your memorial stone,
Seeing that I should, in so doing,
Deprive you of honor to yourselves.
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
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Adam Weirauch
I was crushed between Altgeld and Armour.
I lost many friends, much time and money
Fighting for Altgeld whom Editor Whedon
Denounced as the candidate of gamblers and anarchists.
Then Armour started to ship dressed meat to Spoon River,
Forcing me to shut down my slaughter-house,
And my butcher shop went all to pieces.
The new forces of Altgeld and Armour caught me
At the same time.
I thought it due me, to recoup the money I lost
And to make good the friends that left me,
For the Governor to appoint me Canal Commissioner.
Instead he appointed Whedon of the Spoon River Argus,
So I ran for the legislature and was elected.
I said to hell with principle and sold my vote
On Charles T. Yerkes' street-car franchise.
Of course I was one of the fellows they caught.
Who was it, Armour, Altgeld or myself
That ruined me?
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
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The Kingdom
Now we are come to our Kingdom,
And the State is thus and thus;
Our legions wait at the Palace gate—
Little it profits us.
Now we are come to our Kingdom!
Now we are come to our Kingdom,
And the Crown is ours to take—
With a naked sword at the Council board,
And under the throne the snake.
Now we are come to our Kingdom !
Now we are come to our Kingdom,
And the Realm is ours by right,
With shame and fear for our daily cheer,
And heaviness at night.
Now we are come to our Kingdom !
Now we are come to our Kingdom,
But my love's eyelids fall.
All that I wrought for, all that I fought for,
Delight her nothing at all.
My crown is of withered leaves,
For she sits in the dust and grieves.
Now we are come to our Kingdom !
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Jeduthan Hawley
There would be a knock at the door
And I would arise at midnight and go to the shop,
Where belated travelers would hear me hammering
Sepulchral boards and tacking satin.
And often I wondered who would go with me
To the distant land, our names the theme
For talk, in the same week, for I've observed
Two always go together.
Chase Henry was paired with Edith Conant;
And Jonathan Somers with Willie Metcalf;
And Editor Hamblin with Francis Turner,
When he prayed to live longer than Editor Whedon;
And Thomas Rhodes with widow McFarlane;
And Emily Sparks with Barry Holden;
And Oscar Hummel with Davis Matlock;
And Editor Whedon with Fiddler Jones;
And Faith Matheny with Dorcas Gustine.
And I, the solemnest man in town,
Stepped off with Daisy Fraser.
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
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A Heads-Up From On High
Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven
and
the Kingdom of Heaven’s within
Except that you come through Me,
you cannot enter Heaven –
But
seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven –
Look!
The Kingdom of Heaven’s within
***
I’ve given you the key here,
I’m telling you I’m right here
I am in Heaven and
I am in you
And I can never be
anywhere else –
See, the Kingdom of Heaven
Lies deep within you
And I am in Heaven, too
Heaven is a state of being,
it’s not a place to go,
because, as I’ve told you,
so many times,
it’s within to yourself
you must go
There you must look,
like it says in the Book,
and My promise is, you will find Me
You’ve just got to realize
That I will never tell lies
And I’ve told you,
The Kingdom’s within!
poem by Rev. Rebecca Guile Hudson
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Unwavering
In a world where hearts can waver, we serve an unchanging Savior,
Who walks ahead strong and tall, to lift believers up when they fall.
Christ, the same today as yesterday, Christ is faithful in every way.
With a heart which changes never, Christ remains the same forever.
Changing times and varying roles, in the world even changes souls,
Following what this world may say, can even lead a Believer astray.
But always near and always true, Christ’s there to always guide you,
Back to this world’s only stable place, on the Rock by God’s Grace.
Saving Grace in God’s economy, remains the same for you and me,
God’s Grace, unchanging as it is, in fact changes sinners, to be His.
Grace which reaches near and far, to accept anyone where there are,
Moving us into God’s own family; into Christ’s Kingdom for Eternity.
The Grace which Christ unfurled, is still the same in a changing world,
As His unchanging Revelation, remains true and sure to every nation.
With God’s purpose set into stone, to build a Church, to call His own,
With all of those called out from, the world, to remain true to His Son.
As this world changes, be assured, there is a true stability in our Lord,
And in this Truth we can proclaim, through the power of Christ’s name,
As His Eternal Truth sets men apart, instilling The Spirit into their heart,
For the unchanged purpose in life, unwavering service to Jesus Christ.
(Copyright ©11/2007)
Kingdom Come
See the white light
The light within
Be your own disciple
Fan the sparks of will
For all of us waiting
Our kingdom has come
Rays of power shinning
Rays of magic fall
On the golden voice that speaks within us all
For all of us waiting
Your kingdom will come
Kingdom Come
Feel the white light
The light within
Yea it burns a fire that drives a man to win
For all of us waiting
Your kingdom will come
Kingdom Come
Words of power
Calling to us all
Holding us together while other kingdoms fall
No longer waiting
Our kingdom has come
Kingdom Come
Kingdom comming
Another kingdom falls
The rightful are waiting
But all are not rightful
Wait and receive the weight of the fall
Kingdom Come
song performed by by Manowar from Kings Of Metal
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Kingdom Hall
So glad to see you
So glad youre here
Come here beside me now
We can clear inhibition away
All inhibitions
Throw them away
And when we dance like this
Like weve never been dancin before
Chorus:
Oh, they were swingin
Down at kingdom hall
Oh, bells were ringin
Down at the kingdom hall
A choir was singin
Down at the kingdom hall
Hey, liley, liley, liley
Hey, liley, liley, low
Do do do do do do, do
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do do, do
Do do do do do do
Good body music
Brings you right here
Free flowin motion now
When were shakin it out on the floor
Good rockin music
Down in your shoes
And when we dance like this
Like weve never been dancin before
Repeat chorus
Down at the kingdom hall
They were havin a party
They were havin a ball
Bells were ringing out
And the choir was singin
Hey, liley, liley, liley
Hey, liley, liley, low
Do do, do do, do do, do do
Sugar was there
Did you see sugar
Down at the kingdom hall
Sugar was tough
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In the Garden of Remembrance
A simple curved stone bench
Set in a rustic niche.
Outside, this city bustles,
here, time passes by the inch.
There’s a fine array of roses
and stone tablets on the wall.
The inscription is in Irish,
It tells of a rise and fall.
As I sit, quiet, here
Near the bronze children of Lir
The reflecting pool brims full
of my races’ gathered tears.
poem by John F. McCullagh
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Redeem The Time....
redeem the time...
tear down the lie!
build it back, board by board,
nail by nail, stone by stone,
with honest human hands.
seize the moment...
all that we have,
no tomorrow without today,
no today without
living and giving!
redeem the time...
put a human face on your god...
put a godly heart in your humanity!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The house of love
True love is a mirror
what you see
is what you get
and what you give
is what you'll receive
opposites mirror
one anther
hate mirrors hate
disappointment
disappointment
and true love
love
love honest
love in earnest
earth and sky are one
one then can never be two
two halves make one whole
this journey centers us
like a fruit stone
like a temple
like the Taj Mahal
the love we are shown
is received
as our garden
as our home
as our country
so gracious
is the house of love
poem by Mark Heathcote
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Building A House Of Prayer (1)
We need a house God’s praise to sing
A house in which to pray
A house to glorify our King
And serve in truth each day
Before our house we start to build
We must provide for man
Forms and documents must be filled
Consent and building plan
So much red tape must first be cut
Obstructions here and there
The lion’s mouth we need to shut
And God is everywhere
The world machine has need of oil
This truth we all must learn
Before we put a spade to soil
Money’s a grave concern
Lets give to God a willing heart
Not just with praise and prayer
From earthly wealth lets give a part
And show how much we care
Lets lend the plough a willing hand
Lets make His Son our choice
Through bricks, mortar, timber and sand
Lets raise in joy our voice
For Satan hates a house of prayer
Detests a house of praise
He’ll try to hinder everywhere
And stop each wall we raise
But God gives things that cannot fade
In hands of flesh and bone
When foundations in truth are laid
With Christ as Corner Stone…P.T.O
poem by Michael P. Johnson
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Elliott Hawkins
I looked like Abraham Lincoln.
I was one of you, Spoon River, in all fellowship,
But standing for the rights of property and for order.
A regular church attendant,
Sometimes appearing in your town meetings to warn you
Against the evils of discontent and envy,
And to denounce those who tried to destroy the Union,
And to point to the peril of the Knights of Labor.
My success and my example are inevitable influences
In your young men and in generations to come,
In spite of attacks of newspapers like the Clarion;
A regular visitor at Springfield,
When the Legislature was in session,
To prevent raids upon the railroads,
And the men building up the state.
Trusted by them and by you, Spoon River, equally
In spite of the whispers that I was a lobbyist.
Moving quietly through the world, rich and courted.
Dying at last, of course, but lying here
Under a stone with an open book carved upon it
And the words "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
And now, you world-savers, who reaped nothing in life
And in death have neither stones nor epitaphs,
How do you like your silence from mouths stopped
With the dust of my triumphant career?
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
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Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Well, they'll stone ya when you're trying to be so good,
They'll stone ya just a-like they said they would.
They'll stone ya when you're tryin' to go home.
Then they'll stone ya when you're there all alone.
But i would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned.
Well, they'll stone ya when you're walkin' 'long the street.
They'll stone ya when you're tryin' to keep your seat.
They'll stone ya when you're walkin' on the floor.
They'll stone ya when you're walkin' to the door.
But i would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned.
They'll stone ya when you're at the breakfast table.
They'll stone ya when you are young and able.
They'll stone ya when you're tryin' to make a buck.
They'll stone ya and then they'll say, "good luck."
Tell ya what, i would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned.
Well, they'll stone you and say that it's the end.
Then they'll stone you and then they'll come back again.
They'll stone you when you're riding in your car.
They'll stone you when you're playing your guitar.
Yes, but i would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned.
Well, they'll stone you when you walk all alone.
They'll stone you when you are walking home.
They'll stone you and then say you are brave.
They'll stone you when you are set down in your grave.
But i would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned.
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One Magic Kingdom
Let me tell you something
sounds surreal but completely real
where the spirit, the wonder, and the joy
never vanished though the world is banished
One kingdom inside our world
is full of magic
and all the hope and faith
are considered out of logic
The world never lets its kingdoms
to dream beyond fantasy
for the heavenly dimension
to spark and to dwell on the earth
But the magic kingdom
can never be enslaved by the destiny
as it can cast more than enough spells
to put the world asleep
One magic kingdom,
the kingdom of the children,
rolls our world up and down,
pulling us out of boredom,
convincing us to fight for the freedom
poem by Anggie Servian
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 21)
At Bethphage on Mount of Olives,
Then, Jesus sent two disciples,
Into the village opposite,
To find a tethered ass and colt,
And bring them to Him, for His use.
If anyone should ask them then,
Reply, ‘Master has need for them.
He will return them soon after.’
This happened so that what was told
Through prophet might be fulfilled thus:
‘Say to daughter Zion, behold,
Your king comes meek, upon an ass,
And on a colt, beast of burden.’
His disciples did as He told.
They brought the ass and colt and laid,
Their cloaks upon them and He rode.
The large crowd spread their cloaks en route,
While others strew cut branches green,
En way to town Jerusalem.
They walked ahead of Him saying,
‘The Son of David, Hosanna,
Blessed‘s He who comes in the Lord’s name;
Hosanna in the Highest.’
On entering Jerusalem,
The whole city began to ask,
‘Who is this who shakes the town? ’
The crowds replied, ‘Prophet Jesus,
From Nazareth in Galilee! ’
Jesus went into the temple,
And drove out those who bought and sold;
He overturned their tables, seats,
Of money-changers, dove-sellers.
He said unto them, ’ ’tis written,
My house shall be for just prayer;
You shall not make it den of thieves! ’
He cured the blind and lame who came,
To Him, to the temple area.
On seeing Jesus do wonders,
And hearing children cry aloud,
‘Hosanna, Son of David king! ’
The scribes and chief priests turned angry!
They asked, ‘Do you hear what they say? ’
And Jesus said, ‘Yes, haven’t you read:
‘Out of the mouths of infants, kids,
You have brought forth praise unto God! ’
Then Jesus went to Bethany,
And there, He spent the night that day!
And being hungry, when dawn came,
He saw a fig-tree by the road;
But when He went over to it,
He found just leaves and not a fruit!
The angered Lord, then cursed the tree,
‘May you never fruit forth again! ’
The tree withered immediately.
This astonished His disciples;
They asked him what He had just done?
Then Jesus said, ‘Amen to you,
If you have faith and don’t waver,
You can do things similarly;
And if you tell the mountain, ‘Be
Lifted and thrown into the sea,
It shall be done too, instantly! ’
‘Whatev’r you pray along with faith,
You will receive, ‘the Lord, saith.
When He approached the temple place,
The chief priests, elders asked Him then,
‘By what authority, you do?
And who gave you authority? ’
Then Jesus told them, ‘I’ll ask you
One question and if you answer,
I will tell you what you ask of me.’
‘Tell where was John’s baptism from,
Was it of earth or from heaven? ’
They discussed ’mongst themselves and said,
‘If we reply, from heaven, then
He’ll ask, ‘why don’t you believe him? ’
‘If of human origin, then,
We fear the crowd for they regard
The Baptist John as a prophet! ’
So, they told Jesus, ‘We don’t know! ’
He replied, ‘Neither shall I tell,
Who empowers me to do these things.’
Then Jesus asked their opinion:
A man with two sons, said to first,
‘Go, work in the vineyard today! ’
He said, ‘I can’t, ’ but changed his mind
And went to work as father told.
The man then came to his other
Son, gave a similar order;
He said, ‘Yes, I’ll.’ But never went.
‘Which son obeyed his father’s words? ’
They answered in reply, ‘The first! ’
Then Jesus said, ‘Amen, I say,
Tax-collectors and prostitutes
Are entering Heaven ‘foe you! ’
When John had come and preached to you,
The righteous way, you didn’t believe;
Tax-collectors, prostitutes did.
Yet, even after seeing it,
You did not change for the better.
He told another parable:
A vineyard owner raised a hedge
Around it, dug a wine-press too
And erected a watch-tower;
He leased it to some tenants then
And went off on a journey far.
When vintage time drew near, he sent
His servants to obtain produce;
The tenants seized the servants all:
They beat one man and stoned the next;
They killed one servant from the group;
The owner sent then more servants;
They treated them in similar ways;
He sent his son finally then
Thinking, ‘They will respect my son! ’
On seeing son of landowner,
The tenants told one another
‘This is the heir to the vineyard;
Let’s kill him and acquire the land.’
They killed the boy and threw him out.’
‘How will the owner deal tenants? ’
They answered him, ‘he’ll put to death
The wretched tenants; lease vineyard
To other tenants who will give
Him produce at the proper times.’
Then Jesus asked them, ‘Didn’t you read
What scriptures said long ago then:
‘The stone, the builders rejected,
Became the cornerstone and chief
And this was done by God, most High,
And looks wonderful in our eyes! ’
Therefore, I say to you again,
‘The kingdom shall be tak’n away
from you and giv’n to people who
Produce its fruits as per God’s word.
The one who falls upon this stone
Will be to pieces dashed at once
And it will crush on whom it falls! ’
When Pharisees and chief priests heard,
The parables that spoke of them,
They wanted to arrest Him but
Feared the crowds that followed Him,
Regarding Him, Prophet of God.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 6-7-2007
poem by John Celes
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Homecoming
Grandfather built, with his own hands
The house we children called our home.
A fine expanse of stone and brick,
a castle that was ours alone.
That was before the threatening storm
turned us into refugees
The howling wind, the battering surge
Let loose the Ocean's enmity.
Of our fine home scant trace remains:
Some stone and the foundation walls
Keepsakes and memories long displayed
Sadly we have lost them all.
No loss of life, no death to weep
But still a sense of loss pervades.
The certainty of Youth is gone
And fallen trees can give no shade.
We'll build again with our own hands
The house our children will call home.
I think, perhaps, on higher ground,
Where Ocean waves do seldom roam
There we will make new memories
Those things we lost will matter not.
We have each other, that is enough.
We'll build our heaven on this spot.
poem by John F. McCullagh
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Kinsey Keene
Your attention, Thomas Rhodes, president of the bank;
Coolbaugh Wedon, editor of the Argus;
Rev. Peet, pastor of the leading church;
A.D. Blood, several times Mayor of Spoon River;
And finally all of you, members of the Social Purity Club--
Your attention to Cambronne's dying words,
Standing with heroic remnant
Of Napoleon's guard on Mount Saint Jean
At the battle field of Waterloo,
When Maitland, the Englishman, called to them:
"Surrender, brave Frenchmen!"--
There at close of day with the battle hopelessly lost,
And hordes of men no longer the army
Of the great Napoleon
Streamed from the field like ragged strips
Of thunder clouds in the storm.
Well, that Cambronne said to Maitland
Ere the English fire made smooth the brow of the hill
Against the sinking light of day
Say I to you, and all of you,
And to you, O world.
And I charge you to carve it
Upon my stone.
poem by Edgar Lee Masters
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