A Choice
THE flood of utter change is loosed. A space
Is ours yet, for its coming to prepare.
Shall we build dams with cautious, clumsy care,
Or stand with idle hands and frightened face,
And so be whirled all broken from our place,
And perish with the dams we builded there?
Or shall we dig a broad, deep channel, where
Most fields may feel the flood's benign embrace?
Thus turned 'twill be a calm majestic flood
Of plenty, peace, and fertilising power,
Whose banks fresh flowers of love and joy shall deck.
Oppose it: at the inevitable hour,
Tumultuous, black with ruin, red with blood,
'Twill come--and you shall have no chance but wreck!
poem by Edith Nesbit
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
A Situation
there is a waterfall on my belly
there is a dam on my pelvic bone
i cannot stop this
i will let go a river
there will be a flood
needing you.
be the parched earth
let your cracks be mouths
i will be the rain, i will be the flood
do not destroy humanity
take all of me, this flood, this rain, this dam is broken
i let go a rampage of emotions
i explode
you be the space
you must take all that i am
all that i will be
tackle me, swallow me
drink me
o thirsty earth, my love,
my life, my outlet, my current.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Blackwater In Flood
The Boggeragh hills white in January snow
In ancient Duhallow where the Blackwater flow
Through that old flat countryside by Derrinagree
On it's way through North Cork on it's way to the sea.
The Blackwater in flood it has a mighty roar
As it rumbles along to the Atlantic shore
It floods across the land like a great inland tide
And in water covers the fields of it's banks either side.
The Blackwater in flood is amazing to see
Awe inspiring that's how it did seem to me
As it rages through Dromtarriffe in flood waters of brown
Through the flat countryside on towards old Mallow Town.
The Blackwater in flood it inspires awe and fear
When it bursts it's banks tis not safe to go near
Swollen by heavy rains and the melting of snow
To human or beast mercy it does not show.
Memories of cold January of frost, snow, Wind and rain
And of the Blackwater in flood with me does remain
It submerges the fields like a great inland tide
As it rages it's way through the old countryside.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Emotions, Flowing Down A River...
Emotions, Flowing Down A River
Now, Who Will Give Her
Desire, To Reach Across The Space
Splash Cold Water In Her Face?
Tragic Tears, Within A Pool
Streaming Hot and Torrent Cruel
Like Acid To The Touch
Hurts Her Hope So Much
Where’s The Rain, Clean and Cold?
Softly Rinse, Seep Into Her Soul
Her Crystal Drops, Dissolved Trust
Flowing Downstream, Far From Us
Emotions, Flowing Down A River
Now, Who Will Deliver
Courage To Reach Across The Space?
She Slaps Away Any Embrace
Can You Go Against Her High Tides?
She Dams Her Own Broken Pride
She Can’t Forget They Took
Her Every Bubbling Brook
She’s Gone Past The River’s Bank
The Strong Currents, Slowly Sank
Drowned The Confused Flood
Drained Her Own Life-Blood …
Emotions, Flowing Down a River
Have Mercy and Forgive her
Who Will Reach Across The Space
And Remember Her Fluid Grace? …
... Flowing, Down A River
poem by MoonBee Canady
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
London West
While the Thames meanders gently through the green pasture
fields of Ingersoll, a pleasing picture to behold, how dif-
ferent, alas, is the feeling in London West, where the
river is an object of dread and terror, neither pleasing to
the eye or nostrils. As we have been living for the last
quarter of a century on the edge of one of the tributary
streams of the Thames and were once o'erwhelmed with
ruin dire by a number of the dams giving way, we can
sympathise with them. They are now built strong and
substantial, and the ponds are an ornament to the town,
as well as a source of wealth. The Caledonian Society,
of Ingersoll, donated $50 to the flood sufferers.
The citizens of London West
Their patience oft is put to test
When they behold the various dams
Do cause the floods and the ice jams.
'Tis true that fiercer rages floods
Since country it was stript of woods,
Acid river it doth broader spread
With numerous tile drains quicker fed.
If they did raise embankment high
They might the raging floods defy.
Shall they with sadness gaze ever,
Or with gladness on the river?
River with dams it will not wed,
It wants no strangers in its bed,
And 'gainst them it will rage and fret
for 'tis no gentle rivulet.
poem by James McIntyre
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
There Are Walls There Are Ceilings
there are wall here and there are ears who listen so well
and eyes who see too clearly
you,
there are ceilings too
there are limits to what you can do
there are floors
between
you
now the cup has overflowed the dams break out
a flood
will cover you, the floor meets the ceiling and you are sandwiched
like a witch,
see..how you crumple?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The London Flood
From the long, continuous rains,
O'erflowing were the swamps and drains,
For each day had its heavy shower,
Torrents fell for many an hour.
At London, where two branches join,
It seem'd two furies did combine
For to spread far both death and woe,
With their wild, raging overflow.
E'en houses did on waters float
As though each had been built for boat,
And where was health, and joy and bloom
Soon naught but inmates for the tomb;
Flood o'erflowed both vale and ridges
And swept railroads, dams and bridges.
A mother climbed in tree to save
Her infant from a watery grave,
But on the house you saw its blood,
Where it was crushed 'gaist tree by flood.
Where cottages 'mong gardens stood
'Tis covered o'er with vile drift wood,
O'er flowers and bushes you may travel
For they are buried under gravel ;
Or, you may walk o'er barren sand,
The crops washed out and fertile land.
Two funerals we at once did see
Of one family, who lost three.
No longer river's deep and wide,
But gently flows to distant tide.
What is called in Canada a 'creek ' is Scotland called
a 'burn.'
'The muse, nae poet ever fand her;
Till by himself he learned to wander
Adown some trotting burn's meander.' -BURNS.
poem by James McIntyre
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sensation
I close my eyes,
You're there,
Open my hands,
Despair,
I move my lips,
A kiss,
I dream, a dream,
Of Bliss,
I feel your presence,
In my blood,
Love rushing thru me,
Like a flood,
My heart no longer,
In it's place,
I feel your touche,
You're warm embrace,
Who are you?
Tell me, I must know,
'I'm just the Wind,
Please let me go'.
poem by Sandra Feldman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When The Heavy Clouds Of Black Come
when those dark heavy clouds
finally come on my roof
i will not think anymore
of any lamentation
i will not think of the threats
that a heavy flood may
come and take away my house
and everything
i will change my point of view
this angle of sight
i will take sides with the way the
trees and the flowers look
at its coming
i will think about the growth of leaves
the spreading of the roots
the blooming of the buds
the fruiting of the flowers
and the ripening
and the lusciousness and
the sweetness of life
beyond the dark, heavy clouds
beyond the rain and the flood
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Stupidity Rules Here
preventable is damage
flood management control
policy guidelines needed?
the real tragedy
the really sad part
is all their homes
are flooded needlessly
if they released
water from lakes
dams properly?
before the levels gets
too high and critical
this would not happen!
days of heavy rain
are forecast early
but nothing is done!
and then suddenly
they release water when
there is absolutely
no choice!
authorities wait too late
water runs course gravity
driven flooding homes?
needlessly
tragedy
stupidity
stupidity rules here
T I I T I I T I I
This Is Indonesia!
my neighbours homes
are flooded again
knee deep in flood water!
still authorities are not learning?
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Am Your Higher Ground
The tears of my heart are falling
And each dropp is a part of me
My heart is thoroughly broken
Oh my Father in heaven can't you see
My heart lays wet on my pillow
I am wounded and broken inside
I try to hang on to what I have
Yet the floodgates are opened wide
The cry of my soul is to heaven
Yet the flood of my heart rises still
Who will heal my heart of this rupture
I have swallowed a most bitter pill
In the midst of this flood that is rising
I am overwhelmed by what I can see
I shut my eyes and cast them to heaven
And the Lord says ' keep your eyes upon me.'
Be still my child and trust in me yet
I have captured each tear in my hand
I see your afflictions and troubled heart
Upon I alone you must stand
For when the enemy comes in like a flood
And there's no hiding place to be found
I am your refuge and strong high tower
I am your higher ground
Come away with me in the midst of this storm
Will you place your heart in my hand
Trust in me oh child of mine
And together, you shall surely stand
poem by Frank McEleny
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Am Singing The Songs Of The Rivers
i am singing the songs of the rivers
and my notes flow like the rage of the the flood of the waters
rushing and rushing
all wanting immediately to be with you
passing through the mouths
between us
you are the sea of deep desires
and i am singing the songs of the rivers
i flood into you and be lost forever
in love i take the inevitable destination
of losing myself and be part of this universal longing
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Tides of Life
As the tides of life ebb and flow, you dear friend, may never know,
What the tides will bring your way, as they change from day to day.
This life and all its uncertainty, can change the path of you and me,
And as we journey upon life’s tide, we need an anchor by our side.
You need an anchor in your heart, for your soul that will not depart,
An anchor for every single tide, that keeps you secure deep inside.
Life’s tides can become high or low, no matter where in life you go,
This life can even bring a drought, filling a heart with fears or doubt.
Even when life brings a high tide, one needs to have an inner guide,
One guide to lead you from above, should the tide become a flood.
Friend, during any flood in your life, you can rely upon Jesus Christ,
Who calmed the wind and the sea, can calm a heart for you and me.
He can save you from all harms, taking you in His everlasting arms,
As God places both you and me, upon Christ, The Rock of Eternity.
The Rock that anyone can know, wherever the tides of life may flow,
As it is The Lord’s amazing Grace, that reaches down to every place.
God will save you from life’s flood, through the power of the blood,
Shed for all nations by Jesus Christ, to purchase for all Eternal Life.
And it is that tide from Calvary, which reaches men like you and me,
So that we can live forevermore, upon Christ’s golden Eternal shore.
(Copyright ©07/2007)
82
there are walls there are ceilings
there are wall here and there are ears who listen so well
and eyes who see too clearly
you,
there are ceilings too
there are limits to what you can do
there are floors
between
you
now the cup has overflowed the dams break out
a flood
will cover you, the floor meets the ceiling and you are sandwiched
like a witch,
see..how you crumple?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Open the King’s Heart
Open the heart, and rain with blood,
Who is your king in flood and in odd culture?
Up with God touches his mind and crown,
Defeat royalty and riches for the achievement.
A craziness builds inside, when blood and ruin
Stagnates the heart with the mind;
Both destroy each other,
Both of them will die.
But the flood and the Ark survive,
Forcing torture and deceit, living as well
When your king roasted, dies of attack from God.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Fires And Floods
Through the fire, even the flood, how can we, for God, not bud?
Bud and with a peace blossom, with the peace from God’s Son.
Through a trial, on the side, are men without the One who died,
Christ, who died upon a cross, to bring God’s Peace to the lost.
But now Christ lives in all of us, those who in Him put their trust,
And fills us with the Peace of God, in trials on this earth we trod.
In trials bringing us to our knees, He fills us with a gentle peace,
A peace that lightens any load, to continue on the present road.
God’s purpose of life’s small fires, has from Him but one desire,
To purge new lives of old dross, through the power of the cross.
Transforming men to be like Him, as He purges us from old sin,
Keeping us in life’s darkest hour, with Christ’s sustaining power.
Through the power of the Blood, we receive Grace in the flood,
Changing those who do believe, and helping others to receive,
The Lord Jesus as their Savior, Who becomes their Sustainer,
Christ who becomes their Light, when the trial is dark as night.
When we endure a trying time, it could be part of God’s design,
To help someone close at hand, in a trial, to better understand,
That Christ, who brings us Hope, helps us in our trials to cope,
In a world that’s lacking peace, with His joy, that will not cease.
Sonnet XCV: The Vase of Life
Around the vase of Life at your slow pace
He has not crept, but turned it with his hands,
And all its sides already understands.
There, girt, one breathes alert for some great race;
Whose road runs far by sands and fruitful space;
Who laughs, yet through the jolly throng has pass'd;
Who weeps, nor stays for weeping; who at last,
A youth, stands somewhere crowned, with silent face.
And he has filled this vase with wine for blood,
With blood for tears, with spice for burning vow,
With watered flowers for buried love most fit;
And would have cast it shattered to the flood,
Yet in Fate's name has kept it whole; which now
Stands empty till his ashes fall in it.
poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Little Difference
there is
a change
a little difference
in the morning
in this town
when the bell
tolls
after the flood
the people
begins
to pray again
a new life
perhaps
or fear
that God may
send
another flood
again
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Black Market
Wasted face that swallowed time
With armageddon crawling
Shes insane, this friend of mine
And shes always bawling
Hear her calling
Hear her calling you
Hear her calling
Hear her calling you
Theres a place within her mind
With graves already falling
Shes insane, this friend of mine
And shes always bawling
Hear her calling
Hear her calling you
Hear her calling
Hear her calling you
Shes preparing for the flood
The deluge and the sliding mud
Shes preparing for the flood
Running on black market blood
Black market blood
Wasted face that swallowed time
With armageddon crawling
Shes insane, this friend of mine
And shes always bawling
Hear her calling
Hear her calling you
Hear her calling
Hear her calling you
Shes preparing for the flood
The deluge and the sliding mud
Shes preparing for the flood
Running on black market blood
Black market blood
Black market blood
Black market blood
Black market
song performed by by Placebo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Nature’s Music
Of many gifts bestowed on earth
To cheer a lonely hour,
Oh is there one of equal worth
With music’s magic power?
’Twill charm each angry thought to rest,
’Twill gloomy care dispel,
And ever we its power can test,—
All nature breathes its spell.
There’s music in the sighing tone
Of the soft, southern breeze
That whispers thro’ the flowers lone,
And bends the stately trees,
And—in the mighty ocean’s chime,
The crested breakers roar,
The wild waves, ceaseless surge sublime,
Breaking upon the shore.
There’s music in the bulbul’s note,
Warbling its vesper lay
In some fair spot, from man remote,
Where wind and flowers play;
But, oh! beyond the sweetest strain
Of bird, or wave, or grove
Is that soother of our hours of pain—
The voice of those we love.
When sorrow weigheth down the heart
The night birds sweetest lay—
The harp’s most wild and thrilling art—
Care cannot chase away;
But let affection’s voice be heard,
New springs of life ’twill ope,—
One word—one little loving word—
Will bring relief and hope.
poem by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Twa Sisters O' Binnorie
There were twa sisters sat in a bow'r;
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
A knight cam' there, a noble wooer,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
And sair envìed her sister fair,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Upon a morning fair and clear,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie !)
She cried upon her sister dear,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
`O sister, sister, tak' my hand,'
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
`And let's go down to the river-strand,'
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
She's ta'en her by the lily hand,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
And down they went to the river-strand
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
The youngest stood upon a stane,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
The eldest cam' and pushed her in,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
'O sister, sister, reach your hand!'
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
'And ye sall be heir o' half my land'--
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
'O sister, reach me but your glove!'
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
'And sweet William sall be your love'--
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
Till she cam' to the mouth o' yon mill-dam,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie
Out then cam' the miller's son
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
And saw the fair maid swimmin' in,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
'O father, father, draw your dam!'
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
'There's either a mermaid or a swan,'
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
The miller quickly drew the dam,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
And there he found a drown'd womàn,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Round about her middle sma'
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
There went a gouden girdle bra'
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
All amang her yellow hair
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
A string o' pearls was twisted rare,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
On her fingers lily-white,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
The jewel-rings were shining bright,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
And by there cam' a harper fine,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
Harpèd to nobles when they dine,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
And when he looked that lady on,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
He sigh'd and made a heavy moan,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
And wi' them strung his harp sae rare,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
He went into her father's hall,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
And played his harp before them all,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
And sune the harp sang loud and clear,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
`Fareweel, my father and mither dear!'
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
And neist when the harp began to sing,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
'Twas 'Fareweel, sweetheart!' said the string,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
And then as plain as plain could be,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
'There sits my sister wha drownèd me!
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.'
poem by Anonymous Americas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!