A Man's Repentance
To-night when I came from the club at eleven,
Under the gaslight I saw a face-
A woman's face! and I swear to heaven
It looked like the ghastly ghost of-Grace!
And Grace? why, Grace was fair; and I tarried,
And loved her a season as we men do.
And then-but pshaw! why, of course, she is married,
Has a husband, and doubtless, a babe or two.
She was perfectly calm on the day we parted;
She spared me a scene, to my great surprise.
She wasn't the kind to be broken-hearted,
I remember she said, with a spark in her eyes.
I was tempted, I know, by her proud defiance,
To make good my promises there and then.
But the world would have called it a mésalliance!
I dreaded the comments and sneers of men.
So I left her to grieve for a faithless lover,
And to hide her heart from the cold world's sight
As women do hide them, the wide earth over;
My God! was it Grace that I saw to-night?
I thought of her married, and often with pity,
A poor man's wife in some dull place.
And now to know she is here in the city,
Under the gaslight, and with that face!
Yet I knew it at once, in spite of the daubing
Of paint and powder, and she knew me;
She drew a quick breath that was almost sobbing,
And shrank in the shade so I should not see.
There was hell in her eyes! She was worn and jaded;
Her soul is at war with the life she has led.
As I looked on that face so strangely faded,
I wonder God did not strike me dead.
While I have been happy and gay and jolly,
Received by the very best people in town,
That girl whom I led in the way to folly,
Has gone on recklessly down and down.
Two o'clock, and no sleep has found me.
That face I saw in the street-lamp's light
Peers everywhere out from the shadows around me-
I know how a murderer feels to-night!
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Our Lady Of Solitude
All summer long she touched me
She gathered in my soul
From many a thorn, from many thickets
Her fingers, like a weavers
Quick and cool
And the light came from her body
And the night went through her grace
All summer long she touched me
And I knew her, I knew her
Face to face
And her dress was blue and silver
And her words were few and small
She is the vessel of the whole wide world
Mistress, oh mistress, of us all
Dearly dead; queen of solitude
I thank you with my heart
For keeping me so close to thee
While so many, oh so many, stood apart
And the light came from her body
And the night went through her grace
All summer long she touched me
I knew her, I knew her
Face to face
song performed by by Leonard Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strangers Eyes
All alone, a rainy night
No one around but I fell someone watching me
I look around, the street is bare nobody there
I wonder what it could be
As I turned to walk away
Suddenly I saw his face
Never minding that we were alone
Didnt care about the time, at the moment I was felling fine
I was looking into strangers eyes
(he caught me by surprise)
They looked right through me
(he looking into my eyes)
Never knew
Never, ever thought that love could be
(thats when he came)
He came and captured me
Like a scene out of a dream, I cant believe it
Kind of strange and familiar
But in his eyes I get a sign, I get a feeling
I get the feeling he knows me
Maybe I could stay a while, maybe I could make you smile
I dont have much to do
Maybe we could walk awhile
Maybe, maybe we could talk awhile
Cant help looking into strangers eyes
I was looking into strangers eyes
(he caught me by surprise)
They looked right through me
(he looked into my eyes)
Never knew
Never, ever thought that love could be
(thats when he came)
He came and captured me
How was I to know this would happen
Thought I didnt know I would meet this stranger
Its the kind of thing that dreams are made of
And I keep thinking about strangers eyes
I was looking into strangers eyes
(he caught me by surprise)
They looked right through me
(he looked into my eyes)
Never knew
Never, ever thought that love could be
(thats when he came to me)
He came and captured me
song performed by by Vanessa Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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State Of Grace
(trey bruce, lisa drew)
Grace worked down at walmart
For thirteen years she punched that clock
Been two weeks without a day off
She never gave it too much thought
til one morning in the mirror
Two new lines opened her eyes
And suddenly it hit her
She still had the wings to fly
Attention late night shoppers
A two for one on broken chains
Chorus:
Thats the state of grace
Its the weak made strong
Its finding what youre missing
Was right there all along
Its an open road to a better place
Its a life worth living
In the state of grace
Grace cleaned out her bank account
Bought a beat up camper truck
Turned her pink slip into personnel
Then tore her time card up
As she drove away she wondered
What new york city would be like
And would the stars really keep you up
On a clear desert night
With a front seat full of road maps
To help her lose her way
Grace knew when she looked up
There wouldnt be a sky
If the dreams wed been given
Werent supposed to fly
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Need For Mercy
It was God’s Grace that I received, on that day when I believed.
Today it’s God’s Mercy that I need, and on this very day indeed.
I need God to intervene for me, so His hand of Grace I may see.
To see His hand in my life today, while working in a special way.
It was Grace that saved me first, when in sin, I was at my worst,
And for Mercy, did not receive, those eternal wages, due to me.
As it was totally of God’s Grace, when His Son died in my place,
When Christ forgave all my sin, and God The Father took me in.
Now He is at God’s Right Hand, where for us He takes a stand,
Where Christ intervenes for me, and all others who truly believe.
And so at times I seek His face, that I may receive God’s Grace,
That I may have Mercy from God, instead of His chastising Rod.
God’s Mercy is abundant friend, with Grace sufficient to the end.
When I face a day filled with strife, I need God’s Grace in my life.
But if Mercy to me does not come, I receive Grace from His Son,
And Christ’s Grace is sufficient to, guide me always fully through.
So today I’ll lean upon The Lord, whose Grace always will endure,
This through any trial in any pain, for my life He will surely sustain.
For it’s only by His Mercy I’ll be, in Heaven with Christ for Eternity.
And very soon by God’s Grace, above I will see my Savior’s face.
(Copyright ©01/2006)
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet God is, and all because of this,
The Gift He sent upon a Cross, God’s Gift to all those lost,
A gift that is deserved by none, the Gift of God’s own Son,
Our Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to give us life.
His Grace reaches far and wide, and no one shall be denied,
Who comes by faith to Him, Christ, who died for all their sin,
And all who seek His face, receive from Him amazing Grace,
Grace that opens up that door, to life with God forevermore.
It is a Grace that’s from above, guiding us here by His love,
A love that sent His only Son, to be the Savior of everyone,
With His love, comes a peace, that from God will not cease,
Peace unlike the world’s friend, inner peace that has no end.
God’s Grace truly changes men, in Christ they’re born again,
Sinful men of this earth, now bound for heaven by new birth,
Fallen men, now changed for life, in a world where sin is rife,
Now living life for the Lord, since His Grace was not ignored.
Grace will soften a hard heart, giving a life a brand new start,
By giving a soul eyes to see, God’s Truth, regarding eternity,
Turning a soul to the place, where they receive saving Grace,
At the Cross of Calvary, where Grace began for you and me.
(Copyright ©09/200)
Eyes Without A Face
I'm all out of hope. One more bad break could bring a fall.
When I'm far from home don't call me on the phone to tell me you're alone
It's easy to deceive. It's easy to tease. But hard to get release.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
I spend so much time believing all the lies to keep the dream alive.
Now it makes me sad. It makes me mad at truth for lovin' what was you.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Your eyes without a face.
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face.
(Les yeux sans visage) Your eyes without a face.
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
Such a human waste your eyes without a face.
And now it's getting worse. Yeah.
song performed by by Scooter from Encore (Live & Direct)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Magical
Today I found Grace,
She looked me right in the face!
Found the courage to stare back,
My heart opened, just a crack,
Life flooded in,
My heart filled with love and Light,
Heaven is on earth tonight!
No time to deny,
Your love is magical,
Lifting me high,
High, beyond the sky,
Can't always see what lies ahead,
Just when I thought I was dead,
Found Grace sitting on my bed,
Waiting, waiting for my heart to mend,
Opening up to love's promise, that,
With time all pain will end!
So when you feel down and lonely,
Remember life is just a journey,
No need to mourn her,
Grace is just around the corner,
And in the end, she's just a friend,
Waiting for our hearts to mend!
21 June 2012
poem by David Andre' Klopper
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Song - Say, Lovely Dream
Say, lovely dream, where couldst thou find
Shadows to counterfeit that face?
Colors of this glorious kind
Come not from any mortal place.
In heaven itself thou sure wert drest
With that angel-like disguise;
Thus deluded am I blest,
And see my joy with closed eyes.
But, ah, this image is too kind
To be other than a dream!
Cruel Sacharissa's mind
Never put on that sweet extreme.
Fair dream, if thou intend'st me grace,
Change that heavenly face of thine;
Paint despised love in thy face,
And make it to appear like mine.
Pale, wan, and meager let it look,
With a pity-moving shape,
Such as wander by the brook
Of Lethe, or from graves escape.
Then to that matchless nymph appear,
In whose shape thou shinest so,
Softly in her sleeping ear,
With humble words express my woe.
Perhaps from greatness, state, and pride,
Thus surprised she may fall:
Sleep does disproportion hide,
And, death resembling, equals all.
poem by Edmund Waller
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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To Cloris
Cloris, I cannot say your eyes
Did my unwary heart surprise;
Nor will I swear it was your face,
Your shape, or any nameless grace:
For you are so entirely fair,
To love a part, injustice were;
No drowning man can know which drop
Of water his last breath did stop;
So when the stars in heaven appear,
And join to make the night look clear;
The light we no one's bounty call,
But the obliging gift of all.
He that does lips or hands adore,
Deserves them only, and no more;
But I love all, and every part,
And nothing less can ease my heart.
Cupid, that lover, weakly strikes,
Who can express what 'tis he likes.
poem by Sir Charles Sedley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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When Suddenly You Came Along (Trijan Refrain)
When suddenly you came along
my whole life had changed,
unexpected my love was strong
life was rearranged
and butterflies dart everywhere
while some bees visit here and there
and butterflies
and butterflies
turn my stomach, I am without care.
When suddenly you came along
I did not know your name,
if to somebody you do belong,
but somehow our love came
your face had grace, your eyes did gleam
and your voice was like a stream
your face had grace,
your face had grace,
and you leapt into each dream.
When suddenly you came along
you were most beautiful
and with you I could not be wrong,
as my whole heart was full
of our great love on each new day
and my heart was happy and gay
of our great love,
of our great love
that not a thing could take away.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Didn't We Meet
Pardon me
But you see I've seen that face before
I know those eyes
Unearthly wise
I feel it more and more
To look at you
Deja Vu
Chills me to the core
They say that you are the king of this whole damn thing
But that only confused me
They say I don't stand a ghost of a chance with my host
And it frankly amused me
So let's drink a few
Here's looking at you
I swear
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere?
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere?
Gradually I could see
Things are getting clear
That ancient face
Satanic grace
This sudden rush of fear
They say that you are the king of this whole damn thing
Now they got me believin'
They said I don't stand a ghost of a chance with my host
So I better be leaving
So let's drink a few
Here's looking at you I swear
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere?
Here I am
The door's been slammed
They're gonna roast my hide
Make me bleed
Til I plead
For you to let me die
They say that you are the king of this whole damn thing
Now they got me believin'
They said I don't stand a ghost of a chance with my host
So I better be leaving
So let's drink a few
Here's looking at you I swear
Didn't we meet in the night in my sleep somewhere
song performed by by Alice Cooper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Face
You take a final look around
And then you put your house-key down
Upon the table by the note
You take your handbag and your coat
You don't want too much to carry
To slow you down on the way
You picture his face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
His face like a stranger
You didn't know what to say
So you are going away
From the face of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
Why should you want to call your friends
Why should you want to start again
You tried explaining through the years
But it would always end in tears
And one thing you know for certain
You've said goodbye to that place
But still
You picture his face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
His face like a stranger
You didn't know what to say
So you are going away
From the face of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
Somewhere a telephone
Is ringing in an empty room
Miles away
You are looking at a new town
But you are thinking of the past
The rain is falling down
Why do you keep that photograph
Of his face like a stranger
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
His face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
His face like a stranger
You didn't know what to say
So you are going away
From the face of a stranger
And not the lover you knew before
His face
In the morning
As he was going to work
Without saying a word
You saw the face
Of a stranger
It wasn't always like this before
song performed by by Anni Frid Lyngstad from Shine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Her Face!
Face! A kind of identity
She has got his quality
To change her face
In the clouds of grace
I want to see her again
In the season cloudy rain
When her face is watered
Nothing could be uttered
Seeing her face I think
I don't want to blink
But it's shameful eyes
Plays off when she shys.
poem by Vizard Dhawan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Dead To The Living
Work while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
IN the childhood of April, while purple woods
With the young year's blood in them smiled,
I passed through the lanes and the wakened fields,
And stood by the grave of the child.
And the pain awoke that is never dead
Though it sometimes sleeps, and again
It set its teeth in this heart of mine,
And fastened its claws in my brain:
For it seemed so hard that the little hands
And the little well-loved head
Should be out of reach of my living lips,
And be side by side with the dead--
Not side by side with us who had loved,
But with these who had never seen
The grace of the smile, the gold of the hair,
And the eyes of my baby-queen.
Yet with trees about where the brown birds build,
And with long green grass above,
She lies in the cold sweet breast of earth
Beyond the reach of our love;
Whatever befalls in the coarse loud world,
We know she will never wake.
When I thought of the sorrow she might have known,
I was almost glad for her sake. . . .
Tears might have tired those kiss-closed eyes,
Grief hardened the mouth I kissed;
I was almost glad that my dear was dead
Because of the pain she had missed.
Oh, if I could but have died a child
With a white child-soul like hers,
As pure as the wind-flowers down in the copse,
Where the soul of the spring's self stirs;
Or if I had only done with it all,
And might lie by her side unmoved!
I envied the very clods of earth
Their place near the child I loved!
And my soul rose up in revolt at life,
As I stood dry-eyed by her grave,
When sudden the grass of the churchyard sod
Rolled back like a green smooth wave;
The brown earth looked like the brown sea rocks,
The tombstones were white like spray,
And white like surf were the curling folds
Of the shrouds where the dead men lay;
For each in his place with his quiet face
I saw the dead lie low,
Who had worked and suffered and found life sad,
So many sad years ago.
Unchanged by time I saw them lie
As when first they were laid to rest,
The tired eyes closed, the sad lips still,
And the work-worn hands on the breast.
There were some who had found the green world so grey,
They had left it before their time,
And some were little ones like my dear,
And some had died in their prime;
And some were old, they had had their fill
Of bitter unfruitful hours,
And knew that none of them, none, had known
A flower of a hope like ours!
Through their shut eyelids the dead looked up,
And without a voice they said:
'We lived without hope, without hope we died,
And hopeless we lie here dead;
And death is better than life that draws
Pain in, as it draws in breath,
If life never dreams of a coming day
When life shall not envy death.
Through the dark of our hours and our times we lived,
Uncheered by a single ray
Of such hope as lightens the lives of you
Who are finding life hard to-day;
With our little lanterns of human love
We lighted our dark warm night--
But you in the chill of the dawn are set
With your face to the eastern light.
Freedom is waiting with hands held out
Till you tear the veil from her face--
And when once men have seen the light of her eyes,
And felt her divine embrace,
The light of the world will be risen indeed,
And will shine in the eyes of men,
And those who come after will find life fair,
And their lives worth living then!
Will you strive to the light in your loud rough world,
That these things may come to pass,
Or lie in the shadow beside the child,
And strive to the sun through the grass?'
'My world while I may,' I cried; 'but you
Whose lives were as dark as your grave?'
'We too are a part of the coming light,'
They called through the smooth green wave.
Their white shrouds gleamed as the flood of green
Rolled over and hid them from me--
Hid all but the little hands and the hair,
And the face that I always see.
poem by Edith Nesbit
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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He Wants To Get Married
(sandy knox, anthony little)
He believes in the family unit
The union of man and wife
He believes that you stand before god
For better, for worse and beyond this life
He believes that a ring on his finger
Is something to be proud of
For all of the world to witness
That he is committed to this love
He wants to get married
Hell build a house in the country
Where hell watch his children grow
And teach them the values of something
That most people never even know
He wants to get married
I never thought I would be so blessed
To know a man like this
Hes everything, everything I believe that a man should be
And when he is called to his maker
He wants to go to his grave
With his final remembrance of this earth
To be one last look at his wifes face
He wants to get married
He wants to get married
Oh, he wants to get married
But not to me
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stories Of Hope Series #2 The Light
He traveled all night anxious to get home
He heard the familiar ring and picked up his phone
With tears in his eyes he covered his face
For it was his wife-Samantha-Samantha grace.
Her doctor had told her that she was dying
And seeing this specialist was worth trying.
So she packed up her bags and was waiting for him
But the doctor had said her prognosis was mighty grim.
When he arrived she was ready, the trip they
Would make would be fast and steady.
She climbed into the cab and they were on their way
She folded her hands and began to pray.
Dear LORD “ this can not be? “
What’s going to happen to my family?
Choked up with emotion he could not control
He asked GOD to save this beautiful soul.
A better wife and mother could not be found
She should not have to be laid in the ground.
As they drove down that dark lonely road
Thru the trees a bright light was shown.
He knew it could not be sunrise
He was shocked and surprised.
He applied his brakes and slowed down to see
But this light was a total mystery.
They stopped the truck and got out of the cab.
He looked at his wife and she had a smile on her face
“ this was his wife- this was his grace”.
There was an aura around her that he
Had never seen before, and would not see ever more.
They both dropped down to their knees
as the light got closer, and in that light they could see
An angel floating ever so gracefully.
The angel floated down and touched the top of her head
And then whispered in her ear:
Do not fret for things will get better yet.
And as quickly as he came he disappeared.
And the light whisked back up into the sky.
I looked at her and she looked fine.
We arrived at the office of the specialist
With the x rays they had given grace.
The doctor looked at them and pointed to a spot
And said the cancer had spread, but he would run
His own tests just to see, if there was something
That could give him some hope.
He took more x rays and did a cat scan
I sat there and held her hand.
We sat there and it seemed like an eternity
When he entered with a smile and said
“You’re cancer free”. I can not explain
For the tests they had taken were the best in the land
This is something I can’t understand.
We left his office with a new outlook on life
With HOPE in our hearts, the LORD
Saved my wife.
HOPE IS THE KEY TO SET OURSELVES FREE
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Bridge To Love
Across the bridge there was a girl
I used to watch each day.
She sat alone and never looked,
never glanced my way.
Her beauty was a rare delight
I did not want to miss.
And so I sat and imagined
that we two could kiss.
But lacking courage to approach
I held back and I viewed
that at the same hour every day
something would change her mood.
A woman came to help her stand
and led her from the bridge.
She seemed unhappy as she left
surrounded by green foliage.
One night I gathered all my thoughts
and knew that I would cross
the bridge to where she sat all day
so I'd not feel the loss,
The loss of so much beauty now
that bravery was with me.
And as I crossed she heard my sound.
She looked but could not see.
I placed my hand upon her cheek,
so soft it was to touch.
I hummed a tune which made her smile
and though it was not much
it warmed our hearts, both hers and mine
and so it was we'd meet
everyday upon the bridge
in manner so discreet.
As I look back upon those days
I remember our first kiss.
She touched my face with both her hands
and then there was sweet bliss.
We married and we found a love
that lasted many years.
I lost her not too long ago
and think back on her tears.
For she was always beautiful,
a beauty with such grace
that all she ever wanted was
to see my loving face.
poem by Edwina Reizer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Return
Who knocks at the door so late, so late—
Who knocks so late at the door?
Is it one who comes as a stranger comes,
Or one who has knocked before?
Is it one who stays with intent to bless,
Or one who stands to implore?
My days have been as the years, she said,
And my heart, my heart is sore;
Love looked in my face for a moment's space
One happy spring of yore—
Looked in my face with a wistful grace:
And left me to grieve evermore!
Through all the days the door stood wide,
For hope had breathed a vow
That love should ne'er be kept outside.
The years were long and hope hath died;
The door at last is barred and fast—
Why comes this knocking now?
Yet woe the waiting heart, she said,
And the heart it waiteth for!
And woe the truth and wasted youth
That nothing shall restore!
The faith that's fled, the hope that's dead,
The dreams that come no more.
Who knocks at the gate—so late, so late?
Thou foolish heart, be still!
What is 't to thee if love or hate
Knocks in the midnight chill?
Art thou, poor heart, compassionate?
Is love so hard to kill?
Ah me! the night is cold, she said;
Would I might all forget;
But memory lives when hope is dead,
And pity heals regret;
As light still lingers overhead
When sun and moon are set.
poem by Florence Earle Coates from Mine and Thine (1904)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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A Jazzy Plumber Nibbled her Pride.
Did He create my heart for you proud to break?
Am I a pygmy for your jokes to crack?
Not your betrayal but your gossips on me hit
and rankled my heart.You can't save your face
and harp on harsh plots hatched with your grace.
Cheated by a plumbing techie, lorn you look.
Seeking words of comfort, around you look,
which you ignored when he shocked you with big break.
You feign worshipping God and say words of grace,
beseeching the heavenly blessings crack.
Slinging mud on me, you left with a false face.
I was mute and your rumours had no hit.
Road to success He makes everyone to hit
and sparks with ideas into which the boys look.
Slanders and insults heaped on me, you now face.
Your promise to marry me, you did break.
You failed to settle abroad in your first crack.
A plumber feigned as a techie had his grace.
The manners of girls are gifts with divine grace.
But on a jazzy false guy, you had hit.
He took you round Singapore just for the crack.
With your jewels gone, to home back you did look.
In the journey of your life, this is a break.
Pushing this jobless man off, wild men you face.
What a fink you're not to speak to my face!
Once your moon-like face seemed me a grace.
Your callous rumours, my name a bit did break
but recoiled in your heinous mind to hit.
My hardwork gave me a smiling look
and I'm not addicted to grief or crack.
The good codes of life, I could calmly crack
to scare and drive out the ghouls out of my face.
You rejected me and stopped others to look
at me, the poor guy awaiting godsend grace.
Does a girl hate a man wantonly to hit
at his sleepless, hopeless heart, easy to break?
Your shameless face my harmless heart did break.
Yet with my grace, I wished your life a hit.
My cool look is on your frail mind which won't crack.
--
.
poem by Rajendran Muthiah
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lines written in the Belief that the Ancient Roman Festival of the Dead was called Ambarvalia
Swings the way still by hollow and hill,
And all the world's a song;
'She's far,' it sings me, 'but fair,' it rings me,
'Quiet,' it laughs, 'and strong!'
Oh! spite of the miles and years between us,
Spite of your chosen part,
I do remember; and I go
With laughter in my heart.
So above the little folk that know not,
Out of the white hill-town,
High up I clamber; and I remember;
And watch the day go down.
Gold is my heart, and the world's golden,
And one peak tipped with light;
And the air lies still about the hill
With the first fear of night;
Till mystery down the soundless valley
Thunders, and dark is here;
And the wind blows, and the light goes,
And the night is full of fear,
And I know, one night, on some far height,
In the tongue I never knew,
I yet shall hear the tidings clear
From them that were friends of you.
They'll call the news from hill to hill,
Dark and uncomforted,
Earth and sky and the winds; and I
Shall know that you are dead.
I shall not hear your trentals,
Nor eat your arval bread;
For the kin of you will surely do
Their duty by the dead.
Their little dull greasy eyes will water;
They'll paw you, and gulp afresh.
They'll sniffle and weep, and their thoughts will creep
Like flies on the cold flesh.
They will put pence on your grey eyes,
Bind up your fallen chin,
And lay you straight, the fools that loved you
Because they were your kin.
They will praise all the bad about you,
And hush the good away,
And wonder how they'll do without you,
And then they'll go away.
But quieter than one sleeping,
And stranger than of old,
You will not stir for weeping,
You will not mind the cold;
But through the night the lips will laugh not,
The hands will be in place,
And at length the hair be lying still
About the quiet face.
With snuffle and sniff and handkerchief,
And dim and decorous mirth,
With ham and sherry, they'll meet to bury
The lordliest lass of earth.
The little dead hearts will tramp ungrieving
Behind lone-riding you,
The heart so high, the heart so living,
Heart that they never knew.
I shall not hear your trentals,
Nor eat your arval bread,
Nor with smug breath tell lies of death
To the unanswering dead.
With snuffle and sniff and handkerchief,
The folk who loved you not
Will bury you, and go wondering
Back home. And you will rot.
But laughing and half-way up to heaven,
With wind and hill and star,
I yet shall keep, before I sleep,
Your Ambarvalia.
poem by Rupert Brooke
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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