Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Haunted

What are these nameless mysteries,
These subtleties of life and death,
That bring before our spirit eyes
The loved and lost; or, like a breath
Of lightest air, will touch the cheek,
And yet a wordless language speak?


In every breeze that blows, to-day,
One voice seems speaking unto me;
And north or south, whichever way
I turn my gaze, one face I see,
And closely, closely at my side
A mystic shadow seems to glide.


A motley crowd we move among,
We surge on with the mighty mass,
And yet no one in all the throng
Looks strangely on us as we pass.
No eye but mine own seems to see
The nameless thing that walks by me.


I cannot touch a proffered hand
But this strange shadow glides between.
Why came he from the spirit land?
What brought him from the world unseen?
Why am I troubled and oppressed
By the vague presence of my guest?


He was my friend! I should rejoice!
I loved him once! Why do I fear?
And yet I shudder as his voice
Speaks in the wind. I feel him near,
This restless spirit of the dead,
And shiver with a nameless dread.


I loved him once; he was my friend;
He held the first place in my heart,
And might have held it to the end.
But our two ways spread wide apart:
I kept the path upon the hill,
And he went down and down, until


He reached the depths of sin and shame,
And died as sots and drunkards die.
I ceased to even speak his name.
God knows I never thought that I,
Who blamed his lack of moral strength,
Might answer for his fall, at length!


O restless dead, lost friend of mine!
I might have saved you, had I tried.
I saw you lift the glass of wine,
And, seeing, had I warned you, cried,
'Touch not, taste not the drink accursed!'
I might have saved you from the thirst


That swallowed up your brain and soul.
But nay! I scorned you when you fell,
And, looking upward to my goal,
Left you to stagger down to hell.
Accusing spirit of the dead,
Your presence fills my heart with dread!

poem by Ella Wheeler WilcoxReport problemRelated quotes
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A Child Speaks...

being lost in childhood
is nothing
but meditation
often in serene atmosphere
i tune my nostrils
to absorb
the lost fragrance of childhood
and the ears
to hear
the lost voices of childhood
and memories...
where i lived with nameless grass
nameless plants...
and their nameless Flowers...
nameless colours...
i played with ants
and nameless insects...
nameless butterflies...
i lived in shrubs
as if in a wild forest
without name
without words
a child speaks...

poem by Denny M.X.Report problemRelated quotes
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Laus Mortis

I bring to thee, for love, white roses, delicate Death!
White lilies of the valley, dropping gently tears,
The white camellia, the seal of perfect years,
The misty white azalea, flickering as a breath.
White flowers I bring, and all the flowers I bring for thee,
Discreet and comforting Death! for those pale hands of thine;
O hands that I have fled, soft hands now laid on mine,
Softer than these white flowers of life, thy hands to me,
Most comfortable Death, mother of many dreams,
And gatherer of many dreams of men,
Dreams that come desolately flying back again,
With soiled and quivering wings, from undiscovered streams.
I have been fearful of thee, mother, all life long,
For I have loved a warm, alluring, treacherous bride,
Life, and she loved thee not; to hold me from thy side,
She closed her arms about my heart, to do thee wrong.
O gay and bitter bride of such divine desires,
Too fiercely passionate Life, that wast so prodigal
Of thine eternal moments, at the end of all
Take my forgiveness: I have passed through all thy fires.
Nothing can hurt me now, and having gained and lost
All things, and having loved, and having done with life,
I come back to thy arms, mother, and now all strife
Ceases; and every homeward-flying dream, wind-tossed,
My soul that looks upon thy face and understands,
My throbbing heart that at thy touch is quieted,
And all that once desired, and all desire now dead,
Are gathered to the peace and twilight of thy hands.

poem by Arthur SymonsReport problemRelated quotes
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Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Beyond

It seemeth such a little way to me
Across to that strange country – the Beyond;
And yet, not strange, for it has grown to be
The home of those whom I am so fond,
They make it seem familiar and most dear,
As journeying friends bring distant regions near.

So close it lies, that when my sight is clear
I think I almost see the gleaming strand.
I know I feel those who have gone from here
Come near enough sometimes, to touch my hand.
I often think, but for our veiled eyes,
We should find heaven right round about us lies.

I cannot make it seem a day to dread,
When from this dear earth I shall journey out
To that still dear country of the dead,
And join the lost ones, so long dreamed about.
I love this world, yet shall I love to go
And meet the friends who wait for me, I know.

I never stand above a bier and see
The seal of death set on some well-loved face
But that I think ‘One more to welcome me,
When I shall cross the intervening space
Between this land and that one “over there”;
One more to make the strange Beyond seem fair.’

And so for me there is no sting to death,
And so the grave has lost its victory.
It is but crossing – with a bated breath,
And white, set face – a little strip of sea,
To find the loved ones waiting on the shore,
More beautiful, more precious than before.

poem by Ella Wheeler WilcoxReport problemRelated quotes
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Romeo and Juliet Nowdays May Keep Alive

Romeo and Juliet
Loved each other much
But for their family's sake,
Decided not to stay in touch.

Unfulfilled love
Day by day grows
Not one life lost in vain
Not one to have grief's big pain.

Quite a while after
Romeo and Juliet did meet again
Some tea with no sugar
Happily shared.

Over a hundred pictures, (familly stuff)
They talked cried and laughed.
It looked like
Were having the most happy time
Of their entire life!

But time's runing fast
Day almost fades
To drive her back home
Her granddaughter came.

With tears in eyes
A kiss on one cheek
Few hugs and good byes
Both try hard not to cry.

Last glance at his sparkling eyes
Gently touches his cheek
Then, mistakenly like,
Runs out with his walking stick.

Not much to pass
From this side ready to depart
With one of her last breath
Asks for the cane.

Her hand clenched on cane
Embraced it and asked
To be kept by her side
In the grave.

Then kisses good bye
All family: one by one
And last, with a smile,
..The Cane.

poem by Elena SanduReport problemRelated quotes
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Life After Death

You spoke many times of life after death
and now you've taken your last breath.
You believed that when you pass away
your spirit exists in a different way.

In a ethereal place that lasts for eternity
with other spirits that used to be.
You travel that space on paths of air
and talk with thoughts that spirits share.

Gentle movements are how you touch
the spirits you once loved so much.
Friends will be met who have passed away
so you can share that eternal day.

Your past life now belongs to history
and you have joined the spiritual mystery.
You said you would try to communicate from there,
but your thoughts can't penetrate this planets air.

All I can do is wish you well and say goodbye,
and perhaps one day we'll again say hi.
Until then you'll be locked in my memory,
along with your life after death theory.

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Died

Not by the death that kills the body. Nay,
By that which even Christ bade us to fear
Hath died my dead.
Ah, me! if on a bier
I could but see him lifeless stretched to-day,
I 'd bathe his face with tears of joy, and lay
My cheek to his in anguish which were near
To ecstasy, if I could hold him dear
In death as life. Mere separations weigh
As dust in balances of love. The death
That kills comes only by dishonor. Vain
To chide me! vain! And weaker to implore,
O thou once loved so well, loved now no more!
There is no resurrection for such slain,
No miracle of God could give thee breath!

poem by Helen Hunt JacksonReport problemRelated quotes
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Rainbow Eyes

Shes been gone since yesterday
Oh I didnt care
Never cared for yesterdays
Fancies in the air
No sighs or mysteries
She lay golden in the sun
No broken harmonies
But Ive lost my way
She had rainbow eyes
Rainbow eyes
Rainbow eyes
Love should be a simple blend
A whispering on the shore
No clever words you cant defend
They lead to never more
No sighs or mysteries
She lay golden in the sun
No broken harmonies
But Ive lost my way
She had rainbow eyes
Rainbow eyes
Rainbow eyes
Summer nights are colder now
Theyve taken down the fair
And all the lights have died somehow
Or were they ever there
No sighs or mysteries
She lay golden in the sun
No broken harmonies
But Ive lost my way
She had rainbow eyes
Uuuuh, uuh

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Green Eyes Blue

Green Eyes Blue

Waking with warmth in my heart and your golden body next to me
A smile on my face morning upon morning
Minds eye scanning memory of every touch, sound, sight of you
The feel of your arms around me, the sweet smell of your breath
And from above…searching me, are your Green Eyes Blue

Eager new flavors, smells and touches brings new joy
Desire for love and hunger for flesh bring these gloves off to touch you
Lips wet and breathes quiver and our legs tangled tight
I want for nothing but your Green Eyes Blue

This woman is awakened by your touch and inspired by your goodness
The fire once thought dead now stoked by your careful hands
Beautiful man of mine holding my heart as we are afloat in this life
I am safe with you beside me as we become lost in each other
My heart is lost in your Green Eyes Blue

poem by Ellie CookReport problemRelated quotes
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The Death Penalty

Bring back the death penalty screamed a lady as the blood ran, dripping from the cold concrete as her sons blood fled from its body. Bring back, bring back the death penalty screamed a mother as her child dies slowly watching the pools of life fade away from his eyes.

Bring back, bring back the death penalty screamed a mother while she watched her child being killed by the hands of another man, bring back the death penalty.

Bring back the death penalty as she screamed holding her dying child while he laid his last words and breath upon her chest. Bring back the death penalty she screamed in mercy so that she will so that she will no longer have to hold any more of her dying sons and lay them in graves before she lays in her own.

Bring back the death penalty she screamed as her sons soul left his body and he became another victim to a violent society. Bring back the death penalty, bring back our sons.

poem by Melvyn MohanReport problemRelated quotes
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The Skeleton Butterfly

A skeleton butterfly, Kisses my cheek,
A kiss so beautiful...so gentle....so sweet,
It floats around the air, where death has been,
Always following me, for death has always been to close to touch,
Its beautiful bones, and wings of Crimson embers, Is left as a reminder that death Lives within us all,
he'll pay you a visit the cost is small,
This beautiful creature of death, left to ponder the living,
Lost in the sarrows of humans Frightened be fear,
It clings to me for life has more meaning when Death visits and leaves,
Lost in the devils eternity,
A butterfly stays with those touched by death, forever there friend,
when the world has left.

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Losing His Touch

Hey there cracked God
(you're) you're looking older
(you're) you're looking older
cry on someone else's shoulder
pink dried up crippled Christ
try to take your own advice

NOW now I'm God
because God never loved me this much
NOW I'll play God
cause your God is just losing his touch

hey there rich God
(you're) you're looking distressed
(you're) you're looking distressed
buy a saint to clean up your mess
Temptation on my side
Devil got me a fat new bribe

NOW now I'm God
because God never loved me this much
NOW I'll play God
cause your God is just losing his touch

I can't breath
Save me
Sew the seed
Praise me

I never had faith in you
I'll never have faith in you
I'll never have faith in you
I'll resurrect myself

Hey there dead god
you're lost and jaded
you're lost and faded
you've become the sheep you hated
you're rotten to the core
Don't believe in you anymore

NOW now I'm God
because God never loved me this much
NOW I'll play God
cause your God is just losing his touch

song performed by by Jack Off Jill from Clear Hearts Grey FlowersReport problemRelated quotes
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Scared to Death

I feel my heart beat as I lie there and breath every breath in.I feel as if im scared to death and nothing there to support me as i fall.I dream dreams that could not have an explination to them.I wake up breathing as hard as before as my feet touch the floor, I am scared to death.I love my life but there comes a time when you just have to admit everything that is wrong.As I breath so calmly and smooth just then i find out the truth.Im scared to death.I walk around with a smile and realize this life has so many 'un-discovered' facts and as we learn the facts i see that the worlds going to waist.Im scared to death.I look around wondering if anyone else knows or feels my pain, only because im scared to death.I wish i could tell someone I wish they would know, so i dont feel as if im in the world alone.Im scared to death.I wonder how i live this life with all the secrets i hold my behind my breath just to realize im scared to death!

poem by Melissa RameyReport problemRelated quotes
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The Lost One

COME to the grave--the silent grave! and dream
Of a light, happy voice--so full of joy,
That those who heard her laugh, would laugh again,
Echoing the mirth of such an innocent spirit;
And pause in their own converse, to look round,
Won by the witchery of that gleesome tone.
Come to the grave--the lone dark grave! and dream
Of eyes whose brilliancy was of the soul,
Eyes which, with one bright flash from their dark lids,
Seemed at a glance to read the thoughts of others;
Or, with a full entire tenderness,
The pure expression of all-perfect love,
(Of woman's love, which is for you alone,
While your's is for yourself)--gave in that look
The promise of a life of meek affection.
Come to the grave--the mouldering grave! and dream
Of a fair form that glided over earth
One of its happiest creatures:--to her cheek

The lightest word might bring the blushing blood
In pure carnation;--down her graceful neck,
The long rich curls of jet hung carelessly,
Untortured by the cunning hand of art:
And on her brow, bright purity and joy,
Twin sisters, sate,--as on a holy throne.
Come yet unto the grave--the still, damp grave!
And dream of a young heart that beat with life,
And all life's best affections; of a heart
Where sorrow never came, nor fear, nor sin--
Nor aught save innocence, and perfect love:
And, having dreamed of such a lovely being--
So gay, so bright, so pure, so fond, so meek--
Having thus conjured up a form of love
In thine own pausing and regretful mind;--
A vision will be present to thy soul,
A faint, but faithful portraiture, of one
Most dearly loved, and now for ever lost!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
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The Sphinx

THIS mystery of golden hair,
Of eyes and lips and bosom fair,
Is not--if one could really see--
Mere flesh and blood, like you and me:
This is a sphinx whose still lips say
This one thing ever, day by day,
To all who cross her in life's ways:
'Which is the way to love?' she says.


For every man who meets her eyes
In their deep depths the question lies;
And vainly would he seek to fly
Or put the wordless challenge by,
Unless within his soul be set
Some true-love vow as amulet:
This clasping, let him flee her spell,
Nor trust its guardian powers too well.


Nothing seems good to think about
But just to find that secret out;
We bring her fruits of earnest hours,
And offer choice of passion-flowers,
Of crowns, of heart's blood, of heart's ache,
Our hopes we spurn, our joys forsake,
While she looks down upon our pain
Without compassion or disdain.


She does not will to question thus--
Fate made her just to torture us;
Nor can she tell you, if she will,
Aught of your guesses, good or ill.
But if you fail to answer well,
Your own foiled heart prepares your hell,
And all your days you walk alone,
And curse the done and the undone.


She does not bid you for her sake
Your soul to wreck, your life to break,
Nor would she choose it for her part.
Only for ever in your heart
The haunting question must abide,
And clamour morn and eventide,
Until no single note your ear
Of all life's harmonies can hear.


Yet to some man it will be given
To find the key that opens heaven;
For him, beloved by all the Fates,
Answer as well as question waits
In those unwakened eyes of hers,
And when their calm that answer stirs,
From her stone sleep the sphinx will wake
Into a woman, for his sake.


What though one's whole life's light grows night
With that unanswered question's blight?
One's one poor chance is richly worth
The richest certainties of earth!
Myself would rather die, I know--
Starved, just because I want her so--
Than feast in highest heaven of bliss
On any other woman's kiss.


Such spells she has, I would not choose
One look or touch of hers to lose,
Though every touch and look have power
To sting me to my dying hour;
Though every breath of hers should bring
Frost on life's bud and blossoming,
What soul could ask a dearer death
Than to be withered by her breath?

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Life After Death

(ian hunter)
Is there life, is there life?
Is there life after death?
Do you believe? oh yeah!
Is there life, is there life?
Is there life after death?
Do you believe? oh yeah!
Do you stop take another roller coaster ride
Do I beg, steal, cheat or lie? oh my is there life after death?
Oh I wish Id never smoked so much
I wish Id never felt the devils touch
All that passes through my eyes so fast. oh my.
Is there life, is there life?
Is there life after death?
Do you believe? oh yeah!
Is there life, is there life?
Is there life after death?
Do you believe? oh yeah!
Its such a sad sad song
Mother nature aint never wrong
She always tells you when youre getting on
Oh my, is there life after death?
I can hardly wait to see my face
Will I still have one in a different place
Oh youll forgive me if I hesitate, but oh my
Is there life, is there life?
Is there life after death? do you believe? oh yeah!
Is there life, is there life?
Is there life after death? do you believe? oh yeah!
Is it any wonder, I feel just a little bit under
I hear choirs filled with fenders say return to sender
Jumping information, Ive got hyperventilation
Will it help me if I walk the streets
I gotta get down search around here dragged by my feet
Oh no I never knew those (? )
Im gonna shake it, shake it, shake it, is there life after death
I cant remember when I felt so sick and rough
And now theyre gonna legalise the stuff
It sure tells you when youve had enough, off the cuff
Is there life, is there life? is there life after death? do you believe? oh yeah!
Is there life, is there life? is there life after death? do you believe,
Ive run out of breath.

song performed by by Ian HunterReport problemRelated quotes
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Life Itself

You are the one
You are my love
You send the rain and bring the sun
You stand alone and speak the truth
You are the breath of life itself, oh yes you are
You are the one
Youre in my dream
I hold you there in high esteem
I need you more each step I take
You are the love in life itself, oh yes you are
You are the one
You are the one that Id die for
And youre all that is real
You are the essence of that which
We taste, touch and feel
You are the one
No matter what
You are the real love that Ive got
You are my friend and when lifes through
You are the light in death itself, oh yes are
You are the one
They call you christ, vsnu, buddha, jehovah,
Our lord
You are, govindam, bismillah, creator of all
You are the one
No matter what
You are the real love that Ive got
You are my friend and when lifes through
You are the light in death itself, oh yes are
You are the one
You are my love
You send the rain and bring the sun
You stand alone and speak the truth
You are the breath of life itself, oh yes you are
You are the breath of life itself, oh yes you are
You are the one

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Bring Me to Life

How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors.
Leading you down into my core
Where I’ve become so numb.
Without a soul
My spirit’s sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home.


Wake me up inside.
I can’t wake up.
Wake me up inside.
Save me.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Wake me up.
Bid my blood to run.
I can’t wake up.
Before I come undone.
Save me.
Save me from the nothing I’ve become.

Now that I know what I’m without
You can’t just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life.

Bring me to life.
I’ve been living a lie
There’s nothing inside.
Bring me to life.

Frozen inside without your touch,
Without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.

All of this sight
I can’t believe I couldn’t see
Kept in the dark
But you were there in front of me

I’ve been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I’ve got to open my eyes to everything.

Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul

Don’t let me die here
There must be something wrong.
Bring me to life.

Bring me to life.
I’ve been living a lie
There’s nothing inside.

Bring me to life


(from Evanescence)

poem by Ric S. BastasaReport problemRelated quotes
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A Question

AND so in the death-darkened chamber they met,
The woman that once he had loved and the one he loved yet—
The wife who had warped his desire and the woman he could not forget.
They stood by the bier where between them he slept,
And the love he had lost in his wife to her swimming eyes leapt;
But the woman his life had belonged to—his paramour—spoke not nor wept.
It was only a story of sated desire—
Of a love merely sensual burnt to an ash by its fire,
And a husband who turned to a more luscious love that was his for the hire.
All had sinned. For the husband had killed by his clutch,
Rough-handed, the fruit of a love that had dropped at his touch.
One woman's great sin was not loving, his wife's was in loving too much.

And so he had died; it was over at last;
And across him the two women looked at each other aghast—
Across his cold corse, and across the cold corse of the loathsome dead Past!
Then the smouldering love of the wife leapt to flame,
And she poured forth her kisses upon him, and called on his name.
But the other said “No, he is nothing to you; soul and body I claim!”
They looked at each other awhile. Said the wife wearily,
“He is mine; for I loved him, and ever shall love him; let be!”
But the other sneered, “No, he is mine, and mine only, because he loved me!”
Then the two laid their hands on the body between;
And fought for it, wife against paramour, fiercely, unseen—
For the body diseased and polluted, as ever his spirit had been.
And this is a question for answer in Hell:
To which of the two did his spirit belong, can you tell?
Think, was it the woman he loved, or the one who had loved him too well?

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Bring On The Change

Here comes the angel of death
You may not remember her yet
Concrete all over her face
Child bride of the human race
Until you see life in the forest
Until you hear youve been abolished
Forget everything that you think youve been promised
Bring on the change
Sunscreen all over your face
Chatswood wasnt built in a day
Mysteries are in this game, I say
Shine on, take me away
Heads in the bank, hearts in the closet
Souls out to lunch, will soon be upon us
We believe everything that we see, lets be honest
And bring on the change
Lift up your eyes, look to the heavens
Could be a sign, or a seven-eleven
Some day well see everything theyve been selling
Bring on the change cmon, cmon
Bring on the change, I say
You gotta bring on the change

song performed by by Midnight OilReport problemRelated quotes
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Honesty Of The Souls

Lost in memory of time
Poor hearts at the corners of life
There they left all alone
No one can feel their pain inside
Lost in memory of time
The life for them used to be always but always lost desires
Once upon the time they had the opportunity to describe
What they want in life
One day everything was just a breath away
So easy that if just they could extend their hands
They would touch their heart desires
But the spirit who's pride is precious then anything else in this life always refused to be a beggar
They stood there all alone
They preferred to be just a memory in sprite of time
Because they've had noble and honest thoughts.

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