
Queries
Well, how has it been with you since we met
That last strange time of a hundred times?
When we met to swear that we could forget—
I your caresses, and you my rhymes—
The rhyme of my lays that rang like a bell,
And the rhyme of my heart with yours, as well?
How has it been since we drank that last kiss,
That was bitter with lees of the wasted wine,
When the tattered remains of a threadbare bliss,
And the worn-out shreds of a joy divine,
With a year's best dreams and hopes, were cast
Into the rag-bag of the Past?
Since Time, the rag-buyer, hurried away,
With a chuckle of glee at a bargain made,
Did you discover, like me, one day,
That, hid in the folds of those garments frayed,
Were priceless jewels and diadems—
The soul's best treasures, the heart's best gems?
Have you, too, found that you could not supply
The place of those jewels so rare and chaste?
Do all that you borrow or beg or buy
Prove to be nothing but skilful paste?
Have you found pleasure, as I found art,
Not all-sufficient to fill your heart?
Do you sometimes sigh for the tattered shreds
Of the old delight that we cast away,
And find no worth in the silken threads
Of newer fabrics we wear to-day?
Have you thought the bitter of that last kiss
Better than sweets of a later bliss?
What idle queries!—or yes or no—
Whatever your answer, I understand
That there is no pathway by which we can go
Back to the dead past's wonderland;
And the gems he purchased from me, from you,
There is no rebuying from Time, the Jew
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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Related quotes
Eat My Bliss
Eat my bliss, suck my kiss. Listen to me as i hiss. like a snake i creep up. I'm someone I'm only hoping you miss. Misperception, misdirection. Quite a pale complexion. Just eat my bliss, suck my kiss. Don't get pissed. No reason to be, don't you see. All is dead as the sea. Theirs no love in this barely beating heart. Pleasure is torn apart. Just eat my bliss, suck my kiss. No i will not reminisce. What was broken can not be fixed and i realize this. Being straight forward hurts you and I'm sorry but that's the end of it. I don't believe in second chances or dances. I'm not pretending, or defending. What was is gone. As the sun met the dawn. So just eat my bliss, suck my kiss. Miss priss, so stuck up with your self righteous bullsh*t. Just get over it. An impossibility, please treat it such. Its not asking much. Life is rough. No I'm not mr. tough guy. I'm just trying get by. So just eat my bliss, suck my kiss. Be honest receive hell for it. A rebel without reason. A false god preaching. A perplexing equation is which there no answer. Mysteries deep in the soul i keep. Searching to find what you seek. Until its found leave all my words unbound. Just eat my bliss, suck my kiss. Presumptuous it is. Assuming leaves emotions looming. Anger held right above my head. But its not getting in. Count to ten. Say you win. Put it to its end. Just eat my bliss, suck my mother f*cking kiss. Please just eat my bliss. All i want is happiness.
poem by Ace Of Black Hearts

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Sonnet 81: Oh Kiss, Which Dost
Oh kiss, which dost those ruddy gems impart,
Or gems, or fruits of new-found Paradise,
Breathing all bliss and sweet'ning to the heart,
Teaching dumb lips a nobler exercise;
Oh kiss, which souls, even souls, together ties
By links of Love, and only Nature's art:
How fain would I paint thee to all men's eyes,
Or of thy gifts at least shade out some part;
But she forbids, with blushing words, she says
She builds her fame on higher-seated praise;
But my heart burns, I cannot silent be.
Then since (dear life) you fain would have me peace,
And I, mad with delight, want wit to cease,
Stop you my mouth with still, still kissing me.
poem by Philip Sidney

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Torn And Tattered Heart
my heart is torn and tattered
it seems like nothing else matters
i gave my heart, soul, and mind
and thought it would last for a long time.
you find someone which you grow to love and
it gets deeper and higher than the stars above.
you feel that this love will forever last
but it becomes part of the past.
when you see this person change their points of view
but! not to satisfy you.
just to satisfy their blown egos and their conceit
and your love they could never meet.
and now your heart is a divided road with
nowheres to go.
you pick up the pieces of your torn heart
and look for another place to start.
this torn and tattered heart knows it must
pick itself up again-and start the search all anew
in hopes that it'll find someone better than you.
someone who will appreciate all the love
that you have to give.
for in the long run they will win.
they'll win a heart which has gotten strong
and with you it will belong.
this is my heart which i give to you- which will
no longer be sad or blue.
poem by Louis Rams

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In God's Eyes
'That tattered coat you have worn?
Don't throw it away, ever! Don't think it!
It may become the most valued in all the land! '
Many years ago they had chosen sides.
Those that appeared to have nothing,
Were taunted!
Those who worshipped things...
Of course,
Were not!
They were social darlings.
And accepted brighter than stars!
But the land could not feed,
All of those who kept feeding their greed.
And for generations...
They let the needy bleed!
They laughed at the homeless.
Joked of those who found refuge on the streets.
But the land could not feed,
All of those who kept feeding their greed.
Warnings from those observing,
Were dismissed and at best, ignored!
If fact they were declared to be insane...
And defamed and slandered,
Became for some to do to them as a chore!
And the signs of the times began to creep,
Upon the shores.
And this had never been seen before.
Many became frightened.
Decisions were made to close their doors!
An epidemic soon spread.
And those of suburban dreams...
Found themselves foreclosure whores!
Those with their BA's, MA's and PHd's...
Wide screen TV's and DVD's
Were lining up at pawn shops!
Sneaking to protect pretentions they could not stop!
Those of jewels and gold gems...
Sought to find shelter,
With lost relatives and fake friends!
But wait...
'That tattered coat you have worn?
Don't throw it away, ever! Don't think it!
It may become the most valued in all the land! '
You, the abused...
The downtrodden and counted out!
You, the one ignored and talked about!
You, the slandered and defamed to shame.
You who kept your dignity and identity that remained...
Ultimately wins the prize!
In God's eyes.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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In A Simple Rhyme
Well, back in the past when I was treated so coldly,
My love life was a darn disgrace.
Needed someone to love and hold me.
Thats one of the reasons that I was out of place.
So this is love! well, she finally kissed me.
Had me all worked up inside.
I was in love, but cupid missed me.
She up and left, and I almost died.
But I was young and I was far from lonely.
I been that way for a long, long year.
Needed a girl to call my one and only.
Is that you?
You think you got the intrest.
Cmon and take the time.
cause you know I wanna be
Yours in a simple rhyme.
Well, aint life grand when you finally hit it?
Im always a sucker for a real good time.
Woke up in life to find I almost missed it.
Aint I glad that love is blind?
But I was young and I was far too crazy.
Been that way for a long, long time.
Needed a girl, but I was just too lazy.
Now that Ive found you:
You think you got the intrest.
Cmon and take the time.
Im gonna be
Yours in a simple
Rhyme,
Rhyme.
She made her mountains sing.
Birds against an icy sky.
And I heard bells ringin
I think I heard an angel sigh. and she said:
Therell be times,
There will be times
Youre gonna hear the angels singin
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
You think you got the intrest.
Cmon and take the time.
Im gonna be
Yours in a simple
Rhyme,
Rhyme,
Rhyme.
song performed by by Van Halen

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Banquet Of Love
I once heard these words in a song;
'You must remember this...a kiss is
just a kiss...a sigh is just a sigh, ' etc.
With you...nothing...nothing, could be
further from the truth.
Your kiss, is a ride among the stars,
a shower of moon beams and a
sailboat ride, in the Garden Of Eden.
Kissing you...is an out of body experience,
a transport to paradise and a creation
of ultimate passion and joy.
Kissing, every part of who you are, is
truly a banquet of love.
Let me feast of your love and of your lips,
for I am in love with you. Let me always
kiss your mouth...eyes...all of you.
Let us ride the feathers of angels, through
starlit nights-holding...kissing, for now...
and evermore.
Your kiss...touch...embrace, has captured
my heart...my very soul.
I send you this kiss...for the lips
I can not do without.
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss *..........Kiss*
*Kiss*......Kiss*
*Kiss*.. .*Kiss*
*Kiss*.*Kiss*
*Kiss*......*Kiss*
*Kiss*........*Kiss*
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*...............*Kiss*
.........* Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.. .......*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kis s*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
..... ....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
...........* Kiss*
.....*Kiss*....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*....... .*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.K iss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
..... .....*Kiss
...........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss *....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
..*Kiss* ........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
...........*Kiss *
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kiss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss
To kiss you...love you...has made my
life worthwhile. Has given meaning, to
each day I live.
A day without your kiss, is as a day
without sunshine. Just the thought
of you, gladdens my heart.
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*. .........Kiss*
*Kiss*......Kiss*
*Kiss*...* Kiss*
*Kiss*.*Kiss*
*Kiss*......*Kiss*
* Kiss*........*Kiss*
*Kiss*............*Kiss**Kiss*...............*Kiss*
.........*Ki ss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.... .....*Kiss*
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.........*Kiss*
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.........*Kiss*
....... ..*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
...........*Ki ss*
.....*Kiss*....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........* Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kis s*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
....... ...*Kiss
............*Kiss*
.....*Kiss* ....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
..*Kiss*. .......*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kiss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss
ONE LAST KISS, FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE.
FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
WHY DO I LOVE YOU?
BECAUSE...YOU ARE YOU.
YOU ARE MY WORLD. MY LOVE.
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*.. ........Kiss*
*Kiss*......Kiss*
*Kiss*...*K iss*
*Kiss*.*Kiss*
*Kiss*......*Kiss*
*K iss*........*Kiss*
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*...............*Kiss*
.........*Kis s*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
..... ....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
........ .*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
............*Ki ss*
.....*Kiss*....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........* Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
...........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Ki ss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
...... ....*Kiss
...........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss* ....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
..*Kiss*. .......*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kiss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
...........*Kiss
Kisses For You...
I once heard these words in a song;
'You must remember this...a kiss is
just a kiss...a sigh is just a sigh, ' etc.
With you...nothing...nothing, could be
further from the truth.
Your kiss, is a ride among the stars,
a shower of moon beams and a
sailboat ride, in the Garden Of Eden.
Kissing you...is an out of body experience,
a transport to paradise and a creation
of ultimate passion and joy.
Kissing, every part of who you are, is
truly a banquet of love.
Let me feast of your love and of your lips,
for I am in love with you. Let me always
kiss your mouth...eyes...all of you.
Let us ride the feathers of angels, through
starlit nights-holding...kissing, for now...
and evermore.
Your kiss...touch...embrace, has captured
my heart...my very soul.
I send you this kiss...for the lips
I can not do without.
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss *..........Kiss*
*Kiss*......Kiss*
*Kiss*.. .*Kiss*
*Kiss*.*Kiss*
*Kiss*......*Kiss*
*Kiss*........*Kiss*
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*...............*Kiss*
.........* Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.. .......*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kis s*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
..... ....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
...........* Kiss*
.....*Kiss*....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*....... .*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.K iss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
..... .....*Kiss
...........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss *....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
..*Kiss* ........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
...........*Kiss *
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kiss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss
To kiss you...love you...has made my
life worthwhile. Has given meaning, to
each day I live.
A day without your kiss, is as a day
without sunshine. Just the thought
of you, gladdens my heart.
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*. .........Kiss*
*Kiss*......Kiss*
*Kiss*...* Kiss*
*Kiss*.*Kiss*
*Kiss*......*Kiss*
* Kiss*........*Kiss*
*Kiss*............*Kiss**Kiss*...............*Kiss*
.........*Ki ss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.... .....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
....... ..*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
...........*Ki ss*
.....*Kiss*....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........* Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kis s*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
....... ...*Kiss
............*Kiss*
.....*Kiss* ....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
..*Kiss*. .......*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kiss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss
ONE LAST KISS, FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE.
FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
WHY DO I LOVE YOU?
BECAUSE...YOU ARE YOU.
YOU ARE MY WORLD. MY LOVE.
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*.. ........Kiss*
*Kiss*......Kiss*
*Kiss*...*K iss*
*Kiss*.*Kiss*
*Kiss*......*Kiss*
*K iss*........*Kiss*
*Kiss*............*Kiss*
*Kiss*...............*Kiss*
.........*Kis s*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
..... ....*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
........ .*Kiss*
.........*Kiss*
............*Ki ss*
.....*Kiss*....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........* Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
...........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Ki ss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
...... ....*Kiss
...........*Kiss*
.....*Kiss* ....*Kiss*
..*Kiss*........*Kiss*
..*Kiss*. .......*Kiss*
.....*Kiss*
..........*Kiss*
.*Kiss*.......*Kiss*
.Kiss*.......*Kiss*
..*Kiss*.....*Kiss*
...........*Kiss
A change of wardrobe
A change of wardrobe
~
a time has come to change
throw out the tattered rags
the old worn threads
usher in some new colour
brighter and more cheerful
something fresh to wear
a more comfortable fit
a sharper look to be seen in
a time has come to change
redress the wardrobe
and improve the self
cast away the old suits
which had seen better days
and step out to be seen
a newer you awaits
a change of wardrobe
poem by Matthew Holloway

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Time Long Past
Like the ghost of a dear friend dead
Is Time long past.
A tone which is now forever fled,
A hope which is now forever past,
A love so sweet it could not last,
Was Time long past.
There were sweet dreams in the night
Of Time long past:
And, was it sadness or delight,
Each day a shadow onward cast
Which made us wish it yet might last--
That Time long past.
There is regret, almost remorse,
For Time long past.
'Tis like a child's belovèd corse
A father watches, till at last
Beauty is like remembrance, cast
From Time long past.
poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Time Receding
The least of my thoughts are seldom of you-
only occasionally now
do the images flash-
those vague shreds of the past
which often sideswipe my mind
while I am doing something else.
The least of my heartbeats
are barely audible now,
I am smoothing out that rough road
which once was
our love.
But, I know your least
filled my every need
and only twice do I think of you now
but these two
are day and night.
My heart can't afford now other surcease
in this;
My mind cannot suffice it;
My heart continues to beat
least it stop forever
suspended in bliss,
the bliss that was
the least of which
was more than
I have ever known.
I take these soft laments
with me into the You Time
which I allow my self
only twice each day-
all day
and all night-
because my consolation
there,
even in residual,
is almost enough
so sweet it is
being with you
even in this inward way
testifies to the strength
that was
our love.
If there were more than day
and night
you'd find me there,
you on my mind.
I'll not say farewell to this
I don't have the strength.
I draw my breath,
breathe you in
and Time recedes
reuniting us.
Who could resist this?
Time Here Receding
offers Bliss,
And I am its willing prisoner.
poem by Lonnie Hicks

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Tattered & Torn
Tattered and torn
Tattered and torn
Thats where my soul is worn
Tattered and torn
Thats when I was born
Tattered and torn
I broke away from me
Tattered and torn
I knocked me to my knees
Tattered and torn
I drink my own cells
Tattered and torn
A decomposing well
Tattered and torn
Roaches in my head
Tattered and torn
I become the living dead
Tattered and torn
Tearing myself apart from the
Things that make me hurt
song performed by by Slipknot

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tattered and Torn
Tattered and Torn
That's where my soul is worn
Tattered and Torn
That's when I was born
Tattered and Torn
I broke away from me
Tattered and Torn
I knocked me to my knees
Tattered and Torn
I drink my own cells
Tattered and Torn
A decomposing well
Tattered and Torn
Roaches in my head
Tattered and Torn
I become the living dead
Tattered and Torn
Tearing myself apart from the
things that make me hurt
song performed by by Slipknot from Slipknot

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Times A' Tickin'
Its half past forever...
And i'm wastin' no more time--
I gotta get through...
Your reason and your rhyme;
Gotta make sense--
Of the things that you do--
Gotta find answers...
To the enigma thats you;
Its half past forever--
And i'm wastin' no more time--
I gotta get through...
Your reason and your rhyme;
Gotta try to understand...
Why your heart is so cold--
Gotta find out...
Before i get too old;
Tell ya i been tryin' so hard...
To figure out just what makes you tick...
Gotta find the answer---
Before it makes me sick;
Its half past forever--
And i'm wastin' no more time---
I gotta get through...
Your reason and your rhyme;
Tell ya i've never known--
Such a hate filled guy...!
Gotta find out...
Your reasons-and your why;
'Cause its make or break time...
For me and for you--
Gotta settle this one pronto...
Or we will be through;
Its half past foever--
And i'm wastin' no more time--
I gotta get through...
Your reason and all of your rhyme;
Gotta find out...
Just what makes ya tick...
Gotta find out...
Before it makes me sick;
Song Lyrics
May 30,2010
poem by Theodora Onken

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The Coquette
Alone she sat with her accusing heart,
That, like a restless comrade frightened sleep,
And every thought that found her, left a dart
That hurt her so, she could not even weep.
Her heart that once had been a cup well filled
With love's red wine, save for some drops of gall
She knew was empty; though it had not spilled
Its sweets for one, but wasted them on all.
She stood upon the grave of her dead truth,
And saw her soul's bright armor red with rust,
And knew that all the riches of her youth
Were Dead Sea apples, crumbling into dust.
Love that had turned to bitter, biting scorn,
Hearthstones despoiled, and homes made desolate,
Made her cry out that she was ever born,
To loathe her beauty and to curse her fate
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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Fill The Goblet Again: A Song
Fill the goblet again! for I never before
Felt the glow which now gladdens my heart to its core;
Let us drink!--who would not?--since, through life's varied round,
In the goblet alone no deception is found.
I have tried in its turn all that life can supply;
I have bask'd in the beam of a dark rolling eye;
I have loved!--who has not?--but what heart can declare
That pleasure existed while passion was there?
In the days of my youth, when the heart's in its spring,
And dreams that affection can never take wing,
I had friends!--who has not?--but what tongue will avow,
That friends, rosy wine! are so faithful as thou?
The heart of a mistress some boy may estrange,
Friendship shifts with the sunbeam--thou never canst change;
Thou grow'st old--who does not?--but on earth what appears,
Whose virtues, like thine, still increase with its years?
Yet if blest to the utmost that love can bestow,
Should a rival bow down to our idol below,
We aree jealous!--who is not?--thou hast no such alloy;
For the more that enjoy thee, the more we enjoy.
Then the season of youth and its vanities past,
For refuge we fly to the goblet at last;
There we find--do we not?--in the flow of the soul,
That truth, as of yore, is confined to the bowl.
When the box of Pandora was opened on earth,
And Misery's triumph commenced over Mirth,
Hope was left,--was she not?--but the goblet we kiss,
And care not for Hope, who are certain of bliss.
Long life to the grape! for when summer is flown,
The age of our nectar shall gladden our own:
We must die--who shall not?--May our sins be forgiven,
And Hebe shall never be idle in heaven.
Soul Kiss
Kiss... soul kiss...
If you wanna talk and you wanna laugh a while
Or you just want silence and a smile
If you wanna walk or just float along the nile
If you wanna turn the day into something kind of night
All you have to do is breathe with your lips close to mine
Oh. baby. thats the kinda love weve got
We dont have to look too far to try to find a love that night
Soul kiss where love cant miss
We found a way to hold on to the wonders of a
Soul kiss kind of bliss
That finds its way straight into the one you love
If you wanna cry or just listen to your sighs
Theres no judgement in these eyes
Boy. if you wanna fly or maybe settle in versailles
We could just order pizza an roll around and start a fire
All you have to do is breathe with your lips close to mine
Oh. baby. thats the kinda love weve got
We dont even have to stop to check the clock were so on time
Soul kiss where love cant miss
We found a way to hold on to the wonders of a
Soul kiss kind of bliss
That finds its way straight into the one you love
Baby... soul kiss...
Kiss... soul kiss...
Hey, come on...
Soul kiss where love cant miss
We found a way to hold on to the wonders of a
Soul kiss kind of bliss
That finds its way straight into the one you love
Kiss... kiss me... the soul kiss... straight into the one you love
If you wanna walk.. if you wanna talk... if you wanna fly... if you wanna cry
Kiss... come on... gimme a little soul kiss...
song performed by by Diana Ross, music by Nick Martinelli

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Vanity Fair
In Vanity Fair, as we bow and smile,
As we talk of the opera after the weather,
As we chat of fashion and fad and style,
We know we are playing a part together.
You know that the mirth she wears, she borrows;
She knows you laugh but to hide your sorrows;
We know that under the silks and laces,
And back of beautiful, beaming faces,
Lie secret trouble and grim despair,
In Vanity Fair.
In Vanity Fair, on dress parade,
Our colors look bright and our swords are gleaming;
But many a uniform's worn and frayed,
And most of the weapons, despite their seeming.
Are dull and blunted and badly battered,
And close inspection will show how tattered
And stained are the banners that float above us.
Our comrades hate, while they swear to love us;
And robed like Pleasure walks gaunt-eyed Care,
In Vanity Fair.
In Vanity Fair, as we strive for place,
As we rush and jostle and crowd and hurry,
We know the goal is not worth the race-
We know the prize is not worth the worry;
That all our gain means loss for another;
That in fighting for self we wound each other;
That the crown of success weighs hard and presse
The brow of the victor with thorns-not caresses;
That honors are empty and worthless to wear,
In Vanity Fair.
But in Vanity Fair, as we pass along,
We meet strong hearts that are worth the knowing;
'Mong poor paste jewels that deck the throng,
We see a solitaire sometimes glowing.
We find grand souls under robes of fashion,
'Neath light demeanors hide strength and passion;
And fair fine honor and Godlike resistance.
In halls of pleasure may have existence;
And we find pure altars and shrines of prayer,
In Vanity Fair.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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Resigning
"Poor heart, what bitter words we speak
When God speaks of resigning!"
Children, that lay their pretty garlands by
So piteously, yet with a humble mind;
Sailors, who, when their ship rocks in the wind,
Cast out her freight with half-averted eye,
Riches for life exchanging solemnly,
Lest they should never gain the wished-for shore;--
Thus we, O Father, standing Thee before,
Do lay down at Thy feet without a sigh
Each after each our precious things and rare,
Our dear heart-jewels and our garlands fair.
Perhaps Thou knewest that the flowers would die,
And the long-voyaged boards be found but dust:
So took'st them, while unchanged. To Thee we trust
For incorruptible treasure: Thou art just.
poem by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

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Cornelia’s Jewels
Among the haughtiest of her sex, in noble, quiet pride,
Cornelia stood, with mien that seemed their folly vain to chide:
No jewels sparkled on her brow, so high, so purely fair,
No gems were mingled ’mid her waves of dark and glossy hair;
And yet was she, amidst them all, despite their dazzling mien,
A woman in her gentle grace—in majesty a queen.
While some now showed their flashing gems with vain, exulting air,
And others boasted of their toys, their trinkets rich and rare,
And challenged her to treasures bring that shone with equal light,
Proudly she glanced her dark eye o’er the store of jewels bright.
”Rich as these are,“ she answered then, ”and dazzling as they shine,
They cannot for one hour compete in beauty rare with mine!
“You all seem doubtful, and a smile of scorn your features wear,
Look on my gems, and say if yours are but one half as fair?”
The Roman matron proudly placed her children in their sight
Whose brows already bore the seal of intellectual might;
She pressed them to her, whilst each trait with radiance seemed to shine,
And murmur’d, “Tell me, dare you say, your jewels outshine mine?”
poem by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon

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Times' Closet
Rummaging through Time's Closet
small scenes and quiet joys
looking I
for Meaning's Ploy
which hides in corners
perhaps there is even a secret door in there
where I can or will deploy
some new found secret power
which will make my Time Closet
Grand.
But for now there are only small things
some tattered, semi-hopes
some sweet things
and many many dangling memories
which I take out occasionally;
some to mend and re-make
where reality was too bleak;
I cuddle these
infusing them
with words I never said
or should have
rescue some of them from ignomy
others fondly fondled
as befitting the tiny jewels they are
and then I smile
my slow smile
and for another night
close the door
my closet
treasures
sigh
anticipating
my return
another day.
poem by Lonnie Hicks

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