Odysseus
Seeking to find his home, Odysseus crosses each water;
Through Charybdis so dread; ay, and through Scylla's wild yells,
Through the alarms of the raging sea, the alarms of the land too,--
E'en to the kingdom of hell leads him his wandering course.
And at length, as he sleeps, to Ithaca's coast fate conducts him;
There he awakes, and, with grief, knows not his fatherland now.
poem by Friedrich Schiller
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Odysseus' Fate
Through horrors of land and horrors of sea
Bereft and wandering, Odysseus,
God-fearing wretch, sought Ithaca;
Unfaltering, he plunged into the gloom of Hades;
The roar of fierce Charybdis and underwater Scylla's groans
Shook not his noble soul.
His patience vanquished cruel fate, it seemed,
And to the dregs he'd drunk the bitter cup.
It seemed the heav'ns were done with testing him
And drove him softly, slumbering,
To homeland's longed-for cliffs.
He waked: what then? He did not know his home.
poem by Konstantin Nikolaevich Batiushkov
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Wanderer's Return
My home is so glad, my heart is so light,
My wandering boy has returned top;night.
He is blighted and bruised, I know, by sin,
But I am so glad to welcome him in.
The child of my tenderest love and care
Has broken away from the tempter's snare;
tonight my heart is o'erflowing with joy,
I have found again my wandering boy.
My heart has been wrung with a thousand fears,
Mine eyes have been drenched with the bitterest tears;
Like shadows that fade are my past alarms,
My boy is enclasped in his mother's arms.
The streets were not safe for my darling child;
Where sin with its evil attractions smiled.
But his wandering feet have ceased to roam,
And tonight my wayward boy is at home.
At home with the mother that loves him best,
With the hearts that have ached with sad unrest,
With the hearts that are thrilling with untold joy
Because we have found our wandering boy.
In that wretched man so haggard and wild
I only behold my returning child,
And the blissful tears from my eyes that start
Are the overflow of a happy heart.
I have trodden the streets in lonely grief,
I have sought in prayer for my sole relief;
But the depths of my heart tonight are stirred,
I know that the mother's prayer has been heard.
If the mother-love be so strong and great
For her child, sin-weary and desolate,
Oh what must the love of the Father be
For souls who have wandered like you and me!
poem by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
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The petitioner's problem is to avoid Scylla without being drawn into Charybdis.
quote by Robert Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Crosses Burning
black-eyed poverty,
angry negativity,
sanity or vanity,
aint nobody free...
still the wheels of life
keep on turning;
in the land of want,
crosses burning.
hate me, hate yourself,
liberty on the shelf,
worthless unless it sells,
drawing water from the well...
still the wheels of life
keep on turning;
in the land of need,
crosses burning.
black and white bleeding red,
cant feed the poor, raise the dead,
drinking water laced with lead,
nooses hung around our heads...
still the wheels of life
keep on turning;
in the land of hurt,
crosses burning.
children sold into slavery,
homeless tents, misery,
wars without victory,
governed by plutocracy...
still the wheels of life
keep on turning;
in the land of sorrow,
crosses burning.
microwave Jesus, tattered flags,
boys come home in body bags,
buildings crumble, bridges sag,
numbered souls without a tag...
still the wheels of life
keep on turning;
in the land of lies,
crosses burning.
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Let Him Run Wild
When I watched you walk with him
Tears filled my eyes
And when I heard you talk with him
I couldnt stand his lies
And now before he tries it
I hope you realize it
Let him run wild
He dont care
Let him run wild
Hell find out
Let him run wild
He dont care
(guess you know I waited for you)
Hell do the same to other girls
That he did to you
But then one day hell run in to one
Thats gonna hurt him too
Before he makes you over
Im gonna take you over
Let him run wild
He dont care
Let him run wild
Hell find out
Let him run wild
He dont care
(guess you know I waited for you girl)
All the dreams you shared with him
You might as well forget
I know you need a truer love
And thats what youll get
And now that you dont need him
Well he can have his freedom
Let him run wild
He dont care
Let him run wild
Hell find out
Let him run wild
He dont care
Let him run wild
Hell find out
Let him run wild
He dont care
Let him run wild
Hell find out
Let him run wild
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Pooped From Their Stupors
Up in arms,
People are...
Pulling alarms.
Hope...
For many is gone!
Protesting in the streets,
People heated wont cease...
And,
This...
Confusion goes on!
Missing greed are people,
Who...
Never thought they'd be the fools.
And,
This...
Confusion goes on!
Dismissing signs all around,
Their gluttony loved will drown.
And,
This...
Confusion goes on!
Hoop and holler groupers,
Who are pooped from their stupors...
But,
This...
Confusion goes on.
Scooped up by the dupers,
And dropped by the snoopers...
But,
This...
Confusion goes on!
Up in arms,
People are...
Pulling alarms.
Hope...
For many is gone!
Hoop and holler groupers,
Who are pooped from their stupors...
But,
This...
Confusion goes on.
Scooped up by the dupers,
And dropped by the snoopers...
But,
This...
Confusion goes on!
Up in arms,
People are...
Pulling alarms.
And...
Scooped up by the dupers,
And dropped by the snoopers.
Up in arms,
People are...
Pulling alarms.
And...
Hoop and holler groupers,
Who are pooped from their stupors.
And...
Up in arms,
People are...
Pulling alarms.
And...
Pooped from their stupors!
And...
Pooped from their stupors!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Breathing-Time
Peace, perfect peace. . . . Come, lay aside your gun.
The danger zone is past; the gauntlet run.
The bark of Scylla ceases on her shore,
And grim Charybdis threatens us no more.
Respite, Nepenthe, leaning-posts and beer!
Football and horses! Breathing time is here!
O witless fools, who, with your cry, 'To Arms!'
Your warnings venomous, and false alarms,
Sought to estrange us from our yellow friends,
Thus all your potter and your bunkum ends!
We are secure once more; we breathe again.
No further need is there for ships or men.
'The Treaty is renewed!' Hip, Hip, Hooray! . . .
Now let us dream the happy hours away.
One pen-stroke! and our liberty appears
Secure again, for ten long, blissful years.
A diplomat or two, a little ink,
Some paper, and, Hi Presto! in a wink,
The Yellow Peril vanishes from sight,
Like vague dream shadows of a restless night.
Let gentleness and peace overspread the land;
And bid our infant warriors disband.
The War-god broods o'er Europe even yet?
What matter? We've a decade to forget
That e'er we dreamed we heard the grim dogs bark.
What child at noon is fearful of the dark?
The forges of the nations still are lit?
Their anvils ring? What do we reek of it?
With ten long years of peace and joy and light,
We laugh at our vague terrors of the night.
Are truces ever broken? Treaties scorned?
Statesmen corrupted? Diplomats suborned?
Perish the thought! What if, in some far day,
Some foreswom nation flung its bond away?
Shall we, for such as that, forego our joy,
And start at shadows, like a frightened boy?
Shall croaking pessimists, with mild alarms,
Force us, all needlessly, to fly to arms?
Down with the dolts who prate of ships and guns!
Stern Mars shall not enslave Australia's sons.
Come, gag the fools who urge us to defend
Our ports against our harmless yellow friend!
Their words are insults; their aggressiveness
May give him pain, and cause us much distress.
Ab, gaze on him! as he steps forth to sign -
Say, is his smile not peaceful and benign?
Ten years to hoard the gold in shop and mart;
Ten peaceful years to play the trader's part;
To tend the sheep; to watch the green corn sprout
To cheer the race; to gaily clap and shout
At sports of children, played by heedless men.
Ten years of sweet Areadia - and then? . . .
Heed not the voice that thunders the alarm:
'Ten years to play the man! Ten years to arm!'
(O God of Battles, who, thus long, hath spared
A heedless nation, grant we be prepared!
Ten pregnant years! Tens canty years of grace,
To make or mar the fortune of a race.
Grim years of strenuous and unceasing toil,
That all may not become a foeman's spoil -
That it may not be told, some fateful day:
'Ten years they had; ten years they fooled away.')
Peace, perfect peace. . . Ho, let the fun begin,
And split the welkin with a joyous din!
Charybdis grim has ceased to roar and rave,
And Scylla sits demurely in her cave.
Ho! clash the cymbals, and begin the race!
And thank the gods we have a breathing-space.
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
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The Iliad Odyssey: The Summary Of A Man
Odysseus indeed in spoils of war
with cunning brave heart, cleverly won,
many a fair desirable noble women
while his wife loyally waited, on Ithaca,
for warrior hero's fleet bloodied blade
in the hand of a Hellene king in duress,
foremost ever in corpse reaping battle
renowned for guile deceit resourcefulness,
will storm many fortified rampart hearts
enchant many fair young, innocent maids,
before finally ends an epic tragic Odyssey
decade upon a decade in event, laden journey,
for renown upon renown in famed Trojan War
an epic travails in trials score upon score
as virile Odysseus tries to spoils laden return fara
reassert his place as rightful king of Ithaca.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth
NOW Glaucus, with a lover's haste, bounds o'er
The swelling waves, and seeks the Latian shore.
Messena, Rhegium, and the barren coast
Of flaming Aetna, to his sight are lost:
At length he gains the Tyrrhene seas, and views
The hills where baneful philters Circe brews;
Monsters, in various forms, around her press;
As thus the God salutes the sorceress.
The O Circe, be indulgent to my grief,
Transformation And give a love-sick deity relief.
of Scylla Too well the mighty pow'r of plants I know,
To those my figure, and new Fate I owe.
Against Messena, on th' Ausonian coast,
I Scylla view'd, and from that hour was lost.
In tend'rest sounds I su'd; but still the fair
Was deaf to vows, and pityless to pray'r.
If numbers can avail, exert their pow'r;
Or energy of plants, if plants have more.
I ask no cure; let but the virgin pine
With dying pangs, or agonies, like mine.
No longer Circe could her flame disguise,
But to the suppliant God marine, replies:
When maids are coy, have manlier aims in view;
Leave those that fly, but those that like, pursue.
If love can be by kind compliance won;
See, at your feet, the daughter of the Sun.
Sooner, said Glaucus, shall the ash remove
From mountains, and the swelling surges love;
Or humble sea-weed to the hills repair;
E'er I think any but my Scylla fair.
Strait Circe reddens with a guilty shame,
And vows revenge for her rejected flame.
Fierce liking oft a spight as fierce creates;
For love refus'd, without aversion, hates.
To hurt her hapless rival she proceeds;
And, by the fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
Some fascinating bev'rage now she brews;
Compos'd of deadly drugs, and baneful juice.
At Rhegium she arrives; the ocean braves,
And treads with unwet feet the boiling waves.
Upon the beach a winding bay there lies,
Shelter'd from seas, and shaded from the skies:
This station Scylla chose: a soft retreat
From chilling winds, and raging Cancer's heat.
The vengeful sorc'ress visits this recess;
Her charm infuses, and infects the place.
Soon as the nymph wades in, her nether parts
Turn into dogs; then at her self she starts.
A ghastly horror in her eyes appears;
But yet she knows not, who it is she fears;
In vain she offers from her self to run,
And drags about her what she strives to shun.
.
The End of the Fourteenth Book.
Translated into English verse under the direction of
Sir Samuel Garth by John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Joseph Addison,
William Congreve and other eminent hands
He Led Them By A Right Way
When Israel was from Egypt freed,
The Lord, who brought them out,
Helped them in every time of need,
But led them round about.
To enter Canaan soon they hoped,
But quickly changed their mind;
When the Red Sea their passage stopped,
And Pharaoh marched behind.
The desert filled them with alarms,
For water and for food;
And Amalek, by force of arms,
To check their progress stood.
They often murmured by the way,
Because they judged by sight;
But were at length constrained to say,
The Lord had led them right.
In the Red Sea that stopped them first,
Their enemies were drowned;
The rocks gave water for their thirst,
And Manna spread the ground.
By fire and cloud their way was shown,
Across the pathless sands;
And Amalek was overthrown,
By Moses' lifted hands.
The way was right their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known;
And show his wisdom, pow'r and love,
Engaged to save his own.
Just so the true believer's path
Through many dangers lies;
Though dark to sense, 'tis right to faith,
And leads us to the skies.
poem by John Newton
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~ ~ Ocean ~ ~
O Divine ocean so vast,
holds many a secret from the past.
Mystery flows within her wake.
Manifest beauty constantly the land rake.
O Body of ocean water,
veins of currents as strong as mortar.
Watery soul, generations does feed,
Many a mouth into her leads.
Accumilating power, encompassing the land,
raging waves war, when she becomes mad.
Magnified authority within her belly holds,
Unravelling awakenings silently unfolds.
O Ocean beauty, why do you roar?
Even when seagulls above you do soar.
O Kingdom of water, your offspring you kindle,
Multitudes of life within you mingle.
Pacified beauty you are,
Reaching out, east to west, so far.
Ever so blue, majestic in reign.
Enthroned ocean, magnified domain,
God did you sincerely, ordain!
poem by Denise Bekker
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Home
Mamas got her apron on
Standing in the kitchen
Cooking up my favorite dish
Whatever she is fixing
Daddys in a picture in a frame
Thats always sitting by the phone
Daffodils are popping up
Out behind the clothesline
Underneath that tree I planted
When I was just a boy of nine
Man I never can believe
Just how much its grown when I go
Home
Back home
To the gentle place that held be close
As I became a man
And the streets are all familiar
And an old friend shakes my hand
And I feel fine
So fine
Yeah, knowing that this road Im wandering on
From time to time
It always leads me home
Brother, hell be waiting with the
Latest from the grapevine, saying
Man you wont believe them stories
About those crazy friends of mine
And all them little scandals
That a small town cant seem to leave alone
Later on well sit around
Bellies tight from supper
Telling all them stories
That we just cant get enough of
And somewhere in an honest laugh
Itll finally hit me that im
Home
Back home
Where the memories all have gathered up
And slowly turned to gold
And I carry them along with me wherever I may go
And I feel fine
So fine
In knowing that this road Im wandering on
From time to time
It always leads me home
Back home
Well I go and put some flowers down at daddys stone
And I see that empty space beside him
It always makes me glad that I came
Home
Back home
Where the Bible is the bible
And the angels get their wings
And the circle is unbroken
When I hear them church bells ring
And I feel fine
You know I feel so fine
Yeah, knowing that this road Im wandering on
From time to time unwinds
Cross the rivers, through the pines
It always leads me home
Back home
Yeah Im going back home
Back home
song performed by by Tim McGraw
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Watch Me
Both now…and then, I set the pace
I’m time itself. I am the truth
My arms reach wide, there’s no escape
I give you age, but rob thy youth
Each moment spent, I waste on those
Who’d squander minutes, rape its hour
I raise the sun, I draw its warmth
I trace its path, then track its power
Just watch me now, I come and go
Alarms ring loud whenever I’m near
My heart runs wild, yet beats for none
Your soul on fire, I sense its fear
How cruel is fate? In time, we’ll know
poem by James Papastamos
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The Night of Death
Twas a night of dreadful horror, --
Death was sweeping through the land;
And the wings of dark destruction
Were outstretched from strand to strand
Strong men's hearts grew faint with terror,
As the tempest and the waves
Wrecked their homes and swept them downward,
Suddenly to yawning graves.
'Mid the wastes of ruined households,
And the tempest's wild alarms,
Stood a terror-stricken mother
With a child within her arms.
Other children huddled 'round her,
Each one nestling in her heart;
Swift in thought and swift in action,
She at least from one must part.
Then she said unto her daughter,
"Strive to save one child from death."
"Which one?" said the anxious daughter,
As she stood with bated breath.
Oh! the anguish of that mother;
What despair was in her eye!
All her little ones were precious;
Which one should she leave to die?
Then outspake the brother Bennie:
"I will take the little one."
"No," exclaimed the anxious mother;
"No, my child, it can't be done."
"See! my boy, the waves are rising,
Save yourself and leave the child!"
"I will trust in Christ," he answered;
Grasped the little one and smiled.
Through the roar of wind and waters
Ever and anon she cried;
But throughout the night of terror
Never Bennie's voice replied.
But above the waves' wild surging
He had found a safe retreat,
As if God had sent an angel,
Just to guide his wandering feet.
When the storm had spent its fury,
And the sea gave up its dead
She was mourning for her loved ones,
Lost amid that night of dread.
While her head was bowed in anguish,
On her ear there fell a voice,
Bringing surcease to her sorrow,
Bidding all her heart rejoice.
"Didn't I tell you true?" said Bennie,
And his eyes were full of light,
"When I told you God would help me
Through the dark and dreadful night?"
And he placed the little darling
Safe within his mother's arms,
Feeling Christ had been his guardian,
'Mid the dangers and alarms.
Oh! for faith so firm and precious,
In the darkest, saddest night,
Till life's gloom-encircled shadows
Fade in everlasting light.
And upon the mount of vision
We our loved and lost shall greet,
With earth's wildest storms behind us,
And its cares beneath our feet.
poem by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
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When He Calls
(paul kennerley)
When darkness fills the valley
Fear and dread strive deep within us
But our burdens soon will be lifted
When these old homes turn to dust
When he calls
Im going to live with jesus
In his kingdom he welcomes everyone
I shall not fear no more earthly peril
For he will carry me home
Now satan will come to tempt me
But Ill try to resist sinful ways
And I pray that Ill find salvation
In that peaceful home far away
When he calls
Im going to live with jesus
In his kingdom he welcomes everyone
I shall not fear no more earthly perils
For he will carry home
When he calls
Im going to live with jesus
In his kingdom he welcomes everyone
I shall not fear no more earthly peril
He will carry me home
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Straight To Hell
If you can play on the fiddle
Hows about a british reel?
Speaking in quotation
As railhead towns feel the steel
Water froze
Clear as winter ice
This is your paradise
There aint no need for you
There aint no need for you
Go straight to hell boys
Straight to hell boys
You wanna join in a chorus
Of the amerasian blues
When its christmas in ho chi minh
Oh poppa san take me home
See me got a photograph of you mamma-san
Oh poppa san take me home
Oh take me home
Straight to hell
Go straight to hell
Go straight to hell boys
Straight to hell
Can you cough it up loud and strong
The immigrants
Wanna sing all night long
It could be anywhere
Could be any hemisphere
And no mans land
And there aint no asylum here
King solomon he never lived round here
Go straight to hell boys
Go straight to hell boys
Straight to hell
Straight to hell boys
song performed by by Heather Nova
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Firma Terror (Unavailable On LP)
Written by: G. G. Beers
Length: 3:05
Lyrics:
Here on terra firma
The violence is spreading
The walls are collapsing
Into your back yards
Here on terra firma
The fires are raging
The riots up staging
To prove a point to none
Here on terra firma
The fear is choking
The life out of each and every one
Here on terra firma
Where TV is King
Where a black man with the same name
Had a televised beating
It's not too late
Yeah it's never too late
To heal these wounds
That are fatal to the end
To understand our sins
To make amends
See 'em down in hell
Must turn back the tide
This hatred must be stopped
Let's throw our arms out wide
And the dead are breaking in
When your world comes to an end
Will you say you did all could
And then just hang your head
Why not believe
In the good of man
Not bricks and burn
Take all that you can
To love your fellow man
With all of your heart
As you would yourself
We must try not to stand above
And hate you go to hell
Put love in your heart
God is not some TV show
Our life is not some part
Try to believe
That only good will come
If you give not to receive
That is kingdom come
Here on terra firma
The violence is spreading
Spread to your back yard
Here in firma terror
Leads to hatred and unrest
Not only can we beat it
No, that would be best
song performed by by INXS
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In These Sessons
in the night where the moon shins my soul sleeps and my heart bets.
in the cold winther nights my soul sleeps and my heart crys out for your wormth.
in the hot summer days my soul awakes and my heart feeds for you heart of shade.
in the cool spring nights my soul sleeps and my heart bags for your soft sweet heart.
in the fall morings where the leaves fall my heart crys bags hurts for your key to your heart.
in these sessons my soul sleeps and awakes my heart bets crys bags and hurts for your heart to lay aganst my heart.
poem by Stephen Vega
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Via Evolution
Cisterns of Assyrian winds
Sub space the endorphins revel
Sorrow like every haunting war
Hidden in wards without limbs
Brain damage, political will
Let the drones fight the next war
Water your exotic imagination
No armies with special missions
Causes skewed, face-lifts gone wild
Run for islands of Ithaca
The monsters trounce the land
Warlocks of industry
Genetically engineered spiders
Webs of crossed species
Let’s live forever they say
You want science fiction your in it
The Frankenstein haven
Some hail the new frontier
The man gods create hell
Science, technology without ethics
Clones with cyber fathers
Who relegates above these gods?
These lost men of via evolution
poem by Joseph Narusiewicz
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