The Unpardonable Sin
I do not cry, beloved, neither curse.
Silence and strength, these two at least are good.
He gave me sun and start and aught He could,
But not a woman's love; for that is hers.
He sealed her heart from sage and questioner --
Yea, with seven seals, as he has sealed the grave.
And if she give it to a drunken slave,
The Day of Judgment shall not challenge her.
Only this much: if one, deserving well,
Touching your thin young hands and making suit,
Feel not himself a crawling thing, a brute,
Buried and bricked in a forgotten hell;
Prophet and poet be he over sod,
Prince among angels in the highest place,
God help me, I will smite him on the face,
Before the glory of the face of God.
poem by Gilbert Keith Chesterton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Unpardonable Sin
I do not cry, beloved, neither curse.
Silence and strength, these two at least are good.
He gave me sun and stars and ought He could,
But not a woman's love; for that is hers.
He sealed her heart from sage and questioner-
Yea, with seven seals, as he has sealed the grave.
And if she give it to a drunken slave,
The Day of Judgment shall not challenge her.
Only this much: if one, deserving well,
Touching your thin young hands and making suit,
Feel not himself a crawling thing, a brute,
Buried and bricked in a forgotten hell;
Prophet and poet be he over sod,
Prince among angels in the highest place,
God help me, I will smite him on the face,
Before the glory of the face of God.
poem by G.K. Chesterton from The Wild Knight and Other Poems (1900)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Miracle
Deeper than deeper was my love for you
Sweeter than sweeter joy
Hoping that every day
You can go your way
I cannot hold you down
Turning the situation round a little more
Making it look like things
Are just fine
You can go your way
Shudder to think these words were mine
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Dreamily passing by
Words sort of come and go
Wasting the time of day
I dont know
Dont you smile that way?
Smiling is all Ive got left for you
You can go your way
You can go your way
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, one way love would be a miracle
song performed by by Olive
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Who May Open Sealed Books?
Who can know
understand
the vast weight
of history
prophecy
stretching back
into remote
epochs of time?
Who can know
understand
interpret
implications
sealed into
God’s holy
word sealed
unto end time?
None can
understand
what is sealed
until God
gives authority
enlightenment
at God’s
appointed time.
No man no
prophet
has authority
until God
gives prophet
authority
enlightenment
at appointed time.
No man no
Angel of God
has authority
to open any
sealed books
to know any
decisions of God
until appointed.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Strength of a Woman
The strength of a woman is her kindhearted ways
that she forever displays.
It's her loving confident smile that takes you to the
highest place with the glimpse of determination
shone upon her face.
The strength of a woman is the amazing ability to
withstand pain bring a life in this world even if the
man does not want to entertain.
It's the ability to raise her child on her own when
the man left her all alone to support them until they
are grown.
The strength of a woman is the intrinsic style
to protect like a child without being hostile.
It's the humble heart she shows
that warms a soul when your spirits feeling low.
The strength of a woman knows how to restrain her
tongue when insults are being flung.
It's the lovely expression she conveys with the eyes
and respect for herself she does not denys.
The strength of a woman is the devoted traits
she has standing by her man side when problems
arise.
It's her inspirational words she gives her mate
making him feel oh so great.
The strength of a woman is her gentle touch
you love so much.
It's her loyal love to one guy she continues to create
without being irate.
The strength of a woman is her intellectual mind,
oh so chic with the words she speaks.
It's the versatile
qualities she uses without spirit of guile.
The strength of a woman is learning how to love
when she has been hurt over again without
committing a sin.
The strength of a woman is not her traditional love
she has to live on, it's her unconditional spiritual love
that has not yet gone.
(c) By: Naomi Johnson
poem by Naomi Johnson
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Signed, Sealed & Delivered
Like a fool I went and stayed too long
Now I'm wondering if your love's still strong
Oo, baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!
Then that time I went and said goodbye
Now I'm back and not ashamed to cry
Oo, baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!
CHORUS
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
I've done a lot of foolish things
That I really didn't mean, didn't I?
Seen a lot of things in this old world
When I touch them, they mean nothing, girl
Oo, baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!
Oowee baby, you set my soul on fire
That's why I know you're my heart's only desire (to CHORUS)
--
Submitted by
Evyn Charles
ESCAPE ARTISTS MUSIC
song performed by by Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Glory Now Descending
I have seen the heavens descending
And the beauty of Christ arise
For there is no comprehending
As His glory fills the skies
Are the eyes of your heart full of wonder?
Has perfect love cast out all fear?
Can you hear the heavenly thunder?
As our Lord and God draws near
Lift up your eyes and see the King
As the angels blow their horn
Let every man and woman sing
For the day that He was born
For on that day when He came to earth
The angels did rejoice
And all who bowed now gladly serve
And make a joyful noise
For if glory filled the earth and sky
On the day that He was born
And all hell shook when He was crucified
And the veil was surely torn
Then what glory now descending
As He comes back for His own?
And every heart depending
For the trumpet it has blown
Close your eyes and open your heart
And the King of glory will come in
It was His plan right from the start
To conquer hell and death and sin
O the glory of the risen King
Who is coming for His own
And every child of God will sing
Around God's holy throne
Come Lord Jesus take your place
Rule and reign forevermore
We'll eternally gaze into your face
As we all worship and adore
poem by Frank McEleny
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Slip Of The Tongue
(CoverdaleVandenberg)
Sometime after midnight
The heat begins to rise,
Girl, you'd shame the Devil
With that look that's in your eyes
I know what's on your mind
An' I can't run away,
If I don't give you what you want
There's going to be some hell to pay
Creeping up behind me
Knocking at my door,
I'll never be too blind to see
Just what you're looking for
You roll me over, make me moan,
Oh, such a velvet touch
You'd melt a heart of stone
Anytime, anyplace,
I'm just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love an' keep you young
All it takes an' no mistakes
Is just a slip of the tongue
Just a slip of the tongue
An' if I want a little love
I gotta take a lot of pain,
Make me think a thousand times
Before I kiss again
I'm waiting on you every day an' every night
If I don't try to satisfy
There's gonna be a fist fight
Anytime, anyplace,
I'm just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love an' keep you young
All it takes an' no mistakes
Is just a slip of the tongue
Just a slip of the tongue
The sun is slowly rising
An' I'm sinking to my knees,
I'm dying just to close my eyes
I'm begging, darlin', please
I hear you calling
An' I'm crawling 'cross the floor
I give you everything I've got
An' still you ask for more
Anytime, anyplace,
I'm just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love an' keep you young
All it takes an' no mistakes
Is just a slip of the tongue
A slip of the tongue,
Just a slip of the tongue,
Slip
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Forgive me Oh, almighty
My heart is filled with grief and pain
Tears rush in eyes for something to explain
The voice is choked as eyes refuse to believe
I just stay in silence for pain to relieve
I feel part of some heavenly body
This place has not been put by anybody
It is heavenly and appeals all to become noble
Serve the poor, pray the almighty and never crumble
Here is place where life was sacrificed
For sacred principles and upholding values as promised
Holiest of holy land from where prophet preached
Spread the message with utmost faith and searched
With first sight it generates divine feeling
Person may offer everything as willing
From a distance I have developed an emotional link
Something runs in veins when I pray and think
It is my first routine in the morning
Pray with joint hands and ask for condoning
For all mistakes and evil work done in day time
With open heart and clear mind to forgive as no crime
I am unable to hold more when face is covered with tears
It speaks of something which is difficult to bear
How could people be that disrespectful to the holy soul?
When disciples voluntarily gave up life for noble call
I could realize now why are we called mean animals?
Why we end up in tragedies with quick dismissals?
Why we face all consequences of bad nature
Yet don’t forget to inflict injury for others
I only know about the great sacrifice
The holy stand taken and laying down of life for promises
It makes me to cry and wish in all my humbleness
Oh God, grant me such strength and shine on face
It gives me enough of feeling from inner space to do worthwhile
To extend sincere wishes to all Muslim brethrens to think for while
The ideals and principles for which the traditional values are held
Be united in resolve and strength else the fate is going to be sealed
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Rainmaker
When I was wandering in the desert
And was searching for the truth
I heard a choir of angels calling out my name
I had the feeling that my life would never be the same again
I turned my face towards the barren sun
And I know of the pain that you feel the same as me
And I dream of the rain as it falls upon the leaves
And the cracks in our lives like the cracks upon the ground
They are sealed and are now washed away
You tell me we can start the rain
You tell me that we all can change
You tell me we can find something to wash the tears away
You tell me we can start the rain
You tell me that we all can change
You tell me we can find something to wash the tears.....
And I know of the pain that you feel the same as me
And I dream of the rain as it falls upon the leaves
And the cracks in the ground like the cracks are in our lives
They are sealed and now far away
You tell me we can start the rain
You tell me that we all can change
You tell me we can find something to wash the tears away
You tell me we can start the rain
You tell me that we all can change
You tell me we can find something to wash the tears.....
And I know of the pain that you feel the same as me
And I dream of the rain as it falls upon the leaves
And the cracks in the ground like the cracks are in our lives
They are sealed and now far away
song performed by by Iron Maiden
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Why She Never Did
The tears flow from her eyes as a question look arises upon her face
For she knows that I don't care at all
But why should I care why should I have to care
About someone that for the past few years has tried
To ruin my family and has done a fine job of it
I and my mom have become bad again
And I and my slept dad have grown so far apart
That I don't even know where to start
To be able to be as close to him as I once was
My family has fallen apart in so little time
That it will never be the same
I hate her
And will continue to hate her
Until I die
And I will have nothing to do with her grave
What so ever
The evil that she put in my life will never be forgotten
But the happiness that will soon follow will be cherished
How is a kid supposed to feel?
About some person that has made them has so much pain
In there life that it has changed them for the worse
In my eyes she died on the same day as her husband
Because from that day forward
The devil had captured her soul
And throw it away
So what is a kid supposed to think when someone
So mean and vises dies
Because apparently what I think and what I feel
Is wrong
You tell me
You tell me
Why in hell I should feel sad
That someone from hell
That had no feeling what so ever for anyone else
But her self
Why should I think her death was a bad thing?
When really it was a good thing
Why should I acted for them
When she can't see me anymore
And she never gave a rat's ass about any of us kids
So why should I act like I cared
That she died
Why should I
When she never did
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Soldiers Family Heritage
Every family member had served this nation
He looked forward to it with anticipation
Every member had left their mark
And on this road he would embark.
Members had served since the civil war
It was a desire, not a chore.
With pride and determination he knew
What he had to do.
He had to defend the red, white, and blue.
He decided to try for the navy seals
It was a desire which he did feel.
He had to be the best that he could be
For the honor of his family.
The training for the seals is really hell
After the first week he could tell.
Most of the members of his platoon
Decided to give up much to soon.
This was the biggest challenge that he would face
And his name he would not disgrace.
He thought of his family and what they went through
And he knew what he had to do.
He called and asked his family to come down
And seeing them, new strength he found.
His father held the civil war flag
And for that he was glad.
It had been passed down from generation to generation
And this sight was his salvation.
A new inspiration arose in his chest
And he would give his very best.
The family gave him the strength he would need
For in him they had planted the seed.
he would awake with his mind crystal clear
And achieving his goal he had no fear.
Now he was a navy seal, so much pride he did feel
He had achieved not one goal but two
And of this his family knew.
There is now another generation on its way
And to the lord he does pray
Let this continue down the line
For when it becomes my sons time.
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
Woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is, think about it.
Woman is the nigger of the world,
Think about it, do something about it.
We make her paint her face and dance,
If she wont be a slave and say that she dont love us.
If shes real, we say shes tryin to be a man,
While puttin her down we pretend that shes above us.
Woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is,
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with.
Woman is the slave of the slaves,
Oh yeah, better scream about it, yeah!
We make her bear and raise our children,
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother hen.
We tell her home is the only place she should be,
Then we complain that shes too unworldly to be our friend.
Oh, woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is,
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with.
Oh, woman is the slave to the slave,
Yeah, all right.
Hit it!
We insult her evry day on tv,
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence.
When shes young, we kill her will to be free,
While tellin her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb.
Oh well, woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is,
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with.
Woman is the slave to the slaves,
Yes, she is,
If you believe, wed better scream about it!
Uh, uh, uh, hey, hey.
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance.
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
Woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is, think about it.
Woman is the nigger of the world,
Think about it, do something about it.
We make her paint her face and dance,
If she wont be a slave and say that she dont love us.
If shes real, we say shes tryin to be a man,
While puttin her down we pretend that shes above us.
Woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is,
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with.
Woman is the slave of the slaves,
Oh yeah, better scream about it, yeah!
We make her bear and raise our children,
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother hen.
We tell her home is the only place she should be,
Then we complain that shes too unworldly to be our friend.
Oh, woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is,
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with.
Oh, woman is the slave to the slave,
Yeah, all right.
Hit it!
We insult her evry day on tv,
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence.
When shes young, we kill her will to be free,
While tellin her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb.
Oh well, woman is the nigger of the world,
Yes, she is,
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with.
Woman is the slave to the slaves,
Yes, she is,
If you believe, wed better scream about it!
Uh, uh, uh, hey, hey.
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance,
We make her paint her face and dance.
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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King Without A Crown
Welcome to the great republic
Guess I should show you round
Where once I was a king
And now I am a clown
The love that we once shared
Made a king of me
But now youre gone... but now youre gone
All I face is poverty
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Oh Im a king without a crown
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Oh Im a king without a crown
Hell hath no fury
Like a woman scorned
But heaven dont boast - no heaven dont boast
The jewel - the pretty jewel I just pawned
Every cloud has a silver lining
Every dog has its day
Oh but I guess the sun stopped shining
On the day you went away
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Oh Im a king without a crown
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Oh Im a king without a crown
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Yes Im a king - king! king without a crown
Bathed in former glory
Deposed from my throne
How do I get to tell my story?
When all gets your answerphone...
But you aint home
With the love you gave
I felt like royalty
But now youre face to face - face to face
With one ex-member of the aristocracy
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Oh Im a king without a crown
...king without a heart
...king without a hope
...king without a woman baby
Oh Im a king without a crown
Theres no need to feel down
Yeah just take a look around
Youll see a man whos just a man
Nothing more
A king without a crown
song performed by by Abc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Slip Of The Tounge
(coverdale/vandenberg)
Sometime after midnight
The heat begins to rise,
Girl, youd shame the devil
With that look thats in your eyes
I know whats on your mind
An I cant run away,
If I dont give you what you want
Theres going to be some hell to pay
Creeping up behind me
Knocking at my door,
Ill never be too blind to see
Just what youre looking for
You roll me over, make me moan,
Oh, such a velvet touch
Youd melt a heart of stone
Anytime, anyplace,
Im just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love an keep you young
All it takes an no mistakes
Is just a slip of the tongue
Just a slip of the tongue
An if I want a little love
I gotta take a lot of pain,
Make me think a thousand times
Before I kiss again
Im waiting on you every day an every night
If I dont try to satisfy
Theres gonna be a fist fight
Anytime, anyplace,
Im just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love an keep you young
All it takes an no mistakes
Is just a slip of the tongue
Just a slip of the tongue
The sun is slowly rising
An Im sinking to my knees,
Im dying just to close my eyes
Im begging, darlin, please
I hear you calling
An Im crawling cross the floor
I give you everything Ive got
An still you ask for more
Anytime, anyplace,
Im just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love an keep you young
All it takes an no mistakes
Is just a slip of the tongue
A slip of the tongue,
Just a slip of the tongue,
Slip of the tongue,
Just a slip of the tongue,
Slip of the tongue,
A slip of the tongue...
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Jami Nduwimana Petty [With You Only I Have Had Perfect Communications]
How now can I forget so soon
How when we first met
Just two years ago
In the nook and thorns
Of my beloved Africa
And you, far away in America
I was bathing in hell and fire
And the other angels watching
And singing hymns of praises
To the almighty in highest
Praise be to religion
Mohammed and Jesus Christ.
Who invent hell, fire and heaven,
But of cause the camel
Can never pass through the
Needles eyes at the gate
And so certain was my fate
And they all knew how bland a sinner I was
That they needed no Minos
To show me my place in hell.
Purgatory will be too mild for me.
Dante, Beatrice, Homer and Milton
Who has grown a new set of eyes
And can now see as clearly
As a fish under water,
They all passed me by
And wouldn't even say hi,
For I had been a great
Disgrace to the race
Of poets that has ever graced
The face of this searth.
And Nietzsche too, I met in inferno
Shouting in my brains 'God is dead'
But of cause Nietzsche is dead
And Age will certainly die
But before then, let us not confound
Ourselves with such ideas
As foolish as religion.
Those that brought it up
Had only wished to confuse us.
But I must say this here and now
About Hell, well, Heaven,
I don't understand.
But you must say this to my mother
Who was made by my father
Tell them their children are dieing
In thousands;
Tell the we are burning
In Hell and fire
Will they condemn us to another?
And please say this to Jami too
I love you like no other,
For I was dead and gone in oblivion
And just when I thought all hope lost,
You came and dragged me through
The gates of Hell, to life
You gave me a song
A new song,
Though I can no longer sing now,
But you did not only give me a song
You also gave me a love, your love
You gave me kisses, and your lovely kids
I'll never forget that
My dear Jami
I want you to know one thing;
This poem this poem is not finished.
poem by Efe Benjamin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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With Tears They Buried You Today
With tears they buried you to-day,
But well I knew no turf could hold
Your gladness long beneath the mould,
Or cramp your laughter in the clay;
I smiled while others wept for you
Because I knew.
And now you sit with me to-night
Here in our old, accustomed place;
Tender and mirthful is your face,
Your eyes with starry joy are bright
Oh, you are merry as a song
For love is strong!
They think of you as lying there
Down in the churchyard grim and old;
They think of you as mute and cold,
A wan, white thing that once was fair,
With dim, sealed eyes that never may
Look on the day.
But love cannot be coffined so
In clod and darkness; it must rise
And seek its own in radiant guise,
With immortality aglow,
Making of death's triumphant sting
A little thing.
Ay, we shall laugh at those who deem
Our hearts are sundered! Listen, sweet,
The tripping of the wind's swift feet
Along the by-ways of our dream,
And hark the whisper of the rose
Wilding that blows.
Oh, still you love those simple things,
And still you love them more with me;
The grave has won no victory;
It could not clasp your shining wings,
It could not keep you from my side,
Dear and my bride!
poem by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Closer You Get
Street lights start to come on
I know that its time
Stop what youre doing
Meet those drinking friends of mine
First lady call me on the telephone
She said get out and die young but Im staying at home
Now I believe in love, I believe that its true
Know Im defenceless when I look into blue
Sleepy eyes down an angels face
Dont worry honey no-ones gonna take your place
The closer you get, the better you look
Throw me a line
cos the closer you get, the more that I see
Well sure have a good time
I know what youre thinking, well how do I feel?
Well theres no rules in my book
Except the closer you get, the better you look
Keep one foot in the showroom, one out of sight
Girl Ive had some close ones but Im doing all right
Gold on her fingers dont mean a thing
Hell do his best to hear that sweet lady sing
Now I got the time if you got the place
Weve got the know how and you got the face
We got the power, we got no shame
Come over baby, I sure do wanna light your flame
cos the closer you get, the better you look
Throw me a line
The closer you get, the more that I see
Well sure have a good time
I know what youre thinking, well how do I feel?
Well theres no rules in my book
Except the closer you get, the better you look
song performed by by Chris Rea
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
Woman is the nigger of the world
Yes she is...think about it
Woman is the nigger of the world
Think about it...do something about it
We make her paint her face and dance
If she wont be a slave, we say that she dont love us
If shes real, we say shes trying to be a man
While putting her down, we pretend that shes above us
Woman is the nigger of the world...yes she is
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with
Woman is the slave of the slaves
Ah, yeah...better scream about it
We make her bear and raise our children
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother hen
We tell her home is the only place she should be
Then we complain that shes too unworldly to be our friend
Woman is the nigger of the world...yes she is
If you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with
Woman is the slave to the slaves
Yeah...alright...hit it!
We insult her every day on tv
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence
When shes young we kill her will to be free
While telling her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb
Woman is the nigger of the world
Yes she is...if you dont believe me, take a look at the one youre with
Woman is the slave to the slaves
Yes she is...if you believe me, you better scream about it
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
song performed by by Lennon John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Perinde AC Cadaver
In a vision Liberty stood
By the childless charm-stricken bed
Where, barren of glory and good,
Knowing nought if she would not or would,
England slept with her dead.
Her face that the foam had whitened,
Her hands that were strong to strive,
Her eyes whence battle had lightened,
Over all was a drawn shroud tightened
To bind her asleep and alive.
She turned and laughed in her dream
With grey lips arid and cold;
She saw not the face as a beam
Burn on her, but only a gleam
Through her sleep as of new-stamped gold.
But the goddess, with terrible tears
In the light of her down-drawn eyes,
Spake fire in the dull sealed ears;
"Thou, sick with slumbers and fears,
Wilt thou sleep now indeed or arise?
"With dreams and with words and with light
Memories and empty desires
Thou hast wrapped thyself round all night;
Thou hast shut up thine heart from the right,
And warmed thee at burnt-out fires.
"Yet once if I smote at thy gate,
Thy sons would sleep not, but heard;
O thou that wast found so great,
Art thou smitten with folly or fate
That thy sons have forgotten my word?
O Cromwell's mother, O breast
That suckled Milton! thy name
That was beautiful then, that was blest,
Is it wholly discrowned and deprest,
Trodden under by sloth into shame?
"Why wilt thou hate me and die?
For none can hate me and live.
What ill have I done to thee? why
Wilt thou turn from me fighting, and fly,
Who would follow thy feet and forgive?
"Thou hast seen me stricken, and said,
What is it to me? I am strong:
Thou hast seen me bowed down on my dead
And laughed and lifted thine head,
And washed thine hands of my wrong.
"Thou hast put out the soul of thy sight;
Thou hast sought to my foemen as friend,
To my traitors that kiss me and smite,
To the kingdoms and empires of night
That begin with the darkness, and end.
"Turn thee, awaken, arise,
With the light that is risen on the lands,
With the change of the fresh-coloured skies;
Set thine eyes on mine eyes,
Lay thy hands in my hands."
She moved and mourned as she heard,
Sighed and shifted her place,
As the wells of her slumber were stirred
By the music and wind of the word,
Then turned and covered her face.
"Ah," she said in her sleep,
"Is my work not done with and done?
Is there corn for my sickle to reap?
And strange is the pathway, and steep,
And sharp overhead is the sun.
"I have done thee service enough,
Loved thee enough in my day;
Now nor hatred nor love
Nor hardly remembrance thereof
Lives in me to lighten my way.
"And is it not well with us here?
Is change as good as is rest?
What hope should move me, or fear,
That eye should open or ear,
Who have long since won what is best?
"Where among us are such things
As turn men's hearts into hell?
Have we not queens without stings,
Scotched princes, and fangless kings?
Yea," she said, "we are well.
"We have filed the teeth of the snake
Monarchy, how should it bite?
Should the slippery slow thing wake,
It will not sting for my sake;
Yea," she said, "I do right."
So spake she, drunken with dreams,
Mad; but again in her ears
A voice as of storm-swelled streams
Spake; "No brave shame then redeems
Thy lusts of sloth and thy fears?
"Thy poor lie slain of thine hands,
Their starved limbs rot in thy sight;
As a shadow the ghost of thee stands
Among men living and lands,
And stirs not leftward or right.
"Freeman he is not, but slave,
Who stands not out on my side;
His own hand hollows his grave,
Nor strength is in me to save
Where strength is none to abide.
"Time shall tread on his name
That was written for honour of old,
Who hath taken in change for fame
Dust, and silver, and shame,
Ashes, and iron, and gold."
poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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