The Ghost
Down the street as I was drifting with the city's human tide,
Came a ghost, and for a moment walked in silence by my side --
Now my heart was hard and bitter, and a bitter spirit he,
So I felt no great aversion to his ghostly company.
Said the Shade: `At finer feelings let your lip in scorn be curled,
`Self and Pelf', my friend, has ever been the motto for the world.'
And he said: `If you'd be happy, you must clip your fancy's wings,
Stretch your conscience at the edges to the size of earthly things;
Never fight another's battle, for a friend can never know
When he'll gladly fly for succour to the bosom of the foe.
At the power of truth and friendship let your lip in scorn be curled --
`Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, is the motto of the world.
`Where Society is mighty, always truckle to her rule;
Never send an `i' undotted to the teacher of a school;
Only fight a wrong or falsehood when the crowd is at your back,
And, till Charity repay you, shut the purse, and let her pack;
At the fools who would do other let your lip in scorn be curled,
`Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, that's the motto of the world.
`Ne'er assail the shaky ladders Fame has from her niches hung,
Lest unfriendly heels above you grind your fingers from the rung;
Or the fools who idle under, envious of your fair renown,
Heedless of the pain you suffer, do their worst to shake you down.
At the praise of men, or censure, let your lip in scorn be curled,
`Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, is the motto of the world.
`Flowing founts of inspiration leave their sources parched and dry,
Scalding tears of indignation sear the hearts that beat too high;
Chilly waters thrown upon it drown the fire that's in the bard;
And the banter of the critic hurts his heart till it grows hard.
At the fame your muse may offer let your lip in scorn be curled,
`Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, that's the motto of the world.
`Shun the fields of love, where lightly, to a low and mocking tune,
Strong and useful lives are ruined, and the broken hearts are strewn.
Not a farthing is the value of the honest love you hold;
Call it lust, and make it serve you! Set your heart on nought but gold.
At the bliss of purer passions let your lip in scorn be curled --
`Self and Pelf', my friend, shall ever be the motto of the world.'
Then he ceased and looked intently in my face, and nearer drew;
But a sudden deep repugnance to his presence thrilled me through;
Then I saw his face was cruel, by the look that o'er it stole,
Then I felt his breath was poison, by the shuddering of my soul,
Then I guessed his purpose evil, by his lip in sneering curled,
And I knew he slandered mankind, by my knowledge of the world.
But he vanished as a purer brighter presence gained my side --
`Heed him not! there's truth and friendship
in this wondrous world,' she cried,
And of those who cleave to virtue in their climbing for renown,
Only they who faint or falter from the height are shaken down.
At a cynic's baneful teaching let your lip in scorn be curled!
`Brotherhood and Love and Honour!' is the motto for the world.'
poem by Henry Lawson
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Related quotes
A Proud Lady
Hate in the world's hand
Can carve and set its seal
Like the strong blast of sand
Which cuts into steel.
I have seen how the finger of hate
Can mar and mould
Faces burned passionate
And frozen cold.
Sorrowful faces worn
As stone with rain,
Faces writhing with scorn
And sullen with pain.
But you have a proud face
Which the world cannot harm,
You have turned the pain to a grace
And the scorn to a charm.
You have taken the arrows and slings
Which prick and bruise
And fashioned them into wings
For the heels of your shoes.
From the world's hand which tries
To tear you apart
You have stolen the falcon's eyes
And the lion's heart.
What has it done, this world,
With hard finger-tips,
But sweetly chiseled and curled
Your inscrutable lips?
poem by Elinor Morton Wylie
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Helpless Trust
Curled up on your lap,
you fingers caressing my head,
the comfort of trust,
lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
rocking me to sleep,
the sound of your heart,
lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
the warmth of your care,
putting my mind to rest,
lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
your arms wrapped protectively around me,
a fierce love, burns in my heart,
lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
memories of childhood,
flood back,
lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
the beating of your heart,
the warmth of your body,
lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
like a helpless child,
fiercely protected,
love lulling me to sleep.
Curled up on your lap,
I fall asleep,
like I have done in years past,
your love and care comforting me,
the special bond
shared by a father and a daughter.
burning like fire in my soul.
poem by Shanise Gelaude
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My Motto For Life
My Motto,
if you can all it that
is very simple.
Help, Caring, Love and Comfort.
Help
where, whenever and whomever
whether they be a stranger or friend.
Caring,
opening your arms to greet someone
treating them as a brother, sister and friend.
Love
everyone whomever they may, be
friend, foe and family.
Comfort,
comforting all ailing souls,
young and old alike
that you may come across.
It is a small motto
of which I live my life by.
Something I have done
since I was very young.
My motto for life.
4 January 2008
poem by David Harris
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Riches
Friend, you have wealth and power,
Men go and come at your call,
Yours are the whims of the hour—
What have you done with it all?
I am only a poet
Fighting a bitter fight,
Fate will not even grant me
Leisure in which to write.
You said as your thin lips curled:
“Money is better than bays.”
Battered and bruised by the world!
I still have my golden days.
You have lost the power to enjoy,
You tire of each plaything new,
Mine is the heart of a boy;
Friend, I am richer than you!
poem by George Essex Evans
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The Best Thing in the World
What's the best thing in the world?
June-rose, by May-dew impearled;
Sweet south-wind, that means no rain;
Truth, not cruel to a friend;
Pleasure, not in haste to end;
Beauty, not self-decked and curled
Till its pride is over-plain;
Love, when, so, you're loved again.
What's the best thing in the world?
--Something out of it, I think.
poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1855)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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A Friend Is Most Important!
Confidence, courage and guidance friend gives to one;
To a friend only one can confide anything in the world;
Such a friend only can be with one till the end of life!
If there is no friend who can be a friend to one here?
Father or mother can be a friend to a friendless person;
Otherwise Nature is the best friend for one in the world.
Without them only conscience can be a friend to one;
Knowledge from books is a best friend to one anywhere!
If anything is of no use then only God is the sure friend!
Shakespeare, Dickens, Homer and Vyasa have said all
About friends, their activities in life for heroes in stories!
Love and friendship are most important in life for anyone.
Knowledge and ideas of great books and friends are ever
Indeed of great help in life and hope, virtue and power!
poem by Ramesh T A
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My Unique Friend Thats How We Roll :)
My friend is unique
My friend is one of a kind
My friend is perfect
My friend is someone hard to find
My friend is sweet
My friend is kind
My friend will always be there
My friend could just blow your mind
My friend has such a striking heart
My friend is so trustworthy
My friend he is oh so smart
My friend eased my pain
My friend dried my tears away
My friend that never faces fears
My friend has such an exquisite smile
My friend has the world’s purest heart by a mile
my dear friend thats how we roll
My friend that is best of the best in the entire world
My friend the one I will never forget of all the friends I’ve ever met…
you know who you are told you one day you will be a star as thats what you are :)
poem by Nicky Joyce
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To A Friend..
A friend that is unique
A friend that is one of a kind
A friend that is perfect
A type of friend who is hard to find
A friend that is sweet
A friend that is perpetually fair
A friend that you know
Will always be there
A friend with an amazing spirit
A friend with a striking heart
A friend that is trustworthy
A friend that is smart
A friend that assuages your pain
A friend that can dry your tears
A friend with unrestricted love
A friend that can alleviate your fears
A friend with an exquisite smile
That could never be ignored
A friend that’s never been hurtful
A friend that is easily adored
A friend that is respectful
A friend who is loved by all
A friend that is relied upon
A friend to never let fall
A friend you can talk to
Her compassion is known by a glistening glow
Just by sparking her remarkable light
The whole world will know
What a great and amazing person she is
A friend I shall never forget
She is the greatest ever been known
Best of all the friends I’ve ever met…
poem by Marria Attar
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To you, my dear friend,
Friendship begins, and goes on forever,
Friend indeed don't put friend in mouth,
Just put in heart even five years no see,
Friend don't ask bagatelles,
Just wish everything goes well,
Friend don't disturb you,
Just give you the strength to go on,
Friend don't want got sth. from you,
Just love,
Friend always share the beauty of life,
Even more the hard time,
Friend goes together when the sun is shining,
Even more the raining day,
Friend pledge someday sth.,
Even more the actions,
Friend remember happy times past,
Even more now,
Friendship ends, and we pass away.
A friend indeed!
I have a friend, a friend in word & a friend indeed.
A friend who loves me with all friends being & I love friend too.
My friend rejuvenates me
A friend of my youth,
A friend indeed!
I have a friend in word, my friend reminds me of my purpose in life
I can exhale with my friend by my side
My friend is good to me
A friend indeed!
When my friend is gone, I miss my friend already
But my friend has gone home because I am home for now
But the truth is our home is in our friendship.
I have a friend, a friend indeed!
My friend in word is my friend indeed and my friend in need.
Friendship is all we need & we have.
I have a friend a friend indeed!
poem by Nandi Mhlongo
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Emily Poem
This poem is dedicated to my best friend in the whole world, Emily Avra
A friend is like a flower
A rose to be exact
Or maybe like a brand-new gate
That never comes unlatched
A friend is like an owl
Both beautiful and wise
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost
Whose spirit never dies
A friend is like a heart
That goes strong until the end
Where would I be in this world
Without my best friend
poem by Nick Failla
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A Thought For 9/11 (poem)
What was accomplished with the destruction on that fatal day?
These acts of terrorism from those who claim - to God they pray
No different are we - who choose to retaliate with hate
For to add to the killing, the only thing gained is the mortality rate
To fight evil with evil - the only victor is the devil
Do not! - make us stoop to his level
The lack the courage, to speak from our hearts what we truly feel
Showing love and compassion - is the only way a nation can heel
I believe the Lord said - “love thy neighbor“- not - do as
Thy neighbor
To receive respect we must earn it - by the ways of our behavior
Courage is not to show the world the creature we truly are not
It is to be the true American that lives within us - which so
Many have forgot
(I relied on the motto of a childhood hero of mine before writing this poem)
Davy Crockett‘s motto, “When you know your right, go ahead”
poem by Dave Tanguay
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Friend
When I am alone,
I am uncomfortable.
My happiness as well as
My sorrow is happily shared.
I call him friend.
One who pin point my mistake
When I am alone.
One who differentiate effectively
Between good and bad.
He is my true friend.
Far from buttering
Near to heart.
smile, need and understanding is only motto.
This is known as friend ship trust.
poem by Ajay Srivastava
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Motto And Morris
Motto and Morris,
With love in the air to catch your view!
And like the apples of love in the garden of peace,
But try to move up straight with your positive mind always.
Motto and Morris,
Come and share your love with me tonight;
For the colours of the rainbow are now seen up high,
And like leaders with workers inthe land of plenty.
See! !
I have heard the news;
Listen!
I have seen your lovely flower;
And like your motto and the muse of Morris,
But, love is in the air and you have to be very wise to come closer to it!
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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A nightingale
A broken heart in the sky
Filling the atmosphere with his cry
Though his cry is a song to us
Creating in us a great fuss
Such a painful cry of a heart
Tears our hearts into part
Nobody knows why he's crying
By constant singing his throat is drying
It seems that he will kill himself
And leave us with this great pelf
The pelf of sorrow which will inspire
His offsprings to kindle a fire
The fire of love in their hearts
Which are broken into parts
Suddenty he fell into a dale
And this was the end of a nightingale.
poem by Mohammad Akmal Nazir
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The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.
A Passage
THE world was made when a man was born;
He must taste for himself the forbidden springs,
He can never take warning from old-fashioned things;
He must fight as a boy, he must drink as a youth,
He must kiss, he must love, he must swear to the truth
Of the friend of his soul, he must laugh to scorn
The hint of deceit in a woman's eyes
That are clear as the wells of Paradise.
And so he goes on, till the world grows old,
Till his tongue has grown cautious, his heart, has grown cold,
Till the smile leaves his mouth, and the ring leaves his laugh,
And he shirks the bright headache you ask him to quaff;
He grows formal with men, and with women polite,
And distrustful of both when they're out of his sight;
Then he eats for his palate, and drinks for his head,
And loves for his pleasure,—and 'tis time he was dead!
poem by John Boyle O'Reilly
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Settle The Question Right
However the battle is ended,
Though proudly the victor comes,
With flaunting flags and neighing nags
And echoing roll of drums;
Still truth proclaims this motto
In letters of living light,
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
Though the heel of the strong oppressor
May grind the weak in the dust,
And the voices of fame with one acclaim
May call him great and just;
Let those who applaud take warning
And keep this motto in sight,
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
Let those who have failed take courage,
Though the enemy seem to have won;
If he be in the wrong, though his ranks are strong,
The battle is not yet done.
For sure as the morning follows
The darkest hour of night,
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
O men, bowed down with labour,
O women, young yet old,
O heart, oppressed in the toiler’s breast
And crushed by the power of gold,
Keep on with your weary battle
Against triumphant might;
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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An Inspiration
However the battle is ended,
Though proudly the victor comes
With fluttering flags and prancing nags
And echoing roll of drums.
Still truth proclaims this motto,
In letters of living light, -
No Question is ever settled,
Until it is settled right.
Though the heel of the strong oppressor
May grind the weak to dust,
And the voices of fame with one acclaim
May call him great and just,
Let those who applaud take warning,
And keep this motto in sight, -
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
Let those who have failed take courage;
Tho' the enemy seems to have won,
Tho' his ranks are strong, if he be in the wrong
The battle is not yet done;
For, as sure as the morning follows
The darkest hour of the night,
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
O man bowed down with labor!
O woman, young, yet old!
O heart oppressed in the toiler's breast
And crushed by the power of gold!
Keep on with your weary battle
Against triumphant might;
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Erase 'em All
Building the walls around it
Created self with nothing much
Without a cost to find it
Feeling avoid and losing touch
The borrowed taste his novelty
Could be a product of another's humility
Don't worry your loss wil be his gain
He wouldn't hesitate to turn his back on you
And it might be true
Erase 'em all - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall befoer you know the motto
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know you gotta
Erase 'em all
The warning's out it's gonna come to an end and I
Hate to see him label me as a friend tonight
Never question my intentions without the right
Showing me another way to turn his back on you
And it might be you
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know the motto
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know you gotta
Erase 'em all, Erase 'em all, Erase 'am all,
Erase 'em all
Erase 'em all, Erase 'em all, Erase 'am all,
Erase 'em all
You wanna stay you'd better run
When I catch up you better have a gun
I'm so wound up from playin' dumb
This time it's real and real isn't fun
You never saw this side before
Don't test the water for what's in store
I drew the line and I learned a rule
What's good for me isn't good for you
Erase 'em all
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know the motto
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know you gotta
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know the motto
Erase 'em All - Don't worry boy
You gotta rise to fall before you know you gotta
Erase 'em all
song performed by by 1208
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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