Howard Nemerov

I Only Am Escaped Alone to Tell Thee

I tell you that I see her still
At the dark entrance of the hall.
One gas lamp burning near her shoulder
Shone also from her other side
Where hung the long inaccurate glass
Whose pictures were as troubled water.
An immense shadow had its hand
Between us on the floor, and seemed
To hump the knuckles nervously,
A giant crab readying to walk,
Or a blanket moving in its sleep.

You will remember, with a smile
Instructed by movies to reminisce,
How strict her corsets must have been,
How the huge arrangements of her hair
Would certainly betray the least
Impassionate displacement there.
It was no rig for dallying,
And maybe only marriage could
Derange that queenly scaffolding -
As when a great ship, coming home,
Coasts in the harbor, dropping sail
And loosing all the tackle that had laced
Her in the long lanes...
I know
We need not draw this figure out
But all that whalebone came for whales
And all the whales lived in the sea,
In calm beneath the troubled glass,
Until the needle drew their blood.
I see her standing in the hall,
Where the mirror's lashed to blood and foam,
And the black flukes of agony
Beat at the air till the light blows out.

poem by Howard NemerovReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you' re weary feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I'll dry them all all
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
And friends just can t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you re down and out
When you re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you ooh
I'll take your part oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

song performed by by Hear'Say from PopstarsReport problemRelated quotes
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Whales Weep Not!

They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains
the hottest blood of all, and the wildest, the most urgent.

All the whales in the wider deeps, hot are they, as they urge
on and on, and dive beneath the icebergs.
The right whales, the sperm-whales, the hammer-heads, the killers
there they blow, there they blow, hot wild white breath out of the sea!

And they rock, and they rock, through the sensual ageless ages
on the depths of the seven seas,
and through the salt they reel with drunk delight
and in the tropics tremble they with love
and roll with massive, strong desire, like gods.
Then the great bull lies up against his bride
in the blue deep of the sea

as mountain pressing on mountain, in the zest of life:
and out of the inward roaring of the inner red ocean of whale blood
the long tip reaches strong, intense, like the maelstrom-tip, and comes to rest
in the clasp and the soft, wild clutch of a she-whale's fathomless body.

And over the bridge of the whale's strong phallus, linking the wonder of whales
the burning archangels under the sea keep passing, back and forth,
keep passing archangels of bliss
from him to her, from her to him, great Cherubim
that wait on whales in mid-ocean, suspended in the waves of the sea
great heaven of whales in the waters, old hierarchies.
And enormous mother whales lie dreaming suckling their whale-tender young
and dreaming with strange whale eyes wide open in the waters of the beginning and the end.

And bull-whales gather their women and whale-calves in a ring
when danger threatens, on the surface of the ceaseless flood
and range themselves like great fierce Seraphim facing the threat
encircling their huddled monsters of love.
and all this happiness in the sea, in the salt
where God is also love, but without words:
and Aphrodite is the wife of whales
most happy, happy she!

and Venus among the fishes skips and is a she-dolphin
she is the gay, delighted porpoise sporting with love and the sea
she is the female tunny-fish, round and happy among the males
and dense with happy blood, dark rainbow bliss in the sea.

poem by David Herbert LawrenceReport problemRelated quotes
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Ovid

Troubled
I am troubled
by words
troubled
I never sleep

Learning the local language
I morph into Ovid
and compose an epic poem
no one will ever read
leaving glass sentences
with too much nakedness
scattered all over the floor
like jewels

Sadness oozing out

poem by Stefanus VivierReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I'll dry them all all
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you ooh
I'll take your part oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Yeah yeah

song performed by by Michael W. SmithReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

When youre weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
Im on your side. when times get rough
And friends just cant be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
When youre down and out,
When youre on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
Ill take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
Im sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.

song performed by by Paul SimonReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

When youre weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
Im on your side
When times get rough and friends just cant be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When youre down and out
When youre on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
Ill take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silvergirl sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
Im sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

song performed by by Roy OrbisonReport problemRelated quotes
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Whales

Whales.
What can I say about whales? I’ve seen them blow geysers of hot water
on the coast of Canada and Norway. Great innocent beings with small
brains living in peace, but for man. So much meat and fat; have you ever
tasted whale meat, it is dark and tender but it has to be soaked overnight
in vinegar or it will taste like cod liver oil. In the old days its fat made liquid
was good to lit lamps. We have got electricity now, so if you want a steak
kill a cow, they are plentiful, mind they are innocent too, graze and do not
know they are targeted to end up as burgers. The whales have a complex
language marine biologists say I don’t think it is hard at all, they are saying
in surprisingly feminine voice … where are you? I’m here two miles away
from you and watch out for boats, with propellers”. “Ok, thank you”
Sven Foyn, the whale murderer, nearly hunted them to extinction with his
exploding harpoon gun, but thanks to a few nature lovers this cruel practice
ended… Today there are many whales in the ocean sooner or later someone
will say there are too many of them, we have to cull them and make a little
money on the side. And unseen by us, but known by whales, a dark hulled
ship with a captain Ahab onboard is still hunting for an illusory white whale.

poem by Oskar HansenReport problemRelated quotes
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Hall of Mirrors

Starring down the long impenetrable hallway
Mirror after mirror after mirror
They always bring you back to the same spot
One turn and you walk straight into glass
Another turn and you fall on your ass
You only come face to face with yourself
There’s no escape
From the dark egotistic mind
That brought you here
To the hall of mirrors
Nobody is around to save you
It is only you
It’ll only ever be you
Trapped, lost and suffering
In a field of your repetitive reflection
It's that egotistic mind
That brought you here
To the hall of mirrors

poem by Elyse ElwoodReport problemRelated quotes
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Long Walk Home

If you see liberty tell her I will
Buy her windows on the hill
Laud her flowers on the sill
Till they grow higher and higher.
If liberty was a little girl
Watching all the flags unfurl
Standing at the big parade
How would she like us now?
We balance the power
From hour to hour
Giant guns rage
Its such a long walk home
Its such a long walk home
Its such a long walk home.
From vietnam to old beirut
If we are searching for the truth
Why do we feel that double-edged blade
Cutting through our hand.
America, america
Where have we gone?
Its such a long walk home
Its such a long walk home
Its such a long walk home.
We balance the power
From hour to hour
Giant guns rage
Its such a long walk home
Its such a long walk home
Its such a long walk home.

song performed by by Neil YoungReport problemRelated quotes
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A Prodigal

The brown enormous odor he lived by
was too close, with its breathing and thick hair,
for him to judge. The floor was rotten; the sty
was plastered halfway up with glass-smooth dung.
Light-lashed, self-righteous, above moving snouts,
the pigs' eyes followed him, a cheerful stare--
even to the sow that always ate her young--
till, sickening, he leaned to scratch her head.
But sometimes mornings after drinking bouts
(he hid the pints behind the two-by-fours),
the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red
the burning puddles seemed to reassure.
And then he thought he almost might endure
his exile yet another year or more.

But evenings the first star came to warn.
The farmer whom he worked for came at dark
to shut the cows and horses in the barn
beneath their overhanging clouds of hay,
with pitchforks, faint forked lightnings, catching light,
safe and companionable as in the Ark.
The pigs stuck out their little feet and snored.
The lantern--like the sun, going away--
laid on the mud a pacing aureole.
Carrying a bucket along a slimy board,
he felt the bats' uncertain staggering flight,
his shuddering insights, beyond his control,
touching him. But it took him a long time
finally to make up his mind to go home.

poem by Elizabeth BishopReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on, silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine....
Ooooh, and if you ever need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.......

song performed by by Tom JonesReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

(paul simon)
Producer for bonnie: david foster
When youre weary, feelin small
When tears are in your eyes, Ill dry them all
Im on your side. oh, when times get rough
And friends just cant be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When youre down and out, when youre on the street
When evening falls so hard I will comfort you
Ill take your part. oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine. oh, if you need a friend
Im sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

song performed by by Bonnie TylerReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Water

(words & music by paul simon)
When youre weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all
Im on your site, oh, when times get rough
And friends just cant be found
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down,
Oh, like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When youre down and out, when youre on the streets
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
Ill take your part when the darkness falls and pain is all around
Yes, like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Oh, like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on, silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend,
Im sailing right behind
Yes, like a bridge over troubled water
I, I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will easy your mind

song performed by by Elvis PresleyReport problemRelated quotes
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3. Singing Whales

Singing whales I hear your song
Deep down low where you belong
Tunes my mind cannot unravel
Many miles your songs will travel

Singing whales send out your sound
In the oceans where you’re found
Tons of blubber sifting krill
Hunting as you move at will

Singing whales all wet and shiny
Giant sounds heard by those tiny
Sounds that hold a hidden charm
To help all restless souls stay calm


poem by David Threadgold (2008)Report problemRelated quotes
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Young Blood

i saw her standing on the corner
A yellow ribbon in her hair
I couldn't keep myself from shouting
Look - a - there
Look - a - there
Look - a - there
Look - a - there
Young blood
Young blood
Young blood
I can't get you out of my mind
I took one look and i was fractured
I tried to walk but i was lame
I tried to talk but i just stuttered
What's your name
What's your name
What's your name
What's your name
Young blood etc.
What crazy stuff
She looked so tough
I had to follow her all the way home
Then things went bad
I met her dad
He said
You better leave my daughter alone
I couldn't sleep a wink for trying
I saw the rising of the sun
And all night long my heart was crying
You're the one
You're the one
You're the one
You're the one
Young blood etc. (twice)

song performed by by BeatlesReport problemRelated quotes
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The troubled water

The bridge built between two islands.
Could not calm the troubled water.
The smile put across my face.
Could not calm the troubled spirit.

poem by Rm. Shanmugam ChettiarReport problemRelated quotes
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Bridge Over Troubled Waters

When You're Weary Feelin' Small
When Tears Are In Your Eyes I Will Dry Them All
I'm On Your Side Oh When Times Get Rough
And Friends Just Can't Be Found

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I Will Lay Me Down
Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I Will Lay Me Down

When You're Down And Out When You're On The Street
When Evening Falls So Hard I Will Comfort You
I'll Take Your Part Oh When Darkness Comes
And Pain Is All Around

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I Will Lay Me Down
Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I Will Lay Me Down

Sail On Children Sail On By
Your Time Has Come To Shine All Their Dreams Are On Their Way
See How They Shine Oh When You Need A Friend
I'm Sailing Right Behind

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I Will Ease Your Mind
Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I Will Ease Your Mind
I'll Ease Your Mind

song performed by by LeAnn Rimes from You Light Up My LifeReport problemRelated quotes
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Late March

Saturday morning in late March.
I was alone and took a long walk,
though I also carried a book
of the Alone, which companioned me.

The day was clear, unnaturally clear,
like a freshly wiped pane of glass,
a window over the water,
and blue, preternaturally blue,
like the sky in a Magritte painting,
and cold, vividly cold, so that
you could clap your hands and remember
winter, which had left a few moments ago—
if you strained you could almost see it
disappearing over the hills in a black parka.
Spring was coming but hadn't arrived yet.
I walked on the edge of the park.
The wind whispered a secret to the trees,
which held their breath
and scarcely moved.
On the other side of the street,
the skyscrapers stood on tiptoe.

I walked down to the pier to watch
the launching of a passenger ship.
Ice had broken up on the river
and the water rippled smoothly in blue light.
The moon was a faint smudge
in the clouds, a brushstroke, an afterthought
in the vacant mind of the sky.
Seagulls materialized out of vapor
amidst the masts and flags.
Don't let our voices die on land,
they cawed, swooping down for fish
and then soaring back upwards.

The kiosks were opening
and couples moved slowly past them,
arm in arm, festive.
Children darted in and out of walkways,
which sprouted with vendors.
Voices greeted the air.
Kites and balloons. Handmade signs.
Voyages to unknown places.
The whole day had the drama of an expectation.

Down at the water, the queenly ship
started moving away from the pier.
Banners fluttered.
The passengers clustered at the rails on deck.
I stood with the people on shore and waved
goodbye to the travelers.
Some were jubilant;
others were broken-hearted.
I have always been both.

Suddenly, a great cry went up.
The ship set sail for the horizon
and rumbled into the future
but the cry persisted
and cut the air
like an iron bell ringing
in an empty church.
I looked around the pier
but everyone else was gone
and I was left alone
to peer into the ghostly distance.
I had no idea where that ship was going
but I felt lucky to see it off
and bereft when it disappeared.

poem by Edward HirschReport problemRelated quotes
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It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door

I've been up at this all night long
I've been drowning in my sleep
I've prayed for your safe place
And its time for us to leave
Time is running on empty and the gas is running out
I've decided that tonight is the night
That I set love aside
Full speed ahead this seems to be the place
I've seen this once before
Planned perfection sought in my dreams
Hoping this would take you home
My knuckles have turned to white
There's no turning back tonight
So kiss me one last time
Around this turn where
The cross will cast your shadow
The people will all gather
To remember such a day where the flames grew as high
As trees
And the world stopped for you and me
My knuckles have turned white
There's no turning back tonight
So hold on tight
Kiss me one last time
Shut your eyes
I will now bring new meaning to the word alone
Endless nights of dreaming of life
And the days we should have spent here
Drowning in my sleep I'm drowning in my sleep
Glass shatters and comes to a halt
I thought we'd be there by now
I thought it would be so much quicker than this
Pain has never been so brilliant
I made sure you were buckled in
Now you can walk hand in hand with him

song performed by by UnderoathReport problemRelated quotes
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I Am Troubled!

i am troubled...
lord, i am troubled.
i hear the cries
of starving children.
i feel the bombs,
burning up the night.
i smell poverty,
and i taste injustice.
i shudder at prejudice,
i write the prayers
of the forgotten...
and sign their names
on unmarked stones.

what have i done...
lord, what have i done?
with this life,
this path, this cross.
i feel guilty,
and i know their suffering.
i cant help but wonder,
what i could have done
to stop the flood.

i am troubled...
lord, i am troubled.
have i been silent for too long.
and have my words
fallen like ashes,
driven by the mongrel wind.

i am troubled...
lord, i am troubled!

poem by Eric CockrellReport problemRelated quotes
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