Say not the struggle nought availeth
Arthur Hugh Clough
1819-1869
a glosa
Say not the struggle nought availeth
the labour and the wounds are vain.
The enemy faints not nor faileth.
As things have been, things will remain
Say not the struggle nought availeth.
though we must battle constantly.
Exposed to light the darkness fadeth
for those who have the eyes to see.
The labour and the wounds are vain
the human heart resilient
in time will overcome the pain.
This truth becomes self evident.
The enemy faints not nor faileth.
We have to trade them blow for blow
.Although his malice he sustaineth
he dare not let his terror show.
A things have been, things will remain
the fight goes on continually.
Despite the hardship and the pain
in time we’ll claim the victory.
05/04/2009
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Related quotes
Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth
Say not the struggle naught availeth,
The labour and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not, nor faileth,
And as things have been they remain.
If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke conceal'd,
Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers,
And, but for you, possess the field.
For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.
And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly!
But westward, look, the land is bright!
poem by Arthur Hugh Clough
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Crazy Jane On God
That lover of a night
Came when he would,
Went in the dawning light
Whether I would or no;
Men come, men go;
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
Banners choke the sky;
Men-at-arms tread;
Armoured horses neigh
In the narrow pass:
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
I had wild jack for a lover;
Though like a road
That men pass over
My body makes no moan
But sings on:
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
Before their eyes a house
That from childhood stood
Uninhabited, ruinous,
Suddenly lit up
From door to top:
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
Oh, that lover of a night
Came when he would,
Went in the dawning light
Whether I would or no;
Men come, men go;
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
All things remain in god.
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Solvitur acris Hiems
Youth, that went, is come again,
Youth, for which we all were fain;
With soft pleasure and sweet pain
In each nerve and every vein,
Circling through the heart and brain,
Whence and wherefore come again?
Eva, tell me!
Dead and buried when we thought him,
Who the magic spell hath taught him?
Who the strong elixir brought him?
Dead and buried as we thought,
Lo! unasked for and unsought
Comes he, shall it be for nought?
Eva, tell me!
Youth that lifeless long had lain,
Youth that long we longed in vain for,
Used to grumble and complain for,
Thought at last to entertain
A decorous cool disdain for,
On a sudden see again
Comes, but will not long remain,
Comes, with whom too in his train,
Comes, and shall it be in vain?
Eva, tell me!
poem by Arthur Hugh Clough
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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I should Have Known
Dined with the devil yesterday.
A charming chap I have to say.
He was quite debonair and gay
and conversed in a cultured way.
He did his best to tempt me to
do the things one shouldn’t do.
But as he offered nothing new
to my own standards I held true.
I do not claim I’m innocent
I have done things which I repent.
A truth which is self evident
and not a cause for discontent.
He smiled at me disarmingly
and whispered to me charmingly.
He was content to wait and see
Sure I would fall eventually.
That he could wait there was no rush.
I had to jump he could not push
He wished me well, went on his way
but stuck me with the bill to pay.
12-Jun-08
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Equal rights
Why should I love my enemy?
My enemy does not love me
Why should I turn the other cheek?
and give him cause to think I’m weak.
I show my enemy respect
but let him know that I expect
from him similar courtesy.
He can and will expect from me.
If he is wise he understands
I will not bow to his commands.
I am quite sure I have the right
To fight if I am forced to fight.
I can accept you don’t like me
And I dislike you equally
You have the right to your own view
You must remember I do too.
It’s possible to disagree
And yet not be an enemy.
I think we have the right to choose
If we so wish opposing views.
I do not choose my enemies
I would much rather we were friends
I think my enemies choose me
My rights I will fight to defend.
7-Nov-08
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Sonnet- Doing things
One ought to find the land to build a house,
And get the plan approved and buy the bricks;
But most of all, it must be liked by spouse!
The project must not give you much pin-pricks.
To do a thing, you ought to start somehow;
From scrap and work it up with immense toil;
Let hurdles come; just meet them if you can, wow,
All things will happen; mood never must spoil.
Great things are wrought by labour and struggle;
A mind determined will pull off all things;
'Tis nice sometimes to blow our own bugle;
'Tis worth the joy that finally it brings.
A half finished work, cannot bring success,
Try to do things ahead and in excess.
poem by John Celes
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When every word falls like a hammer blow
When every word falls like a hammer blow
when meaningless things suddenly gets value,
when at times it feels as if you want to avoid me,
when we struggle to trust each other
like a drowning person I want to cling to you,
at times I want to free myself from pain.
When every word falls like a hammer blow
when meaningless things suddenly gets value,
I want to hold on to our love
and when you are in my arms again I want to know
that you love me past all kinds of things
and even if at times we laugh, cry or bungle things,
when every word falls like a hammer blow.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Soldier
The soldier, he has many battle scars.
But there's only a few, others can see.
The wounds, they did not kill him,
They made him who he was called to be.
Although some of his battles were easy,
Through each of his battles he died.
The pieces, which were his true enemy.
Were the pieces that did not survive.
When the soldier, he goes into battle,
He must know who his enemies are.
They are the ones that would harm another,
And make the soldier, seem like he, was the star.
It is only once you discover the enemy,
The march to victory, then can begin.
For the war that the soldier is fighting.
Is the battle he fights from within.
In each of us there is a soldier.
And each day, we fight the good fight.
For the ones who walk into victory,
Are the ones who find their true light.
poem by Ryan Lee Morris
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Freak On A Leach
Something takes a part of me.
Something lost and never seen.
Everytime I start to believe,
Something's raped and taken from me... from me.
Life's got to always be messing with me. (You wanna see the light)
Can't
they chill and let me be free? (So do I)
Can't I take away all this pain. (You wanna see the light)
I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
Sometimes I cannot take this place.
Sometimes it's my life I can't taste.
Sometimes I cannot feel my face.
You'll never see fall from grace
Something takes a part of me.
You and I were meant to be.
I cheat, but for me to lie
Something takes a part of me.
Feeling like a freak on a leash. (You wanna see the light)
Feeling like I have no release. (So do I)
How many times have I felt diseased? (You wanna see the light)
Nothing in my life is free... is free
So...fight! something on the...
Fight...some things they fight
So...something on the...
Fight...some things they fight
Fight...something of the
No...some things they fight
Fight...something of the...
Fight...some things they fight
Part of me...
song performed by by Korn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Qye Sera, Sera 2009 for M lady Catrina Heart
Que Sera Sera.2009
With passing time the stoutest walls
will slowly crumble into dust
Impregnable when in their prime
they will still fall as all things must.
The mental walls we build will last.
Meant to protect a broken heart
until we can forget the past
and dare to make a brand new start.
The human heart’s resilient
and will respond to T.L.C.
The damage is not permanent
Although we feel that it might be.
The passing time will numb the pain
as rising tides of hormones flow.
Dictating you must try again
revive your flagging libido
It is part of the learning curve
though sad its true I have to say.
No more no less than we deserve
This is the price we all must pay.
Before we reach maturity
and understand what real love means.
The angst and insecurity
are rites of passage from our teens.
The trials we must undergo
before we attain self control.
Will teach us what we need to know
in order to achieve our goal.
To find a mate who we can trust
Someone to love we can respect
and say goodbye to fleeting lust.
The goal we all seek I suspect.
The passing time gives us the chance
to leave our teen age years behind
and leaves us free to find romance.
Ma Natures plans are well designed.
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Keeping Faith for M lady Naizz
Keeping Faith.
I am benighted and afraid.
Darkness descended rapidly.
As if the gods themselves forbade
me to complete successfully.
The pilgrimage to which I’m sworn
to save my soul from jeopardy
I'll watch and pray until the morn
And then continue on my way
Though demons whisper in the night
and challenge all that I believe
My faith sustains me in the fight.
At first light I will surely leave.
I will defeat the enemy
and reach my goal triumphantly.
22/04/2009
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Struggles Within
Nothing good in this flesh of mine, creating havoc from time to time,
For with this heart, deceitful at best, I am wearied and seldom at rest.
Who knows the depth of my heart, from which, I would like to depart,
With wickedness deep down within, it causes me to stray towards sin.
And with my sinful darkened mind, while living this life, it’s so unkind,
Reaching way back into yesteryear, my old sinful past is always near.
Dragging up my old sinful ways; causing me pain in my present days,
Giving the enemy old things to cast; at my present life, from the past.
In this head, these wandering eyes, looking at those things I despise,
The things of lust upon this earth; things which have no eternal worth.
Straying towards those things of lust, that in time simply turn to dust,
This causes my new faith to wane, while creating in my heart old pain.
These struggles I have with my flesh, is not from God a spiritual test,
But my struggles are from within, from this body that was born in sin.
Struggles that I have day to day, when I do not let God have His way,
Allowing God to change all my life, through The Savior, Jesus Christ.
For God sends to me when I believe, The Holy Spirit, whom I receive,
Christ embraces me as His own, and changes my old heart of stone,
From all that sin I’ve been freed, with no more struggles soon indeed,
As Christ this day is preparing me, to live without struggle for eternity.
(07/2007)
Life's Mighty Flood
WHAT is wrought in the forge of the living and life--
All things are nought! Ho! fill me the bowl,
For nought is the gear of the world and the strife!
One passion has quickened the heart and the soul,
The Beloved's presence alone they have sought--
Love at least exists; yet if Love were not,
Heart and soul would sink to the common lot--
All things are nought!
Like an empty cup is the fate of each,
That each must fill from Life's mighty flood;
Nought thy toil, though to Paradise gate thou reach,
If Another has filled up thy cup with blood;
Neither shade from the sweet-fruited trees could be bought
By thy praying-oh Cypress of Truth, dost not see
That Sidreh and Tuba were nought, and to thee
All then were nought!
The span of thy life is as five little days,
Brief hours and swift in this halting-place;
Rest softly, ah rest! while the Shadow delays,
For Time's self is nought and the dial's face.
On the lip of Oblivion we linger, and short
Is the way from the Lip to the Mouth where we pass
While the moment is thine, fill, oh Saki, the glass
Ere all is nought!
Consider the rose that breaks into flower,
Neither repines though she fade and die--
The powers of the world endure for an hour,
But nought shall remain of their majesty.
Be not too sure of your crown, you who thought
That virtue was easy and recompense yours;
From the monastery to the wine-tavern doors
The way is nought
What though I, too, have tasted the salt of my tears,
Though I, too, have burnt in the fires of grief,
Shall I cry aloud to unheeding ears?
Mourn and be silent! nought brings relief.
Thou, Hafiz, art praised for the songs thou hast wrought,
But bearing a stained or an honoured name,
The lovers of wine shall make light of thy fame--
All things are nought!
poem by Shams al-Din Hafiz
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Smile with cause
Smile with cause
Observe little pause
Think of plight
And choose the course right
How will you smile?
When heart is under pain meanwhile
Either be prepared to act like rock
Or run out of courtesy stock
You are human being
You have to act within ring
You can't smile to world
And at the same remain unhappy and cold
You are the one to feel
You are behind the wheel
You can steer out of trouble
As this is your struggle
How can you brighten someone's world?
When you lack the stiffness and courage to be bold
Be what you are and present as you are
Let other relations remain far
You are the one to same people
Emerged as strong with lots of trouble
Now is the time to show and reassert
The stage is meant for successful concert
Are we not the puppets?
Allow the things to pass off or let
When time comes to react?
We simply fail to deliver or act
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Predestined? for My Lady Irene
Her eyes are like unto the sea
their colour changing constantly
Their beauty has ensorcelled me.
Try as I might I can’t break free.
The lady is quite innocent
I must absolve her from intent
I met her gaze by accident.
But the effect is permanent.
I was not searching for romance
but captivated by her glance,
I was resolved to take a chance
to change my future circumstance.
Was I a fool to entertain
the faintest hope that I might gain,
the lady’s heart or live in pain
and still a bachelor remain
The burning question had to be.
What did the lady think of me?
and could she possibly agree
to dare to share her life with me.
Although we think we have free will.
Mother Nature has the skill
to create plans we must fulfil.
So we obey or foot the bill.
Regretting that we did not do
what Mother Nature meant us to.
It seem the lady felt this too.
An old, old tale forever new.
04/06/2009
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Self justification.
It’s not so easy to forget.
The things we did which we regret
Though if we try we may succeed
in justifying every deed.
Convince ourselves we had no choice
Ignore the inner nagging voice.
Which reminds us constantly.
We did what we did willingly.
We know when we indulged our lust
that we betrayed another’s trust.
We did not see it as a crime
and we enjoyed it at the time.
Although in time we realise
that our excuses are all lies.
Friday,21 January 2011
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Faith and Jesus
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time to make things right.
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time without a struggle.
Prepared to pick a fight!
Misgivings?
I had to leave.
Deceiving...
People,
Who left my heart to bleed!
Receiving?
More love to give!
Leaving behind me...
All the things negative!
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time without struggle or fight.
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time to make things right.
Receiving?
More love to give!
Leaving behind me...
All the things negative!
And believing,
I had to see!
I held misery inside,
That grieved and troubled me!
Yes...
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time to make things right.
Said...
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time without struggle!
Prepared to pick fight.
Misgivings?
I had to leave.
Deceiving...
People,
Who left my heart to bleed!
I'm living,
Stronger each day.
I've got what it takes..
To make sure what I've got,
Stays that way!
Hey...
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready,
This time to make things right.
I had to get myself ready,
This time to make things right!
Pettiness is fading steady...
With faith and Jesus on my side!
Jesus came back into my life.
But I had to get myself ready...
This time to make things right.
I had to get myself ready...
Without a struggle!
Or a search to fight.
This time I'm more than ready,
Knowing what it takes to feed...
My growing appetite!
'Don't lock it up...
Let it out and rock it!
Collect the good that's offered you,
And share it from your pocket! '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Decorations
My only medals are the scars
I've won in weary, peacetime wars,
A-fighting for my little brood,
To win them shelter, shoon and food;
But most of all to give them faith
In God's good mercy unto death.
My sons have medals gleaming bright,
Proud trophies won in foreign fight;
But though their crosses bravely shine,
My boys can show no wounds like mine -
Grim gashes dolorously healed,
And inner ailings unrevealed.
Life-lasting has my battle been,
My enemy a fierce machine;
And I am marked by many a blow
In conflict with a tireless foe,
Till warped and bent beneath the beat
Of life's unruth I own defeat.
Yet strip me bare and you will see
A worthy warrior I be;
Although no uniform I've worn,
By wounds of labour I am torn;
Leave the their ribbands and their stars . . .
Behold! I proudly prize my scars.
poem by Robert William Service
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A tribute to W.E.Henley 1849-1903
A tribute to W.E.Henley 1849-1903
Invictus.
Out of the night that covers me
dark as the pit from pole to pole.
I thank whatever Gods may be
for my unconquerable soul.
A Glosa
Out of the night that covers me.
I won’t relinquish my control
a man must challenge destiny.
To be the captain of his soul.
Black as the pit from pole to pole.
The darkness fails to frighten me,
I travel on towards my goal
pursue my quest relentlessly.
I thank whatever Gods may be
but I believe than on the whole.
That man has the ability
to win the battle for his soul.
For my unconquerable soul
will guard and guide me constantly.
As I perform my earthly role.
I can do all that’s asked of me.
04/05/2009
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Silent Alarm for Friend David Threadgold
The darkness hosts a multitude
of atavistic memories.
which influence our attitude
Towards the things we cannot see.
The hunting owl which quietly
on noiseless wings seeks out his prey.
His night tuned eyes can clearly see
as if it was as bright as day.
Some see him as an enemy
and view his passage with alarm.
Although he’s acting naturally
with no intent to cause them harm.
Men fear the dark which seems to be
a breeding ground for ancient fears
embedded inescapably
in memories from their forebears.
Their fear of being eaten by
some marauding predator
which pounces on them from the sky.
Man will recall for evermore.
15-Aug-08
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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