The Pilgrims
An uphill path, sun-gleams between the showers,
Where every beam that broke the leaden sky
Lit other hills with fairer ways than ours;
Some clustered graves where half our memories lie;
And one grim Shadow creeping ever nigh:
And this was Life.
Wherein we did another's burden seek,
The tired feet we helped upon the road,
The hand we gave the weary and the weak,
The miles we lightened one another's load,
When, faint to falling, onward yet we strode:
This too was Life.
Till, at the upland, as we turned to go
Amid fair meadows, dusky in the night,
The mists fell back upon the road below;
Broke on our tired eyes the western light;
The very graves were for a moment bright:
And this was Death.
poem by John McCrae
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The End of the Day
To B. T.
Dead-tired, dog-tired, as the vivid day
Fails and slackens and fades away.--
The sky that was so blue before
With sudden clouds is shrouded o'er.
Swiftly, stilly the mists uprise,
Till blurred and grey the landscape lies.
* * * * * * *
All day we have plied the oar; all day
Eager and keen have said our say
On life and death, on love and art,
On good or ill at Nature's heart.
Now, grown so tired, we scarce can lift
The lazy oars, but onward drift.
And the silence is only stirred
Here and there by a broken word.
* * * * * * *
O, sweeter far than strain and stress
Is the slow, creeping weariness.
And better far than thought I find
The drowsy blankness of the mind.
More than all joys of soul or sense
Is this divine indifference;
Where grief a shadow grows to be,
And peace a possibility.
Broke Her Heart
She gave me her trust
So I broke her heart
She gave me her dreams
So I broke her heart
She gave me her love
So I broke her heart
She gave me a future
So I broke her heart
She made me a home
So I broke her heart
She gave me my children
So I broke her heart
She gave me her hand
So I broke her heart
She gave me a ring
So I broke her heart
She gave me her life
So I broke her heart
Then she gave me my freedom
So I broke MY heart
(2011)
poem by Michael Ernst
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Someone Missing? Someone Gone?
I listened to the old man’s sighs,
he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
Back in time his memories went.
His shoulders and his back were bent.
His face took on a haunted look,
as he scrolled through his minds scrapbook.
A smile appeared and up he glanced,
remembering some time enhanced
by pictures entering his mind,
something that he had left behind
in those faint far away spent days,
recollected down distant ways.
And then his countenance turned grim,
a stark event came back to him,
forgotten for a long, long spell,
making the shining tears to dwell,
within those seeing orbs that shone.
Is someone missing? Someone gone?
I saw before me a man wise,
and watched him as he tried to rise.
Stumbling, weary, along the road,
carrying such a heavy load
of sorrows, pain and things now past.
On cobblestones his shadow cast.
So slowly he advanced towards,
a shelter made of plywood boards.
And climbing in, was out of view,
his name, his age, I never knew.
I turned and walked across the square,
thinking that life was so unfair.
Next day I heard that he had died,
and that’s when I sat down and cried.
poem by Ernestine Northover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sick And Tired
Got no time to be on the run,
Got no holes in my shoes,
You're the reasong all my friends have gone,
But I won't run from you.
So many promises, and you broke them all,
Oh I'll forgive, but I can't forget,
You know you're a fake, but I just can't take no more,
Cause I'm tired of it.
I'm so tired, so tired,
Sick and tired of it all,
I'm so tired, sick and tired,
I'm so tired, sick and tired of it all, yeah.
You turn the truth, then you turn your back,
You're a victim of yourself,
The hate remains, the hurting still exists.
I'm so tired of it all.
I'm so tired, sick and tired,
So damn tired, sick and tired of it all, oh yeah,
I'm so tired, I'M sick and tired of it all
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Journey
Ah, could I lay me down in this long grass
And close my eyes, and let the quiet wind
Blow over me—I am so tired, so tired
Of passing pleasant places! All my life,
Following Care along the dusty road,
Have I looked back at loveliness and sighed;
Yet at my hand an unrelenting hand
Tugged ever, and I passed. All my life long
Over my shoulder have I looked at peace;
And now I fain would lie in this long grass
And close my eyes.
Yet onward!
Cat birds call
Through the long afternoon, and creeks at dusk
Are guttural. Whip-poor-wills wake and cry,
Drawing the twilight close about their throats.
Only my heart makes answer. Eager vines
Go up the rocks and wait; flushed apple-trees
Pause in their dance and break the ring for me;
And bayberry, that through sweet bevies thread
Of round-faced roses, pink and petulant,
Look back and beckon ere they disappear.
Only my heart, only my heart responds.
Yet, ah, my path is sweet on either side
All through the dragging day,—sharp underfoot
And hot, and like dead mist the dry dust hangs—
But far, oh, far as passionate eye can reach,
And long, ah, long as rapturous eye can cling,
The world is mine: blue hill, still silver lake,
Broad field, bright flower, and the long white road
A gateless garden, and an open path:
My feet to follow, and my heart to hold.
poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Let The Weary World Go Round
Let the weary world go round!
What care I?
Life's a surfeiting of sound:
I would die.
It would be so sweet to lie
Under waving grasses,
Where a maiden's footstep sly,
Tremulous for a lover nigh,
Sometimes passes.
Why, why remain?
Graves are the sovereign simples
Against life's pain;
Graves are the sheltering wimples
Against life's rain;
Graves are a mother's dimples
When we complain.
O Death! beautiful Death!
Why do they thee disfigure?
To me thy touch, thy breath,
Hath nor alarm nor rigour.
Thee do I long await;
I think thee very late;
I pine much to be going.
Others have gone before;
I hunger more and more
To know what they are knowing.
Heart, heart! be thou content!
Accept thy banishment;
Like other sorrows, life will end for thee.
Yet for a little while
Bear with this harsh exìle,
And Death will soften and will send for thee.
poem by Alfred Austin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sick & Tired
Got no time to be on the run,
Got no holes in my shoes,
Youre the reasong all my friends have gone,
But I wont run from you.
So many promises, and you broke them all,
Oh Ill forgive, but I cant forget,
You know youre a fake, but I just cant take no more,
Cause Im tired of it.
Im so tired, so tired,
Sick and tired of it all,
Im so tired, sick and tired,
Im so tired, sick and tired of it all, yeah.
You turn the truth, then you turn your back,
Youre a victim of yourself,
The hate remains, the hurting still exists.
Im so tired of it all.
Im so tired, sick and tired,
So damn tired, sick and tired of it all, oh yeah,
Im so tired, Im sick and tired of it all.
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rainbow Road
I was born a dirt poor man
All my life Ive had hard working hands
But I sang my song as I carried my load
Cause I had a dream about rainbow
Rainbow road
Then one day a man came along
Heard me playing and singing my songs
He bought me clothes and paid up every debt I owed
Sent me on my way down rainbow
Rainbow road
Then one night a man with a knife
Pushed me till I had to take his life
Fast as falling all my friends were gone
That old judge traded me a sentence for a song
Now Im living with this ball and chain
I had to wear a number before they ever heard my name
And like the dream Im growing old
But we still sing about rainbow
Rainbow road
Tag:
Rainbow road, rainbow road
Rainbow road, rainbow road
Rainbow road, rainbow road
song performed by by Kris Kristofferson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Who Will It Be
Who will take care of you when you get older
When you are walking down life’s road
Who will be there, with love and also care
When you, yourself are old.
Who will hold your hand and walk with you
When you are walking down life’s road
Who will be at your side, to be your guide
Who, but only you will know.
Who will carry you if you become to tired to walk
When you are walking down life’s road
Who will carry your weight, and wont hesitate
Who could be that proud and bold.
Who will stay at your side and will not leave you
When you are walking down life’s road
Who will wipe away your tear, and soothe your fear
Who will comfort your mind and soul.
Who will be there with you till the very end
When you are walking down life’s road
When you see the mistakes, that you did make
When your life unto you will unfold.
Who will be there to tell you goodbye
When your journey ends on life’s road
When you take those steps, with sadness and regret
Who will be the one with love to show.
poem by Randy McClave
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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O Pulchritudo
O Saint whose thousand shrines our feet have trod
And our eyes loved thy lamp's eternal beam,
Dim earthly radiance of the Unknown God,
Hope of the darkness, light of them that dream,
Far off, far off and faint, O glimmer on
Till we thy pilgrims from the road are gone.
O Word whose meaning every sense hath sought,
Voice of the teeming field and grassy mound,
Deep-whispering fountain of the wells of thought,
Will of the wind and soul of all sweet sound,
Far off, far off and faint, O murmur on
Till we thy pilgrims from the road are gone.
poem by Sir Henry Newbolt
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Tired Old Country Song
Regi price/jl vanderford
Another day, another night
Another tired old country song
You know, I sing of love delight
But I know its all wrong
The life I live out on the road
Is one I swear no one could love
Yet I feel I must go on
And sing this tired
This tired old country song
I move around from place to place
But all the towns look just the same
I see the same old face
Losin still my claim to fame
Ill sing the guitar blues
Drink my drink and pay the dues
Then I guess Ill ramble on
And sing this tired
This tired old country song
Why did I have to compromise
To reach my piece of the fame?
Life could have been so different
In that eight to five game
So I guess Ill settle down
Get my feet back on the ground
Once a country star
Now Im just a country clown
Hang my guitar on the wall
I wont need it anymore
For I think the time has come
To end this tired
This tired old country song
To end this tired
This tired old country song
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Back Up Against The Wall
(J.R. Cobb/Buddy Buie)
I was dealin' up and down the highway
Till they caught me with a heavy load
They sentenced me to hard labor
Workin' on the side of the road
Now I don't deny I was guilty
And I know I broke the law
I was hungry and broke and couldn't see no hope
And my back was up against the wall
Now I'm right outside your window
Honey open up and let me in
I broke out of jail this mornin'
And I ain't never goin' back again
I just had to stop by for a minute
And I can't stay long at all
'Cause I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall
I was shackled to a three-time loser
A man named Jefferson
One night we got to talkin'
And I asked him what he'd done
He said a man fell over my razor
In the middle of a barroom brawl
But don't you see it was him or me
And my back was up against the wall
Now I'm right outside your window
Honey open up and let me in
I broke out of jail this mornin'
And I ain't never goin' back again
I just had to stop by for a minute
And I can't stay long at all
'Cause I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall
Now I'm right outside your window
Honey open up and let me in
I broke out of jail this mornin'
And I ain't never goin' back again
I just had to stop by for a minute
And I can't stay long at all
'Cause I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall
I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall
Yeah I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall
song performed by by Travis Tritt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Moving Oleta
Moving Oleta was the hardest thing he'd done
The nurses saw an old woman cryin'
But he saw the love of his life
She don't know where she is
But she knows this isn't home
Love is a hard, hard road
He met her in the summer of thirty-seven
In a brush arbor down on the Rush Creek shore
He loved her black hair and the mischief in her smile
But she won him with her eyes
All the years and children gone
He still sees her the same
Love is a hard, hard road
He woke up and mornin' and drove into town
He stayed all day til her dinner came
Then he took her to her room
Leaned on her wheelchair like a walker
And covered her with a quilt that she'd made
Only God and a couple of nurses
Helped the old man shoulder the load
Love is a hard, hard road
He said "They tell me this is all that's left,
Say this hell on earth is best,
I list all those reasons and I still don't understand"
He cursed his body old and weak
Tears of failure burned his cheeks
He said "Oh, don't you know I prayed to die before this day"
Love is a hard, hard road
There's a shadow much darker than the shadow of death
When you fear the reaper might not come today
They line 'em up in Laz-E-Boys out in the sunroom
The TV keeps the quiet away
She can't recall his name
And she's the only love he's known
Love is a hard, hard road
Love is a hard, hard road
Moving Oleta was the hardest thing he'd done
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Walking Through The Rain
Once in our lifetime
will go through a narrow road
where there's nobody around
We just walking all alone
Carrying attached burden
And behind, chased by a storm
Will the soul safely reach home?
Left and right, nothing around
keep walking in a small road
Wind run chasing this feet
Bringing sand to my eyes
A bit hurt, force to tears
dropped, flew, dried still fears
Keep walking the storm just near
Wind swirl and touch the trees
The weak leaves falling down
Riding this feeling we cant help
After carrying all blurry years
The future seems like a smear
But the storm keep coming near
Too close to breaks and clear
I still walking ahead with hopes
There's nothing around to hold
The grey conquer half of the blue sky
While the sun gone leaving without light
Keep walking, keep moving, it's alright
Even the clouds shades my shadow
We left the past, i wont undo
When the rain pour on me
Finally i know the storm caught my body
Still walking, keep walking even a bit slowly
Stuck in heaviness, waking, standing and walking again
The storm push me down like the weak leaves falling down
Wake up and walking once again, nothing to hold, all by my own
Thunder shouting to scare but i'm too tired to keep afraid
No choice only walking, so I'll be brave for a change
Through this heavy rain
Keep walking to keep moving
Even it was pain with burden
For days and years to come,
I making decision through this rain
For life and future days still remain
Dont want spent entire life with all constrains
A Change for a chance,
So i took this chance to change
For next change of life chance
For always i trust my believe for a chance
The reason why i keep walking through the heavy rain
Cause i know there's always something i will gain at the end
A future with a rainbow will prove there's a chance and change
Cause I know the sun will rise and shine again
So i have made a decision through the rain
Even though i know storm will appear again
I will keep walking and stand again
: : : : : : : : Theme: Challenge and Inner strength: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
This time i learn and use my brain
poem by Unwritten Soul
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Hard Road
Old men crying, young men dying,
World still turns as father time
Looks on
On and on,
Children playing, dreamers praying,
Laughter turns to tears
Love has gone, has it gone?
Oh, it's a hard road
Oh, it's a hard road
Poets yearning, lovers learning,
On this path of life we pass along
Is it wrong?
Widows weeping, babies sleeping,
Life becomes the singer and the song
Sing along
Oh, it's a hard road
Carry your own load
Why make the hard road?
Why can't we be friends?
No need to hurry
We'll meet in the end
Why make the hard road?
Why can't we be friends?
No need to worry
Let's sing it again
Brother's sharing, mother's caring,
Nighttime falling victim to the dawn
Shadows mourn,
Days are falling, time is calling
To the Earth another life is born
Love line drawn
Oh, it's a hard road
Carry your own load
Oh, it's a hard road...
We're living in sorrow
We're living the best
And look to the future
'Cause life goes together now...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Morgan
When Morgan crossed the Murray to Peechelba and doom
A sombre silent shadow rode with him through the gloom.
The wild things of the forest slunk from the outlaw's track,
The boobook croaked a warning, "Go back, go back, go back!"
It woke no answering echo in Morgan's blackened soul,
As onward through the darkness he rode towards his goal.
An evil man was Morgan, a price was on his head;
The simple bush-folk whispered his very name with dread;
Before the fierce Dan Morgan the bravest man might quake-
A cold and callous killer, he killed for killing's sake. .
Past swamp and creek and gully, and settler's lone abode,
Towards the station homestead the grim Dan Morgan rode.
And still that hooded horseman that Morgan could not see,
Watched by the wild bush-creatures, rode close beside his knee.
Before them in a clearing a drover's campfire burned:
The phantom rode with Morgan, and turned when Morgan turned.
And loud the boobook's warning came on the cold night air,
"Go back, go back, Dan Morgan. Beware, beware, beware!"
He reached the station homestead, into the hall he strode,
And on his evil features, the flickering lamplight glowed.
"Into one room!" he thundered. Bring me a glass of grog!
If any disobey me I'll shoot him like a dog!"
With pistols cocked and ready, dark-eyed and beetle-browed-
Before the famous outlaw the bravest hearts were cowed.
All night with loaded pistols he dozed and muttered there,
All night the evil shadow stood close behind his chair.
The brave Scotch girl McDonald, a lass who knew no fear,
Slipped out unseen by Morgan to warn the homesteads near.
And in the hours of darkness, before the break of dawn,
Around the fierce Dan Morgan the fatal net was drawn.
Day broke upon the Murray, the morning mists were gone,
The magpies sang their matins, the river murmured on.
When Morgan left the homestead and neared the stockyard gate
He heard the boobooks warning, and turned but turned to late -
For Quinlan pressed the trigger as Morgan swung around,
And sent the grim bushranger blaspheming to the ground.
So fell the dread Dan Morgan in Eighteen sixty-five,
In death as much unpitied as hated when alive.
He lived by blood and plunder, an outlaw to the end;
In life he showed no mercy, in death he left no friend.
And all who seek to follow in Morgan's evil track
Should heed the boobook's warning: "Go back, go back, go back!"
poem by Edward Harrington
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Life On The Road
Ever since I was a child,
I loved to wander wild
Through the bright city lights,
And find myself a life I could call my own.
It was always my ambition
To see piccadilly,
Ramble and roam around soho
And pimlico and savile row,
And walk down the abbey road.
So I saved all my money
And packed up my clothes,
And I said good-bye to my friends
And my folks back home.
And I left for a life of my own.
I left for a life on the road.
Im a real hungry tyke,
And I know what I like.
And I know where Im goin:
To those bright city lights.
Oh yeah, oh yeah,
This time Im gonna get there.
Im bound for a life on the road.
Give me life on the road.
I said life on the road.
When I arrived in euston,
I was little more than a child.
And I didnt know then
That the dives and the dens
Would be so vulgar and wicked and wild.
Mama always told me
The city ladies were bawdy and bold.
And so I searched night and day
To catch a kissable lady,
But all that I caught was a cold,
cause those stuck-up city ladies
Didnt notice me walk by.
Now Ive got holes in my shoes
cause Ive been walkin the streets all night.
And Im livin the life that I chose.
Livin my life on the road.
I said life on the road.
I want life on the road.
Life on the road.
I was standing with the punks in praed street,
When a muscle man came my way.
He said, hey, are you gay?
Can you come out and play?
And like a fool, I went and said, o.k.
Ever since I was knee high,
I thought the city was paved with gold.
But Ive seen so many losers
And down and out boozers
Who were tired of bein bought and sold.
City women are a tease,
But Id really love to please.
Now Ive got blood shot eyes
cause Ive been walkin the streets all night.
And it sure knocks you out on the road.
And Im livin my life on the road.
I said life on the road.
Life on the road.
I want life on the road.
One of these days,
I wanna go home,
Visit my friends,
And see all the places that I used to know,
And say good-bye to a world thats too real;
Good-bye to a world thats forgotten how to feel.
And its slowly usin me,
And theres no security.
Sometimes I hate the road,
But its the only life I know.
But Im livin the life that I chose,
So Ill live out my life on the road.
Give me life on the road.
I said life on the road.
(repeat)
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Two Sides Of The River
The Youths.
O Winter, O white winter, wert thou gone
No more within the wilds were I alone
Leaping with bent bow over stock and stone!
No more alone my love the lamp should burn,
Watching the weary spindle twist and turn,
Or o’er the web hold back her tears and yearn:
O winter, O white winter, wert thou gone!
The Maidens.
Sweet thoughts fly swiftlier than the drifting snow,
And with the twisting threads sweet longings grow,
And o’er the web sweet pictures come and go,
For no white winter are we long alone.
The Youths.
O stream so changed, what hast thou done to me,
That I thy glittering ford no more can see
Wreathing with white her fair feet lovingly?
See, in the rain she stands, and, looking down
With frightened eyes upon thy whirlpools brown,
Drops to her feet again her girded gown.
O hurrying turbid stream, what hast thou done?
The Maidens.
The clouds lift, telling of a happier day
When through the thin stream I shall take my way,
Girt round with gold, and garlanded with may,
What rushing stream can keep us long alone?
The Youths.
O burning Sun, O master of unrest,
Why must we, toiling, cast away the best,
Now, when the bird sleeps by her empty nest?
See, with my garland lying at her feet,
In lonely labour stands mine own, my sweet,
Above the quern half-filled with half-ground wheat.
O red taskmaster, that thy flames were done!
The Maidens.
O love, to-night across the half-shorn plain
Shall I not go to meet the yellow wain,
A look of love at end of toil to gain?
What flaming sun can keep us long alone?
The Youths.
To-morrow, said I, is grape gathering o’er;
To-morrow, and our loves are twinned no more
To-morrow came, to bring us woe and war.
What have I done, that I should stand with these
Hearkening the dread shouts borne upon the breeze,
While she, far off, sits weeping ’neath her trees?
Alas, O kings, what is it ye have done?
The Maidens.
Come, love, delay not; come, and slay my dread!
Already is the banquet table spread;
In the cool chamber flower-strewn is my bed:
Come, love, what king shall keep us long alone?
The Youths.
O city, city, open thou thy gate!
See, with life snatched from out the hand of fate!
How on thy glittering triumph I must wait!
Are not her hands stretched out to me? Her eyes,
Grow they not weary as each new hope dies,
And lone before her still the long road lies?
O golden city, fain would I be gone!
The Maidens.
And thou art happy, amid shouts and songs,
And all that unto conquering men belongs.
Night hath no fear for me, and day no wrongs.
What brazen city gates can keep us, lone?
The Youths.
O long, long road, how bare thou art, and grey!
Hill after hill thou climbest, and the day
Is ended now, O moonlit endless way!
And she is standing where the rushes grow,
And still with white hand shades her anxious brow,
Though ’neath the world the sun is fallen now,
O dreary road, when will thy leagues be done?
The Maidens.
O tremblest thou, grey road, or do my feet
Tremble with joy, thy flinty face to meet?
Because my love’s eyes soon mine eyes shall greet?
No heart thou hast to keep us long alone.
The Youths.
O wilt thou ne’er depart, thou heavy night?
When will thy slaying bring on the morning bright,
That leads my weary feet to my delight?
Why lingerest thou, filling with wandering fears
My lone love’s tired heart; her eyes with tears
For thoughts like sorrow for the vanished years?
Weaver of ill thoughts, when wilt thou be gone?
The Maidens.
Love, to the east are thine eyes turned as mine,
In patient watching for the night’s decline?
And hast thou noted this grey widening line?
Can any darkness keep us long alone?
The Youth.
O day, O day, is it a little thing
That thou so long unto thy life must cling,
Because I gave thee such a welcoming?
I called thee king of all felicity,
I praised thee that thou broughtest joy so nigh;
Thine hours are turned to years, thou wilt not die;
O day so longed for, would that thou wert gone!
The Maidens.
The light fails, love; the long day soon shall be
Nought but a pensive happy memory
Blessed for the tales it told to thee and me.
How hard it was, O love, to be alone.
poem by William Morris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hard Road
Old men crying, young men dying
World still turns as father time looks on, on and on
Children playing, dreamers praying
Laughter turns to tear as love has gone, has it gone?
Oh, its a hard road
Oh, its a hard road
Whirlwind churning, lovers learning
On this path of life we cant back down, is it wrong?
Widows weeping, babies sleeping
Life becomes the singer and the song, sing along
Oh, its a hard road
Carry your own load
Why make the hard road?
Why cant we be friends?
No need to hurry
Well meet in the end
Why make the hard road?
Why cant we be friends?
No need to worry
Lets sing it again
Brothers sharing, mothers caring
Nightime falling victim to the dawn, shadows small
Days are crawling, time is calling
To the earth that not that life has gone, love line drawn
Oh, its a hard road
Carry your own load
Oh, its a hard road
Oh, its a hard road...
Were living in sorrow, were living the best
And look to the future, 'cause life goes together now
Were living in sorrow, were living the best
And look to the future, 'cause life goes together now
Were living in sorrow, were living the best
And look to the future, 'cause life goes together now...
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Red Retreat
Tramp, tramp, the grim road, the road from Mons to Wipers
(I've 'ammered out this ditty with me bruised and bleedin' feet);
Tramp, tramp, the dim road -- we didn't 'ave no pipers,
And bellies that was 'oller was the drums we 'ad to beat.
Tramp, tramp, the bad road, the bits o' kiddies cryin' there,
The fell birds a-flyin' there, the 'ouses all aflame;
Tramp, tramp, the sad road, the pals I left a-lyin' there,
Red there, and dead there. . . . Oh blimy, it's a shame!
A-singin' "'Oo's Yer Lady Friend?" we started out from 'Arver,
A-singin' till our froats was dry -- we didn't care a 'ang;
The Frenchies 'ow they lined the way, and slung us their palaver,
And all we knowed to arnser was the one word "vang";
They gave us booze and caporal, and cheered for us like crazy,
And all the pretty gels was out to kiss us as we passed;
And 'ow they all went dotty when we 'owled the Marcelaisey!
Oh, Gawd! Them was the 'appy days, the days too good to last.
We started out for God Knows Where, we started out a-roarin';
We 'ollered: "'Ere We Are Again", and 'struth! but we was dry.
The dust was gummin' up our ears, and 'ow the sweat was pourin';
The road was long, the sun was like a brazier in the sky.
We wondered where the 'Uns was -- we wasn't long a-wonderin',
For down a scruff of 'ill-side they rushes like a flood;
Then oh! 'twas music 'eavenly, our batteries a-thunderin',
And arms and legs went soarin' in the fountain of their blood.
For on they came like bee-swarms, a-hochin' and a-singin';
We pumped the bullets into 'em, we couldn't miss a shot.
But though we mowed 'em down like grass, like grass was they a-springin',
And all our 'ands was blistered, for our rifles was so 'ot.
We roared with battle-fury, and we lammed the stuffin' out of 'em,
And then we fixed our bay'nets and we spitted 'em like meat.
You should 'ave 'eard the beggars squeal; you should 'ave seen the rout of 'em,
And 'ow we cussed and wondered when the word came: Retreat!
Retreat! That was the 'ell of it. It fair upset our 'abits,
A-runnin' from them blighters over 'alf the roads of France;
A-scurryin' before 'em like a lot of blurry rabbits,
And knowin' we could smash 'em if we just 'ad 'alf a chance.
Retreat! That was the bitter bit, a-limpin' and a-blunderin';
All day and night a-hoofin' it and sleepin' on our feet;
A-fightin' rear guard actions for a bit o' rest, and wonderin'
If sugar beets or mangels was the 'olesomest to eat.
Ho yus, there isn't many left that started out so cheerily;
There was no bands a-playin' and we 'ad no autmobeels.
Our tummies they was 'oller, and our 'eads was 'angin' wearily,
And if we stopped to light a fag the 'Uns was on our 'eels.
That rotten road! I can't forget the kids and mothers flyin' there,
The bits of barns a-blazin' and the 'orrid sights I sor;
The stiffs that lined the wayside, me own pals a-lyin' there,
Their faces covered over wiv a little 'eap of stror.
Tramp, tramp, the red road, the wicked bullets 'ummin'
(I've panted out this ditty with me 'ot 'ard breath.)
Tramp, tramp, the dread road, the Boches all a-comin',
The lootin' and the shootin' and the shrieks o' death.
Tramp, tramp, the fell road, the mad 'orde pursuin' there,
And 'ow we 'urled it back again, them grim, grey waves;
Tramp, tramp, the 'ell road, the 'orror and the ruin there,
The graves of me mateys there, the grim, sour graves.
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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