On The Gallows
There is a gate, we know full well,
That stands 'twixt Heaven, and Earth, and Hell,
Where many for a passage venture,
Yet very few are fond to enter:
Although 'tis open night and day,
They for that reason shun this way:
Both dukes and lords abhor its wood,
They can't come near it for their blood.
What other way they take to go,
Another time I'll let you know.
Yet commoners with greatest ease
Can find an entrance when they please.
The poorest hither march in state
(Or they can never pass the gate)
Like Roman generals triumphant,
And then they take a turn and jump on't,
If gravest parsons here advance,
They cannot pass before they dance;
There's not a soul that does resort here,
But strips himself to pay the porter.
poem by Jonathan Swift
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An Act
Deploring an act is to despise the person,
Others do sin as well, but what is that sin?
The entrance shines in front of you,
Take the brother of this gate, and you prosper.
Sins are to be forgiven, welcome to the good,
This gate then opens for some who do not murder.
Let felons work after heaven and hell are laid,
Eggs of dangerous properties are eaten by the criminals.
Once the eggs enter the stomach, a real wrong enters,
Eggs of hens are not lethal, but these are different.
An act so despised can never leave the soul,
And the souls can never enter the brotherly gates.
poem by Naveed Akram
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Heaven's Gate
Grass over my grave
So I died,
So long before you cried.
And now I wait at Heaven's gate,
Will they let me pass?
I doubt.
The things I did in my past
They now stand on my way
At Heaven's gate.
Lucifer! bare my heart,
Christ! hear my cry;
I wait at the gate
To your heart,
And they wont let me pass
poem by Efe Benjamin
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for John on his first frustration
let me draw you a house
with an entrance gate
leading to an entrance
door and some windows
to let in air.
just that, there will be no
exit doors, no exit gate,
all the windows open,
not designed to close,
that precisely is success
and failure.
there is a sense of
entrance triumphant
ditto an exit for some
ordinary and even
inevitable failures of
our lives.
the windows are some
of our other options, we
let in air to breathe
for a while. we must.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Open The Gate
I see you from the distance
From beyond the fence you made
Hiding all your feelings
Behind your barricade
Oh have you been invaded
Is this the reason why you hide
I know just how you're feeling
I know - let me inside
Open the gate up
Open the gate up - hurry
Open the gate up - hurry
I want to get near you
But you just won't let me in
'Cause you're so scared of losing
Everything you've got within
Come on now you can trust me
Come on and open the door
'Cause I know just how you're feeling
I know - I've been there before
Open the gate up
Open the gate up - hurry
Open the gate up
Hurry hurry hurry hurry
And do it right now
Do it right now
Do it right now
Do it right now - hurry
Do it right now - do it right now
Do it right now - do it right now
And do it right now - do it right now
Do it right now - do it right now
Hurry
Open the gate up
Open the gate up - hurry
Open the gate up
Hurry hurry hurry hurry
Open the gate up - open the gate up
Or I'm gonna knock the damn door down
Open the gate up - open the gate up
Or I'm gonna knock the damn door down
Open the gate up - open the gate up
Or I'm gonna knock the damn door down
Open the gate up - open the gate up
Or I'm gonna knock the damn door down
Down
song performed by by No Doubt from Beacon Street Collection
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gate Keeper
each night the wonder of darkness comes
in a most revealing light of what is leaving in
the midst of light
that's the most wonderful moment to happen
every night, when closing the eyes, comes the
unsolicited phenomenon of living with other souls
in the state of life, i have seen nothing but a
pure white color of no colors, different than our
naked eyes have perceived, it’s an awesome and
beautiful as a sleep, where a moment is not
counted for a day
waking me up talking with St. Peter and listening
the past is remembering the, teaching of the church
the gate keeper of heaven
a pleasure and honor, which is done, where
breathing is passing the past of learning on how
to enter the gate of memories
the gate is beautiful made of blue pearl with a crystal
stone of granite enter locking with diamond tupaz
between each border of threaded coil of gold as the
design, galloping the entire post of two big pillars,
facing the rising ladder of infinity clouds of smoke
just a cold breezing like melted malt seducing my
skin to smell its fragrance passion of perfume in
my nostrils of incensed myrrh of immortal soul
the gate keeper dress with a simple style of
fashionable French red cloth and a slipper made
in the Marikina, standing with a poise asking
each one with a bed like soft voice, of my name
all comes likes a vision in darkness of the night
where no immortal soul have witness the gate
of the gate keeper enter the pedulum he stands,
just wait and you will see the gate keeper in
heaven......in your dream
poem by Antonio Liao
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Open The Gate
I see you from a distance
From beyond the fence youve made
Hiding all your feelings
Behind your barricade
Have you been invaded
Is this the reason why you hide
I know just how your feeling
I know so let me inside
Open the gate up
Open the gate up, hurry
Open the gate up, hurry
I want to get near you
But you just wont let me in
Youre so scared of losing
Everything youve got within
Come on now you can trust me
Come on open the door
I know just how youre feeling
I know, Ive been there before
Open the gate up
Open the gate up hurry
Open the gate up hurry
Do it right now
Open the gate up...
Or Im gonna knock the d*mn door down!
song performed by by Gwen Stefani
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Sufis advise us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through three gates. At the first gate we ask ourselves, Are these words true? If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate we ask, Are they necessary? At the last gate we ask, Are they kind?
quote by Eknath Easwaran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Judgment Day
Saint Peter stood, at Heaven's gate,
All souls claims to adjudicate
Saying to some souls, 'Enter in!'
'Go to Hell,' to others, 'you are steeped in sin.'
When up from earth, with a great hubbub,
Came all the members of the Tuscarora Club.
The angel Gabriel, peering out,
Said, 'What, the devil, is this noise about?'
'Gabe,' said Peter, 'There's always lots of noise,
At any get-together of the Tuscarora boys -
Those are anglers and they all tell lies
About the trout that got away, their fierceness and their size -
They want to enter Heaven, for our brooks are full of trout,
But I won't have any liars, and I'll keep the whole gang out;
No liars enter Heaven, and I'll most distinctly tell
The whole danged Tuscarora Club, it has to go to Hell.'
Then, at a little distance from the precious pearly gate,
The Tuscarora fellows paused to talk and cogitate;
One Barr said this, one Barr said that, McAlpin had his say,
But foxy Charley Roberts said, 'This is the only way -
'You'd best leave this to me,' he said. 'Just let me handle Pete
and in a trice we'll be inside upon the golden street;
I'll show him that he's one of us, because he used to be,
Himself, a brother fisher, in the Sea of Gallilee-
And I move you, Mr. President, we make the poor old dub
An honorary member of the Tuscarora Club.'
'Agreed! Agreed!' the members cried, but Manny Barr said, 'Wait!
Amend it thus 'PROVIDED - That he didn't fish with bait.''
Saint Peter saw them coming but his face was hard and stern,
He had formed his resolution from which he would not turn,
Not even Roberts' palaver would ever change him so
He'd send the Tuscarorans anywhere, but down below.
But now upon his countenance there came a look of pain,
He stepped from foot to foot, and then from foot to foot again:
He hailed a new-come resident, who near the portal stood,
A goodly Christian gentleman, whose name was Hubert Wood.
He said to him, 'Come here, my friend, and tend awhile this gate-
Just take my place for half an hour - I've got to urinate.'
With that Saint Peter hustled off. The gate-keeper pro tem
Observed the Tuscarorans and he waved his hand at them.
'Come in! come in!' he shouted, for he was an angler, too,
And he knew that anglers, as a whole, were earth's most harmless crew.
So all the Tuscarorans got to heaven, thanks to Wood,
And the Secretary's last report says, 'Fishing there is good.'
poem by Ellis Parker Butler
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Jerusalem
If God so raise the Dead, shall He pass by
The Captive and the immemorable chain?
Fud(ce)a capta!-taken but not slain-
And cursèd not to die-ah, not to die?
Then come out of thine ages, thou art free!
Live but one Greek in old Thermopylæ,
And Greece is saved! Dark stands the Northern Fate
At Europe's open door; upon her nod
To pass that breach a hundred nations wait.
What! shall we meet her with the bayonet?
As the West sets the Sun 'twixt sea and sky
In that Great Gate, Immortal! let us set
Thy doom; quit Destiny with Destiny,
Meet Fate by Fate, and fill the gap with God.
poem by Sydney Thompson Dobell
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Heaven's Only Door
There is far too much presumption, concerning the time we pass away,
For so many fail to open The Word of God to see what He has to say.
For all men are destined once to die, and then must face judgment,
But many people die not knowing what's ahead, not even a tiny hint.
For some people are taught by others that everyone goes to Heaven,
But remember Jesus warned us to watch out for the Pharisee's leaven.
Many others turn away when you talk about Hell's Eternal Punishment,
They say He's a loving God and to such a place no one would be sent.
Another idea taught by many is that all roads will lead to the Lord,
This is taught by men who don't understand and The Bible is ignored.
Some believe they will enter Heaven when they see the life they had,
Resting in an empty hope, that their good will out weigh their bad.
There are also those who acknowledge God and know that He is Pure,
But comparing their self to Him they think they're in Hell for sure.
And some people don't believe in God or even in a life after death,
And believe they rot just like animals after their very last breath.
There is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun, this you can be sure,
Dear friend forget about all the views above and listen to The Lord.
He died on Calvary's Cross-for the entire world and you can be sure,
And Christ is the way, the truth, the life, and Heaven's Only Door.
(Copyright © 07/2002)
Two Husbands
Unpenitent, I grieve to state,
Two good men stood by heaven's gate,
Saint Peter coming to await.
The stopped the Keeper of the Keys,
Saying: "What suppliants are these,
Who wait me not on bended knees?
"To get my heavenly Okay
A man should have been used to pray,
Or suffered in some grievous way."
"Oh I have suffered," cried the first.
"Of wives I had the wicked worst,
Who made my life a plague accurst.
"Such martyrdom no tongue can tell;
In mercy's name it is not well
To doom me to another hell."
Saint Peter said: "I comprehend;
But tribulations have their end.
The gate is open, - go my friend."
Then said the second: "What of me?
More I deserve to pass than he,
For I've been wedded twice, you see."
Saint Peter looked at him a while,
And then he answered with a smile:
"Your application I will file.
"Yet twice in double yoke you've driven . . .
Though sinners with our Saints we leaven,
We don't take IMBECILES in heaven."
poem by Robert William Service
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Grace Of Clydeside
AH, little Grace of the golden locks,
The hills rise fair on the shores of Clyde.
As the merry waves wear out these rocks
She wears my heart out, glides past and mocks:
But heaven's gate ever stands open wide.
The boat goes softly along, along,
Like a river of life glows the amber Clyde;
Her voice floats near me like angel's song,--
Ah, sweet love-death, but thy pangs are strong!
Though heaven's gate ever stands open wide.
We walk by the shore and the stars shine bright,
But coldly, above the solemn Clyde:
Her arm touches mine--her laugh rings light--
ONE hears my silence: His merciful night
Hides me--Can heaven be open wide?
I ever was but a dreamer, Grace:
As the gray hills watch o'er the sunny Clyde,
Standing afar, each in his place,
I watch your young life's beautiful race,
Apart--until heaven be opened wide.
And sometimes when in the twilight balm
The hills grow purple along the Clyde,
The waves flow softly and very calm,
I hear all nature sing this one psalm,
That 'heaven's gate ever stands open wide.'
So, happy Grace, with your spirit free,
Laugh on! life is sweet on the banks of Clyde;
This is no blame unto thee or me;
Only God saw it could not be,
Therefore His heaven stands open wide.
poem by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
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The Poets
Half god, half brute, within the self-same shell,
Changers with every hour from dawn till even,
Who dream with angels in the gate of heaven,
And skirt with curious eyes the brinks of hell,
Children of Pan, whom some, the few, love well,
But most draw back, and know not what to say,
Poor shining angels, whom the hoofs betray,
Whose pinions frighten with their goatish smell.
Half brutish, half divine, but all of earth,
Half-way 'twixt hell and heaven, near to man,
The whole world's tangle gathered in one span,
Full of this human torture and this mirth:
Life with its hope and error, toil and bliss,
Earth-born, earth-reared, ye know it as it is.
poem by Archibald Lampman
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Holocaust the Apathy
blood reaches to the gate of hell, alongside with
innocent flesh sways into the open gate of heaven
wounded seems fragile yet! hopeless to come
close of sacred doorstep of eternal life
sweat pour out the ground of loud cried,
shouting with silent prayer; a wish that comes what
may, gently await the coming last days of judgment
the bucket seems to full of empty flower, while
lighted candle surround the corner of vessel cool of
moist bonded to hold close in the cup of
final judgment remain in the altar
down in the aisle I’ll go and gone brightly the
condolence I receive, where is the blood
I bring...
poem by Antonio Liao
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Dont Let The Moment Pass
Lead vocal: marti webb
This golden day will be mine
For every moment in time
If time should lose her way
A symphony in the night
Of stars that dance in the light
And music far away
They say that love is but a dance
Dont let the music fade away
Dont let the moment pass
Without reason or rhyme
The sweet bouquet of the wine
Will vanish in the air
The innocence of the rose
She leaves where she goes
For all the world to share
Some days when clouds are drifting by
I open my eyes and watch them go
And wonder where they fly
Some nights orion runs too fast
I look to the stars as if to say
Dont let the moment pass
But soon a golden age is past
Just when it seemed that miracles
Where not too much to ask
And though the world may turn too fast
If it should seem like paradise
Dont let the moment pass
song performed by by Alan Parsons Project
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In Saint Gabriel's Wings
In saint gabriel's wings I will fly all thre way throught the sky
But first I will past through living waters here on earth
And soon I will enter the gate of heaven
But once I am inside the gates of heaven I will be inside God's abode Forever because I will be dead
My spirit will be in heaven
But my body will remain on the planet earth
And please don't go looking for me because I will not be on the planet Earth anymore
I will cry and water the earth with my cries every time that I will cry in Heaven
poem by Aldo Kraas
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Reason To Try
(john lind & phil gladston)
Recorded by eric carmen
Arista as1-9746 / 1988
We went runnin
Out where the stars are born
We came crashin down in flames
I could be right
You could be wrong
We could be anything at all
But tonight at least Im sure
I know this rain will pass
We need a reason to try again
I know this pain wont last
We can find those dreams again
I know
We went screamin
Into the dead of night
We were kicking down the door
Now we can go back
We can go on
We can do anything we want
Anything we want and more
I know this rain will pass
We need a reason to try again
I know this pain wont last
We can find those dreams again
I know
We need a reason to smile again
I know
We need a reason to try again
I could be right
You could be wrong
We could be anything at all
But tonight at least Im sure
I know this rain will pass
We need a reason to try again
I know this pain wont last
We can find those dreams again
I know
We need a reason to smile again
I know
We need a reason to try
I know
I know this rain will pass
We need a reason to try again
I know this pain wont last
We can find those dreams again
I know this rain will pass
We need a reason to try again
I know this pain wont last
We can find those dreams again
song performed by by Eric Carmen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Pleading
I'm knocking at your gate again
Open up
Won't you let me in?
I'm standing
Waiting
Watching to see some recognition please.
Yes
It really is me.
Open up.
Won't you let me in?
I waited for you
Let the years pass by
I listened to hear
The
'It's all right.'
I'm knocking at your gate again
Bloody knuckles
Scraped skin.
Panic is gaining hold on me
Please
I whisper
Let me in.
I taste tears..
Who is crying and why?
My vision is blurred
There is stinging in my eyes.
I'm knocking at your gate again.
Waiting
For the gusty wind to carry me away
From this lonesome place.
I'm knocking at your gate again.
Why won't you answer?
Why won't you let me in?
I'm walking down the path again
Away from you,
Away from this thing..
Whatever binds us
Will eventually break.
The threads will give way
Perhaps then
I will have found my escape.
No shelter here
Nothing secure
you don't even bother to peak
Through the curtains anymore.
I'm leaving you,
battered and bruised,
To a new place
A better home
Somewhere safe.
poem by Rabia Minhas
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Forty Letters To A Woman – Third Letter –
You were the harpist
At the gate of heaven.
I was about crossing that gate
when we first met.
I never though,
felt, or captured your inner songs
that flew with the harp melody
until I left heaven from the other gate.
I never knew
that your were the first picture
and the last sound of heaven
until I left it.
What remains
now in
my deepest memories
an ancient question
- and that is
what I try to get rid of: -
What makes heaven
heaven?
is it a melody,
a woman's melody at the gate of heaven,
or the silent melody in a woman eyes?
poem by Atef Ayadi
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March
Were I young again
and the month of March
were upon me
I'd skip down the road,
do a march to March,
sing a tune to March
dance a dance to March,
risk a prance to March,
strut and grind and do
a break dance to March.
Hop, skip and jump to March,
just like a the girl I used to be,
once upon a time in March,
when my cheeks had high colour
and my hopes were high.
poem by Ruth Walters
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