Shells
Reaching down arm-deep into bright water
I gathered on white sand under waves
Shells, drifted up on beaches where I alone
Inhabit a finite world of years and days.
I reached my arm down a myriad years
To gather treasure from the yester-milliennial sea-floor,
Held in my fingers forms shaped on the day of creation.
Building their beauty in three dimensions
Over which the world recedes away from us,
And in the fourth, that takes away ourselves
From moment to moment and from year to year
From first to last they remain in their continuous present.
The helix revolves like a timeless thought,
Instantaneous from apex to rim
Like a dance whose figure is limpet or murex,
cowrie or golden winkle.
They sleep on the ocean floor like humming-tops
Whose music is the mother-of-pearl octave of the rainbow,
Harmonious shells that whisper forever in our ears,
The world that you inhabit has not yet been created.
poem by Kathleen Jessie Raine
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Related quotes
In The Shallows
AMONG the shallows where the sand
Is golden and the waves are small,
I love to lie, and to my hand
How many little treasures fall!
What shells and seaweed grace the shore,
What happy birds on happy wings,
And for companions, what a store
Of humble, happy, living things!
Yet the sea's depths are also mine,
And in the old days I used to dive
Into the caves, where corals shine
And where the shimmering mer-folk live.
I am the master of the sea
In deeps where fairy flowers uncurl;
That treasure-house belongs to me,
Those amber halls, those stairs of pearl.
But now thereto I go no more,
Because of all the argosies,
Deep sunk upon the ocean floor,
Where all the world's lost treasure lies.
Where loveless laughter curls the lips
Of wild sea creatures at their sport
About the bones of noble ships,
My ships, that never came to port.
poem by Edith Nesbit
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Love Poem
Yours is the face that the earth turns to me,
Continuous beyond its human features lie
The mountain forms that rest against the sky.
With your eyes, the reflecting rainbow, the sun's light
Sees me; forest and flower, bird and beast
Know and hold me forever in the world's thought,
Creation's deep untroubled retrospect.
When your hand touches mine it is the earth
That takes me--the green grass,
And rocks and rivers; the green graves,
And children still unborn, and ancestors,
In love passed down from hand to hand from God.
Your love comes from the creation of the world,
From those paternal fingers, streaming through the clouds
That break with light the surface of the sea.
Here, where I trace your body with my hand,
Love's presence has no end;
For these, your arms that hold me, are the world's.
In us, the continents, clouds and oceans meet
Our arbitrary selves, extensive with the night,
Lost, in the heart's worship, and the body's sleep.
poem by Kathleen Jessie Raine
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Seascape
Hues of cyanotic blue,
Intermeshing, as
Reds mutate into oranges and yellows,
Deep rose would become a sea of tranquility-
If I could rock myself to an eternal sleep, I could
Listen to the ocean’s waves as they lap against the sand, as
Small diamonds would scintillate in the sunlight.
Variations of greens and yellows would blend with one another, as
Water snakes and anemones would mingle with the
Flora of the sea-
I could hear the roaring of the ocean’s waves on
Moonlit days before sunrise upon awakening, as
I had lost myself within a sea of dreams-
Hues of cyanotic blues,
Deep rose as a tranquil sea could be, coral –red,
Sea grass, viridian in hue,
Sways with the rhythm of the rising tide,
Lost, I am in this myriad of dreams,
Reaching out trying to grasp that moment in reality
That has just slipped through my fingertips,
I would ride bare back upon a sea horse,
Destined to live forever…
The ocean expands parallel to the universe, never ending.
As a storm at sea abates,
I have found some peace of mind in this reflective moment.
Reds mutate to shades of orange to a dusty rose,
Lost in thoughts and reverie, I am
Carried away by the ocean’s waves.
Stardust has settled gently over the horizon- as far as
I can see, and
Upon this very tranquil night,
I see this world through a kaleidoscope;
Chips of broken glass reflecting greens and yellows,
Mauves and violets-
Enveloping all I can for miles and miles where the
Forever expanding ocean would finally meet with the sky-
I would want to live forever on this never abating journey-
Where I have finally escaped reality.
Claudia Krizay
poem by Claudia Krizay
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Another view
if i could afford the world
a view of another world
through my verses like the
ocean that hides yet magnifies
a world so glorious of its own -
freewheeling corals, zizagging fishes,
multihued starfishes, shells that grant
the ocean a contest of geometric elegance
giant meditative clam that turns out a luxurious
ochreous pearl impervious to the pounding waves
a monk zooming on zero desires for nirvana -
my life as a poet would have been well rewarded
the rainbow the sun never fails
to illuminate in the fall of heavenly
sweats and tears
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Dancing At The Rainbow Grill
Downtown in front of a renowned, teenage hangout,
Every weekend evening we formed a jovial group,
Boys and girls together would converse and frolic
While a jukebox played popular music on a stoop,
On the dance floor of the Rainbow Grill.
There is where Henry Shane and littleJoey Quinn,
With Nicky Walker, a comedian, who stole the show,
The robust Charlie Wagner, with a petite, pretty girl
First picked up the footwork for the rock and roll
On the dance floor of the Rainbow Grill.
Round and round the dance floor the couples twirled,
As the jukebox played ' The Twist' or 'Blueberry Hill',
Boys and girls together, versatile and lightfooted,
The body motion and musical tempo created a thrill
On the dance floor of the Rainbow Grill.
Times have changed since those memorable evenings,
The group has gone afar now, but they must feel like me,
They would cherish a moment once more to freely dance
With their favorite dancer just like it use to be
On the dance floor of the Rainbow Grill.
poem by Joseph T. Renaldi
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Truth Everlasting
ocean waves beating up against the beach
the cool water against my feet
faces in the rocks looking up to the sky
the ocean waves reaching forever high.
the seagulls flying in to land on the sand
as i reached over with my hand.
gently touching his soft white back
my mind racing faster-never letting up the slack
the reflections of times gone by
when life was young and not full of lies.
the only thing that ever seemed the same
was some faces and some names.
faces and names of a past gone by
as i looked up towards the sky.
trying to figure why the rock faces looked up
and what they could possibly see
as it all seemed very naked to me
when a thought came into my mind
as the ocean reflected off the sky.
the faces were looking up to see
god looking down unhappily.
of him seeing all of his creations
being all torn down.
of human life laying on the ground.
unhappiness all around and not one voice to be found
to tell the world of its mistakes and the lies we live are all fakes.
and now i see what is to be-his truth everlasting.
poem by Louis Rams
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Give Me Dancing Music(Song) :
I've been tempted.
And it's not so good.
I'm gonna pick up the pieces.
Then mend my ways.
So give me dancing music.
Let me dance all day.
Let me lift my feet up.
Then dance across the floor.
Dit-dit-dit-dance across, dance across.
Dance across the floor.
Let me dance across, dance across.
Dance across the floor.
I've been waiting.
For you to arrive.
And I was wondering.
If you were mine.
I can go on forever.
Or take my time.
Go on forever.
Or dance till nine.
So give me dancing music.
Let me dance all day.
Let me lift my feet up.
Then dance across the floor.
Dit-dit-dit-dance across, dance across.
Dance across the floor.
Let me dance across, dance across.
Let me dance across the floor..
Dance Across The Floor-Song-By Kim Robin Edwards
Copyright 1987,2009..
All rights reserved..
poem by Kim Robin Edwards
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My Father's Garden
I remember my father as being a warm person-
A strong man in many ways always working hard so that
My mother and I could have the very best-
He passed so many years ago but
I can still hear his laughter, and recall his gentleness-
As he was always there for me-
I still can see him working in his garden
At the time we lived close to the shores of Carmel –
I can still hear the leaves upon the trees rustling in the wind,
And the peaceful rocking of the ocean waves
Soothing me as they were lapping upon the shore close by-
I will never forget the joy the flowers he had planted
Brought to him, my mother and I,
As he seemed to be lost inside a world of his own,
Transforming a yard where at one time only high grasses grew
Into a kingdom of color and beauty for everyone to perceive-
I shall never forget the rose bushes-
Yellow, pink and red blossoms in their colorful hues
Enlightening to everyone’s eyes, as they were, and fragrant as well,
In all of their delicacy;
My father passed years ago- - a terminal illness snatched away
This wonderful being – tears still come to my eyes in past memories- as
I cannot comprehend that if a god exists-
How could he have snatched life away so quickly from
A person who had such a zest for life?
I shall never forget the moment he died, how my uncle
Sat upon a chair in the bathroom with his head in his hands weeping
When my father fell to the floor at his death-
Although he has parted from this world forever, fond memories continue-
People always die but flowers keep growing and live on.
Yesterday I cut a pink rose from a bush in the yard and
Placed it in a small vase upon the end table by my bed side and
As I drifted off to sleep this delicate and lovely flower carried me
Into the world of my fantasies- where my father is still with me always, and
I still feel his loving arms embracing me; I can still hear the rustling of
Leaves upon the trees outside, and I still hear the waves lapping upon the shore
And even though in flesh he is gone-
Departed from this world, he has left valuable reminiscences for me to treasure;
Whenever I stand in his garden I can still feel his presence, as in my
Heart and spirit, he shall always be very much alive….
poem by Claudia Krizay
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Body Architects
i'm starting from scratch
i'm putting the pieces together
day by day.. one by one.. i'm the only one
my surroundings affect the structure.. of my state of mind
just when you think everything is fine
the foundation cracks... in a fraction of time
so look in the mirror.. it doesn't lie
we... we all forget
that we're the architects of the bodies we inhabit
we... we all forget
that we're the architects of the bodies we inhabit
i skipped the school of the learned for the... majority
but i figured it out the hard way.. my own way.. the only way
and it made me stronger... bigger than the rest
i'm the architect that knows my body best
we... we all forget
that we're the architects of the bodies we inhabit
we... we all forget
that we're the architects of the bodies we inhabit
we rock the party that rocks the body!!
we... we all forget
that we're the architects of the bodies we inhabit
we... we all forget
that we're the architects of the bodies we inhabit
song performed by by Tommy Lee from Never A Dull Moment
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Brief Moment Out of Time
A year ends under a monstrous wave.
Eleven countries bury their dead, and
Cry for the hopelessness of what is.
Water recedes, spitting out what once was
Mother, sister, brother, new born, friend.
Like small broken shells they wash to the shore,
Picked over carefully by the living.
They look for what was theirs,
In a brief moment out of time.
Nature clawing back centuries of structure,
Ecosystems of every kind, fallen.
Into the maw of an ocean starved,
Proven by its savage molestation of the land.
Showing no discrimination while it swallowed
Cities, islands, and all that inhabited.
Then, fully gorged sluggishly withdrew
Leaving the remnants of its meal behind.
Tears of the living, blood of the dead,
Mingled with the salt of sea.
New rivers were born,
In a brief moment out of time.
poem by Kathy Koppang
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As Consequent, Etc.
AS consequent from store of summer rains,
Or wayward rivulets in autumn flowing,
Or many a herb-lined brook's reticulations,
Or subterranean sea-rills making for the sea,
Songs of continued years I sing.
Life's ever-modern rapids first, (soon, soon to blend,
With the old streams of death.)
Some threading Ohio's farm-fields or the woods,
Some down Colorado's cañons from sources of perpetual snow,
Some half-hid in Oregon, or away southward in Texas, 10
Some in the north finding their way to Erie, Niagara, Ottawa,
Some to Atlantica's bays, and so to the great salt brine.
In you whoe'er you are my book perusing,
In I myself, in all the world, these currents flowing,
All, all toward the mystic ocean tending.
Currents for starting a continent new,
Overtures sent to the solid out of the liquid,
Fusion of ocean and land, tender and pensive waves,
(Not safe and peaceful only, waves rous'd and ominous too,
Out of the depths the storm's abysmic waves, who knows whence? 20
Raging over the vast, with many a broken spar and tatter'd sail.)
Or from the sea of Time, collecting vasting all, I bring,
A windrow-drift of weeds and shells.
O little shells, so curious-convolute, so limpid-cold and voiceless,
Will you not little shells to the tympans of temples held,
Murmurs and echoes still call up, eternity's music faint and far,
Wafted inland, sent from Atlantica's rim, strains for the soul of the
prairies,
Whisper'd reverberations, chords for the ear of the West joyously
sounding,
Your tidings old, yet ever new and untranslatable,
Infinitesimals out of my life, and many a life, 30
(For not my life and years alone I give--all, all I give,)
These waifs from the deep, cast high and dry,
Wash'd on America's shores?
poem by Walt Whitman
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Bell In The Sea, The
(music: marillion lyrics: steve hogarth & john helmer)
I dreamed i rolled on the ocean floor
In the sunken bones of a broken ship
On the shadow line where whispers creep
To the world above from the world beneath
On waves of silver i dreamed of gold
'till i lost the peace that dreaming gives
I dreamed of the moment of my own death
That no one ever dreams and lives
I dreamed i sailed to the mirrored edge
Of that murky world for an iron bell
That dragged me down to the ocean bed
And rang to mark where my shadow fell
On waves of silver i dreamed of gold
'till i lost the peace that dreaming gives
I dreamed of the moment of my own death
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
I dreamed i slept on the ocean bed
And a silent grave of silver sand
Rolled in the sway of an iron bell
I've heard it said when they go to sea
On stormy nights you can hear her moan
She tolls for the mourning of her own death
And echoes here on the village stones
On the waves of silver i dreamed of gold
I dreamed of the moment of my own death
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
song performed by by Marillion
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bell In The Sea
(music: marillion lyrics: steve hogarth & john helmer)
I dreamed I rolled on the ocean floor
In the sunken bones of a broken ship
On the shadow line where whispers creep
To the world above from the world beneath
On waves of silver I dreamed of gold
till I lost the peace that dreaming gives
I dreamed of the moment of my own death
That no one ever dreams and lives
I dreamed I sailed to the mirrored edge
Of that murky world for an iron bell
That dragged me down to the ocean bed
And rang to mark where my shadow fell
On waves of silver I dreamed of gold
till I lost the peace that dreaming gives
I dreamed of the moment of my own death
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
I dreamed I slept on the ocean bed
And a silent grave of silver sand
Rolled in the sway of an iron bell
Ive heard it said when they go to sea
On stormy nights you can hear her moan
She tolls for the mourning of her own death
And echoes here on the village stones
On the waves of silver I dreamed of gold
I dreamed of the moment of my own death
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
That no one ever dreams and lives
song performed by by Marillion
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Or From That Sea Of Time
OR, from that Sea of Time,
Spray, blown by the wind--a double winrow-drift of weeds and shells;
(O little shells, so curious-convolute! so limpid-cold and voiceless!
Yet will you not, to the tympans of temples held,
Murmurs and echoes still bring up--Eternity's music, faint and far,
Wafted inland, sent from Atlantica's rim--strains for the Soul of the
Prairies,
Whisper'd reverberations--chords for the ear of the West, joyously
sounding
Your tidings old, yet ever new and untranslatable;)
Infinitessimals out of my life, and many a life,
(For not my life and years alone I give--all, all I give;) 10
These thoughts and Songs--waifs from the deep--here, cast high and
dry,
Wash'd on America's shores.
Currents of starting a Continent new,
Overtures sent to the solid out of the liquid,
Fusion of ocean and land--tender and pensive waves,
(Not safe and peaceful only--waves rous'd and ominous too.
Out of the depths, the storm's abysms--Who knows whence? Death's
waves,
Raging over the vast, with many a broken spar and tatter'd sail.)
poem by Walt Whitman
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Stranded (Lyrics)
Your waves come crashing down
Like a semi-auto trailer
I dive so deep in the sea
To avoid killer whales
A perfect moment here and gone
It has sailed
I'll use a hammerhead to drive
Rusty nail inside
I'm feeling the sea beneath me, beneath you
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
Imagine if our world was blue and weightless
I never meant to do wrong to you
You're my starfish
You moan a tone so low beyond me
A telepathic sub-sonic frequency
I need a little air for emergency
You have to understand this urgency
I'm feeling the sea beneath me, beneath you
White sand beneath my feet
No brain between my ears
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
I know that if I had one
I'd spare us both these years
I'm feeling the sea beneath me, beneath you
White sand beneath my feet
No brain between my ears
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
I know that if I had one
I'd spare us both these years
A sea anemone, you're my enemy
poem by Satan's Sibling
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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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A Year of Anniversaries
This year is a year of anniversaries,
and I remember where I was,
and what I was doing on each of them,
when the news came through.
The death of two famous people
who had an effect on our lives
and a diabolical act of terrorism
one could never forget.
That stunned nations around the world.
Thirty years ago,
the world was stunned by the passing of a king.
The king of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.
Although his voice was silenced
on a bathroom floor,
he left with us all a legacy
of his music that will live eternally.
Ten years ago the world lost a Princess
in a car crash in Paris.
A Royal Princess of the likes no one had ever seen before,
whose gentleness and kindness
with everyone she met
will always be remembered.
She was Diana, Princess of Wales,
but she was more than that,
she was a Princess to the world.
She reached out to the poor and rich alike.
She was mourned by millions across every land.
The legacy she left is to befriend everyone.
Then six years ago, something happened.
It drew together nations,
who sometimes were at odds with one another,
to defeat an enemy
whose fingers stretched across many lands.
Loved ones of many nations mourned
when the twin towers crumbled to the ground
in a diabolical act of terror.
Planes were ordered out of the sky,
and for days after as I remember
I never saw a single bird fly.
Silence drew a cloud around the world,
on that day of infamy,
11 September 2001.
Images flew around the world to television screens.
Everyone looked in disbelief
at the pictures that they saw.
The unimaginable had happened.
Terror had struck
the corner stone of freedom
with one almighty blow.
The world was a sad place that day
as many millions cried.
Now the anniversaries have rolled around.
Memories of what I was doing on those days,
come to the forefront of my mind,
of how I felt,
where I was,
when for a few minutes around the world
time stood still in my life.
So I ask as you finish this poem to take a minute of your time to remember all those who lost their lives and those who risked their lives to save people most didn’t know six years ago today.
poem by David Harris
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Tango In Argentina
Tango in Argentina
It was eons ago, in Buenos Aires, many of us around a table at a cafe
I can’t remember why I was there think it was something to do with
buying race horses. A woman asked me up to dance I first declined,
shyness is my bane, after prodding I trotted up on the dance floor.
The band played a tango, not that I hadn’t dance before, mother was
a dance teacher, something happened, I forgot about my timidity
just danced floating on a cloud of pleasure. We’re alone on the floor,
when the music stopped, applause. Back at our table dad gave me
a glass of wine, the dream continued. I wanted to marry Dona Juanita,
my dancing partner; dad said no, she was married and too old for me.
But I have never since been able to emulate the magic of the moment
When I see a colt galloping across the pampas I know of the physical
pleasure it feels, once it was me feeling exuberant and timeless in
a world of everlasting youth.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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On Some Shells Found Inland
These are my murmur-laden shells that keep
A fresh voice tho' the years be very gray.
The wave that washed their lips and tuned their lay
Is gone, gone with the faded ocean sweep,
The royal tide, gray ebb and sunken neap
And purple midday,--gone! To this hot clay
Must sing my shells, where yet the primal day,
Its roar and rhythm and splendour will not sleep.
What hand shall join them to their proper sea
If all be gone? Shall they forever feel
Glories undone and world that cannot be?--
'Twere mercy to stamp out this aged wrong,
Dash them to earth and crunch them with the heel
And make a dust of their seraphic song.
poem by Trumbull Stickney
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Anniversary
A year ago today we stood
Above this same awakening world
I held you...
You never wanted me to know
Another year ago today
Before this same awakening world
I held you...
I never meant to let you go
There was a moment
There always is
When time stood still
And always was this...
One endless moment
You turn in pain
And I always let you go
Over and over again...
A year ago tonight we lay
Below this same remembering sky
I kissed you
You never wanted me to know...
Another year ago tonight
Behind this same remembering sky
I kissed you...
I never meant to let you go
Another moment
There always is
As time stands still
And always is this...
One endless moment
You tell me all
And I hold you and I kiss you
And I never let you go
I never let you go...
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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