Full Orchestra
MY words are the poor footmen of your pride,
Of what you cry, you trumpets, each to each
With mouths of air; my speech is the dog-speech
Of yours, the Roman tongue—but mine is tied
By harsher bridles, dumb with breath and bone.
Vainly it mocks the dingo strings, the stops,
The pear-tree flying in the flute, with drops
Of music, quenched and scattered by your own.
So serving-men, who run all night with wine,
And whet their ears, and crouch upon the floor,
Sigh broken words no man has heard before
Or since, but ravished in the candleshine,
Between the push and shutting of a door,
From the great table where their masters dine.
poem by Kenneth Slessor
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Rubbish Tip
At the rubbish tip they place their words
Just on the edge of
Surreal and absurd
A gold leafed edge
A lettered page
At teh rubbish tip
They stage
Their acts in
'THREE PARTS SCENE ONE'
Then you arrive
By stage door three
With a broken heart
All at sea
With the rythmn
Of the words
They left you to say
Can't see the wood for the trees today
At the rubbish dump
The hungry sit
Wide eyed
Death in their mouths
Waiting to eat
The bread of the words
The crumbs from a table
Of rotten verse
Yet still they come the blind and the dumb
Sit up and write
Recite it all night
Without a pause
Or space for 'applause'
READ THE PAPER!
It makes more sense to believe in
The tablod lies
Than live in a world of man made pretense
Take your tongue from your cheek
The fibre glass from your eye
BETTER NOT TO SAY A THING
DON'T TIP THE WORDS FROM YOUR MOUTH
TO THE PAGE...VOMIT BREACHED
just stay silent
Let the rain fall one more time
It's a sign of the times sell fast stories
Falling of dirty ink presses
distresses on paper
OUR DAILY BREAD SPOON FED!
ANGUS HAM STRINGS
poem by Yvette Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sonnet 16
when words will not you move
nor my heart persuade to unfortify,
but as stone your image proves
against words image must qualify,
when music, the speech of soul,
and poetry, the soul of speech,
by you will not my mind school
nor my soul new poetry teach,
when love, the cultivation of heart,
struck by your love to heart strings,
will not from you new poetry impart
what surety of trust does love bring?
departed, these words to you ascend:
so departed, will you new words send?
poem by Doug Bentley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Ravished
I was ravished by the words
that flowed in familiar tones
as they glided across the page.
I was ravished by my pen
that with symmetrical reasoning
writes between the lines,
whatever that is suppose to mean.
I was ravished and seduced
into world beyond my understanding
as my pen danced with words
in clusters of mediocrity.
I was ravished and ravished again
that looking back became a toil,
something I will never do again.
I was ravished into doing whatever I do best,
whatever that may be. I was ravished into it.
15 November 2011
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Art Of Rejection
There is an Art to 'rejection'
First they 'hook you in'
With tales of love and words of 'I love you'
The sugary sweet pill of flattery
Of making coral shine from broken shells
Knowing all to well
Such fragile beauty
Could not bear the lightening breakers
Mountain storms
Until tempest tossed
You lie on stony shores
Bone on bone
salt ravished flesh
Your dry lung cannot breath without the 'other'
There is an 'Art to rejection'
First they hook you in
with soft bait
And looks that catches your approval
Knowing your fragile beauty
Cannot withstand
The windswept mouth of deserts
The hundred clasping hands and tiny mouths
That drink you dry
Until
Bone on bone you lie
yvette m smith dec 08
poem by Yvette Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Karenge Ya Marenge
Wherein are words sublime or noble? What
Invests one speech with haloed eminence,
Makes it the sesame for all doors shut,
Yet in its like sees but impertinence?
Is it the hue? Is it the cast of eye,
The curve of lip or Asiatic breath,
Which mark a lesser place for Gandhi’s cry
Than “Give me liberty or give me death!”
Is Indian speech so quaint, so weak, so rude,
So like its land enslaved, denied, and crude,
That men who claim they fight for liberty
Can hear this battle-shout impassively,
Yet to their arms with high resolve have sprung
At those same words cried in the English tongue?
poem by Countee Cullen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Tongue tied
Whenever I lie I seem to get tongue tied,
On the face of it you may well think it's fine,
But it makes me sigh and I have even cried,
As it leads one to a life of poor design,
I hate when people say that lying is bad,
Sometimes it's the best option that is at hand,
For telling the truth can make people feel sad,
Or lead you to enduring things you can't stand,
Like assessing the appearance of a friend,
Being made to read the writings of laymen,
Having to attend a play in the West End,
Or visiting a relative yet again,
I've often done things I'd rather not have done,
Such as kissing an unappealing person,
Or doing stuff that others seem to find fun,
And so I wish to change before things worsen,
I heard there was someone who knew of a cure,
And so I went off so as to find out more,
With time I found the one I was looking for,
They gave advice which was best not to ignore,
I went and put a piece of ice on my tongue,
Hoping I couldn't lie if my mouth was numb,
I even tried eating a bee to get stung,
However my speech suffered as an outcome,
I altered the language in which I express,
Lest English was that with which my plight depends,
With the use of sign language I found success,
But I couldn't communicate with my friends,
I guess that all of my efforts were in vain,
I'll now have to speak words that are genuine,
Endure the consequences and not complain,
Either that or learn to lace my words with spin.
poem by Christian Lacdael
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When My Voice Stops!
When my voice stops for ever
There will be no tumults of words ever.
The stars will still twinkle and rivers will still die.
When my voice stops I shall dive into your oblivion
And in another costume someone will impersonate me.
The hymns will still be heard and the fresh idols will surface.
When my voice stops a lone sheep may bleat
As it stands near the tender leaves aplenty.
I think it may bleat for a while and cease to do so thenceforth.
When my voice stops those who loved me once for a while
May shed a few drops of tears innocent
And I may turn on my tomb for a sigh!
poem by M.d Dinesh Nair
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
(Angry Poem) Blood On The Floor
Mark My Words,
This Will Not End Good.
I Can Already See The Blood On Floor.
Spilt Everywhere.
All Because Of You.
All Because You Can Never Lose.
Always Right Never Wrong.
Just Walk Away Leave It Alone.
Its Like Trying To Talk To A Brick Wall.
There's Just No Way To Get Through To You.
Mark My Words,
This Will No End Good. I Can Already Blood On The Floor.
Must We Go Through This Once More.
The Stress Builds,
The Headache Becomes A Migraine.
Too Close To Just Losing It.
Becoming Completely Insane
Going On A Rampage.
I Just Can't Stop Now,
I Won't Stop Now.
Not Till The Place Is Burnt To The Ground.
Buried In Mounds Of Ash Lie's A Key chain Its All That Will Be Left Of You.
Please Oh Please Just Stop Enough Is Enough.
A Scream After Every Heartbeat.
No Reason,
No Logic Behind All This.
Just Swallow That God Damn Pride.
Or Just Go Kill Yourself,
Yes Oh Yes Beautiful Suicide.
This World Would Be So Much Of A Better Place.
Mark My Words,
This Will Not End Good.
I Can Already See The Blood On The Floor.
You Opened This Door.
Now Theirs No Going Back.
You Better Just Shut Up Now, Now, Now.
I Say Bow, Bow, Bow,
Beg For Mercy, Kiss My God Damn Feet.
For We Have Reach The Tipping Point.
Just Relax It Will Be Quick.
It Will Be A Great Ending To This.
Mark My Words,
This Will Not End Good.
I Can Already See The Blood On The Floor.
As The Anger In Me Soar.
Like An Eagle I'm Flying So High Right Now.
With Nothing But Pure Adrenaline
I'm Prepared To Rip You Heart Out With My Talons So Sharp.
Mark My Words,
This Will Not End Good.
I Can already See The Blood On The Floor.
Theirs Just So Much Blood On The Floor.
Just So God Damn Much Blood On The Floor.
poem by Ace Of Black Hearts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Ode To Anactoria
That man, whoever he may be,
Who sits awhile to gaze on thee,
Hearing thy lovely laugh, thy speech,
Throned with the gods he seems to me;
For when a moment to mine eyes
Thy form discloses, silently
I stand consumed with fires that rise
Like flames around a sacrifice.
Sight have I none, bells out of tune
Ring in mine ears, my tongue lies dumb;
Paler than grass in later June,
Yet daring all
(To thee I come).
Look Out Broadway
(words & music by wise - starr)
We never got discouraged, we never had a doubt
cos sooner or later talent must win out
Look out broadway, were comin fast
Now were gonna see our names in lights at last
No more hot dogs at sloppy joes
Were gonna dine on steak and wine at del monacos
Rich or poor its great to have dough
Thats one thing we know
Lots of fun, lots of laughs
Signing cheques and contracts and autographs
Were up for n-e-w y-o-r-k
Look out, look out broadway
I wanna see all the hustle and bustle
Maybe I can get a date with lilian russell
I want to go out with diamond jim
Yeh, if he gives you a diamond what will you give to him
Blow the trumpets and beat on the drum
Big time here we come
No more cheap hotels and one night stands
Well knock tin pan alley flat on its pans
Theyll see that weve got class with a capital k
Look out, look out broadway
Look out!
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The therapists not so hidden treasures
Off you went with my trust
Not about us
Just the job in hand
I was tied, unavoidable deadlines
'Just go, you'll manage fine
(For you, these meetings a foreign land)
Our daughter had trouble with speech
Needed to reach
Out for a helping hand
This speech therapist was fit
Had great tits
Where your eyes couldn't help but land
Did one thing she said remain?
You men, all the same
(Push it down fella, with your hand)
Guess I will wait for written report
Yes to that I'll resort
When on my mat it will land
Good job in you I have trust
I have a great bust!
Here fella, give me your hand!
poem by Stevie Taite
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Skilful Doctor
Function if you are enough skill,
Or work on nobody in front of you.
The words dawdle the air as you speak,
We have understood them now for you speak.
This palaver describes my speech as solid,
Liquids do run thick, liquify your body.
Overpowering speech is a collection of words
Promulgating action and acts of speech as well.
This policy has remained since the weather
Changed last week, lasting peace has remained.
We are authority, we have skills no person retains,
Both us and you are learned in doctoring.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Oh Words Of A Poem
OH WORDS OF A POEM
Oh words of a poem
Oh wondrous being-
Oh meaning made by my mind alone-
Oh kindness of words-
Oh gift in their music-
Oh beauty of speech-
Oh words of a poem-
poem by Shalom Freedman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Schatz
I remember tasting lips so sweet that they drove my blood sugar level high to the sky
Sweet lips divine so to wine and dine must be a crime
So great the taste I ate till late
From front to back speech tenderly soft and pink I drink
Taint that nice tickling gently to soften moans uttered and muttered
Calm are the seas no more for sickened cured
Tasty liebling lions salute for you are so cute
Face in love I push and shove
Juices sweet and so much to eat
Meat I dine between the sheets for vegetarian I still be
Vegan I am not for I taste the spot so hot
Kitty so pretty rest on my chin I grin
It was on the tip of my tongue for songs I sung
Laps of fire was my desire taken higher
It was like dope that helped me cope
What can I say with you I lay
Thank you liebling for a magical evening
Now left to history for no more the mystery
I would not stop to think of cherry wine to drink
Lips to taste I could not waste a dropp of tender morsel
poem by Wilfred Mellers
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Colonel
What you have heard is true. I was in his house.
His wife carried a tray of coffee and sugar. His
daughter filed her nails, his son went out for the
night. There were daily papers, pet dogs, a pistol
on the cushion beside him. The moon swung bare on
its black cord over the house. On the television
was a cop show. It was in English. Broken bottles
were embedded in the walls around the house to
scoop the kneecaps from a man's legs or cut his
hands to lace. On the windows there were gratings
like those in liquor stores. We had dinner, rack of
lamb, good wine, a gold bell was on the table for
calling the maid. The maid brought green mangoes,
salt, a type of bread. I was asked how I enjoyed
the country. There was a brief commercial in
Spanish. His wife took everything away. There was
some talk of how difficult it had become to govern.
The parrot said hello on the terrace. The colonel
told it to shut up, and pushed himself from the
table. My friend said to me with his eyes: say
nothing. The colonel returned with a sack used to
bring groceries home. He spilled many human ears on
the table. They were like dried peach halves. There
is no other way to say this. He took one of them in
his hands, shook it in our faces, dropped it into a
water glass. It came alive there. I am tired of
fooling around he said. As for the rights of anyone,
tell your people they can go f--- themselves. He
swept the ears to the floor with his arm and held
the last of his wine in the air. Something for your
poetry, no? he said. Some of the ears on the floor
caught this scrap of his voice. Some of the ears on
the floor were pressed to the ground.
May 1978
poem by Carolyn Forché
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Two Figures in Dense Violet Light
I had as lief be embraced by the portier of the hotel
As to get no more from the moonlight
Than your moist hand.
Be the voice of the night and Florida in my ear.
Use dasky words and dusky images.
Darken your speech.
Speak, even, as if I did not hear you speaking,
But spoke for you perfectly in my thoughts,
Conceiving words,
As the night conceives the sea-sound in silence,
And out of the droning sibilants makes
A serenade.
Say, puerile, that the buzzards crouch on the ridge-pole
and sleep with one eye watching the stars fall
Beyond Key West.
Say that the palms are clear in the total blue.
Are clear and are obscure; that it is night;
That the moon shines.
poem by Wallace Stevens
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sigh On, Sad Heart, for Love's Eclipse
Sigh on, sad heart, for Love's eclipse
And Beauty's fairest queen,
Though 'tis not for my peasant lips
To soil her name between:
A king might lay his sceptre down,
But I am poor and nought,
The brow should wear a golden crown
That wears her in its thought.
The diamonds glancing in her hair,
Whose sudden beams surprise,
Might bid such humble hopes beware
The glancing of her eyes;
Yet looking once, I look'd too long,
And if my love is sin,
Death follows on the heels of wrong,
And kills the crime within.
Her dress seem'd wove of lily leaves,
It was so pure and fine,
O lofty wears, and lowly weaves,—
But hodden-gray is mine;
And homely hose must step apart,
Where garter'd princes stand,
But may he wear my love at heart
That wins her lily hand!
Alas! there's far from russet frieze
To silks and satin gowns,
But I doubt if God made like degrees
In courtly hearts and clowns.
My father wrong'd a maiden's mirth,
And brought her cheeks to blame,
And all that's lordly of my birth
Is my reproach and shame!
'Tis vain to weep,—'tis vain to sigh,
'Tis vain, this idle speech,
For where her happy pearls do lie,
My tears may never reach;
Yet when I'm gone, e'en lofty pride
May say, of what has been,
His love was nobly born and died,
Though all the rest was mean!
My speech is rude,—but speech is weak
Such love as mine to tell,
Yet had I words, I dare not speak,
So, Lady, fare thee well;
I will not wish thy better state
Was one of low degree,
But I must weep that partial fate
Made such a churl of me.
poem by Thomas Hood
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
So So Dumb
Uh
Oh yeah
Alright (alright)
Alright alright
Dumb dumb dumb
So so dumb so dumb
Dumb dumb dumb
So so dumb so dumb
Everytime I see ya
Simple bitch pleads
Come here and talk to me
Wanna tell ya (huh)
Tell ya whats been on my mind
The wifes a friend of mine
Why do you need some
Georgia pine in your life
Do you love everything
About the woman you with
Why you tryin to get with t
I thought that you had
Responsibility
See your wife is beautiful (huh)
The kid is two years old (hey)
She folds all your clothes
Whatcha runnin around for
I cant think that youre so
Dumb dumb dumb
She thinks youre so faithful
So so dumb so dumb
And shes such a pretty girl
Dumb dumb dumb
How could you be so damn
So so dumb so dumb
I cant believe
Youre knockin
Youre knockin at my door
I should get my gun
And gun you to the floor
But instead
I think Ill invite you in
Ima call your wife boy
And let her know where youve been
Cuz she thinks that
Youre so faithful
Boy youre so dumb (dumb)
Aint goin down like that no more
Guess whos knockin at the front door
Aint nobody you wanna see come in
You should appreciate your girl
Stop tryin to push it on me
I cant think that youre so
Dumb dumb dumb
She thinks youre so faithful
So so dumb so dumb
And shes such a pretty girl
Dumb dumb dumb
How could you be so damn
So so dumb so dumb
And one day love will leave your side
And no other will hear your cry
But you had to live your own life
Now nobody likes you
Not even you
Why you gotta be so
Dumb dumb dumb
Youve never been faithful
So so dumb so dumb
And you can have those other girls
Dumb dumb dumb
Cuz Im no longer in your world
So so dumb so dumb
I cant think that youre so
Dumb dumb dumb
She thinks youre so faithful
So so dumb so dumb
And shes such a pretty girl
Dumb dumb dumb
How could you be so damn
So so dumb so dumb
So stay away from me (huh)
You better play her somewhere else
You need to look at yourself (huh)
You need to find some help
So so dumb so dumb (dumb dumb)
Dumb dumb dumb (dumb dumb)
(da dumb dumb dumb)
So so dumb so dumb
Dumb dumb...
song performed by by TLC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
A word slip
You need to understand and allow
it is necessary to correctly follow
the words are like sharp edge of an arrow
it may hit in bull and show
The result is is for sure
before speaking anything you must assure
what words are to be spoken and for whom?
will it invite wrath or gloom?
It serves no purpose if fired in air
it will create horniest nest with split hair
the damage done may be far reaching
you must weigh the decision and resort to soul searching
It doesn't go well with loose talk
even you can be judged from your walk
The turn out and speech may reveal what you are
it may not allow you to go very far
The words prove very sharp
it may repeatedly strike and harp
you may have lots of things to reveal
the irony of fact is that you can not conceal
It is great tragedy if things are not properly conveyed
you may be left in lurch and totally dismayed
the damaging part must be immediately stayed
the skill is powerful weapon and must be carefully played
Words here and there may invite serious trouble
it may not die out easily like water bubble
it will stay in mind for long time to come
you will be strongly countered by more or some
The tongue has no bone
it may speak well and things are done
little use of offensive words means you are gone
the strong relation may be interrupted and undone
You speak at the back and they will bounce you back
the whole structure will be shaken even if supported by jack
it is creating mistrust and that brings an abrupt end
in relation and shutting the door for the friends
If spoken mildly or whispered gently in the ear
the friendship may last for many more years
it is creation of sacred bond that lasts forever
the words must find favor however
It might have been spoken unintentionally
the effect must be sidelined marginally
it is always taken care of generally
the harsh language or offensive words are not spoken usually
It is unbecoming of gentleman if one he can not understand simple courtsey
it can not shown or displayed by having wealth or money
This may automatically come by experience or passing of an age
the slip of tongue should avoided and leave some room to manage
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Reservation For One
This is my tree, my tree, my tree,
My one lone tree, pear tree,
It grows, overflows, it grows it’s fruit,
Alone, only for me.
If I could go to a far-away place,
With just me and my tree, pear tree,
I’d pack my bags, my bags I’d pack,
I’d pick up my bags and flee.
There’s nothing at all, no nothing,
At all, that films me more with glee,
Than those globes, those globes,
Of precious fruit in my tree, pear tree.
I sit beneath, beneath I sit,
Its laden canopy, I polish it’s leafs then,
Set a table of fruits,
Of wine, and bread and brie.
This tree, my tree, could feed the world,
Find me a wife and camaraderie,
It’s powers, it’s powers are vast but I
Can’t pass on its secret sadly.
I’d tell the world, the world I’d tell,
If they weren’t all so hungry, you see.
But my fruit, my fruits, my laboured.
Fruits, I grew only for me, for me,
No none are as hungry as me.
poem by Suzanne Louise Bishop
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!