Addressed to ------, 1736
With toilsome steps I pass thro' life's dull road
(No pack-horse half so tired of his load);
And when this dirty journey will conclude,
To what new realms is then my way pursued?
Say, then does the unbodied spirit fly
To happier climes and to a better sky?
Or, sinking, mixes with its kindred clay,
And sleeps a whole eternity away?
Or shall this form be once again renew'd,
With all its frailties, all its hopes, endu'd;
Acting once more on this detested stage
Passions of youth, infirmities of age?
I see in Tully what the ancients thought,
And read unprejudic'd what moderns taught;
But no conviction from my reading springs --
Most dubious on the most important things.
Yet one short moment would at once explain
What all philosophy has sought in vain;
Would clear all doubt, and terminate all pain.
Why then not hasten that decisive hour;
Still in my view, and ever in my pow'r?
Why should I drag along this life I hate,
Without one thought to mitigate the weight?
Whence this mysterious bearing to exist,
When ev'ry joy is lost, and ev'ry hope dismiss'd?
In chains and darkness wherefore should I stay,
And mourn in prison whilst I keep the key?
poem by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
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Related quotes
Moods For Moderns
Moods for moderns (x4)
I get hit looking for a miss
I never thought that it would come to this
Moods for moderns (x4)
Though we may never be the same again
I am so proud that youve been taken in vain
What if none of your dreams come true?
I can never run from you
Theres never been a how dyou do
Theres never been an ending
Soon youll belong to someone else
And I will be your stranger just pretending
Moods for moderns
Memory lingers
I let you into
Foreign fingers
Moods for moderns (x4)
I never thought that would see the day
I never thought that I would give you away
(chorus)
Moods for moderns
Let them break us
Strong and sudden
Foreign fingers
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Solvitur acris Hiems
Youth, that went, is come again,
Youth, for which we all were fain;
With soft pleasure and sweet pain
In each nerve and every vein,
Circling through the heart and brain,
Whence and wherefore come again?
Eva, tell me!
Dead and buried when we thought him,
Who the magic spell hath taught him?
Who the strong elixir brought him?
Dead and buried as we thought,
Lo! unasked for and unsought
Comes he, shall it be for nought?
Eva, tell me!
Youth that lifeless long had lain,
Youth that long we longed in vain for,
Used to grumble and complain for,
Thought at last to entertain
A decorous cool disdain for,
On a sudden see again
Comes, but will not long remain,
Comes, with whom too in his train,
Comes, and shall it be in vain?
Eva, tell me!
poem by Arthur Hugh Clough
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Lines On Seeing Schiller's Skull
WITHIN a gloomy charnel-house one day
I view'd the countless skulls, so strangely mated,
And of old times I thought, that now were grey.
Close pack'd they stand, that once so fiercely hated,
And hardy bones, that to the death contended,
Are lying cross'd,--to lie for ever, fated.
What held those crooked shoulder-blades suspended?
No one now asks; and limbs with vigour fired,
The hand, the foot--their use in life is ended.
Vainly ye sought the tomb for rest when tired;
Peace in the grave may not be yours; ye're driven
Back into daylight by a force inspired;
But none can love the wither'd husk, though even
A glorious noble kernel it contained.
To me, an adept, was the writing given
Which not to all its holy sense explained,
When 'mid the crowd, their icy shadows flinging,
I saw a form, that glorious still remained.
And even there, where mould and damp were clinging,
Gave me a blest, a rapture-fraught emotion,
As though from death a living fount were springing.
What mystic joy I felt! What rapt devotion!
That form, how pregnant with a godlike trace!
A look, how did it whirl me tow'rd that ocean
Whose rolling billows mightier shapes embrace!
Mysterious vessel! Oracle how dear!
Even to grasp thee is my hand too base,
Except to steal thee from thy prison here
With pious purpose, and devoutly go
Back to the air, free thoughts, and sunlight clear.
What greater gain in life can man e'er know
Than when God-Nature will to him explain
How into Spirit steadfastness may flow,
How steadfast, too, the Spirit-Born remain.
poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Life is too short...
I wander across the plains of my lonely existance,
I am like an echo of light amidst the dark,
A moment of clarity lost in the dream of life,
The shadows of life taunt and tease me,
As I gaze upon an ocean of time yet to be,
The ebb and flow of life such a rythmic tide,
Where is my place in this cosmic journey?
For I have become lost and need guidance,
It seems I am destined to wander through life alone,
Cry not for me though, for your tears are in vain,
Life is too short to mourn what has not come to pass...
Spread the love... The peace will follow...
poem by Cosmic Dreamer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sing For The Day
Written by tommy shaw
Lead vocals by tommy shaw
Hannah youre with me in spirit wherever I go
To the ends of the earth and all points between high and low
Each night by the stage you appear as you are
The ever intangible child
Ageless and timeless as dorian grey
Oh hannah I know that its you and youre leading me on
Hannah youre my inspiration my fountain of youth
And as your surrogate leader Im bound in your searach for the truth
And yes how the truth rushes out
When its become honestly clear
I see your anxious and curious eyes
But hannah I need you as much as you think you need me
Come to your window tonight and well fly to your dreams
And well
Sing for the day sing for the moment
Sing for the time of your life
Come for an hour stay for a moment
Stay for the rest of your life
Hannah dont fail me I need you like never before
Father times at my back on my heels
Behind every door (and he says)
Son when the youth has but gone from your face
Will she let you grow older with grace?
Or will she give you up for one younger than you?
Oh hannah please tell me the things that he says are untrue
Hannah Im honestly hoping youll always be there
Sing for the day sing for the moment
Sing for the time of your life
Come for an hour stay for a moment
Stay for the rest of your life
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Studies In Love #12
The doorway frames
You a perfect picture silouette
Blue sky of regret
Enough to hang out
Your legs seemed to tremble
At least I imagine that they do
Then again, its probly easy for you
Please dont open your mouth my dear
I can read all the signs I can take it from here
Theres no need to explain
Its perfectly clear
The yellow wall paper peels
A strange halo around your head
Its funny how you notice these
Stupid things instead
You say something awkward
But I wish that you wouldnt
A whole life of you wish you coulds
But just couldnts
Please dont open your mouth my dear
I can read all the signs I can take it from here
Theres no need to explain
Its perfectly clear
I try not to fight too much
It only just makes me mad
Spent half my life loving you
Think of all the love that I could have had
Five years of kisses
Packed in my bags
And this tiny moment fits
All the big things we ever had
I cant quite pinpoint
When it left or what for
Love always steps lightly
Away from the door
Please dont open your mouth my dear
I can read all the signs hell Ive known you for years
Theres no need to explain
No theres no need to explain
Theres no need to explain
Its perfectly clear
song performed by by Jewel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Come Down This Road
Past this place in the road,
You shall see many people carying great load,
You may think to help, or just pass by,
It is up to you to know why.
Why you pass, why you stay,
But, caeful, from this road do not stray.
They shall show you how to learn how to know.
Some shall have their load taken, yet some shall never go,
The pain of it, the pain of trying.
Yet none shall know what it's like to be dying,
The laod shall never be gone, yet it could be lifted.
Each is different, each is gifted,
To your mind it is a burden, to your sould it is a part of you
You can not trade, for your soul is who you are, you can't start new.
As you travel down this road you will see,
That where it ends,
is eternity.
poem by Bethany Maxwell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Finality
A very short time we are given, to understand the purpose of living,
Our life down here upon the earth; the time between death and birth.
This time is short for you and me, compared to that time of eternity,
A time that we all will enter friend, as life on earth comes to an end.
Men live dealing with life’s reality, not thinking much of life’s finality,
Being caught up in a daily routine, is in many lives a common scene.
Dealing with what comes down the road, always under a heavy load,
Always dealing with here and now, while simply getting by somehow.
Within the brevity of such a life, weighed down with trouble and strife,
We get caught in the daily grind, which takes over our heart and mind,
With no thought and or no time, to think of Heaven or things sublime,
Or even thoughts of what could be, up in that place they call Eternity.
And even if you have thoughts of, God and Heaven and things above,
Friend, do you really understand, the Truth of God’s Sovereign Hand?
And how everything is set in place, for us to just accept God’s Grace.
A Grace that grants you eternal life, through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
As everything that must be done, has been completed by God’s Son,
And all you must do is to believe, then everlasting life you will receive.
For there is no intermediate place, to barter with God regarding Grace,
While you’re here, in this time, you must give Him your heart and mind.
Finality for believers then becomes, an eternity ahead with God’s Son,
Though life may be short down here, Eternity, you’ll enter with no fear.
But ignoring His Grace does have cost, as you’ll remain eternally lost,
Then finality for you my friend, will be an empty darkness with no end.
(Copyright ©10/2007)
The Roads Of Life Keep Winding Up And Down
The roads of life keep winding up and down
They take us to obscurity and renown
It is a journey we must undertake
And along the way there's joy and there's heartbreak.
A journey that one day does have an end
Along the way we do make many a friend
And having said that here and there a foe
As on the road that leads through life we go.
Their road through life to fame some people lead
They are the people destined to succeed
Whilst many fame and fortune never know
For their life journey little they do show.
The journey through life at birth does begin
For baby who is born free of sin
But the innocence of youth is quickly lost
Survival instincts come at a great cost.
And the innocence we are born with erode
As we journey on along our great life's road
A new day and new challenge greets us at every bend
On our journey that one day must have an end.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Thought
Thought, I love thought.
But not the juggling and twisting of already existent ideas
I despise that self-important game.
Thought is the welling up of unknown life into consciousness,
Thought is the testing of statements on the touchstone of consciousness,
Thought is gazing onto the face of life, and reading what can be read,
Thought is pondering over experience, and coming to conclusion.
Thought is not a trick, or an exercise, or a set of dodges,
Thought is a man in his wholeness, wholly attending.
poem by David Herbert Lawrence
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Ride A Black Swan
A black swan rode me into my place of destiny
To love, to feel so madly
Stubborn to disagree
With people who think that life is just a memory
To be denied
Ill take this picture for ages
Of just you and i
As the world goes round
Its got me thinking
That the things I want
Just keep me sinking down
A white horse picks my dreams up
To take my hopes to god
My prayers have nestled brightly
To dim my sense of awe
I want you to be someone I cant deny
A house of fire
I want you to be something I realize
As the world goes round
Its got me thinking
That the things I want
Just keep me sinking down
As the world goes round
Its got me thinking
That the things I want
Will keep me sinking down
Remove my spirit from darkness
Love become my heaven
As the world goes round with our love
I want you to be my message
I want you to be my friend
I want you to be that answer
An answer I must defend
I want us to solve our distrust of everyone
And trust in god
I want us to solve our distrust of who we are
As the world goes round
Its got me thinking
That the things I want
Just keep me sinking down
As the world goes round
Its got me thinking
That the things I want
Just keep me sinking down
As the world goes round with our love
As the world goes round with our love
Remove my spirit from darkness
Love become my heaven
Remove my spirit from darkness
Love become my heaven
Remove my spirit from darkness
Love become my heaven
As the world goes round with our love
As the world goes round with our love
song performed by by Zwan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rid A Black Swan
a black swan rode me into my place of destiny
to love, to feel so madly
stubborn to disagree
with people who think that life is just a memory
to be denied
i'll take this picture for ages
of just you and i
as the world goes 'round
it's got me thinking
that the things i want
just keep me sinking down
a white horse picks my dreams up
to take my hopes to god
my prayers have nestled brightly
to dim my sense of awe
i want you to be someone i can't deny
a house of fire
i want you to be something i realize
as the world goes 'round
it's got me thinking
that the things i want
just keep me sinking down
as the world goes 'round
it's got me thinking
that the things i want
will keep me sinking down
remove my spirit from darkness
love become my heaven
as the world goes 'round with our love
i want you to be my message
i want you to be my friend
i want you to be that answer
an answer i must defend
i want us to solve our distrust of everyone
and trust in god
i want us to solve our distrust of who we are
as the world goes 'round
it's got me thinking
that the things i want
just keep me sinking down
as the world goes 'round
it's got me thinking
that the things i want
just keep me sinking down
as the world goes 'round with our love
as the world goes 'round with our love
remove my spirit from darkness
love become my heaven
remove my spirit from darkness
love become my heaven
remove my spirit from darkness
love become my heaven
as the world goes 'round with our love
as the world goes 'round with our love
song performed by by Zwan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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And then there were none
There were ten
Waiting by the road
Ready for a journey
Of an entire lifetime
The ten crossed the lake,
But the tenth was too scared
He left the others to their fates
And departed with some joy.
And then there were nine
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime
The nine walked over a bridge
But the ninth saw a beauty
Pursued her, leaving the rest
And sealed his own fate
And then there were eight
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
As they walked by the gorge,
The eighth saw a tree
Laden with fruits. Hunger
Consumed his life away
And then there were seven
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
As they walked by the mountain
Cold consumed their hearts.
The seventh saw a route
To escape from the way.
And then there were six
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
The trail went on and on
Never showed a sign of ending
The sixth lost all hope
And left the party, disgruntled.
And then there were five
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
As they walked by the desert
Their throats parched
The fifth simply
Lost the will to carry on.
And then there were four
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
They walked by the river..
And the fourth saw
His family dead. Grief
Caused him to kill himself.
And then there were three
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
They walked into the cave
And the third saw gold.
Left the journey and
Retired to a new world.
And then there were two
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
They walked by the plain
Feet overcome with pain
They began to hate the other
And the second lay dead.
And then there was one
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
He struggled to reach the box
His left hand stretched
But at the moment of glory
His wounds killed him.
And then there were none.
Walking by the road,
Consumed by the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
poem by Devdan Vaidyanathan
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Margaret Love Peacock
Long night succeeds thy little day;
Oh blighted blossom! can it be,
That this grey stone, and grassy clay,
Have clos'd our anxious care of thee?
The half-form'd speech of artless thought
That spoke a mind beyond thy years;
The song, the dance, by nature taught;
The sunny smiles, the transient tears;
The symmetry of face and form,
The eye with light and life replete;
The little heart so fondly warm,
The voice so musically sweet;
These, lost to hope, in memory yet
Around the hearts that lov'd thee cling,
Shadowing, with long and vain regret,
The too fair promise of thy spring.
poem by Thomas Love Peacock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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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Clueless
How clueless many can be, as they ignore the God of eternity,
Not only about things to come, but clueless about God’s Son,
They may even profess Christ, yet God doesn’t guide their life,
Not only is God not their lead, but, His Word, they do not read.
Many today walk without The Lord, as a spiritual life is ignored,
An aspect in the life of everyone, even if they dismiss the Son,
While clueless remains the walk, of even men, who talk the talk,
About God they say they know, Who, in their life doesn’t show.
About spiritual life you can say, many walk on the broader way,
Many walk about life cluelessly, even while living life religiously,
This, without a true knowledge of, Christ, Who reigns up above,
The One, which every eye will see, before they step into eternity.
Many truly walk about clueless, while life for them is hit or miss,
Not knowing what their future holds, as this present life unfolds,
With no thought beyond this life, and no interest in Jesus Christ,
Embracing a religious affiliation; not concerned about Salvation.
But, Jesus Christ clues those in, when God’s Spirit dwells within,
Souls acknowledging the Creator, who embrace Christ as Savior,
No longer roaming about aimlessly, now upon a road to Eternity,
Being led every day by Jesus Christ, on their way to Eternal Life.
(Copyright ©11/2011)
Wisdom and spirit of the Universe Thou soul is the eternity of thought That giv'st to forms and images a breath And everlasting motion Not in vain By day or star-light thus from by first dawn Of childhood didst thou intertwine for me The passions that build up our human soul, Not with the mean and vulgar works of man, But with high objects, with enduring things, With life and nature, purifying thus The elements of feeling and of thought, And sanctifying, by such discipline Both pain and fear, until we recognize A grandeur in the beatings of the heart.
quote by William Wordsworth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hymn to Science
Science! thou fair effusive ray
From the great source of mental day,
Free, generous, and refin'd!
Descend with all thy treasures fraught,
Illumine each bewilder'd thought,
And bless my lab'ring mind.
But first with thy resistless light,
Disperse those phantoms from my sight,
Those mimic shades of thee;
The scholiast's learning, sophist's cant,
The visionary bigot's rant,
The monk's philosophy.
O! let thy powerful charms impart
The patient head, the candid heart,
Devoted to thy sway;
Which no weak passions e'er mislead,
Which still with dauntless steps proceed
Where Reason points the way.
Give me to learn each secret cause;
Let number's, figure's, motion's laws
Reveal'd before me stand;
These to great Nature's scenes apply,
And round the globe, and thro' the sky,
Disclose her working hand.
Next, to thy nobler search resign'd,
The busy, restless, human mind
Thro' ev'ry maze pursue;
Detect Perception where it lies,
Catch the ideas as they rise,
And all their changes view.
Say from what simple springs began
The vast, ambitious thoughts of man,
Which range beyond control;
Which seek Eternity to trace,
Dive thro' th' infinity of space,
And strain to grasp the whole.
Her secret stores let Memory tell,
Bid Fancy quit her fairy cell,
In all her colours drest;
While prompt her sallies to control,
Reason, the judge, recalls the soul
To Truth's severest test.
Then launch thro' Being's wide extent;
Let the fair scale, with just ascent,
And cautious steps, be trod;
And from the dead, corporeal mass,
Thro' each progressive order pass
To Instinct, Reason, God.
There, Science! veil thy daring eye;
Nor dive too deep, nor soar too high,
In that divine abyss;
To Faith content thy beams to lend,
Her hopes t' assure, her steps befriend,
And light her way to bliss.
Then downwards take thy flight agen;
Mix with the policies of men,
And social nature's ties:
The plan, the genius of each state,
Its interest and its pow'rs relate,
Its fortunes and its rise.
Thro' private life pursue thy course,
Trace every action to its source,
And means and motives weigh:
Put tempers, passions in the scale,
Mark what degrees in each prevail,
And fix the doubtful sway.
That last, best effort of thy skill,
To form the life, and rule the will,
Propitious pow'r! impart:
Teach me to cool my passion's fires,
Make me the judge of my desires,
The master of my heart.
Raise me above the vulgar's breath,
Pursuit of fortune, fear of death,
And all in life that's mean.
Still true to reason be my plan,
Still let my action speak the man,
Thro' every various scene.
Hail! queen of manners, light of truth;
Hail! charm of age, and guide of youth;
Sweet refuge of distress:
In business, thou! exact, polite;
Thou giv'st Retirement its delight,
Prosperity its grace.
Of wealth, pow'r, freedom, thou! the cause;
Foundress of order, cities, laws,
Of arts inventress, thou!
Without thee what were human kind?
How vast their wants, their thoughts how blind!
Their joys how mean! how few!
Sun of the soul! thy beams unveil!
Let others spread the daring sail,
On Fortune's faithless sea;
While undeluded, happier I
From the vain tumult timely fly,
And sit in peace with thee.
poem by Mark Akenside
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Life Is Like A Pathway
Life is like a pathway,
as you walk down the road
of life,
you will see many sorrows,
and many joys will come.
Life will pass swiftly by,
youth will someday seem
as nothing but a dream.
Life as days go by,
down this road you journey
will be just a memory in your mind.
Life is like a pathway
as you walk down the road
of life.
Your now at journey's end
looking back you wonder
and ponder of chances
you had.
Unless they have covered you
with dirt, there's still hope
to fulfill your dreams
down this pathway of life.
It's life that matters, nothing but life — the process of discovering, the everlasting and perpetual process, not the discovery itself, at all. But what's the use of talking! I suspect that all I'm saying now is so like the usual commonplaces that I shall certainly be taken for a lower-form schoolboy sending in his essay on "sunrise", or they'll say perhaps that I had something to say, but that I did not know how to "explain" it. But I'll add, that there is something at the bottom of every new human thought, every thought of genius, or even every earnest thought that springs up in any brain, which can never be communicated to others, even if one were to write volumes about it and were explaining one's idea for thirty-five years; there's something left which cannot be induced to emerge from your brain, and remains with you forever; and with it you will die, without communicating to anyone perhaps the most important of your ideas.
quote by Dostoyevsky
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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