Habitation
Marriage is not
a house or even a tent
it is before that, and colder:
The edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn
where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far
we are learning to make fire
poem by Margaret Atwood
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Related quotes
On The Edge Of The Edge Of The Edge
ON THE EDGE OF THE EDGE OF THE EDGE
On the edge of the edge of the edge
There is nowhere to go-
Home is lost,
And all the distances have broken down-
One cannot move
One can only fear-
On the edge of the edge of the edge
Falling is fear-
And holding one’s ground
One step at a time
Is a small miracle
One is not sure
One can make alone.
On the edge of the edge of the edge-
poem by Shalom Freedman
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At The Edge Of The Edge Of The Edge
AT THE EDGE OF THE EDGE OF THE EDGE
At the edge of the edge of the edge
There is another invisible edge
And this too has an edge and another edge
Edges unending
Beyond our comprehension
Waiting for us to fall down and down-
On the edge of the edge of the edge
I write on
Has the great descent already begun
And am I in the midst of it
As I pretend to go on?
poem by Shalom Freedman
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Edge Of A Broken Heart
And there I stood, just like a soldier
I was tough, until I saw her
I said hello, but she just turned away
Hey romeo, whatcha doin with my girl,
Who are you using now, well I turn and walk away (turn and walk away)
Im gonna please her, now you can believe it
Ill be there to catch her when she falls
Oooo, here I am (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im a man (on the edge of a broken heart)
Here we stand (on the edge of a broken heart)
So run if you can cause you know
Im a man on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im on the outside, looking inside
Youre with him, whos on the wrong side now
Do you still think of me
Ive tried to call, but no one answers
Two silhouettes, a private dancer
Lights go dim, as the music starts to fade, away (turn and walk away)
Im the one who needs you, now you can believe it
Ill be there to catch you when you fall
Ooo you better believe Im the man (on the edge of a broken heart)
Here I am (on the edge of a broken heart)
And we stand (on the edge of a broken heart)
So run if you can cause you know
Im a man on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Solo
Ooohh
And when I hold out my hands Ill be reaching for you
I give it all that Ive got, thats all I can do
When youre waiting for love
Ill be waiting for you (on the edge of a broken heart)
Only for you (on the edge of a broken heart)
Oh baby for you (on the edge of a broken heart)
So run if you can, you know
Im a man on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im on the edge (on the edge of a broken heart)
Im on the edge (of a broken, broken, broken broken, broken, broken, broken)
song performed by by Bon Jovi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To The Edge
To the edge.
That's the only place to take it.
To the limits as it is pushed.
Having that adrenaline,
Under that skin tight and tensed.
With each muscle prepared...
To sit balanced and dared!
As if you've been fenced...
To be forced to make decisions,
Now it is time to convince!
To the edge
You wish your life fulfilled.
To the edge
Squeezed and juiced,
With a boost that goosebumps
To thrill at will.
To the edge
Not many are willing to live!
They rather discuss who is negative.
And who is undetected but still positive!
To the edge
Where the air is fresh and sweet.
To the edge
There is no chemical to use,
To make one feel more complete.
Take your life and make a clean sweep!
Now...
Take that mess you've got to the edge!
Let it dropp and as you watch it...
Make your own pledge,
You will stop the nonsense fed!
And employ your joy...
The moment you get up and out of bed!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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On The Edge Of My Old Age
ON THE EDGE OF MY OLD AGE
On the edge of my old age
A strange calm comes to me
I have done what I have done
Whatever it be.
On the edge of my old age
Anger is my soul
I have not climbed the mountain
And now I’m far too old.
On the edge of my old age
I still wait to see
What will become
Of all I dreamed.
On the edge of my old age
Joy in my life
I have written for years
And still love to write
On the edge of my old age
Still striving to be
I must strive with more courage
No matter what be
On the edge of my old age
The omnipresent fear
A pained burden forever
A mind unclear.
On the edge of my old age
Enjoying my little life
Praying for grandchildren
For my children and wife.
poem by Shalom Freedman
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The Razors Edge
(razors edge)
(razors)
Theres fighting on the left
And marching on the right
Dont look up in the sky
Youre gonna die of fright
Here comes the razors edge
Youre living on the edge
Dont know wrong from right
Theyre breathing down your neck
Youre running out of lives
And here comes the razors edge
Here comes the razors edge
The razors edge
Razors edge, to raise the dead
Razors edge, to cut to shreds
To raise the dead
Here comes the razors edge
Here comes the razors edge
Well here it comes to cut to shreds
The razors edge
The razors edge [its the razors edge]
Gotta razors edge [well, the razors edge]
Youll be cut to shreds [that youll be cut to shreds]
By the razors edge [gotta razors edge]
Gotta razors edge [by the razors edge]
song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Heart's On Fire
Whoa, Yeah
When your heart's on fire,
Runnin' on the edge.
Do you know what I mean?
When your heart's on fire, yeah.
That's the only time your soul runs free.
Gotta get away, get a little freedom.
Somethin' of my own.
People wanna say, what I should be.
Why can't they leave me alone?
Don't know if the way I feel,
Hunger is the word.
I can't keep it inside.
I can feel the heat,
And the pressure's on.
Gotta break away, just to stay alive.
And my heart's on fire.
And I'm runnin' on the edge,
Do you know what I mean, Ooh.
When your heart's on fire, yeah.
That's the only time your soul runs free.
Tearin' up the road,
Listen to the engine scream.
Give it all that she has.
Push it to the line,
But never lookin' back,
As I live each day like the last.
You can try, for what you want,
And get what you deserve.
Don't let go of your dream.
When you bet your life,
You can have it all.
When it's do or die,
There's no inbetween.
If your heart's on fire.
Livin' on the edge.
Ooh, and you're burnin' up, Whoa.
Oh yeah.
You can live the way you want,
There's nothing to regret.
Every move you make,
And every chance you get.
When your heart's on fire.
And runnin' on the edge.
Do you know what I mean, Ooh.
When your heart's on fire, yeah.
That's the only time your soul runs free.
When your heart's on fire, runnin' on the edge.
Do you know what I mean?
Whoa, Oh.
Heart's on fire.
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Angutivaun Taina
Our gloves are stiff with the frozen blood,
Our furs with the drifted snow,
As we come in with the seal--the seal!
In from the edge of the floe.
Au jana! Aua! Oha! Haq!
And the yelping dog-teams go;
And the long whips crack, and the men come back,
Back from the edge of the floe!
We tracked our seal to his secret place,
We heard him scratch below,
We made our mark, and we watched beside,
Out on the edge of the floe.
We raised our lance when he rose to breathe,
We drove it downward--so!
And we played him thus, and we killed him thus,
Out on the edge of the floe.
Our gloves are glued with the frozen blood,
Our eyes with the drifting snow;
But we come back to our wives again,
Back from the edge of the floe!
Au jana! Aua! Oha! Haq!
And the loaded dog-teams go;
And the wives ran hear their men come back,
Back from the edge of the floe!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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The Tent
actually, i do not
go for your tent
as a definition of
what marriage is
not,
i still think that
my marriage is a big house
with the convenience
of five chambermaids
a butler
and a driver.
with a last note,
we have fire inside the
chimney
we have smoke
for the atmosphere
and we have warmth
even in summer.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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High Board
I teeter at the edge
Peering down into the deep
Precariously balancing
Eyes closed, imagining
If I take that step
There is no going back
The fall will be exhilarating
Heart in mouth, liberating
And when it is done?
What will I become?
Will I repeat the plummet
Or enough to say I've done it!
It's water after all
What is to be afraid?
It laps below, summoning
Cajoling, teasing, beckoning.
The edge and back, the edge and back
A maddening frustration
A pride that I'm defending
Backs away and starts descending.
poem by Stevie Taite
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Breaking Point
I'm standing on the edge
toes hanging over the ledge
I'm wondering where the breaking point is
I'm standing on the edge thinking and eating some Ritz
I'm wondering where is the best place to jump
then I thought maybe I could just dump
my bag of Ritz over the side
and see which of them died
I'm standing at the edge of ths place
tears streaming down my face
I just lost my bag of Ritz
poem by Arianna Loshnowsky
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Living On The Edge Of The World
Early north jersey industrial skyline
Im an all-set cobra jet creepin through the night time
Gotta find a gas station, gotta find a pay phone
This turnpike sure is spooky at night when youre all alone
Im living on the edge of the world
Tryin to get my girl on the line
Livin on the edge of the world
But I think its just a waste of my time
Some jerk keeps breaking my connection, girl
cause Im living on the edge of the world
Living on the edge of the world
Radio, radio, hear my tale of heartbreak
New jersey in the morning like a lunar landscape
Got a counter girl at the exit 24 hojo
Down past the refinery towers where the great black river flows
Im living on the edge of the world
Tryin to get back to you, girl
Living on the edge of the world
Tryin to get a message through
I gotta make a connection, girl
Because Im living on the edge of the world
Living on the edge of the world
Radios jammed with gospel stations
Lost souls callin long distance salvation
Hey mister deejay gotta hear my last prayer
Its a hey ho rock and roll, deliver me from nowhere
Im living on the edge of the world
Tryin to get back to you, girl
Living on the edge of the world
Tryin to get a message through
I gotta make some connection, girl
Because Im living on the edge of the world
Living on the edge of the world
Now my boss dont dig me cause he put me on the night shift
It takes me two hours to get back to where my baby lives
In the wee wee hours my mind gets hazy
Relay towers, wont you lead me to my baby
neath the overpass the trooper hits his party lights switch
Good night, good luck, one, two powershift
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In The Cold, Cold, Night
I saw you standing in the corner
On the edge of a burning light
I saw you standing in the corner
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
You make me feel a little older
Like a full grown woman might
But when youre gone I grow colder
In the cold, cold, night
I saw you standing in the corner
On the edge of a burning light
I saw you standing in the corner
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
You make me feel a little older
Like a full grown woman might
But when youre gone I grow colder
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
I see you walking by my front door
I hear the creaking of the kitchen floor
I dont care what other people say
Im going to love you, anyway
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
I cant stand it any longer
I need the fuel to make my fire burn bright
So dont fight it any longer
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
And I know that you feel it too
When my skin turns into glue
You will know that its warm inside
And youll come run to me, in the cold, cold night
song performed by by White Stripes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Precipice
We stand near a precipice
not sure what to do.
Life had given us some hard knocks.
Do we carry on or let go?
Our mind swings like a pendulum
tearing us one-way and then another.
An uneasy choice has to be made
as our footing gets closer to the edge.
There is no hand to hold us back,
no future to pursue,
just an endless treadmill in a long empty life.
We look back for a moment
at what others have done and achieved.
Then we look at ourselves,
and the nothing that is our life.
We step closer to the edge
to the place where there is no coming back
and our miseries will end,
but our mind is filled with doubt
and filling us with questions
before that final step.
Enough to make us hesitate
and step back from the edge.
6 February 2011
poem by David Harris
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Taking Off The Edge
(larry cordle/larry shell)
I been down on my luck
I been down on my knees
Well I been downtown
And I been down on the farm
I cant be satisfied
But Im gonna have to find
A way to kick back and
Take off the edge
Now theres a little gal I know
Just south of tupelo
Her hair is dark and her legs are long and tan
She rubs my back just right
Till way up in the night
She knows how to
Take off the edge
Ive been laid up with the flu
Laid off a time or two
Ive been uptight
And Ive been up a creek
Im gonna take my bamboo pole
And head out to the fishing hole
Dont you know it helps to
Take off the edge
Now theres a little gal I know
Just south of tupelo
Her hair is dark and her legs are long and tan
She rubs my back just right
Till way up in the night
She knows how to
Take off the edge
Now its morning once again
Oh, lord I just punched in
And I cant hardly wait till quitting time
Gonna get that big brown jug
All I need is a little slug
Just another way to
Takin off the edge
Now theres a little gal I know
Just south of tupelo
Her hair is dark and her legs are long and tan
She rubs my back just right
Till way up in the night
Well she knows how to
Take off the edge
Oh she sure knows how to
Take off the edge
song performed by by John Michael Montgomery
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Old Faithful Dog
I never thought him dead.
Only running in the park,
and sitting stretched by fire,
or with his paw,
pushing the dish,
' more water now'.
And barking, for post,
and visitor, and exits,
from his home domain,
and up the stairs at ten,
and down again at six.
A rhythm of memories
and habits.
Until his back legs gave,
and the vets scanning eyes
' he has had a good and happy life'.
I help him as he passed,
and watched him go,
to another field or park.
I can still sense him here,
in the house,
on the staircase just past ten,
and at the duvets' edge.
Luther was the collies name.
poem by Bernard Kennedy
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Suddenly Strange
Fire inside my shoes
Still walking forward
but back to you
I suppose I must be stuck with you again
This joke is wearing thin
I know its time
I know its time to go
And just so you know
This secret part of me never showed
And when you run around like you don't care
I'm suddenly aware
I know its time
I know its time its
Suddenly strange I can hardly complain I'm
Down the stairs and I'm out the door its
Suddenly colder it bowled me right over
I'm down again I suppose its over now
Don't ask me how
But it didn't take much to figure out
And you know I'll go acting really tuff
And giving back your stuff
I know its time
I know its time its
Suddenly strange I can hardly complain I'm
Down the stairs and I'm out the door its
Suddenly colder it bowled me right over
I'm down again I suppose its over now
Fire inside my shoes
It's over now
song performed by by Bic Runga from Drive
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Waiting on the edge of heaven
Fall asleep,
dream of me,
I'm just waiting on the edge of heaven.
Think of me,
adore me,
I'm just waiting on the edge of heaven.
Daydream of me,
smile for me,
I'm just waiting on the edge of heaven.
Write to me,
beautifully to me,
I'm just waiting on the edge of heaven.
Come and be with me,
come and love me,
I'm just waiting on the edge of heaven...
poem by Darlene Belcher
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Forest
The edge of the forest stands
Against the grey, white sky
Like a row of colourless headstones
Stripped trees emerge
Tombs of a bleak winter
Silhouetted in the dull light
Against the imaginings of man
No light or life escapes
The depths of the forest
The thoughts which swell there
Creates in them a fear
Some great sadness hidden
Branches reach out like clawed hands
Pointing into a nothingness
Or grabbing, pulling inwards
To the shadows and the darkness
Of the deathly forest floor
The silence that awaits
Far beneath the grey, white sky
The morning becomes forgotten
Beyond the edge of the forest
Where shadows hide
poem by Matthew Holloway
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Vagabond You
You can't stop roaming,
from one end to the other.
The fatigued way's restless edge,
pushes you on the wall of Promises bay!
So, is your love.
Relentless, monotonous, dull;
Can't quench your thirst, all the way.
The roads, hills, desert,
everywhere, you make your,
unbound, compact, sojourn!
No tent, no, fireplace
or bread, wine could fill
your incessant life's lust.
Vagabond You,
no hands can shackle,
your Primitive hands.
poem by Debdarshana Sen
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