London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics
27th July- a British milestone
Welcoming two hundred and four countries
Through a parade of emotions, no fears,
Sounds of music and loads of cheers!
The Olympic Village vibrating
Glorious noises breathtaking
Thousands of volunteers on the show
Efforts crowned by a human glow!
The Stadium is attentive now
To a variety of sporting players
All struggling for their performance
Years of training, hard work, endurance.
From Rowing, Cycling, Swimming
To Gymnastics, Fencing, Archery
They're pushing hard, hopefully
For their attempt to winning...
At famous, popular British venues
Crowds rejoice over a victory
Others wipe tears painfully
Still others perform in their especial way
Superhumans they are
Unique souls they will stay!
poem by Maria C. Costa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Yeah, that's what kind of, we get the idea a little bit yeah, because other people from different countries also try as hard as they can to get a medal or a gold medal in the Olympic Games. And you know, if they can work hard, we can work hard as well.
quote by Inge de Bruijn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Capture of Havana
'Twas in the year 1762 that France and Spain
Resolved, allied together, to crush Britain;
But the British Army sailed from England in May,
And arrived off Havana without any delay.
And the British Army resolved to operate on land,
And the appearance of the British troops were really grand;
And by the Earl of Albemarle the British troops were commanded,
All eager for to fight as soon as they were landed.
Arduous and trying was the work the British had to do,
Yet with a hearty goodwill they to it flew;
While the tropical sun on them blazed down,
But the poor soldiers wrought hard and didn't frown.
The bombardment was opened on the 30th of June,
And from the British battleships a fierce cannonade did boom;
And continued from six in the morning till two o'clock in the afternoon,
And with grief the French and Spaniards sullenly did gloom.
And by the 26th of July the guns of Fort Moro were destroyed,
And the French and Spaniards were greatly annoyed;
Because the British troops entered the Fort without dismay,
And drove them from it at the bayonet charge without delay.
But for the safety of the city the Governor organised a night attack,
Thinking to repulse the British and drive them back;
And with fifteen hundred militia he did the British attack,
But the British trench guards soon drove them back.
Then the Spandiards were charged and driven down the hill,
At the point of the bayonet sore against their will;
And they rushed to their boats, the only refuge they could find,
Leaving a trail of dead and wounded behind.
Then Lieutenant Forbes, at the head of his men,
Swept round the ramparts driving all before them;
And with levelled bayonets they drove them to and fro,
Then the British flag was hoisted over the bastions of Moro.
Then the Governor of the castle fell fighting sword in hand,
While rallying his men around the flagstaff the scene was grand;
And the Spaniards fought hard to save their ships of war,
But the British destroyed their ships and scattered them afar.
And every man in the Moro Fort was bayonet or shot,
Which in Spanish history will never be forgot;
And on the 10th of August Lord Albemarle sent a flag of truce,
And summoned the Governor to surrender, but he seemed to refuse.
Then from the batteries the British opened a terrific fire,
And the Spaniards from their guns were forced to retire,
Because no longer could they the city defend;
Then the firing ceased and hostilities were at an end.
Then the city of Havana surrendered unconditionally,
And terms were settled, and the harbour, forts, and city,
With a district of one hundred miles to the westward,
And loads of gold and silver were the British troops' reward.
And all other valuable property was brought to London,
The spoils that the British Army had won;
And it was conveyed in grand procession to the Tower of London,
And the Londoners applauded the British for the honours they had won.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
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On hindsight
No one believes: in that well worn saying
It'll be all right on the night
Mention the five rings
or that the Olympics are coming to London
this much is absolutely certain
considerable panic and loads of hand wringing
Predictions of unfinished venues
Spiraling costs
Log jam
Gridlock
Pandemonium
Watch out
Ticket touts about
Journalists whipping up panic
over the threat of terrorists
Fiddlesticks!
99% of the Olympics
went off without a hitch
Sceptical killjoys had reminded:
'We're in the midst of a severe financial crisis
We can't afford this...! '
Still others had grumbled:
'60 State of the Art hospitals could have been built
instead of all this extravagance.....'
And, doom-sayers swore:
'London has unpredictable weather
creaking infrastructure
How will it cope?
Think! '
From nay
to cynical complaints of bloated commercialism
To yea
and, finally to - complete addiction
The moment the torch arrived from Greece
the mood of the Country changed completely
Through gale force winds and poring rain
people came out in their droves
to catch a glimpse
and, to celebrate a fleeting moment
The famed British rain
stayed away - in the main
and, London basked in the sun
Opening ceremony
Magnificent
Closing ceremony
An absolute triumph
Olympic park
Hats off
People of all races
Came together to celebrate
Where else do you find such unity?
No place else - unfortunately
Buy me tickets to some event
Any event
I want to tell my relatives
' I was there! '
Success at swimming, rowing, shooting
and much, much more
Sent us Brits zooming up the medals board
Thanks in part to lottery funding
arranged by John Major's govt.
From twenty-one to fifteen
within the blink of an eye
we were at no.5
No! No.4
Now,3
Tee hee
Thanks - Team GB
Olympic fever - complete!
A combination of dedicated athletes
Enthusiastic volunteers
Meticulous logistical planning
Panoramic views on our TV screens
Ensured a very successful Olympics
Congratulations London
The games were great
And. the way you represented
a slice of Britain's rich heritage
It's well-known tolerance
it's diverse multiculturalism -
you definitely did the Nation proud.
poem by Nayyar Shabbir Ahmad
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Don't Think I Will Ever Learn To Be Humble
I don't think I will ever learn to be humble-
After so many years of rejection,
After so many failed efforts at publication,
After so much self- publication,
And in its wake
So little enthusiasm for my work,
After so much pushing of myself
And so little response to that pushing
After so much trying again and again
Over nearly fifty years,
I still write and attempt to push myself forward,
As if there still will come a vindication
A revelation and total transformation
In the way my work is seen-
It appears I will die then as a wannabe,
Still pushing still dreaming still believing
I should be what clearly I am not-
I will never learn to be humble-
I will carry to the grave
My own exaggerated idea of the worth
Of my work and the value of myself.
I will go down to the grave
The fool of my own dream
A lifelong failure.
poem by Shalom Freedman
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I always think it's because of you know hard work, hard training. And if Susie's training hard, you know, why can't I train hard to get a world record. I'm doing the same thing.
quote by Inge de Bruijn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Olympic Platinum
If I could reach to the sky and touch it for my country
Get some on my finger and take in its smell
The smell of victory land of the free Olympic dream
My Olympic dream
My promotion scheme
How hard can it be
How high can I jump
How high can I throw
How high can I run
How high can I hold my breath and stay underwater
and wave my legs around in perfect unison with my partner who really doesn't understand me
For my Olympic dream
I'll be like Dwight Stone
I'll be like Bruce Jenner
I'll be like that girl who trained all her life as a distance runner and then tripped with a quarter mile to go
But I I will get up and I will run
I will run with the Georgia peach breeze and I will win
I will win my Olympic dream
The gold's just not good enough
And I don't even think of the bronze
I've ????? my life for Olympic Platinum
Olympic dream
I'll sing like Whitney
My Olympic dream
song performed by by Pearl Jam
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There are no countries in the world less known by the British than those selfsame British Islands.
quote by George Borrow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Olympic Gold
The power the fitness of youth grips nationalistic hope
The Olympic gold only for the best with mind to cope,
Training and hard work fills the hearts to win'
To gain a place to represent and lose is no sin.
All nations hold hands in spirit to compete
Joy and flags waving with smiles, tears for defeat.
The runners, the jumpers, the swimmers and gymnasts
Thrill the world with memories that will always last,
The world of five continents together in the Olympic flag rings,
Togetherness their anthems the whole world sings.
poem by Ken e Hall
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Playing Music Is Like Making Love
PLAYING MUSIC IS LIKE MAKING LOVE
Many people who insist that they enjoy
music known as classical merely say
they do, pretending. Far more serious is the ploy
planned by LSO, who'll just pretend to play.
There is surely nothing wrong with those who fake
enjoyment, like a woman faking an orgasm,
but pretense of playing music's a mistake,
since music needs not only sound, but ectoplasm.
Orchestras and lovemakers should never mimic:
they should always show their skin when they perform,
and should not be, although poetic, metonymic:
the use of any substitute is rotten form.
Denis Bartel reported the news about the London Symphony Orchestra's decision to mimic their playing while a performance is broadcast to visits at the Olympic Games. David Ng writes in the LA Times:
Musicians with the London Symphony Orchestra are reportedly going to have to pull a Milli Vanilli when they appear at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in London. Reports from Britain state that the orchestra will mimic playing to prerecorded music due to concerns about the weather and the shape of the performing venue - a large, oval-shaped arena whose scale would apparently make a live-music performance tricky….
The London Symphony has reportedly recorded the music that is scheduled to be played during the July 27 ceremony. The Daily Mail reports that Boyle wanted the orchestra to perform live, but that he was overruled by the organizing committee for the Games. When viewers around the world tune in for the ceremony, they can expect to see the conductor and musicians from the renowned orchestra going through the motions while a soundtrack plays.
This wouldn't be the first time that the mimicking of live music was used at an Olympics ceremony. In 2008, a mini-controversy developed during the Beijing Games when it was revealed that a 9-year-old singer lip-synced to the voice of another young girl whom officials had deemed less telegenic. Similarly, at President Obama's inauguration, the musical performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinistItzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriella Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill played, unamplified, to a recording. The decision to use a recording was made over fears that the cold weather that day could damage the instruments.
6/4/12 #10403
poem by Gershon Hepner
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The British descended
The British descended
on the Transvaal and Orange Free State
from their island
on the other side of the sea
and in thousands
they came to ruin the land.
The British descended
on the Transvaal and Orange Free State
and from the sea they came
and an entire empire
send its soldiers to destroy,
to pillage and scorch the earth,
to rape, and imprison
the women and children
of the Afrikaner nation.
My great grandfathers rode on horseback to war,
with Christiaan De Wet, Cronje
and De La Rey
and they fought hard pressed,
to drive the British
and soldiers from all her colonies away.
My great grandfathers rode on horseback to war
and landed in prisoner of war camps in St. Helena
and although the second Anglo-Boer war was lost
and the Afrikaner nation paid the highest cost
in the destruction of the land,
the death of men
and the murder of innocent women and children,
a time came
that once more we were free.
My great grandfathers rode on horseback to war,
but one was from and with the enemy
and a highlander was he
and a more decent man
is still hard to find
and one that hated the English
for the dreadfull things that they did,
at times I see the restored Martini Henri rifles
taken from the British
during that bitter war
and the legacy and great spirit,
of my great grandfathers
still stays with me.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Wipeout
Heheheheheheee wipe oooout!
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Hey watch out
Here we go here go
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
For three years straight we toured the nation
When we get through we needed a vacation
We wanted to party and get a little rest
So we packed our things and headed out west
We got our surfboards took the beachball out
Jumped in a limosuine ready to wipeout
Now were ready to go
Here we go here we go
One one two one two one two hit it d
Here we go
We got to california I said headed for the beach
There were girls galore all within our reach
There was sand and sun and lots of fun
But when we get there the fun really begun
So we cut on the box and started to shout
It was the beach boys rockin huh huh the wipeout
Oo oo
Ooo ooo
Oo
Oo
Oo oo
Wa-ah-ah-ah wawawa-ooh-oo
Wa-ah-ah-ah wawawa-ooh-oo
Thats it, that that thats it dit dit dit dit dit
Hit it d
The sun went down and the night began
We was rapping for the people cold chillin boppin
We was partying hard making lots of noise
When around the corner came the real beach boys
So we all jumped up and started to shout
Lets all sing the song called the wipeout
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Hey watch out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Stay go stay go stay go
Bring it out now
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
Wipin out wipe out
Hey watch out
Wah wah wah
Wipin out wipe out
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Because up to sixteen years old you feel gymnastics more. You can show your emotion, grace, like woman gymnastics, not kid's gymnastics. I feel I have good shape, and I can do it elements everything, but, it's not competition for me.
quote by Olga Korbut
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Summary History of Lord Clive
About a hundred and fifty years ago,
History relates it happened so,
A big ship sailed from the shores of Britain
Bound for India across the raging main.
And many of the passengers did cry and moan
As they took the last look of their old home,
Which they were fast leaving far behind,
And which some of them would long bear in mind.
Among the passengers was a youth about seventeen years old,
Who had been a wild boy at home and very bold,
And by his conduct had filled his parent's hearts with woe,
Because to school he often refused to go.
And now that he was going so far away from home,
The thought thereof made him sigh and groan,
For he felt very sad and dejected were his looks,
And he often wished he had spent more time at his books.
And when he arrived in India he searched for work there,
And got to be a clerk in a merchant's office, but for it he didn't care;
The only pleasure he found was in reading books,
And while doing so, sad and forlorn were his looks.
One day while feeling unhappy he fired a pistol at his own head,
Expecting that he would kill himself dead;
But the pistol wouldn't go off although he tried every plan,
And he felt sorry, and resolved to become a better man.
So Clive left his desk and became a soldier brave,
And soon rose to be a captain and manfully did behave;
For he beat the French in every battle,
After all their foolish talk and prattle.
Then he thought he would take a voyage home to his friends,
And for his bad behaviour towards them he would make some amends;
For he hadn't seen them for many years,
And when he thought of them he shed briny tears.
And when he arrived in London
The people after him in crowds did run;
And they flocked to see him every minute,
Because they thought him the most famous man in it.
And all the greatest people in the land
Were proud to shake him by the hand;
And they gave him a beautiful sword because he had fought so well
And of his bravery the people to each other did tell.
And when his own friends saw him they to him ran,
And they hardly knew him, he looked so noble a man;
And his parents felt o'erjoyed when they saw him home again,
And when he left his parents again for India it caused them great pain.
But it was a good thing Clive returned to India again,
Because a wicked prince in his territory wouldn't allow the british to remain,
And he resolved to drive them off his land,
And marched upon them boldly with thousands of his band.
But the bad prince trembled when he heard that Clice had come,
Because the British at the charge of the bayonet made his army run;
And the bad prince was killed by one of his own band,
And the British fortunately got all his land.
And nearly all India now belongs to this country,
Which has been captured by land and by sea,
By some of the greatest men that ever did live,
But the greatest of them all was Robert Clive.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
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Citius, Altius, Fortius
The audience has gathered, the stage is set-
Now is the time to see if your expectations are met
With victory as the only acceptable outcome:
You came in search of a gold medal and will not leave without one.
You test yourself against the very best in the world,
In hopes that when all is said and done, Old Glory is unfurled.
As the event unfolds, the battle for supremacy
Causes you to question your training's efficacy
For a brief moment, until you dig deeper than ever before.
The pain builds in your body-but, you must ignore
It until you achieve your Olympic dream;
You have done it-above all others, you reigned supreme!
The Stars and Stripes shall wave highest, to mark this achievement.
While all others are consoled, in their moments of bereavement,
You revel in your goal's fruition: to be the very best.
You trained for many years and excelled at every test
Along the way, in preparation for this moment in time.
The road has not been easy, and long has been the climb,
Yet, on this day your feat is unmatched and your nation is proud.
You represented us with honor and courage and our cheers are loud.
With the world as your stage, you were the embodiment of the Olympic creed:
'Citius, Altius, Fortius'-faster, higher, stronger indeed,
Than all others on this day-when it matters the most.
Though, you have no time or want to brag or boast-
You have too much respect for the efforts of all who showed.
You pray a silent prayer, for the obligation owed-
To Him, and all who have helped you along the way,
Then congratulate all others who have competed today.
This was you time, and this, your place-
And now, all the world is privy to your artistic grace,
Unrivaled speed and herculean strength-today, you shined!
All your sacrifices and skills today, combined
To make you the champion that you were rightly crowned-
The best in the world showed up, and you were the best around!
-Maurice Harris,3 August 2012
poem by Maurice Harris
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I Don't Wanna Work
Well i give it little care
Does anybody out there even know
I'm in here?
I just keep my movement going
Somewhere
Like playing in the background baby
Like playing in the background baby
I play the game
You play the way that most men would choose
I'm surprised at you
Way back in the middle of a broken down love affair
You and i found each other
And we fell in love
I ain't never met a man and woman get along better
Than you and i when get together
Still i say
I don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
Don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
Don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
Not if it makes me cry
No no
See the lady walking down the street
She's got on high heel shoes
And her hair full of curlers
She's got stiletto nails
And some black mascara
She's got a push up and a pick up
I tell you that girl's working overtime
I don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
Don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
Not if it makes me cry
No no no no no no
I don't wanna work
I don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work it if makes me cry
Spent last night
Talking to myself in bed
Wondering why i do this over
Over and over again
I don't know
I, i, i, i don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work that hard
Not when it makes me cry
I don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work not that hard
I don't wanna work it it makes me cry
I don't wanna work that hard
I don't wanna work not that hard
I don't wanna work if it makes me cry
song performed by by Donna Summer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Kohinoor...unlucky stone
I am black unshaped stone
Simple but famous for quality alone
When cut to size may assume name of diamond
All envy keen interest and passion found
Many may inherit fortune with precious stone
Prosperity may return and poverty gone
It may shadow bad luck and misfortune
Life may go astray with rhythm out of tune
Such is story of diamond “Kohinoor” in possession
Previously found with princely states with obsession
Sikhs got it with downfall and recession
British too lost empire with no concession
Where ever it traveled misfortune followed
Uprooting of states and downfall allowed
Humiliation and shame had to be swallowed
Revenge, hate and reprisal got to be vowed
“Kohinoor” came to be known as unlucky treasure
Cut into size was mounting pressure
British obliged and cut into pieces assured
Not to pass to any one promise reassured
British too were reduced to small empire
Golden days passed with good fame to expire
Many attempted it to claim and acquire
Legal bindings and claims too required
History may not repeat with its curse and fall out
Kohinoor may stay in vault and not invite rout
World may know nothing what it is all about
It is tale of destruction and misfortune spell out
Still it adores British crown
No significance but only in noun
Many countries claim and eyes frown
British too unwilling and claimdisown
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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The AFL Football
He was exactly like his famous Dad
When he was all stitched up
Of this fact he was very glad
His father had a special role in the 2005 premiership cup
Don't laugh when I tell you
This story is very true
He was a football; Aussie made
With anyone else, he wouldn't ever trade
Of his father he was very proud
Cheer cheer roared the crowd
It was a moment that would certainly go
Down in sporting history; this for sure he did know
Leo Barry; what a mark indeed
All the Sydney Swans fans agreed
The sea of red and white
What a glorious sight
He only wished that he could have been there
With him, all of his special memories; his Dad always did share
In a game a football is an important part
Of it all; this is the heart
Without a football, there'd be no game
Which of course would be a crying shame
Thousands of people travel to the A N Z Stadium or S C Ground
To see a football thrown or kicked around
Everyone gets excited to see
The game being played passionately
The moment that is above the rest
Is when Adam Goodes passes every test
To kick the winning goal
He plays with his heart and soul
The football's father at last did retire
To always be like him; was his son's desire
AFL is at the top of every sports fan's game list
Never ever to be missed
poem by Rose Angel H
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You Don't Have To Buy My Love
You don't have to buy my love
Win my heart now it's not tough
You don't have to pay for care
Just become my near and dear
You don't have to wipe my tears
Make me smile and give me cheers
You don't have to sing my song
Dance with me when I am young
You don't have to stay awake
To make for me a milkshake
You don't have to wait for me
For lunch if I am busy
You don't have to pay my bills
It's not hard like climbing hills
poem by Asif Andalib
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With You
Yeah
There's something in your ways that makes me wanna stay here for a thousand years so just cry your fears, yea i need you everyday inside you i just want to wipe away your fears so just cry your tears
Yeah
I wish I was in you
If I stay well then your tears will set you free if I stay right here and forever with you everything i feel for you is everything i want to stay with you if I stay right here and forever with you
My eyes!
My eyes!
This is tearing me apart I wish I could be in your soft arms feel you again anytime I feel like Im to far then I will try to remember all ours and your memories I know
I wish I was in you
If I stay well then your tears will set you free if I stay right here then forever with you everything I feel for you is everything I want to stay with you if I stay right here than forever with you
My eyes! My eyes!
My eyes! My eyes!
song performed by by Ill NiO
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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With You
Yeah
There's something in your ways that makes me wanna stay here for a thousand years so just cry your fears, yea i need you everyday inside you i just want to wipe away your fears so just cry your tears
Yeah
I wish I was in you
If I stay well then your tears will set you free if I stay right here and forever with you everything i feel for you is everything i want to stay with you if I stay right here and forever with you
My eyes!
My eyes!
This is tearing me apart I wish I could be in your soft arms feel you again anytime I feel like Im to far then I will try to remember all ours and your memories I know
I wish I was in you
If I stay well then your tears will set you free if I stay right here then forever with you everything I feel for you is everything I want to stay with you if I stay right here than forever with you
My eyes! My eyes!
My eyes! My eyes!
song performed by by Ill NiO
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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