Ode 1373
I was dead, then alive.
Weeping, then laughing.
The power of love came into me,
and I became fierce like a lion,
then tender like the evening star.
He said, ‘You’re not mad enough.
You don’t belong in this house.’
I went wild and had to be tied up.
He said, ‘Still not wild enough
to stay with us!’
I broke through another layer
into joyfulness.
He said, ‘Its not enough.’
I died.
He said, ‘You are a clever little man,
full of fantasy and doubting.’
I plucked out my feathers and became a fool.
He said, ‘Now you are the candle
for this assembly.’
But I’m no candle. Look!
I’m scattered smoke
He said, ‘You are the Sheikh, the guide.’
But I’m not a teacher. I have no power.
He said, ‘You already have wings.
I cannot give you wings.’
But I wanted his wings.
I felt like some flightless chicken.
Then new events said to me,
‘Don’t move. A sublime generosity is
coming towards you.’
And old love said, ‘Stay with me.’
I said, ‘I will.’
You are the fountain of the sun’s light.
I am a willow shadow on the ground.
You make my raggedness silky.
The soul at dawn is like darkened water
that slowly begins to say Thank you, thank you.
Then at sunset, again, Venus gradually
Changes into the moon and then the whole nightsky.
This comes of smiling back
at your smile.
The chess master says nothing,
other than moving the silent chess piece.
That I am part of the ploys
of this game makes me
amazingly happy.
Related quotes
Ghazal of Rumi
I was dead, then alive.
Weeping, then laughing.
The power of love came into me,
and I became fierce like a lion,
then tender like the evening star.
He said, ‘You’re not mad enough.
You don’t belong in this house.’
I went wild and had to be tied up.
He said, ‘Still not wild enough
to stay with us!’
I broke through another layer
into joyfulness.
He said, ‘Its not enough.’
I died.
I Was Dead
i was dead
i came alive
i was tears
i became laughter
all because of love
when it arrived
my temporal life
from then on
changed to eternal
love said to me
you are not
crazy enough
you don't
fit this house
i went and
became crazy
crazy enough
to be in chains
love said
you are not
intoxicated enough
you don't
fit the group
i went and
got drunk
drunk enough
to overflow
with light-headedness
love said
you are still
too clever
filled with
imagination and skepticism
i went and
became gullible
and in fright
pulled away
from it all
love said
you are a candle
attracting everyone
gathering every one
around you
i am no more
a candle spreading light
i gather no more crowds
and like smoke
i am all scattered now
love said
you are a teacher
you are a head
and for everyone
you are a leader
i am no more
not a teacher
not a leader
just a servant
to your wishes
love said
you already have
your own wings
i will not give you
more feathers
and then my heart
pulled itself apart
and filled to the brim
with a new light
overflowed with fresh life
now even the heavens
are thankful that
because of love
i have become
the giver of light
Flightless Bird
My world is caged in,
I can not fly away,
I can not soar in the clouds,
With the wind and the angels.
I am a flightless bird with clipped wings.
I sit here day in and day out,
I watch so many people coming in and going out,
They stay here so happy so proud,
And they leave again without any care in the world.
I am a flightless bird with clipped wings.
I remember each face,
I remember them all saying hi waiting for a reply of hello,
They don’t understand how it feels,
They don’t understand what it’s like.
To be a flightless bird with clipped wings.
Wings tucked and head held high I sit here,
I wear a smile on my face and I keep myself beautiful and happy,
But inside all I can see are the bars that surround me,
I can’t get past them I can only sit.
I am a flightless bird with clipped wings.
My world is a room full of people myself the center of attention,
Although I should not complain for this is my life,
And I make them smile I make the children laugh and look in my eyes,
And sometimes they look into my eyes and see my world through my eyes.
They know I am a flightless bird with clipped wings.
They’ll stand and watch me as I walk around in my cage,
They’ll be there with me and try to understand.
Then they’ll have to leave and they’ll look over their shoulders.,
And they look into my eyes one last time,
Before they fly away into the world to bring back stories for the flightless bird with clipped wings,
They are my connection to the world,
They show me what they see through their eyes,
They show me wonders and beauties of a world I’ve never seen,
They are my window to the outside,
In their mind I can be a flightless bird in a world of wonder and of flight.
I am only a small bird in a cage that sits in a hotel,
Sits and watches as the world around me fly’s by,
I wait for the occasional stranger who looks into my eyes with knowing,
Maybe a person who is like me like a flightless bird in a cage,
They are my wings, the wings of a flightless bird who’s wings are clipped.
I sit in my own world and watch as it all moves by,
Day after day I watch and I say what is expected of me,
I sit in my world and I go on my own steady journey,
A journey in which I am a silent observer,
A flightless bird with clipped wings in a world of ever changing skies.
By: Bethany Maxwell
poem by Bethany Maxwell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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On Silent Wings
(t. j. white, j. ralston)
Producer: trevor horn
Album: wildest dreams (96)
Special guest: sting
There was a time when I would have followed you
To the end of the earth
I was willing to share it all with you
The love, the hurt
Ive seen you when your dreams were falling in the dust
But I never stopped believing in you
I always thought our love was strong enough
One you could hold on to
You never see it coming
You just let it fly
On silent wings, silent wings
You cant hide what you you feel inside
And the fire has left your eyes
On silent wings
I see us in our dreams and were dancing
I can almost hear the song
But the prayers, they go unanswered
But we both know, were just hanging on
I feel ashamed, but Ill never know the reason why
The rug was pulled so gently from under my feet
I only know that something good has died
Between you and me, oh its just a memory
You never see it coming
You just go separate ways
On silent wings, silent wings
Theres no more promises to break
Or our love has slipped away
On silent wings
You never see it coming
But you know it has to end
On silent wings, silent wings
I will never be the same again
I feel the whisper of the wind
On silent wings
song performed by by Tina Turner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Broken Wings
I once spread my wings happily,
Till the day I met you,
My wings got clip so I can be with you,
You made happiest girl alive,
You seem like a dream come true,
My broken wings may be broken yet you fixed me so I can fly happily,
With you by my side we can be free,
With you in my arms makes me want to smile and make me feel all warm inside,
We had our differences but we still made it through all those arguments,
We said we are good for each other,
With you I am more alive then dead inside,
With these broken wings I can be your everything,
You can see that I am more happy when I am with you,
Without you here by my side I am lost,
In dreams we are together flying happily,
With every wish we make,
With every heartbeat I make,
I am happy that I met you,
You made me see the colors beyond the black and white,
Now that my wings are back I am happily give your wings so we can fly away together.
poem by Jennifer Rondeau
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Moonful Of Moments
Moon light so bright
It follows you all night
Have no fear nor no worry
No need for any hurry
It’ll guide you in your darkest hour
Light galore with endless power
When your candle melts or your torch it fails
Your eyes – a boat on sea
And the moon – wind in its sails
Or stay and watch its silent reign
The moon a ball and the night its chain
The blackness has no place to hide
Its whiteness wants to be your guide
Like many eyes its surrounded by
The stars are company dotted high
Full moon fears play on your mind
Stay one step ahead not behind
Magical moon playing tricks
The man who lives there gets his kicks
He’s smiling as your pace gets faster
Staying calm you have yet to master
Oh take advantage of its faithful glow
Enjoy it fully by going slow.
Moon light so bright
It follows you all night.
poem by Daniel Murphy
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I Could Be The Moon
i could be the moon
where you can be a body and a
shadow
i could be a lake where
the moon may shine
and you can still be the body
and the shadow
and the voice
i could be a candle in the dark
where you may put
your hope and you can still be the
body and the shadow
and the scent
i could all be your moon
your lake and your candle
and you can still be the body and the shadow
and you shall walk
under me (if i were the moon)
and around me (if i were the lake)
and you may have the power
to put me off (if i were just a candle
in the dark
where you are the body
and the shadow and the voice
and by the mere sigh
of your whimper
i may die
so i still prefer to be your moon
or your lake so i can be your full light
so i can be your mirror
larger than your body
not helpless to your shadow
in silence, i still like to be myself
not a slave, not someone whom you can just
give away as easily as a flicker of a candle
as fickle as you are
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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In The Heat Of The Morning
The blazing sunset in your eyes will tantalize
Every man who looks your way
I watched them sink before your gaze
Seniorita sway
Dance with me before their frozen eyes
Im so much in love
Like a little soldier catching butterflies
No man loved like I love you
Wouldnt you like to love me too
In the heat of the morning
In the shadow Ill clip your wings
And Ill tell you I love you
In the heat of the morning
Ill tie a knot in rainbows end, organise the breeze
Light my candle from the sun
Ill give you daylight for a friend
Ill do all of these
Ill prove that it can be done, oh, Im so much in love
Like the ragged boy who races with the wind
No man loved like I love you
Wouldnt you like to love me too
In the heat of the morning
In the shadow Ill clip your wings
And Ill tell you I love you
In the heat of the morning
In the heat of the morning
In the shadow Ill clip your wings
And Ill tell you I love you
In the heat of the morning
Oh yeah, all day, all the way
Ooh
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Candle Of Hope
In incandescing moods,
we fly on silver wings
around a blue tinted moon
igniting failing stars
with a candle of hope.
Our wings of silver
sparkle in the sun
as we sail in a cosmic smile
looking down on frailing things
touching them with the gentle flame
from our candle of hope.
Rejuvenating all of whom
touch the candle flame,
awakening their inner light
so it will shine bright again.
10 October 2009
poem by David Harris
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What Left My Throat Dry?
Inexcusable crime
And incurable disease
Of the last century
Left my throat dry
Without water wetted my wings
Without sickle tied my legs
I lost my peace in the din
A fish in the water without a fin.
Water can not wet my throat
The sun can not dry my wings
Untying my legs will not give me back my fins.
What is the use to be dry,
If I shan't get the shadow and the fly?
I shan't get surely the shadow from the sun
To it, it will only increase my bebt burden?
My wet wings needn't to be wide spread
As I know the hope of justice has already dead!
poem by Abdul Wahab
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She's A Butterfly
She remembers when she first got her wings
And how she opened up that day
she learned to sing
Then the colors came, erased the
black and white
And her whole world changed
when she realized
[Chorus:]
She's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down
And everywhere she goes
Everybody knows she's so glad to be alive
She's a butterfly
Like the purest light in a darkened world
So much hope inside such a lovely girl
You should see her fly, it's almost magical
It makes you wanna cry, she's so beautiful
[Chorus]
God bless the butterfly,
give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
God bless the butterfly,
give her strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
[Chorus]
God bless the butterfly,
give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
God bless the butterfly,
give her the strenght to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
song performed by by Martina Mcbride
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Butterflies Are Free
Dont close your hand
Just close your eyes
And I will stay right by your side
And if this world turns cruel & cold
Look to the skies
Dont you see the truth?
The power of one, the power of two
The power of me loving you
Chorus:
Butterflies are free
Free to come and go
Free to spread their wings
Know that I know
Youll come back to me
Cause love like butterflies are free
You see a light
You hear the call
And if I dont let you fly
I dont know you at all
So go on and roam
See all that you can
Born unto this earth a curious soul
You and you alone
Can make you feel whole
But dont I add truth
Youve never known
Chorus
The tighter the grip
The more youll resist
Its human nature I suppose
But Id rather be surprised by a kiss
Then under your control
Chorus
Free to come and go
Free to spread their wings
Know that I know
Youll come back to me
Cause love like butterflies are free
Chorus
Chorus
Free to come and go
Free to spread their wings
Youll come back to me
Cause love like butterflies are free
song performed by by Debbie Gibson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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With Heaven On Our Side
Time, our precious time
In the beginning
Your heart and mine
I thought our love
Was one of a kind
I thought we were winning
But I was one step behind, ooh oh
Words, I couldnt say
The words that would keep you
From running away
But I shouldve tried
Even begged you to stay
I felt the tears of an angel
Fall from heaven that day
I know, I know
Your voice keeps haunting me
Come home, come home
Come on back to me
I know it aint easy
Youre a part of me
Youre the wings on my heart
Can we give our love another try?
Can we keep our broken dream alive?
Now more than ever
With heaven on our side, ooooh
Can we give our love one more night?
I miss you angel, can we make it right?
Now and forever
With heaven on our side, on our side
This tender love slipped through our hands
Two broken hearts, could not withstand it
Girl, I know what I put you through
If you need me now, Ill be there for you
And I know it aint easy
Still a part of me
Youre the wings on my heart
Can we give our love another try?
Can we keep our broken dream alive?
Now more than ever
With heaven on our side, ooooh
Can we give our love just one more night?
Oh angel baby, shine your golden light
Now and forever
I know heavens on our side, on our side
Give our love another try, give our love another try
Can we keep our broken dream alive?
Now more than ever
With heaven, heaven on our side, on our side
Heaven on our side
song performed by by Foreigner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Joanies Butterfly
And what a stormy night
I met the pony
It was so dark that I could hardly see
It smelled so sweet you know who and joanie
So many butterflies one could not see
We all could feel desire
Took off in flight
It was hotter than fire
Than came the light
Oh, oooh
Oh, ah, now smell the heat
The dancing pony unwrapped his wings
To try off joanie
The pony he grew in size
In thunder and rain
And finally realize
What he was and what he does
And what he couldnt stay
And left to kiss the cheek of mother nature
Nobody here can denie such things
Hes created as you lookm honey
No butterfly should be denied his wings
He was a kick ass rocking horse
He like a hell bent tied to the gavin pole
It was a one-time fantasy
I got to grab hold and fly into the holy land
Bare back, riding like like a butterplane
Nightmares, and he can hold the candle to my dreams
Oh we rode tonight
I talked to believe in
What I saw all right
It was everything
We flew into burning skies
The thunder and rain
And finally realize
What he is and what he does
And what he couldnt stay
Oh, no, no...
Took off in flight
Oh, no, no...
Bare back somethings coming over me
Not mess and he can hold the candle to my dreams
No live to breathe
No stable lights
No try to please
Nobodys eyes
Well never see lust again
And tell me the pain
Bury it all again
We have a good time
Somebody shot him down
Now tell me, tell me, tell me never
We could really cause a course in time
Listen bissin to your old pleasures
Bissin listenin be a king of spine
He was a keep grass rocking horse
He was a one time fantasy
A two two...?
A three three?
song performed by by Aerosmith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Singing Bird, I was!
Bird, singing Bird, I am!
Got trapped myself,
lured by desires and
Effects of my own karma!
I found myself in cage,
Made by my own fate,
who become my master!
But when I started singing,
Praise of my lord, not caring my master,
Softer and softer became
my master's heart!
I started singing for the one who placed me here,
Slowly wiping my eyes,
With my own wings,
singing melodious songs
I was amusing my heart,
And singing became my integral part!
I sang because I saw smile on lips of both,
My master as well as my Lord,
And I sang because it pleaseth all!
Nought I couldn't do more,
Eat, sleep then awake,
Pat my back with my own wings then sit and sing!
I was trying to find way out,
Dashed against nuts and bolts of the Cage,
And broke my wings and legs!
My pain was doubled,
soar multiplied as I tried more and more to get myself free!
Master was laughing at me but he had sympathy,
He took me out and cleansed my wounds with his divine power and told me to cool down and wait and sing than try something great
and great will be the pain,
if act impatient!
I sang to Lord, O! Lord,
Thou hast ears to hear
this painful song!
Come on and free me!
I slept exhausted of weeping Lord came in dream and said,
'Child look, bother not of wing that are mortal,
Look into heart, heart has wings that never fail
Wings that are ever strong,
Even heart can sing when it fly, and even it can fly where air is not, fairies that land!
They call it heaven!
Woke up and saw my cage!
Cage that allow me not,
never it allowed me to fly!
I sat like meditating on God!
Then my mind absorbed in lord,
Body was stiff like a corpse,
Seeing that master opened the cage,
Lord appeared and said,
My child it is now or never!
Suddenly I got out and flew to my Lord, where my master, Karma and his cage have no entry!
I sang to Lord, 'O Lord, I praise you thee,
Thy will be my will!
Thy wish be my wish!
thy mighty will is done,
That saved me, thy love and
Thy mercy showed the path
Thee, is my only savior!
thy merciful hands lifted me! '
AUM, AMEN AMEEN!
poem by Ramdas Bhandarkar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shadow and Light Source Both
How does a part of the world leave the world?
How does wetness leave water?
Dont' try to put out fire by throwing on
more fire! Don't wash a wound with blood.
No matter how fast you run, your shadow
keeps up. Sometimes it's in front!
Only full overhead sun diminishes your shadow.
But that shadow has been serving you.
What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is
your candle. Your boundaries are your quest.
I could explain this, but it will break the
glass cover on your heart, and there's no
fixing that.
You must have shadow and light source both.
Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.
When from that tree feathers and wings sprout on you,
be quieter than a dove. Don't even open your mouth for
even a coo.
Light Day and Night
A golden rain falls down
A golden dawn
A golden age
At last a Angel appears
She dreamt ever so sweetly
The rain comes down
Like a song
An angel plays a harp
A bird dances
And Joy is echoing
In the footsteps
And the shoes are running
As if with wings
A round the tree
Under the sun, angels dance
In circles and all night too
A large bee is sitting
As an angel blows in its ear
A purple rose appears
An angel bows, his head
Into the silence
And on his pillow
Sleeps with tears
Of love streaming down.
A dove calls and moves
Towards the Light
All angels sing
A fog comes down
An angel sings
Three angel’s wings
Spread out for flight
An eagle flies across the sky
Sharing a nest with a diamond
An angel flies by singing
So all the trees can grow
A sun is setting
Over a deep forest
All the birds and animals
Are sleeping now
A moon comes up
And some stars
And all the world
A star is singing about joy
Of the waves on the ocean
And the fish in the sea
And the dolphins jump
And a wave is running by
As a boat has many masts
Moves forwards, backwards
A song dissolves into the mists
Like a poem that soon passes
An angel is swishing
Above and below
And now a moon looks on
A rose grows
Ever so slowly
A candle burns quietly
A snail loves to walk
On the grass in the morning
And an angel flies home in the night
This is a prayer, given to the air
When the rains come down
And the tears fall, I will be
Holding you firm in my wings
I will step in the Shadows before you
The angel’s feather blows across
The wide skies, it falls at my feet
To my surprise it intrigues me
It warms me. it warns me
That love is coming
That truth is foretold
And that I am witnessed
I am a witness to love
Angel love of feathers keen.
Light feathers wanting to be
A song that comes down
Is sung, is light
A heart reaches out this day
No Night. a dream is shared
Angel’s wings, angel’s might
And a gift is brought into being
This cannot be matched
Under heaven and earth.
This truth has been granted
And a blessing to health.
Guard it, know it well
As it sings through the universe
As an angel would sing
In the morning as birds
Watch by, two feathers fall
From her graceful wings
Messages from the departed.
Various melodies are calling
Various paths back to her heart
Love’s refined and refrain.
And in that morning mist
When all around seems filled
Future dreams are lurking, waiting
For the moment when paths
Shall cross. Their Light shall shine
The water that runs smoothly
Downhill, over grass, and weeds
And flowers, all the same
As An angel carries an urn
Filled with birds, and treasures
And messages and laughter
Her heart opens up like a flower
And her feet dance as in the snow
All the ancestors stand up in smile
A Vague moon, showers its peace
And doves flies over
As an angel starts a journey
Coming home to all things
Small and great
I listened for the heart beat
Eternal, justified, complete
In the twinkling of an eye
The Journey had begun
Life was carrying me before it
In its Arms and in its way
Towards a destination pure
And sweet and at peace
Love was my joy was my family
Nature was before me
My Justice my guide
The veils of truth were parting
Layer after layer, tide after tide
In rhythms of rain and sunlight
And warmth. was born again…
poem by Char Pattrick
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Our Bird In Your Cage
we have this bird
we both own it and love it and care for it
our bird
and you have this cage
that you only own
golden, new and strong and as you say it
so reliable
that when our bird is in that cage
it will be safe
and cannot escape
we feed this bird together
and give it water and birdseeds
and a place of twigs and swing
where the bird can play
and perch upon
like it is on a tree
days and years
we keep this bird in your cage
and we see it is dying
and wanting to be free
yet you say, this sickness is just temporary
time heals what has wounded it
and shall forget the power of its wings
days and more years
we keep this bird in your cage
and i have not listened at all
to the sad song of that bird
her waning chirps
her weakened wings
her way of losing hold to the dreams of its wings
today we see this bird is dead
but you have no sadness at all
you say, you will buy another bird
again to be kept in your cage
i could have told you
i am the bird in your cage and i too have forgotten the power of
my wings
i could have told you, i have long died
and have forgotten what freedom is, what love is, what i am
in the first place. How can i ever tell you?
you are my cage.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wild Forest Flower
Rough around the edges but a tender center
This is my wild forest flower
Short and slender with long flowing blonde hair
This is my wild forest flower
A loving heart that goes beyond what I can see
This is my wild forest flower
I want to hold my flower in my hands
Wondering why she holds back and refuses to stand
I water it every now and then to watch it grow
But it takes too long because it’s a little slow
So I wait patiently for the flower to begin to rise
Even though I can still hear the weeping willows cries
Firm and hard headed but with a loving touch
This is my wild forest flower
Always hiding and always scared like a little child
This is my wild forest flower
The only one im willing to be with anymore
This is my wild forest flower
A darkened hush rises in the sky above my flower
The roots slowly exposing themselves out of fear
A forest fire begins in the distance soon to consume it
The fire rages ready to consume the small thing in power
This little bitty flower that I love and hold so dear
but I laugh because I know how this fire got lit
poem by Branden Aeling
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Pot And Kettle
Come close to me, dear Annie, while I bind a lover's knot.
A tale of burning love between a kettle and a pot.
The pot was stalwart iron and the kettle trusty tin,
And though their sides were black with smoke they bubbled love within.
Forget that kettle, Jamie, and that pot of boiling broth,
I know a dismal story of a candle and a moth.
For while your pot is boiling and while your kettle sings
My moth makes love to candle flame and burns away his wings.
Your moth, I envy, Annie, that died by candle flame,
But here are two more lovers, unto no damage came.
There was a cuckoo loved a clock and found her always true.
For every hour they told their hearts, 'Ring! ting! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!'
As the pot boiled for the kettle, as the kettle for the pot,
So boils my love within me till my breast is glowing hot.
As the moth died for the candle, so could I die for you.
And my fond heart beats time with yours and cries, 'Cuckoo! Cuckoo!'
poem by Robert Graves
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