Delphi, c.430 BCE
She saw them coming, that rainy day;
popped her head out of the cave,
saw them trudging sandalled up the hillside;
being an oracle, she knew all the answers;
but had to guess the questions, or wait
to see what stupidity or conceit
framed their speech;
upmarket bunch, this lot; not the usual
money market slickers whom
it was a pleasure to turn away..
Chaerophon addressed her:
was there any man who was wiser
than Socrates? She sighed inwardly;
always their leading questions
gave them away..
tell them what they want to hear..
she did the smoke thing, but
the rain spoiled the trick;
a theatrical pause always gives
better value, a certain weight..
no, she said at length, no man
is wiser than Socrates..
swiftly satisfied, they turned away;
did not hear her add,
‘but his wife is wiser…’
typical men… but she chuckled to herself
ironically, remembering what
her father said when she told him
she wanted to be an oracle when she grew up:
‘Men think they know… but women
think they know better…’ Dad
spoke truer than he knew -
in her case.
She gathered her robe
around her; checked the time;
caves are OK, have a certain drama;
but temples, she thought, are friendlier..
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Related quotes
I thought to myself, 'I am wiser than this man neither of us knows anything that is really worthwhile, but he thinks he has knowledge when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think that I have. I seem, at any rate, to be a little wiser than he is on this point I do not think that I know what I do not know.
How Mary Grew
With wisdom far beyond her years,
And graver than her wondering peers,
So strong, so mild, combining still
The tender heart and queenly will,
To conscience and to duty true,
So, up from childhood, Mary Grew!
Then in her gracious womanhood
She gave her days to doing good.
She dared the scornful laugh of men,
The hounding mob, the slanderer's pen.
She did the work she found to do,--
A Christian heroine, Mary Grew!
The freed slave thanks her; blessing comes
To her from women's weary homes;
The wronged and erring find in her
Their censor mild and comforter.
The world were safe if but a few
Could grow in grace as Mary Grew!
So, New Year's Eve, I sit and say,
By this low wood-fire, ashen gray;
Just wishing, as the night shuts down,
That I could hear in Boston town,
In pleasant Chestnut Avenue,
From her own lips, how Mary Grew!
And hear her graceful hostess tell
The silver-voiced oracle
Who lately through her parlors spoke
As through Dodona's sacred oak,
A wiser truth than any told
By Sappho's lips of ruddy gold,--
The way to make the world anew,
Is just to grow--as Mary Grew
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
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The Greatest Man I Never Knew
The greatest man I never knew
Lived just down the hall
And everyday we said hello
But never touched at all
He was in his paper
I was in my room
How was I to know he thought I hung the moon
The greatest man I never knew
Came home late every night
He never had too much to say
Too much was on his mind
I never really knew him
And now it seems so sad
Everything he gave to us took all he had
Then the days turned into years
And the memories to black and white
He grew cold like an old winter wind
Blowing across my life
The greatest words I never heard
I guess Ill never hear
The man I thought could never die
Sbeen dead almost a year
He was good at business
But there was business left to do
He never said he loved me
Guess he thought I knew
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This door... (to the one who listened)
Take the deepest breath before
you open this immortal door:
here, you will first receive
what you think you want the most:
if it’s to enhance your self-image,
that will be arranged;
if you want to tell others
what it’s all about; even bully them;
there’s a place for you;
if you want to come along to prove
that you knew it all already,
fine.. come in; and later, go…
if you want to prove your life
to have been ruined by others and
it never was your fault –
that can be arranged;
or if you want to be just a little wiser;
or life to be a little easier;
you’ll love it here;
but this is the house to bless you with
two unsuspected further wishes:
when you have tasted
what you thought you wanted
you are of course, free to leave;
but if that which you thought you wanted
turns to ashes in your mouth,
you may wish – and whoosh! it’s gone;
and then there comes the third wish…:
so deep in you that only now
you knew it to have been always there;
here you will find yourself
to be yourself;
so stand here on the pavement; pause;
these are not wood, but golden doors.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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I Cannot Promise The Universe Will Grow Wiser And Wiser
I CANNOT PROMISE THE UNIVERSE WILL GROW WISER AND WISER
I cannot promise the Universe will grow wiser and wiser-
I cannot know that greater lights will shine towards the end-
I cannot know that we all of us
Are on the way Up and Up and Up Forever-
I cannot say the Universe is our Continent
And all we need to know is to continue going West in it –
I cannot promise you when Time and Times are Done
A greater Soul or Oversoul-
I do not know what God will give us in the end-
I pray against the all- scattered emptiness and endless darkness-
But who am I and where was I
When the foundations of the earth were laid?
How can I say or know where and what all these other universes are on their way to?
We are not what we dream to be no matter how great and courageous our dreams.
God in my ignorance God in our ignorance-
Where does it all? When will it all? What does it all –Mean?
poem by Shalom Freedman
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The Marvelous Toy
When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy
My father homeward came one night and gave to me a toy.
A wonder to behold it was with many colors bright
And the moment I laid eyes on it, it became my hearts delight.
It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped whirrrrr when it stood
Still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.
The first time that I picked it up I had a big surprise.
For right on its bottom were two big buttons that looked like big green eyes.
I first pushed one and then the other, then I twisted its lid.
And when I set it down again, this is what it did.
It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped whirrrrr when it stood still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.
It first marched left and then marched right, then marched under a chair
And when I looked where it had gone it wasnt even there.
I started to cry but my daddy laughed cause he knew that I would find.
When I turned around my marvelous toy would be chugging from behind.
It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped and whirrrrr when it stood
Still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.
The years have gone by too quickly it seems, I have my own little boy.
And yesterday I gave to him my marvelous little toy
His eyes nearly popped right out of his head and he gave a squeal of glee...
Neither one of us knows just what it is but he loves it just like me.
It still goes zip when it moves and bop when it stops, whirrrrr when it
Stands still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That Season
I told her, Id hold her
All through that first cold winter
Defend her, protect her
From our darkest demons
Then spring came, our world changed
We found a different corner
Still heading, still searching
For what we had that season
I thought I was so strong, a man on a blue mountain
The sword in my hand, but my thoughts in the clouds then
See them
Hear them
I would never change another day
If that season was the one to stay
I swear Id never change another day
Ten years now, Ive waited
For that coldest winter
No whiter, no wiser
And all we hear is thunder
I thought I was so strong, a father on a mountain
The sword in my hand, but my thoughts in the clouds then
See them
Hear them
I would never change another day
If that season was the one to stay
I swear Id never change another day
(repeat)
Ten years now, Ive waited
For that coldest winter
No wiser, no whiter
Oh how I miss that season
song performed by by Asia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Too Hot
I told her, i'd hold her
All through that first cold winter
Defend her, protect her
From our darkest demons
Then spring came, our world changed
We found a different corner
Still heading, still searching
For what we had that season
I thought i was so strong, a man on a blue mountain
The sword in my hand, but my thoughts in the clouds then
See them
Hear them
I would never change another day
If that season was the one to stay
I swear i'd never change another day
Ten years now, i've waited
For that coldest winter
No whiter, no wiser
And all we hear is thunder
I thought i was so strong, a father on a mountain
The sword in my hand, but my thoughts in the clouds then
See them
Hear them
I would never change another day
If that season was the one to stay
I swear i'd never change another day
(repeat)
Ten years now, i've waited
For that coldest winter
No wiser, no whiter
Oh how i miss that season
song performed by by Nas
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Then I Met You
Then I met you
Thought that Id be happy
Going to be so happy
Living life alone and never sharing anything
Thought that I was finished
Thought that I was complete
Thought that I was whole instead of being half of something
Thought that I was growing
Growing older, wiser
Understanding why this world held nothing for my spirit
Thought that I was destined
Destined to be nothing
Destined to be nothing in this world and then I met you.
I met you
Thought that God had failed me
Thought my prayers were useless
Thought that he would never give the chance for me to praise him
Thought the book was written
Thought the game had ended
Thought the song was sung and I could never sing another
Thought my faith was misplaced
Thought my back was broken
Broken by a weight that I was never fit to carry
Thought I knew this city
Thought I knew all about it
And then one night I went to morningside and you were waiting
I met you
song performed by by Proclaimers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am Fred Astaire
I'm under the assumption
that I'm gonna be the one thats leaving you
tonight, tonight...
Well I flipped every switch
that I could find on my way out just to upset you more
(just to keep you busy) just to make you angry (just because you were right) just because you were...
All tired scream safe haven,
Let's get this out and on the table...
Fast forward to say four o'clock,
I'm keeping time, I'm holdin', we're always holdin',
(we're always holdin), we're always holdin, holding out...
And that's what got us here in the first place,
you should have never come here alone
(you should have never bothered at all), bothered at all...
Scream older and wiser, still filled with resentment
We get it, we get it...Oh (I haven't been happier since)
Older and wiser, still filled with resentment
We get it, we get it...Oh, Bree Ann (I haven't been happier since, I haven't been happier, not since.)
Well five o'clock the floor caught fire with footsteps (my footsteps)
And spread like a disease to the door
(I'm stuttering through it but I hear it) I-I-I hear its good t-t-to stick to what you know
And you know a whole lot of this, it all could have been avoided when
you were courtside for this nightmare,
Well since then I got myself come and listen...
Older and wiser, still filled with resentment
We get it, we get it...Oh (I haven't been happier since)
Older and wiser, still filled with resentment
We get it, we get it...Oh, Bree Ann (I haven't been happier since)
I haven't been happier since (Bree Ann)
I haven't been happier since (Bree Ann)
I haven't been happier since (Bree Ann)
I haven't been happier not since...
Well, it used to take so much more (I used to, I used to too)
It used to take so much more (I used to, I used to too)
I used to, I used to too...
song performed by by Taking Back Sunday
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thought-Provoking Questions
Across the TV screen they scrolled,
The questions to the show...
While just one answer could be told,
Still questions were in flow...
The compere and the guest still spoke,
With comments to explain...
Yet were the questions there a joke,
Eye-candy or eye-strain?
I tuned out what was being said,
To view the scrolling text...
Because I chose to read instead,
So not to be perplexed...
Those questions were both great and small,
Yet by them I felt blessed,
Then suddenly there was a call
To compere and to guest...
I thus ignored the text below
And listened once again...
Perhaps for something new to know,
Perhaps beyond my ken...
But, oh, what wisdom saints would share,
Life stories so profound...
And oh, such tender-hearted prayer,
To turn our lives around...
What was Good Friday all about?
And so the guest replied...
It was because God's Laws we flout
That Christ was crucified...
The guest was almost near to tears,
As he explained the cost...
To think, Christ overcame His fears
And died to save the lost...
Another caller praised the Lord,
She spoke of many things...
Then told us straight to rest assured,
Trust Christ, the King of Kings!
Forgiveness is the Father's Plan,
The Bible is the key...
And suddenly, my tears began...
I knew Christ died for me...
Denis Martindale, copyright, May 2012.
Howard Conder's Question And Answer show is
on Revelation TV. He said he would like to
see viewers' email questions scrolling across
the TV screen while the guest and he were
discussing one question at a time.
He wondered if viewers would still find some
extra blessing if thought-provoking questions
were seen on screen.
We can hear the word of the Lord on
Revelation TV on UK Sky Digital 581
as well as the WATCH NOW link on
the revelationtv-dot-com website...
poem by Denis Martindale
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When I Was A Child I Believed
When I was a child
a very young child
I looked at the world
of adults in discussion
their patterns of interaction
their comments reactions
a very strange world
differences between what adults said
and what child were told
their masks worn
and I thought about what
they did and why?
Questions were asked
about what you wanted
to be when you grew up?
The work question was important,
but never asked was how well you
would do this work, and for who?
They were often silent or suddenly angry
‘children were to be seen but not heard’
the news to be listened to in serious silence.
First talk repeat their sounds
to smiles laughter
then don’t talk be silent listen?
First stand walk walk how far
then don’t walk stay wait
where your told don’t go away?
When adults met sometimes they would
start to talk a lot fast all at once not one
at a time and laugh a lot talk walk funny?
Why not be on their best behaviour
nice to others as they told children to be?
Why not choose to be good not bad?
Years later I would smile a lot why not
it costs nothing to smile and often others.
Would catch your smile and smile also?
Even when sad smiling was a good thing to do
to appreciate all you have been given.
Even though you could not always play with
what was given or go outside or play with friends.
Especially on those boring rainy days.
So many games were not allowed if you got dirty?
As a teenager smilie would be a nick name.
That smile given freely to people who needed
to smile but chose to be miserable instead!
It never cost anything to be nice to people either!
To give to help had its own record, it felt good!
Happy people are the nice people to be around!
I believed happiness was the most precious gift,
a person could give another, and if sad then to give,
happiness you did not have; was even more important.
Once in my early twenties I was surprised,
a friend said you cannot be that good,
no one is that good, but I knew I was not good.
At twenty-two when about to travel overseas,
my uncle said you think everyone is your friend,
be careful, everyone you meet; is not your friend.
Now I am older and sadly wiser,
yet I still know that to treat a stranger,
as a friend not a treat is still better.
That to say hello with a smile,
and wish people well,
is still a wonderful thing to do.
I still believe it is a better thing to do.
And when kindness is meet with hostility?
I feel pity for the hurt who choose to hurt.
It is not the right way.
It is not God’s way.
It is still not my way.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Come In From The Rain
(carole bayer sager/melissa manchester)
Well, hello there
Good old friend of mine
Youve been reaching for yourself
For such a long time
Theres so much to say
No need to explain
Just an open door for you
To come in from the rain
Its a long road
When youre all alone
And a man like you
Belong ways to a long way home
Theres no right or wrong
Im not here to blame
I just want to be the one
Who keeps you from the rain
From the rain
And it looks like some disguise
Now that I know youre alright
Time has left us older
Wiser, I know I am
cause I think of us
Like an old cliche
But it doesnt matter
cause I love you anyway
Coming from the rain
And it looks like some disguise
Now that I know youre alright
Time has left us older
Wiser, I know I am
And its good to know
My best friend has come home again
cause I think of us
Like an old cliche
But it doesnt matter
cause I love you anyway
Coming from the rain
Come in from the rain
Come in from the rain
song performed by by Diana Ross
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Instead Of Being A Pessimist
You want answers to your questions?
Ask yourself this...
What began the origin of those questions.
And...
How did they begin for you to exist.
You want a life you like?
Oppose to the one you don't?
Why have you chosen to dislike what you do?
And who enforced this dislike upon you.
Do you live with wishes to fulfill your dreams?
Or are you focused on others,
Who seem to have 'your' things.
Are you focused upon others,
Who seem to be living your life?
Doing those things,
You wish for you also to like?
Perhaps those questions you ask,
Are not yours afterall.
And perhaps those answers,
That have come to you answered...
You ignored them to disbelieve,
Those answers received...
Were not yours.
Because you spend your time,
In the minding of other people's business!
And your business,
You haven't given your time to see...
Succeed.
But your time is spent,
Lamenting others you despise and criticize.
You want answers to your questions?
Wait for therm patiently to come.
Before you impatiently decide,
To get up and leave.
Believing they can be found,
With you not around.
You want answers to your questions?
Ask yourself this...
What began the origin of those questions.
And...
How did they begin for you to exist?
Ask yourself that.
Instead of being a pessimist!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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What I Project
what i project in all those years
is what you get and you swallow
me hook, line and sinker
and you get so nosy with all
your questions leading you
to all your self-framed answers.
what i am inside me
you must know is what i am
just between my body and my soul
my left hand does not even
know what my right hand is holding.
the shadows in that cave and
the real body that you may touch
bathing in the river
you must have known by now
are two different kinds of
illusions. What i have in my
hand is the real one: it is
alive and it is jumping
and flying and i am chasing
it now, so please, excuse
me, i got to go, i still have
many things to do, so many
questions to make so many
answer to fabricate, so many
quests, i do not even have
to take my rest.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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A Cautionary Tale for Parents
'' My mother told me
that I never should
play with the gipsies
down in the wood...
but she didn't tell me
why not, alas...so
'shouldn't...'
turned to 'should..' -
now I'm wiser,
but I'm pregnant..
guess I got that
roamin' blood...''
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Questions
I don't remember my first question asked
Might have been to my mother while in my crib I basked
Or maybe it was to my father when he kissed me goodnight
Then he said a prayer for me and then he turned off the light.
Many questions I have asked since the day I was born
Many questions I have answered and many I did mourn
Some of them were the truth, but them I had masked
I don't remember why, but I remember they were asked.
Questions are needed to understand our life
Answers are needed so we too might avoid strife
Life is full of questions and are as many as drops of rain
And like rain drops not two questions are really the same.
Questions will be a part of us until that day we die
We will come across them daily with who, what, where or why
I dread not the future, but I do dread the past
I also dread the day, not knowing which question of mine will be last.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
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The Stalker
She looked demure as she came on board
And sat in a corner seat,
And Paul looked up from his paper as
She crossed her legs in the heat,
The blouse she wore had a bunch of lace,
Her skirt rose over the knee,
And a length of thigh had caught his eye
As the train had gathered speed.
‘Some girls were there for the taking, '
Paul had thought, and he shook his head,
They weren't alive to the dangers that
Their wiser mothers would dread,
So many girls were assaulted
On the track that led to the train,
They needed a good Samaritan;
Outside, it started to rain.
A man came into the carriage
Sat across on the other aisle,
He tried to catch her attention with
Some twisted sort of a smile,
He made a pointed remark, at which
She scowled, but made no reply,
But Paul sat watching and listening
To the man with the evil eye.
The girl stood up as the train pulled in
To the village of Little Cross,
And the man got ready to leave the train
But waited, ‘til she'd got off,
So Paul jumped up on a whim, and thought
To follow, and keep her safe,
He'd keep his eye on this other guy
Be there for her, just in case.
The track led over some common land
Then wandered into a wood,
The girl ploughed on, didn't look back
Though Paul had thought that she should,
The man took off on a side track then
And soon was lost to his view,
Where the ground was covered with thickets
Sparkling still with the morning dew.
The girl had vanished ahead of him
Round a bend in the beaten track,
Paul was hurrying after her
When he heard a sound at his back,
He turned and he saw the girl approach
And knew that he was in strife,
For glittering in her hand he saw
The long curved blade of a knife.
She stabbed him once, she stabbed him twice
She stabbed him a dozen times,
She snarled, ‘Is this what you wanted, No?
Well isn't that a surprise! '
He toppled back as she scythed at him
And tried to catch at his breath,
The words, ‘I thought to protect you, '
Left unsaid, in the throes of death.
They took his wallet, they took his ring
As his blue eyes glazed at the sky,
‘He thought that I was the stalker, ' grinned
The man with the evil eye,
She turned to him an excited smile
And murmured, ‘Gee, that was fun!
Let's take the train to the Junction, Joe,
And get us another one! '
17 November 2012
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Only When I Had You
(song lyrics. maybe this marks the end of my writer's block. i sure do hope so)
i guess this is the end
of everything that we once knew
and now we're moving on
except i'm not moving anywhere
i'm stuck right here to wait for you
to turn around and laugh again
and tell me that you knew
you knew i'd be okay
you knew i had the strength to wake up everyday
especially when i had you
you knew i'd stand up strong
you knew i had the strength to make it on my own
but you never knew..
i guess this is the end
of my dreamless nights and wakeful eyes
my nightmares come right back
and you still walk away
i lay right here and die today
because you. turned. away...
and you thought..
you thought i'd be okay
you thought i had the strength to wake up everyday
but only when i had you
you thought i'd stand up strong
you thought i had the strength to make it on my own
but only if i had you...
poem by Something Changing
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An' Another Thing
Rain for me oh you but called me
Its my broken heart just where you leave me
Now I say to you, ooooh boy.
Weight on my head
You wont go up, oh
Weight on my head
Oooh ooh my babe...
Stay a minute just to hear you waitin,
And no one confine her
Sweet and tender wont you go out again?
Oh, rain on my head
Wouldnt you
Rain on my head?
Oh, someone take off a
Weight all alone
Ahh, I met a girl recently.
All in a sudden, all a suddenly
Nobody deal for the woe of the world
Wait, all a sudden, all a suddenly
It will all would be, all would be over
Wait, come on rain on my head.
Water water!
Dates,
Many, many dates how you all die.
Oh rain money,
Grow a war at heart
And in the fire,
One out of a million.
.. wait a minute,
Touch your look on me
Denial, denial
Touch your work with me
Do not deny
Rain on my head
Rain on my head
Rain on my head
Rain on my head
song performed by by Dave Matthews Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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