Saint Bernard in the fields at Clairvaux. For Hilary.
That day as the sun set,
its afterglow flooded the world with light
like the meeting of heaven and earth; then
the great bell of the abbey tolled the vesper;
the workers in the fields lowered their scythes
and bowed their heads or knelt on the sharp stubble;
a grasshopper rested on the rough hem of my robe;
nature held its breath and knew eternity
I listened as the echo of the bell
took all my listening, and then
was heard no more; but listening remained;
the silence became full of all things, and
all things were praise and
all things were love and
all things were understanding:
there I heard no other;
there I saw no other;
there I understood no other;
but was infinity itself
love itself is understanding;
understanding is itself all love.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Related quotes
Understanding
It seems like only yesterday
I didn't have a clue
I stood alone not knowin where to turn
Now suddenly I look around
And everything looks new
I don't know why, but I think I'm startin' to learn
They call it understanding
A willingness to grow
I'm finally understanding
There's so much I can know
Until the day you came along
I used to just get lost
I only heard the things I wanted to hear
It always seemed like no one cared
But then you took the time
And now I look and everything seems clear
You've got me understanding
You've really helped me see
I'm finally understanding
It's meant so much to me
You've got me understanding
You're really on my side
You've got me understanding
song performed by by Bob Seger
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Benediction
Read this poem only aloud
read it as slowly and with such solemn dignity
as if it were the whole great human race
declaring itself to be truly great
read it as if it were
as indeed it is
not words but a great sounding bell
and you are that great bell
so large a bell so low its boom
that it is more vibration than a sound
struck in a temple courtyard
by a robed monk so full of love
that he merges into love itself
every time he sounds the bell
and as its sound now travels up
into the clear mountain air
the goatherds and the goats hear in its sound
the meaning of their life
and in the fields the workers raise themselves
and know what blessing is
and in the valley the silence after each stroke
becomes more real
as the echo fades
and the air knows itself
this poem is the sound of the human heart
listening to itself beyond all words
hearing praise and gratitude and love
knowing themselves in stillness for what they are
this poem is what is beyond all words
smiling sorrowing as it seeks for words
as it vibrates out into the silence
the wonder of the unspoken
the magic of all that’s yet unmanifest
the thoughts yet to be thought
hear in this bell the sound that tells to all
that there is enough love
in one single human heart
to nourish the whole world
hear this bell sounding aloud
sound out eternal in your soul
* * *
[work in progress]
poem by Michael Shepherd
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This Is My Name II
This is my name:
My name is in you and my name is peace;
My name is joy!
My name is love,
My name is care,
My name is kindness,
My name is without the bullets of war! !
My name is unity,
My name is humility,
My name is hospitality,
My name is moral character,
My name is understanding,
My name is listening,
My name is sharing,
My name is learning,
My name is following only the right things,
My name is all around you and, i am only the positive things in you!
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Antipoem 03
when you do not understand
that is the time you say you like it
when you tried to understand and still could not understand what you try to really understand
that is the time you say there is a mystery and we have to be prepared to
worship it, for something mysterious could be angels, could be God
understanding is understanding like a mother
she comes to you to reveal things
though slowly and you must be patient like a child
understanding is loving like a father and you must be like a son waiting for
the final advice
but you love more the things that you do not understand
things that mesmerize you and give you the sense of awe
which of course, is followed by the word, say it,
wonder. Wisdom does not begin here. Wisdom begins the moment
you begin to quit smoking.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them — words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller, but for want of an understanding ear.
quote by Stephen King
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Overcome Evil
Overcome evil with righteousness,
And set your understanding on things up high.
Do not lie to one another but,
Speak the truth always;
Let your speech always be with love,
And let it be seasoned with salt.
Like the labour of love and the patience of hope,
Like the new man and the new woman,
This world is full of strange things to see.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Let Me Be The One
Some sleepless night if you should find yourself alone
(*) let me be the one you run to
Let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to turn to
Let me be the one
To set things right
When this whole worlds turned upside down
Repeat (*)
For love and understanding, to find a quiet place
For silent understanding, a loving touch
Come to me when things go wrong
And theres no love to light the way
Repeat (*)
Let me be the one you run to
Let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to turn to
Need someone to turn to
Let me be the one you run to
Let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to turn to
Need someone to turn to
Let me be the one you run to
Let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to turn to
song performed by by Carpenters
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Child on the Cliffs
Mother, the root of this little yellow flower
Among the stones has the taste of quinine.
Things are strange to-day on the cliff. The sun shines so bright,
And the grasshopper works at his sewing machine
So hard. Here's one on my hand, mother, look;
I lie so still. There's one on your book.
But I have something to tell more strange. So leave
Your book to the grasshopper, mother dear, -
Like a green knight in a dazzling market-place -
And listen now. Can you hear what I hear
Far out? Now and then the foam there curls
And stretches a white arm out like a girl's.
Fishes and gulls ring no bells. There cannot be
A chapel or church between here and Devon,
With fishes or gulls ringing its bell, - hark! -
Somewhere under the sea or up in heaven.
'It's the bell, my son, out in the bay
On the buoy. It does sound sweet to-day.'
Sweeter I never heard, mother, no, not in all Wales.
I should like to be lying under that foam,
Dead, but able to hear the sound of the bell,
And certain that you would often come
And rest, listening happily.
I should be happy if that could be.
poem by Edward Thomas
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It is the duty of the human understanding to understand that there are things which it cannot understand, and what those things are. Human understanding has vulgarly occupied itself with nothing but understanding, but if it would only take the trouble to understand itself at the same time it would simply have to posit the paradox.
quote by Kierkegaard
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Understanding and Knowledge
Those who know don’t talk;
Those who talk don’t know;
Those who speak don’t write;
Those who write don’t speak.
Those who think don’t actions;
Those who actions don’t think;
Those who think don’t judge;
Those who judge don’t do.
Small understanding is no match for great understanding;
Small knowledge cannot understand great knowledge knows.
Great wisdom has great understanding;
Great knowledge has wise sayings.
Great knowledge and understanding is wide and vast;
Small knowledge and understanding is trivial and cramped.
Great speech blaze forth as a huge fire;
Small speech is empty and trivial.
We understand what is appropriate;
Because of what we understand to be inappropriate.
We understand right;
Because of our understanding of wrong.
Use the light of wisdom to see,
Beyond the world of right and wrong.
One can only really understand things,
By understanding one’s true self.
(extracted and translated from Tao Te Cheng Book)
© Nov 2011 Lawrence Hiung
poem by Lawrence Hiung
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It always seems to me extreme rashness on the part of some when they want to make human abilities the measure of what nature can do. On the contrary, there is not a single effect in nature, even the least that exists, such that the most ingenious theorists can arrive at a complete understanding of it. This vain presumption of understanding everything can have no other basis than never understanding anything. For anyone who had experienced just once the perfect understanding of
one single thing, and had truly tasted how knowledge is accomplished, would recognize that of the infinity of other truths he understands nothing.
quote by Galileo Galile
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Love Is All
Everybody's got to live together
All the people got to understand
So, love your neighbour
Like you love your brother
Come on and join the band
Well, all you need is love and understanding
Ring the bell and let the people know
We're so happy and we're celebratin'
Come on and let your feelings show
Love is all, well love is all,
Love is all, can't you hear the call
Oh, love is all you need
Love is all you need at the Butterfly Ball
Ain't you happy that we're all together
At the ball in nature's countryside
And although we're wearing different faces
Nobody wants to hide
Love is all and all is love and
It's easy, yes it's so easy
At the Butterfly Ball where love is all
And it's so easy
All you need is love and understanding
Hey, ring the bell and let the people know
We're so happy and we're celebratin'
Let your feelings show
Love is all, yes love is all at the Butterfly Ball
Love is big, love is small
Love is free, love is all
At the Butterfly Ball
When you back's to the wall
When you're starting to fall
You got something to lean on
Love is everything
It can make you sing at the Butterfly Ball
Love is all, I say love is all, yes love is all
At the Butterfly Ball
song performed by by Deep Purple
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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30 I'm Sorry For You
I'm sorry for hurting you
I'm sorry for making you cry
I'm sorry I didn't realize why
I'm sorry for not understanding you new right
I'm sorry for all those fights
I'm sorry for not listening
I'm sorry for not trying
I'm sorry I failed you
I'm sorry I didn't try
I'm sorry for not caring
I'm sorry for not supporting you
I'm sorry I really am
I'm sorry it was too late
I'm sorry I cried all night
I'm sorry I never found you
I'm sorry your hearts lost
I'm sorry I couldn't cure it
I'm sorry but I'll try now
I'm sorry if its too late
I'm sorry but I have to try
I'm sorry for being so bad
I'm sorry for being so down
I'm sorry for not understanding you when I wasn't even around
I'm sorry for underestimating you
I'm sorry I let you fall that time
I'm sorry for losing your heart
I'm sorry I wish things where ok
I'm sorry for being a idiot
I'm sorry, I 'm sorry
poem by Damn Angel
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What brings understanding is love. When your heart is full, then you will listen to the teacher, to the beggar, to the laughter of children, to the rainbow, and to the sorrow of man. Under every stone and leaf, that which is eternal exists. But we do not know how to look for it. Our minds and hearts are filled with other things than understanding of "what is". Love and mercy, kindliness and generosity do not cause enmity. When you love, you are very near truth. For, love makes for sensitivity, for vulnerability. That which is sensitive is capable of renewal. Then truth will come into being. It cannot come if your mind and heart are burdened, heavy with ignorance and animosity.
quote by Krishnamurti
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Take time to see the wonders of the world
To see the things youve only ever heard of
Dream life the way you think it ought to be
See things you thought youd never ever see
Take a cruise to china
Or a train to spain
Go round the world
Again and again
Meet a girl on a boat
Meet a boy on a train
And fall in love
Without the pain
Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs 2 or 3 friends
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
Take a lift to the top of the empire state
Take a drive across the golden gate
March, march, march across red square
Do all the things youve ever dared
Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs 2 or 3 friends
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
Like fun and money and food and love
And things you never thought of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
New york, ice cream, tv, travel, good times
Norman wisdom, johnny, joey, dee dee, good times
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
song performed by by Human League
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The World and You
there is always something to say
about it
words cannot enclose it
it is beyond
spelling
it is beyond utterances
it is what you feel
inside that keeps on sound and
resounding
and your tongue merely repeats
it and transfers it to your
lips
hence the speaking
and you keep on saying it over and over again
because
it is never heard
because it never arrives
at the chamber of understanding of the heart
such is your pain
that you keep on saying because you have never fully
resolved it
time is you patient teacher
it is the silence that it preaches
its home is always the
calmness
the plenitude of
solitude
the consciousness that there is only you
in this universe
in your hands is the future
in your mind is the moment
in your heart always the understanding
that there is no other you
except yourself
the world is so calm
it is listening to your qualm.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Porcelina Of The Vast Ocean
I fear that I am ordinary, just like everyone
To lie here and die among the sorrows
Drift along the days
For everything I ever saidAnd everything I've ever done is gone and dead
As all things must surely have to endAnd great loves will one day have to part
I know that I'm not ment for this world
My live's been extraordinary
Blessed and cursed and wons
Time heals but I'm forever brokenBy and by the way....
Have you ever heard the wordsI'm singing in this song?
It for the one I've waited all along
Can a taste of love be so wrong?
As all things must surely have to endAnd great loves will one day have to part
I know that I'm not ment for this world
And in my mind as I was floatingFar above the clouds
Some children laughed I'd fall for certain
For thinking that I'd last forever
But I knew exactly where I was
And I knew the meaning of it all
And I knew the distance to the sun
And I knew the echo that is love
And I knew the secrets in your spires
And I knew the emptiness of youth
And I knew the solitude of hearts
And I knew the murmurs of the soul
And the world is drawn into your hands
And the world is ethed upon your heart
And the world so hard to understand
Is the world you can't live without
'Cause I knew the silence of the world
song performed by by Smashing Pumpkins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Love
For only in silence
Can one come to understanding
For in the fewest words
Comes forth the
Greater voice
And Wisdom is everywhere
Just breath it in
Let it penetrate every
Cell of your body
Love is elusive
Fleeting, seldom enduring;
Buttercup butterflies
Bouncing in an autumn wind,
Here, then gone again
Combine wisdom with understanding
And love, and you
Will come to a crossroad,
A passing of a point
Then you leave
You pass that point;
And what was a brilliance of light
For a moment, flashes and
Disappears into eternity
poem by Midnights Voice
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I Am Alone (Part One)
I am alone
In a world
Where my friends
Have left me.
I am alone
In a world
Where my best friend
Has left the school.
I am alone
In a world
Where my friends
Have lost understanding.
I am alone
In a world
That I have
No one to turn to.
I am alone
Lost forevermore
In a world
Where darkness hides.
I am alone
In a world
Felled with doubt and despair.
And no understanding.
I am alone
My best friend
Does not come.
I am alone.
I am alone
My best friend
Is lost to me
I am alone.
I am alone
She understood me
More than the rest.
I am alone.
I am alone
We understood each other
We went through the same things.
I am alone.
I am alone
Now that she is gone
The rest cannot see
What she could.
I am alone
Now that she is gone
The rest cannot see
That I am alone.
I am Qalme Tari Mistress of Death Nat Norville.
Cretics Welcome
poem by Athena Goddess of Wisdom Lumis Light to all
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He Cant Love U
I aint no hata or nothing
But he cant love you like I can
Trust me
Ooh, ooh, ooh
As the clock strikes twelve
Im sitting here wondering how the hell
Did I let you leave
And baby I know that I did my share
Of things to deceive you
Im just trying to get an understanding
Of what to do
Cause Im half way going crazy
Girl they cant fade me
He cant love you like I love you
Baby you know it too
And you should never wanna be with a man
If he cant be a man
And do the things to you like I can
He cant love you like I love you
Baby you know it too
And you should never wanna be with a man
If he cant be a man
And do the things to you like I can
I stop, and I wait, and I think
That I never met someone to make me feel
Like Im ready to love
So I gotta do what I gotta do
Just to keep you
Keep you here with me baby
Now I feel its time for me to say
That I need you boo
And I cant go a day without your loving
Baby I cant live without you
I know you know
No matter if you want it baby
Aint no ifs, or buts, or maybes
And I know that one day
Youll see that he cant really love you
Like I love you
He cant love you like I love you
Baby you know it too
And you should never wanna be with a man
If he cant be a man
And do the things to you like I can
He cant love you like I love you
Baby you know it too
And you should never wanna be with a man
If he cant be a man
And do the things to you like I can
He cant, he cant love you girl
Hes never gonna love you girl
Like I love you girl
He cant, he cant love you girl
Hes never gonna love you girl
Like I love you girl
He cant, he cant love you girl
Hes never gonna love you girl
Like I love you girl
He cant, he cant love you girl
He cant love you like I love you
Baby you know it too
And you should never wanna be with a man
If he cant be a man
And do the things to you like I can
song performed by by Jagged Edge
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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