The Two on the Road
In later years, this day came back to you
as days of presence often do:
It’s the end of the midday break, and
the sun, already warm for Spring, is easing;
the sheep are grazing on the new grass;
two of them have jumped the low stone wall
to munch the juicier grass of the roadside ditch
which has spent the morning in dewy shadow.
Where the path to the stony fields
crosses the track back to the village,
you’ve found yourself walking just behind
a pair returning to the village,
father and son – or is it, grandfather?
You could overtake them, just to show
you mean no harm; but something about them
draws your attention; so you walk behind them
at a distance indicating that you know they know
you’re walking behind them, yet too far
to be listening to them…
which you’d dearly like to. They walk
slowly, deep in conversation,
this boy, this man; their relationship
catches your curiosity. You,
whose childhood was not always easy,
watch them with delight, a little mixed with envy;
you study their body language for some clues.
The man listens to the boy with such respect,
he could be a young grandfather,
marvelling that his son has fathered such a treasure,
quietly enjoying that unique blend
of bond and yet detachment which is grandfatherhood;
now and then, the boy touches his loose sleeve –
not in the way a child clutches, when he demands belief
in some tale of fantasy; more as if
the boy had discovered some gift
in what he says, and wants to share it with you.
And now and then,
the man touches the boy – as we do
when our child has said something so mature, so wise,
that we are speechless; and can only reach out
and touch them; as if some new relationship
had just been born; our touch
a mark of recognition beyond our words.
Just once, the boy turns his head, looks back at you,
briefly, but with that open look that village children often have,
when every stranger is a friendly curiosity;
you’re glad for him, of what that moment tells.
You follow them back to the village,
your curiosity aroused more than it should.
They open up the wooden front
of the lean-to where they ply their trade;
fascinated by their tender, deep relationship,
you’d really like to come back in an hour or so,
to look in on them, and hope to see the son
working on the wood as lovingly
as he has spoken to the man.. but
you decide against it. One day,
you might come back, request their careful skills -
perhaps a new cupboard for your house.
Their tidy, ordered workplace needs no craftsman’s signboard;
if there were, the villagers tell you when you gently ask,
it would be Joseph & Son.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Related quotes
0400 The Family
Seen from the back as
they walk along the dusty summer road, with
the sheep straying onto the verges where
a tuft of more succulent grass may linger
in the earlier shadow of
the noontime sun, under the low stone wall,
it’s difficult to see whether
the couple walking with the
gentle pace of conversation, are
son and father, or his grandfather; the man
seems older than the young fathers
around here. But from the front, when
you see their eyes, there’s no mistake –
they’re father (or stepfather?) and son all right, talking
with such attention, such respect
for one another.
They walk into the village, silently greeted, greeting,
with the gentle nodded glance of villagers
about their various tasks; and open up
the wooden door of the cool and tidy carpenters’
workshop open to the sunny air, where
a young mother gazes at the boy with
all the love in the world. It’s
in His eyes too.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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a village in Iberia
A Village in Iberia
Drove to the village where I was born, hadn’t been there
for forty years, the lane was muddy and houses deserted;
this village had been abandoned long time ago; what was
I thinking of coming here? A tree had grown right through
our cottage, roof smashed now walls were tumbling down.
Puny human dwellings, here today and gone in less than
Ten decades, the tree seemed to say. What a nostalgic fool
I’m, this idea of returning, rebuild the old house and live
here in happy retirement.
This was no longer a village but a graveyard, houses were
tombstones of a past that had nothing to offer but poverty,
glassless window resembled crosses of a defunct faith.
I sat on a stone smoking a cigarette the aroma of wafted
through the drab silence, from behind a broken wall a dog
came, young, and it looked eerily like Stella the dog I loved
all those years ago, don’t tell me she has waited for five
dog generations, to return from the wasteland of eternity
just for me?
“I’ll call you Stella”, I said and stroked the dog’s head.
She knitted her brows together as to say, “What else? ”
I opened the right hand car door, Stella jumped in like she
had done this a thousand time before, drove off and didn’t
look back once, the only memory I need of my childhood,
was alive and snoozing in the seat beside me.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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A Village
A Village in Iberia
Drove to the village where I was born, hadn’t been there
for forty years, the lane was muddy and houses deserted;
this village had been abandoned long time ago; what was
I thinking of coming here? A tree had grown right through
our cottage, roof smashed now walls were tumbling down.
Puny human dwellings, here today and gone in less than
Ten decades, the tree seemed to say. What a nostalgic fool
I’m, this idea of returning, rebuild the old house and live
here in happy retirement.
This was no longer a village but a graveyard, houses were
tombstones of a past that had nothing to offer but poverty,
glassless window resembled crosses of a defunct faith.
I sat on a stone smoking a cigarette the aroma of wafted
through the drab silence, from behind a broken wall a dog
came, young, and it looked eerily like Stella the dog I loved
all those years ago, don’t tell me she has waited for five
dog generations, to return from the wasteland of eternity
just for me?
“I’ll call you Stella”, I said and stroked the dog’s head.
She knitted her brows together as to say, “What else? ”
I opened the right hand car door, Stella jumped in like she
had done this a thousand time before, drove off and didn’t
look back once, the only memory I needed of my childhood,
was alive and snoozing in the seat beside me.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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What Happened To His Village
He was born just a short distance from Adelaide
And he could see the sea from his back door
And in his young days there were not many houses
But the years have brought great change to Semaphore.
His sea side Village has grown to a coastal suburb
And his old Homeplace has undergone great change
Where once were trees and paddocks now there's houses
A stranger to your old Homeplace seems strange.
What happened to the Village of his childhood
The paddock where he played in years ago
He only can refer now to his memories
Of peaceful place the Homeplace he once did know.
The cottage of his childhood gone forever
A doctor's surgery where once it stood
And not one know him he is now a stranger
In Semaphore the place of his boyhood.
But of the past he still has good old memories
Of his old Village how it used to be
And from the cottage by the wide brown paddock
Six hundred yards off he could see the sea.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Still Breathing
Home
It's not brick or stone
A comfort in the fire light
not in that sense anyway
Dreams
If only I had known
That these things always seem
So much clearer at a distance
I'm walking out of this town
I'm never going back there
I'm never going back there
I'll burn the place to the ground
I'm never going back there
I'm never going back there again
Words
Only could break that ring
You know the words still sting
So much harder than the blows ever did
Hearts
Though it's hard and violent
My head is cool and quiet
As the Ashes that fall from the sky
I'm walking out of this town
I'm never going back there
I'm never going back there
I'll burn the place to the ground
I'm never going back there
I'm never going back there again
Now
I know this shattered feeling
Trampled I'm still breathing
I'm just waiting for a good day
I'm walking out of this town
I'm never going back there
I'm never going back there
I'll burn the place to the ground
I'm never going back there
I'm never going back there again
song performed by by Duran Duran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Are You Ever Coming Back
The sun thats shining through the shattered window
Is breaking into colours in the car
Through the heat the dust blows round the pueblo
The sounds of people drift in from afar
Can we really lose everything
On a matter of pride?
Is this really the end of our love?
How am I to decide?
Are you ever coming back?
Are you ever coming back?
Are you ever coming back?
Are you ever coming back?
Another village rises in the distance
To mark the passage to the journeys end
The droning of the engine is existence
Its too far for the mind to comprehend
Can we really lose everything
On a matter of pride?
Is this really the end of our love?
How am I to decide?
Are you ever coming back?
Are you ever coming back?
Are you ever coming back?
Are you ever coming back?
song performed by by Human League
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Villagers
Pop/du prey
The villagers are out tonight
Uptight and bored
Theyre pushing you
Underground
On wintry days they stand and gaze
Outlines in black and ignorant
Villagers
Dark shadows house a sleepy malice
In the backbrain
Of every body you meet
Man is the village animal
United by the glue
Of our loathsome qualities
We are sneaking peeping toms
In revolt against each other
The villagers are most insane
They live to die anonymous
And muted to... villagers
In revolt against the other
But not against the rules
So in the space age the village idiot rules
On tv for all to see while some good men
Walk the streets
Unh unh unh unh unh
The villagersssssss arghhh
You cant get lost you cant get lost
In the village of space you cant get lost
song performed by by Iggy Pop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Hiding Place
No hiding Place
Shadow, shadow on the wall why did you disappear? Now I can’t go into
the bathroom to see if I’m here. Look at the map of Rumania, think of Dracula
switch on more light; and remember I have no garlic cloves. Look up Norway,
on the Google map, such a pleasant country, peace loving people,
the plods carry no guns and you can ask them for direction and they will tell
you where to go should you be as stupid as get lost in their quaint little towns.
But I also see a man dressed in fantasy uniform, walking around a lake island
killing children like they should be rabbits infected with myxomatosis and
it must be stopped before it spreads to people on the mainland.
The shadow on the wall is back looks familiar I wave the shadow waves back.
I’m safe in my tiny Portuguese village, but for how long?
poem by Oskar Hansen
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My Mirror
The mirror and I have this relationship
complicated as can be;
sometimes my shadow it is
non-consequential.
But other times I gaze
for minutes on end
to see which me
lives there
gazing back at me.
Sometimes I wince
touching the tiny scratches
to see
if they are in the mirror
or in my skin.
I've looked naked into it
turning slowly
front back
and sideways
using my critical eye;
not so bad here
gravity winning there.
I have this relationship
with my mirror
complicated it seems.
But it lights up times
when I suddenly
feel your arm
at my shoulder's edge;
when your light
shines in my mirror's eye.
I want to keep you there
for this
and many years.
I have had this complicated relationship
with my mirror
uncomplicated
by you and all these
many years.
poem by Lonnie Hicks
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Dont Hold Back
(lead vocal - clare torry)
Some are born to lose their heads
And some are born to use them
And some will never know their ends
And some are born to choose them
Dont let your fantasies be blinded by the light
You dont have to save your wildest dreams for the night
Dont hold back, dont hold back, dont hold back, reach out
Touch the sky with your minds eye, dont be afraid to reach out
Some you win and some you lose
And some will bring you sorrow
Some are born to lead the rest
And some are born to follow
Dont rely on miracles to open any door
And dont let a shadow be your guide anymore
Dont hold back, dont hold back, dont hold back, reach out
Touch the sky with your minds eye, dont be afraid to reach out
Ride the wave of destiny
Rise above the crest
And believe everything that happens to you happens for the best
Dont allow the world of men
To turn your head no more
Cause if you cant let yourself go
What are you saving yourself for?
Dont hold back, dont hold back, dont hold back, reach out
Touch the sky with your minds eye, dont be afraid to reach out
Dont let your fantasies be blinded by the light
For you dont have to save your wildest dreams for the night
Dont hold back, dont hold back, dont hold back, reach out
Touch the sky with your minds eye, dont be afraid to reach out
song performed by by Alan Parsons Project
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Label of a Child
When I first met him, he was just a small little child,
He was so sweet and innocent, meek, and mild.
His future was shining through his brilliant little eyes,
Unaware of the coming troubles, conflicts and lies.
As he watched me with eyes full of curiosity,
He stayed back alittle, just evaluating me.
He was now labed, as a child of divorce,
He didn't know the term 'divorce' of course.
His dad stood by him with deep passion and love,
The kind of love that comes from heaven above.
No one could touch him, if not through his dad,
It's a story of love, we all wish we had
As time crawled on, he was still unsure,
He watched and waited for love that was pure.
Not the forced love, just because of birth
The type of love that shows a child's worth.
One day, the child dropped his defenses
And asked, Will you be my mom? , in a complete sentence.
I offered my heart, my world, and my life,
to this little boy who was riddled with strife.
As the years passed, a strong family grew,
A 'divorced' family? Nobody knew.
We over came much trouble and strive,
But we have a strong family and a terrific live.
So, when you come into a relationship, where's there a child,
Go slowly and patiently, gently and mild.
Remember, a 'step' is something under your feet,
It should never been used on a child, please be discreet.
The only thing that child should ever hear,
Is, I love you deeply and I need you near.
Don't label that child as step or divorced
That causes deep sadness and total remorse!
Just say I love you to your child every day,
Then the love of that child will never go away.
poem by Donna Kay Patterson
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Kissing The Blarney Stone (Fun Poem 17)
Crane your neck back,
look up the castle wall,
which almost touches the sky
to see the platform there.
Your heart skips a beat,
when you see the narrow stairs.
Fingers crossed you begin your accent
up the narrow curving stairwell,
to the top of the castle wall.
The breeze ruffles your hair,
as you walk slowly around the fortifications there.
The worst is yet to come,
coat off, lay on your back,
to do the daftest thing of all.
You lean back through the narrow gap,
bend your head backwards,
and kiss a stone in the castle wall.
poem by David Harris
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The Village
In the village where I usually stroll along and live
An ominous plot against me is put into high contrive
These villagers do not like whoever is not rich as their glamour
They hold deep rancor to whoever does not march and sing their hummer
I would not let you for long guess or think
What would happen if into their hand a silk noose will sink
Upon my fragile neck they will happily let it fall
As they push and tight me against an ancient stone wall
Once when my leg by the river was broken
No one stopped by to offer any help or even a token
Beneath an old oak by the village side
I sat in long weeping, in the whole village wide
There was no one to ask me why I wept
And so for hours under summer heat I kept
Brimming the water-lily cups with tears
Dry and cold as my immense fears
The other time when walking down village streets
A guy pass me by and kicked my butt as a treat
He laughed and encouraged his fellow to follow the same drag
But the other wished he could, since he was missing a leg
Those people of village friendly and kind
Those who will not put an obstacle out of a mockery sooth
In front of my legs since practically in truth
They are themselves disabled blind
And those who will not mock
Me are simply dumb, they use their look
And around they go to hide behind a rock
With some friends who are deaf and cannot rebuke
Oh gentle folks of hostess village who owe a grudge
To my calm and unintegrated distant existence
Stay on your own hellish folish trudge
In spite of my unprovoking persistence
Copy rights 2010
All rights resereved
Village Idiot
Did you see the lad, on the corner
He was standing drinking wine
Wears his overcoat in the summer
And short sleeves in the winter time
Takes his holidays, down at the bookies
Well he knows how to pick a horse
Village tramping round the countryside
He wears a smile, but he doesnt say much
Village idiot, hes complicated
Village idiot, simple mind
Village idiot, he does know something
But hes just not saying
Dont you know hes onto something
You can see it, you can see it in his eyes
Sometimes he looks so happy
As he goes strolling by
Oh village idiot, hes complicated
Village idiot, hes got a simple mind
Village idiot, must know something
But hes just not saying
Well you all know hes onto something
You can see it in his eyes
Sometimes he looks so happy
When he goes walking by
Sometimes he looks so happy
When he goes walking by
Sometimes he looks so happy
When he goes walking by.
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ruins
Its so quiet in the ruins walking though the old town
Stones crumbling under my feet I see smoke for miles around
Oh its enough to make you weep, all that remains of the main street
Up in the park on sunday, dogs chasing and the children played
Old man with his head down, cant see nothing more around...no
But he remembers how it used to be, back in the old days,
So nice to see you coming back in this town again
Its nice to see a friendly face come peeping through having tea
In the afternoon, so nice to see you coming back in this town again...
Ah but its all changed winter turned on a man
Came down on day when no-one was looking and it
Stole away the land, people running scared, losing hands
Dodging shadows of falling sand, buildings standing like empty shells
And nobody...helping no-one else
Young child with his hands high, aint able to see no reason why...no
But he remembers how it used to be, back in the old days,
So nice to see you coming back in this town again
Its nice to see a friendly face come peeping through
Youd better know what youre going through now
You came back here to find your home is a black horizon
That you dont recognize, evil destruction has taken everything
Youd better walk on the side while youre still walking
Just keep on walking on down the street keep your distance
From the people you meet. oh lord and youd better watch your eyes
cause if smoke gets in them, baby you wont rise again.
Wheres it leading to freedom at what cost
People needing more and more and its all getting lost
I want back, I want back
Back to the time when the earth was green
And there was no high walls and the sea was clean
Dont stop that sun to shine, its not yours or mine...no.
song performed by by Cat Stevens
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Back In Black (live 1981)
Back in black
I hit the sack
I've been too long I'm glad to be back [I bet you know I'm...]
Yes, I'm let loose
From the noose
That's kept me hanging about
I've been looking at the sky
'Cause it's gettin' me high
Forget the hearse 'cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat's eyes
Abusin' every one of them and running wild
CHORUS:
'Cause I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
(Well) I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black
Back in the back
Of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet, I'm a power pack
Yes, I'm in a bang
With a gang
They've got to catch me if they want me to hang
Cause I'm back on the track
And I'm beatin' the flack
Nobody's gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now
I'm just makin' my play
Don't try to push your luck, just get out of my way
CHORUS
Well, I'm back, Yes I'm back
Well, I'm back, Yes I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well I'm back in black
Yes I'm back in black
hooo yeah
Ohh yeah
Yes I am
Oooh yeah, yeah Oh yeah
Back in now
Well I'm back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back
Back in black
Yes I'm back in black
Out of the sight
song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Evening In Paradise
Evening in the village it is about nine o'clock nothing on TV except
men in nice suits and cuff links talking about the economy, they all
are experts yet disagree about everything banging hands on table,
getting red faced and angry, so I switched off. A motorbike is making
its unsteady progress through the village, Joao home from the bar,
dogs don't bark, know the sound it is only when he is trying to get
off and fall they bark a little, angry voices, and then utter stillness.
I stroll through the village only street every window is shuttered not
letting out light it is like they think they have to pay extra if it does.
I walk down to the main road and hope anything would come to pass
enveloped as I'm by tediousness. A car drives past I spend minutes,
wondering where it is going. Back home I switch the TV back on,
a drone attack an important terrorist has been killed, as have eleven
other mostly children, collateral damage, but we fight a global war.
I wished for and found my Paradise on earth and it is bloody boring.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Walking On The Moon
Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon
I hope my legs don't break
Walking on the moon
We could walk forever
Walking on the moon
We could live together
Walking on, walking on the moon
Walking back from your house
Walking on the moon
Walking back from your house
Walking on the moon
Feet they hardly touch the ground
Walking on the moon
My feet don't hardly make no sound
Walking on, walking on the moon
Some may say
I'm wishing my days away
No way
And if it's the price I pay
Some say
Tomorrow's another day
You stay
I may as well play
Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon
I hope my legs don't break
Walking on the moon
We could walk forever
Walking on the moon
We could be together
Walking on, walking on the moon
Some may say
I'm wishing my days away
No way
And if it's the price I pay
Some say
Tomorrow's another day
You stay
I may as well play
Keep it up, keep it up
song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Back On The Track
Bad reputation, seems to be my style
I've been categorized as a little wild
The police took my photograph
A hunted boy runnin' from his past
Some even called me the devil's child
At seventeen, I was on my own
Had the clothes on my back, from a broken home
Slapped in the face 'til my daddy got straight
I knew it was time to run
(Chorus)
Now I'm back, back on the track again
I'm back, I'm holdin' my own, I'm leadin' the pack
I'm back, from a shattered home and a living hell
I'm back, back on the track
First indication, of trouble's up ahead
I saw the flashing blues, I saw the color red
A big commotion at the friendly store
Found a poor man robbed and a kid at the door
"Guilty as charged", or so the judge said
I was sent to school to try to learn a trade
But when the schoolboys laughed I became enraged
I prayed to god that's the last mistake I'd made
(Chorus)
Bad reputation freedom's my desire
I tried to clear my name, I came under fire
A bad situation was a way of life
With a cutthoat laywer given bad advice
The only hope I had was a proven liar
It was win or lose, out to clean the slate
It was some big news when I made the break
And I ran for years to avoid the state
Another chance I was forced to take
Now I'm back, back on the track again
I'm back, I'm holdin' my own, I'm leadin' the pack
I'm back, from a shattered home and a living hell
I'm back, back on the track again
I'm back, back on the track again
I'm back, I'm back on the track again
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Don't Look Back
I was born to travel down blue highways
I never seem to learn much from my past
I don't make excuses for my mistakes
I take each day and I live it
Like it was my last
I don't look back
One foot in front of the other
On this one way track I don't look back
I live my life my way
I don't look back
I'm sure there's memories I've missed out on
There's been a couple of loves I've left behind
I haven't found a heart hat I can count on
But don't feel sorry for me
I ain't the lonesome kind
I don't look back
One foot in front of the other
On this one way track
I don't look back
I live my life my way
I don't look back
No I don't look back
I don't look back
One foot in front of the other
On this one way track
I don't look back
I live my life my way
I don't look back
I live my life my way
I don't look back
No I don't look back
No, no I don't look back
I don't look back
song performed by by Gary Allan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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