In reply to your irate comment...
...well, yes, I agree the 'Comment' box is for comments - but hold on -
I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry...
yes, growing up in the Bible Belt
must be purgatory with only heaven and hell
I mean who reads Dante?
just don't unload it all on me, OK?
I guess I should try to explain myself
(this could be a long one,
like the others I pass over on this site,
who's got time for Byron or Browning or Milton?) :
Trying to make sense of this world
in the allotted time, ho ho,
I've found it helpful in the mind
- though I'm not 'religious',
but not aggressively irreligious I hope;
but still rather pressingly interested
in life and death, that sort of thing -
the concept of some possible unity
through love, Providence, order, law
(the Sun doesn't take a day off)
call it what you will
(or not - the Indians have spent
thousands of years on this sort of language)
and the possibility of finding
things related in some way through
something more than Chaos Theory
(as in a teenager's room)
or Evolution from two atoms
(by Whose law, huh?) -
(are you still with me?)
so that as in the most beautiful
metaphors and analogies
that poets delight in,
you and I and butterflies
and blue jays
and the smell of Spring
and yes, love -
are in some way related...
I think I'll stop there.
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The unity of all things
The unity of all things
is a belief which some
would consider pointless;
others might regard,
as insidious; suspect a lurking
hidden agenda; some
might says it’s useless and unproveable,
declare pathetic fallacy, and hurry on
to life’s more pressing details and specifics;
I can only say that there are things
so useful to the mind, although
they cannot be proved;
I’ll say that holding this concept,
this glorious possibility, in the mind
makes one more inquisitive, be it
journalist or writer, or simply
human being: seeking always
the causes of all things beyond
what they profess to be;
so too for poets, swimming in a sea
of metaphor – of all things joined
in one more radiant meaning which lights up
the life of every thing; as when
a housewife dusts and polishes
a room into a home; bestows
her being on our space;
the unity of all things
makes space for all things;
Creation promises some order;
behind the smaller things, the greater;
a place for grace, for ordered life,
for hope, and charity, and love;
a boundless place; a grace;
a graceful space.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Vain Imagination
Evolution deceived a generation with nothing more than imagination.
Man's bogus claims of this senility make his science pure futility.
Life is too complex is what they whine, so there must be a design.
They hit the nail on the head but chose to believe that God is dead.
Their heart says God's behind it all but they just continue to fall.
Their empty theory of deception, has always been Satan's intention.
Clutching onto this theory of evolution is a problem not a solution.
Evolution as a forgone conclusion is just part of Satan's delusion.
We hear what they believe and say only to hear it change day by day.
In The Bible they will find, God is not a man who changes His mind.
This theory is but one-century-old, so how can the fools be so bold?
Yes, fools I say with a nod, for only the fool says there is no God.
In The Bible they could read, and see He's an Awesome God is indeed.
It's been here thousands of years, and only The Bible has no peers.
The fact of creation is plain to see but they choose to be deceived.
God doesn't need any proof, by creation alone they're without excuse.
Man just does what he pleases while ignoring The Lord Christ Jesus.
They can't go on ignoring Jesus, for He alone was sent to redeem us.
Not only is creation evident, but the Creator himself is benevolent.
He showed His love at one event, when to the cross His Son He sent.
(Copyright © 07/2002)
In the steps of Rumi 88: Metaphor
Simile – what looks like something else –
that’s a fun game for the senses,
for the mind: oh look Dad,
there’s a scarecrow in that field
that looks just like a man, does it
really scare crows?
Oh look Dad, there’s a beggar in the street
who looks just like a scarecrow,
I wonder if the same crows
see him too?
But metaphor – ah, that’s something else:
explanations don’t quite explain it:
you see something; it brings to mind
something very different; maybe
you just forget it, pass on; maybe
you’re a poet, and you think,
that other thing casts a subtle light
on this first thing, I’ll see if others
find the same.. and, sometimes they do,
sometimes they don’t…
Metaphor brings the whole universe,
world upon world, to the mind:
you could write a poem full of metaphor
as long as the circumference of the world,
and when you’d written it out, you’d find yourself
right here again just where you were.. but
what a lot you’d seen on the way…
We’re so used to some metaphors
because by now, they’re shared,
written into language (lucky the people
who inherit languages such as these,
they’re born into poetry…) :
take ‘bread’: you walk past the baker’s shop
in the early morning when the air is clear –
or better, go in to buy your breakfast rolls:
the smell couldn’t be more wonderful,
more promising.. the bread’s so delicious,
and best eaten today..
ah yes, ‘daily bread’ – that becomes a metaphor
for all that each and every day brings –
waking up, new thoughts, new experiences,
all that brings life to life…
that covers so many subtle things…
where does it all come from?
that’s for you to say…
Sometimes it seems that the whole world
is a metaphor for something…
for what? For its own unity,
for its very creation,
for that which we call God,
for our very self?
that’s for you to say…
Metaphor. When you meet it,
does it make you think of
English class, another boring
poem, another boring question
to answer as you chew your pen –
‘What does the poet mean when
he speaks of, lies like oyster shells
to be penknifed for their pearls? ’…
or - does it fill your heart with joy
as if someone had given you
a golden key to a secret garden
which is all you ever hoped for;
more than you could ever imagine…
and yet you recognise
it’s all really just yourself? …
In the corner of your room
there's a little girl curled up
in a large armchair, reading a book.
Don't disturb her.
The book she reads with all her self today,
may never read again, doesn't need to -
is a metaphor for
all she needs to know today
about the world, about herself;
she finishes the book,
closes it thoughtfully,
looks up at you;
she knows herself
a little more today.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Jami Nduwimana Petty [With You Only I Have Had Perfect Communications]
How now can I forget so soon
How when we first met
Just two years ago
In the nook and thorns
Of my beloved Africa
And you, far away in America
I was bathing in hell and fire
And the other angels watching
And singing hymns of praises
To the almighty in highest
Praise be to religion
Mohammed and Jesus Christ.
Who invent hell, fire and heaven,
But of cause the camel
Can never pass through the
Needles eyes at the gate
And so certain was my fate
And they all knew how bland a sinner I was
That they needed no Minos
To show me my place in hell.
Purgatory will be too mild for me.
Dante, Beatrice, Homer and Milton
Who has grown a new set of eyes
And can now see as clearly
As a fish under water,
They all passed me by
And wouldn't even say hi,
For I had been a great
Disgrace to the race
Of poets that has ever graced
The face of this searth.
And Nietzsche too, I met in inferno
Shouting in my brains 'God is dead'
But of cause Nietzsche is dead
And Age will certainly die
But before then, let us not confound
Ourselves with such ideas
As foolish as religion.
Those that brought it up
Had only wished to confuse us.
But I must say this here and now
About Hell, well, Heaven,
I don't understand.
But you must say this to my mother
Who was made by my father
Tell them their children are dieing
In thousands;
Tell the we are burning
In Hell and fire
Will they condemn us to another?
And please say this to Jami too
I love you like no other,
For I was dead and gone in oblivion
And just when I thought all hope lost,
You came and dragged me through
The gates of Hell, to life
You gave me a song
A new song,
Though I can no longer sing now,
But you did not only give me a song
You also gave me a love, your love
You gave me kisses, and your lovely kids
I'll never forget that
My dear Jami
I want you to know one thing;
This poem this poem is not finished.
poem by Efe Benjamin
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Love by heart
If someone loves you by heart
Then it may remain so till the last
Whether you hide it by putting mast
Or bear grudge by raising doubt’s cast
That level may never recede
Even if you agree or totally accede
It is some sort of one time affair
To hold it last is really nice and fair
You may long to see each other
The storm might have been long withered
The ripples may still rise at some level
You may miss it even if try to excel
That is how love in life is evaluated
Where you are or suitably situated
Its importance is never equated
It is not uttered or any where related
It may not be your intent to cry over split relation
Yet it is tragedy that you maintain the wrong notion
Try to mix feelings with present scene
And consequences are definitely felt and seen
Yes that is some sort of integrity
And fine outstanding human quality
What we must understand is its importance?
Its virtue if misunderstood even at once
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Faith
Questions about the seen and unseen
How far can science really reach?
Darkness plagues us under the sun
All our life we know death will come
Mortality defines our precious time
The universe is there we can't deny
It is practical to assume a first cause
All we gain can so easily be lost
By knowledge we can never know
Which way we should travel and go
By revelation God reveals his truth
To those that hear his good news
Materialism says its all a big wager
The bible says it is fallen nature
Philosophy says change the situation
Gods love brought a cross of redemption
Nietzsche teaches beyond right and wrong
Evolution says it is all the weak and strong
Universals seem to lose their voice
Relativity makes everything choice
Why do we feel so much, laugh and cry?
Those that hear the divine call know why
Why can't they really explain to us love?
It doesn't make sense without God above
Kant said two things astounded him
A starry night and the moral law within
Who made those wondrous stars too shine?
Be honest, do you ever stop and ask why?
Look through a microscope or a telescope
Do you really think you will ultimately know?
Look at a flower in the blossoms of spring
Hear the beauty of a sweet song bird sing
They complicate it all again and again
But I believe in a kingdom with no end
They try to tell you that death ends it all
I know I will see loved ones before long
Do you think they really know?
I think faith is a much nicer road
We hope you find on your search
God created the heavens and earth
poem by Joseph Narusiewicz
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Smell Of Love
You left your smell in me
It won’t go with the ashes
I would not let wind carry it away
‘you are in me’, it would say!
When I stop being there
I would hold on to the smell
I would not let time take it away
‘love can’t die anyway’!
Moving around with your smell
Wherever I am heaven or hell
The spring of love would never dry
I would never let it die!
poem by Pradip Chattopadhyay
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Letter To A Young Poet Revised
Letter to a young Poet
Dear Raman, so you want me to read your poem and state my opinion.
Well, you are fond of words and you are stacking them up in your poem.
That is a good thing; clearly you are a man who reads a lot.
So you want to be a poet, poetry is self indulgent pass time it doesn’t
change anything, no one reads it, other than cranky people. Should
a poet writes something nationalistic that resonance with, a nation’s
pride, like: “my country is the best in the world.” He will get a medal.
So why don’t you become an engineer or failing that, a cook. The world
doesn’t need, anymore academic poets who forever repeat what poets
of yore have said. For the common man a poet is regarded as a figure of
fun who spends valuable time putting useless words together to make
sense of a world he doesn’t understand. As my father said, when my first
poem was published: “How much did they pay you? ” If my words have
not scared you off, you’re a poet. The only tool you’ll need is honesty.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Commenting (Please Read)
This poem is dedicated to a very dear friend in Canada.
Melvina Germain.
The first person who left a heart prints on my work almost a year and a half ago. Mel, a million thanks from me.
Love and Hugs.
David xxxx
Some people read your work
and then pass on their way,
never leaving a comment
whether they liked it or not.
For any writer good or bad,
unless someone makes a comment on your work,
you feel left out in the cold.
For those who think that comments do not help,
let me tell you what comments have done for me.
For six or seven years I had given up writing,
I swore I would never lift my pen again.
Then in January 2007,
I posted a few old poems on a poetry site.
I was confused and lost at the time.
Never though for one moment
anyone would want to read my humble work.
I was wrong.
Through the comments I received,
I started writing again.
Since the 19th January 2007 to today the 14th June 2008
I have written 1132 poems, a 80,000 word novel,
collaborated on over 20 poems
with two young ladies half a world away from me
and published my first book of poetry.
For under a year and a half
that is not a bad record
and it happened through the encouragement in comments.
So the next time you read someone work
and there is a space for a comment,
leave one please.
Those little heart prints can change someone’s life
and encourage them on to do better things.
Your comment does not have to be lengthy,
just a word or two will do.
Remember it is good to help someone
and by leaving a comment,
that is just what you will do.
I always leave a comment on everything I read
knowing how others comments have helped me.
14 June 2008
poem by David Harris
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Love Songs
She doesnt know what shes done
Little one doesnt know when to stop
Love must find her
Love must find her a way
She doesnt know what hes thinking
She only knows how he behaves
Love must find him
Love must find him a way
I reckon I must be just an old softy
cause I still believe in love
I think the best is yet to come
cause where Im from is also where Im going
And in the time that it takes to sing this song
I hope you can see for yourself
Love must find you
Love must find you a way
I reckon I must be just an old softy
cause I still believe in love
I think the best is yet to come
cause where Im from is also where Im going
And in the time that it takes to sing you this song
I think I can see for myself
Love has found me
Love has found me a way (oh, love has surely found a way)
Never did I feel like this before
Never was I so confused
I dont know if Im up or down
I guess Ive got nothing to lose
Never did I feel so good before
Guess I might as well hold onto a feeling
It feels so fine
As long as its on my mind
What a blue monday talk about lonely
Dont look back dont look down
Dont know how I made it through
I guess its got something to do with you
Never was I so in love before
The world is like a collage
Yes, and the only thing I can see clearly
Is the slow steady glow of love in her eyes
Talking about the slow steady glow of love in her eyes
song performed by by James Taylor
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Three
(02/25/12)
The word three and why it means so much to me:
Have you ever really thought about the three?
And how it can affect you and me.
How it has been passed down thru time
And helped people see who were going blind
And who could not see what was in front of them
Even when it was a relative or friend.
Let me just put things in the perspective
That has entered my mind, and has been
There for a very long time.
#1) the father, the son, the holy ghost
#2) the three nails in both hands and feet
#3) the three kings at the birth of CHRIST
#4) land, sea, sky
#5) man, woman, child
#6) heaven, hell, purgatory
How many other threes can you think of
That has been given to us from above?
My other thing that is and always will be in my mind
Is how I end my poetry with FAITH, HOPE, LOVE
So to all my friends who may read my write
Take the plunge, take the plight
And see if I am wrong or right.
Faith, hope, love
poem by Louis Rams
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An Ode To Those Being Cheated
You know your being cheated
Yet you still carry on
You hope you can sort things out
But your hope is all wrong
In silent agreement
Without finding out
Two faced delight
Your loves down and out
And when its just gone midnight
And its been one of those days
Will it be you who decides
Who goes and who stays
Only blue tears fall from broken hearts
And the sadest songs played tear lovers apart
And though your still being cheated
You still carry on
I hope you sort it out
I hope that Im wrong
poem by Kevin Campbell
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Purgatory
Beautiful people - got their beautiful lives - got their
Beautiful husbands - got their beautiful wives - got their
Beautiful bankers - got their beautiful lawyers
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people are sent to destroy us
Beautiful people - got their beautiful kids - got their
Beautiful schools where the beautiful other half live - got their
Beautiful futures in their beautiful professions
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people got the money for the lessons
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
Cos, I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Beautiful people got their beautiful clothes - got their
Beautiful mansions - down their beautiful country roads - got their
Beautiful Doctors - in their beautiful surgeries
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people like a little privacy
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
Cos, I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Beautiful losers on their beautiful estates got their
beautiful job centres on the beautiful welfare wait and wait
Beautiful dreamers - out of their beautiful skulls
All things are bright and beautiful
As long as they're beautiful, people stay beautiful.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to lau
song performed by by Ian Hunter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I came from a family who believed in, in quotes, the Rights of Man, who believed that in order to justify the sort of luxurious life that the majority of us have, related to the whole world, that you had to do something.
quote by Richard Attenborough
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It is enough
It is enough and now no more
Life has become dull and bore
I make presence known by heaving snoring
Everybody in family complains early in the morning
I get tired by few steps walk
Tongue sticks as I am unable to talk
Mind is bogged down and unable to think
Memory goes off and on and I simply blink
Though I am not still being hated
But hear the words co related
I feel being very much neglected
Even though some thing short of being humiliated
It is not desired at the later stage
Everybody will have to face the old age
It will not be spent as easily
As the young age was spent merrily
All are nit lucky to be looked after well
We hear them saying “it is living hell”
You become useless within over night
All prophecy seems to prove very right
Hard luck for those who spend it with plight
Perception also sometimes may vary slight
Above and all there may prevail generation gap
You may be objected at every step
It will be some sort of insult
No one may bother or prefer you to consult
You are in another word a burden
The stage has come all of sudden
You are driven in the corner
You are spent force and nothing comes out from burner
Neither can you be utilized for any useful purpose
Nor can be neglected for any thought to suppose
If you left alone in this world without partner
Hell will be let loose on you later or sooner
You will not only counts last leg of years
But seconds, minutes and hours
We wish it should not happen with any one
As you will be looked after by none
No one may have kind views but only lip service
It may not be sufficient to render only advice
There is blow of wind in opposite direction
The aged people face hostility with reaction
The society as a whole can be blamed for inaction
But thanks to the old age homes for their sympathetic action
There is age gap, new concept and love loss too
It is known fact that everyone has to pass through
The same trauma, pain and anguish
The same would not have been dreamed by anybody as wish
The tears dropp from eyes as the same is not likely to end
The relatives too come and ask about welfare but keep quite as friend
No one may want to interfere in internal affairs
Even thought it is not considered as fair
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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I am tired of all this sort of thing called science here... We have spent millions in that sort of thing for the last few years, and it is time it should be stopped.
quote by Simon Cameron
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wait For Me
All these miles, haunting questions linger in my mind.
And all the while, making bad decisions out of line.
Still I've tried, to let go of the danger in my life.
It's alright, when that's the only thing I've left behind.
And there's still time...
Wait for me. There's so much more of life for us to see.
You must believe, it's not because of you I've had to leave.
Wait for me. I only hope that you'll remember me.
At this time, I'm counting all the reasons I should stay.
Bottom line. I'm missing all the things I gave away.
I remind, and see your face every single day.
Still I'm blind. I wish that there was something I could say
To make things right...
Wait for me. There's so much more of life for us to see.
You must believe, it's not because of you I've had to leave.
Wait for me. I only hope that you'll remember me.
Just hold on a little bit longer.
Thoughts and memories will be enough
My need for you is only growing stronger.
I know you don't understand it much
But it doesn't mean I have to care about you any less
It doesn't have a thing to do with that.
There's still so many questions that are gonna' be addressed
I'm sorry that it had to be like this.
But there's still time to make things right.
Wait for me. There's so much more of life for us to see.
You must believe, it's not because of you I've had to leave.
Wait for me. I only hope that you'll remember me.
song performed by by Flaw
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tom Tom
Pop
Hey little one
Youve got the way
I aint doing nothin
Thats so important
Id like to know how you deal
Oh when I worry to darken
If I cant get in your show
Ill take my tom tom and go
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
While you were mine
I got so hazy
While you passed by
I found my answer
Is this the best thing in life
The only thing I remember
If I cant get in your show
Ill take my tom tom and go
Pure love, sunshine
Our love is always fine
We are related, you know
Ill take my tom tom and go
We are related, you know
Ill take my tom tom and go
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
The sky is angry
Over this city
Birds fly like devils
Over this city
So many things of no worth
Are being shoved in my face
When all the wealth in the world
May work the faith in one girl
Thats why Im sad to say
Till there can be no hate, oh
The only one they come through
Is absolute
You
song performed by by Iggy Pop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Symphony In Blue
I spent a lot of my time looking at blue,
The colour of my room and my mood:
Blue on the walls, blue out of my mouth;
The sort of blue between clouds, when the sun comes out,
The sort of blue in those eyes you get hung up about.
When that feeling of meaninglessness sets in,
Go blowing my mind on god:
The light in the dark, with the neon arms,
The meek he seeks, the beast he calms,
The head of the good soul department.
I see myself suddenly
On the piano, as a melody.
My terrible fear of dying
No longer plays with me,
For now I know that Im needed
For the symphony.
I associate love with red,
The colour of my heart when shes dead;
Red in my mind when the jealousy flies,
Red in my eyes from emotional ties,
Manipulation, the danger signs.
The more I think about sex, the better it gets.
Here we have a purpose in life:
Good for the blood circulation,
Good for releasing the tension,
The root of our reincarnations.
I see myself suddenly
On the piano, as a melody.
My terrible fear of dying
No longer plays with me,
For now I know that Im needed
For the symphony.
I spent a lot of my time looking at blue--
No wonder that I blue it!
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Love is a bitter thing
Love is a bitter thing
that cuts nastily,
Through my heart.
Too many beautiful things
still lies too spring fresh,
between you and me
for love to end by itself.
I do not know what to do
to stop love from disappearing somewhere
between yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Every time that you are with me
I know that things between us,
are still sparkling alive.
The things between the lines in each conversation,
your body language and your fingers that draw lines
through my hair,
betrays what lies hidden deep in your heart.
It does not make sense that you want it dead
and your words say that it is past,
but still you want to be with me.
poem by Gert Strydom
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