The Field Of Mortality
The Field of Mortality
On a field, not far from here, I see millions of lit candles in long rows,
but only at night; in daylight it is a potato patch. A man, you may call
him god if you like, walks among the candles every so often he stops
and with his thumb and index finger snuffs out light; the skin on his
fingers are corned from this arduous work. Behind him new candles
spring up, sometimes he turns and go back waste some of them too.
He is heading for the part where the candles have been burned out,
only the wick flickers. He uses he thumb to bump them off; a spiral of
grey smoke in still air. He is old as time, sometimes he misses candles
that keep on burning, although they have no wick. As dawn begins,
behind the easterly mountain, the field of mortality turns into a potato
patch again, where an old man is harvesting spuds.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Related quotes
What The Poet Wrote
What the Poet Wrote
(Birth over an open grave)
A poet wrote: ”Mothers give birth over an open grave. I thought it was harsh, most
children live long after their mothers die. A young man driving behind me was edgy
wanted to overtake thought I was driving too slow. I kept as far to the right as I could,
he saw his chance, but he was not quick enough, front collision. He wasn’t wearing
seat belt, died on the bonnet of his car. So much blood, dark red and sweet, but his
eyes were open and they saw beyond to a place I have never been. His mother,
a widow, collapsed when the coffin was lowered into a an unfeeling ground, she had
given birth over an open grave. I see a field lit by millions of candles in rows a man
walks among them and ever so often snuffs out light with his thumb and index finger.
But behind him new light appear, sometimes he turn go back and snuffs the new
lights out, mothers who have given birth over an open grave. He is now heading for
the part of the field where the candles have burnt out, only the wick flickers, quickly
he snuffs them out, but misses some, of people who live too long, those who death
has cruelly missed. There is no light on my terrace, a car passes by and plants casts
shadows on the wall, they have no colours. I’m past caring; tomorrow will come
whether I’m there or not, mother will never know if she gave birth to an open grave.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Candles
The days of the future stand in front of us
Like a line of candles all alight----
Golden and warm and lively little candles.
The days that are past are left behind,
A mournful row of candles that are out;
The nearer ones are still smoking,
Candles cold, and melted, candles bent.,
I don’t want to see them; their shapes hurt me,
It hurts me to remember the light of them at first.
I look before me at my lighted candles,
I don’t want to turn around and see with horror
How quickly the dark line is lengthening,
How quickly the candles multiply that have been put out.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
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Meditations Upon A Candle
Man's like a candle in a candlestick,
Made up of tallow and a little wick;
And as the candle when it is not lighted,
So is he who is in his sins benighted.
Nor can a man his soul with grace inspire,
More than can candles set themselves on fire.
Candles receive their light from what they are not;
Men grace from Him for whom at first they care not.
We manage candles when they take the fire;
God men, when he with grace doth them inspire.
And biggest candles give the better light,
As grace on biggest sinners shines most bright.
The candle shines to make another see,
A saint unto his neighbour light should be.
The blinking candle we do much despise,
Saints dim of light are high in no man's eyes.
Again, though it may seem to some a riddle,
We use to light our candles at the middle.
True light doth at the candle's end appear,
And grace the heart first reaches by the ear.
But 'tis the wick the fire doth kindle on,
As 'tis the heart that grace first works upon.
Thus both do fasten upon what's the main,
And so their life and vigour do maintain.
The tallow makes the wick yield to the fire,
And sinful flesh doth make the soul desire
That grace may kindle on it, in it burn;
So evil makes the soul from evil turn.
But candles in the wind are apt to flare,
And Christians, in a tempest, to despair.
The flame also with smoke attended is,
And in our holy lives there's much amiss.
Sometimes a thief will candle-light annoy,
And lusts do seek our graces to destroy.
What brackish is will make a candle sputter;
'Twixt sin and grace there's oft' a heavy clutter.
Sometimes the light burns dim, 'cause of the snuff,
Sometimes it is blown quite out with a puff;
But watchfulness preventeth both these evils,
Keeps candles light, and grace in spite of devils.
Nor let not snuffs nor puffs make us to doubt,
Our candles may be lighted, though puffed out.
The candle in the night doth all excel,
Nor sun, nor moon, nor stars, then shine so well.
So is the Christian in our hemisphere,
Whose light shows others how their course to steer.
When candles are put out, all's in confusion;
Where Christians are not, devils make intrusion.
Then happy are they who such candles have,
All others dwell in darkness and the grave.
But candles that do blink within the socket,
And saints, whose eyes are always in their pocket,
Are much alike; such candles make us fumble,
And at such saints good men and bad do stumble.
Good candles don't offend, except sore eyes,
Nor hurt, unless it be the silly flies.
Thus none like burning candles in the night,
Nor ought to holy living for delight.
But let us draw towards the candle's end:
The fire, you see, doth wick and tallow spend,
As grace man's life until his glass is run,
And so the candle and the man is done.
The man now lays him down upon his bed,
The wick yields up its fire, and so is dead.
The candle now extinct is, but the man
By grace mounts up to glory, there to stand.
poem by John Bunyan
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Candles
i dreamt of candles
shimmering, dainty, romantic
....candles
all aglow lighting my path
melting away longingly
velvet ivory wax
licking the soft soles of my feet
...u came home to me
with diamonds and roses.
i dreamt of candles
ablaze, threating, ominous
....candles
all licking hungrily at my clothes
wanting to consume me
make me one with them
a charred cinder
.....u told me of her
with acerbic finality
i dreamt of candles
silent, suffering, perservering
....candles
all burning no longer a pretty yellow
just icy blue
plotting with precision
to set the stage on fire
....u called me repentent
i answered with laughter.
....'what goes around comes around'...
poem by Wardha Jawdat
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Darkness Is Falling
Verse 1:
When darkness is falling and shadows grow long
Its time for the children to sing this old song
It tells of the coming of wonders untold
Forgotten is winter, its fury and cold,
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
Repeat verse 1
When darkness is falling and stars fill the sleigh
The waiting is over and we all know why
Its time for celebrating and having a feast
Because of the tidings that come from the east
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life, Candle, and Wine
How much is too much a pain after pain,
In a tight fist can hold again and again;
On a prowling face, how long is too long,
For someone to suffer the agony of ageing;
Like a candle lives by the lit of its wick,
Slowly burning through dangers of wind,
Its soulful light will soon become weak,
To send scents of some kind to think;
A barrel of wine is sweeter when aged
To perfection in an excellent time;
To hold and wait is worth awhile
Of knowing how much is too much;
A life could trade from candles and wines,
By arithmetic lift of arrogance,
But life like candles will short-lived,
And all the wines will be emptied.
poem by Efren Petalver Carranza
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To Age With Grace
Let my birthday candles
glimmer in the dark.
As another year comes upon me
let me feel their spark
to face unafraid
my future days
that show up one by one,
whether they're lined with cloudy days
or shiny like the sun.
Each year that brings me closer
to that designated time,
the candles flicker softer
to let me know that I'm
closer to my God
than I've ever been.
So I blow out the candles once again
and take a new breath in.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Candles In My Heart
Beholding yourself in me,
Your filaments all over,
Its dawn in my world
Light the candles in my heart,
Shed light upon thee,
Chase the darkness away
My heart is mirrored along,
Reflections and purity,
You brought a luminous
Who then shall put a spark,
Your hands are worthy beautiful,
Light up my heart beautiful one
There was a fire, they screamed
You and I know ourselves,
Light up the candles please
Love is knocking at your door,
Asking only few not more,
Complete me and make me whole
Upon when shall I be in darkness,
Angiushing in great loniless,
Stretch your arm, i need a caress
My heart want to burn with love,
Behold its a right and perfect move,
Set my heart ablaze my love
I have been waiting for long,
Until when shall you light the candles,
I need a flame my love
poem by Gaylord Munemo
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For K.R. on her Sixtieth Birthday
Blow out the candles of your cake.
They will not leave you in the dark,
Who round with grace this dusky arc
Of the grand tour which souls must take.
You who have sounded William Blake,
And the still pool, to Plato's mark,
Blow out the candles of your cake.
They will not leave you in the dark.
Yet, for your friends' benighted sake,
Detain your upward-flying spark;
Get us that wish, though like the lark
You whet your wings till dawn shall break:
Blow out the candles of your cake.
poem by Richard Wilbur
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Birthday night
The golden light
of twelve candles
sparkled on your skin
while you came to me
like a goddess
stepping back into my life
and a shadow
followed you
on the bedroom wall
and I could see
your beautiful big eyes glowing
as if set alight.
There were still drops of water
on your naked skin
which was warm to my touch
and you blew all the candles out
and in sudden darkness
your kiss was soft and hot.
In having you against me
there was something familiar
and something new
and things felt as if they
were destined to be
and I could hear
your heart beat against mine.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Upon The Sight Of A Pound Of Candles Falling To The Ground
But be the candles down, and scattered too,
Some lying here, some there? What shall we do?
Hold, light the candle there that stands on high,
It you may find the other candles by.
Light that, I say, and so take up the pound
You did let fall and scatter on the ground.
Comparison.
The fallen candles do us intimate
The bulk of God's elect in their laps'd state;
Their lying scattered in the dark may be
To show, by man's lapsed state, his misery.
The candle that was taken down and lighted,
Thereby to find them fallen and benighted,
Is Jesus Christ; God, by his light, doth gather
Who he will save, and be unto a Father.
poem by John Bunyan
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Tears At The Birthday Party
Think back now when we were young
There were always tears at the birthday party
You know how children can be
So cruel
Thats how it starts, but
What if we never learn how to behave?
I did something, and you never forgave me
I never thought that it could be like this
But now I see
I see you share your cake with him
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
And its the same every year
Seems that I remember it as something more, but
You know how children can grow
So strange
I still adore you
What if we never learn from our mistakes?
But then, youll never know how my heart aches
I never thought that it would be like this
But now I see
I see you share your cake with him
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
One day I know hell forget
To pay you the compliments youre after
Youll hang your sad, aching head
Behind a brittle smile or a shrill of laughter
What if we only get what we deserve?
Somehow I couldnt quite summon the nerve
Upon each anniversary
Then do you ever think of me?
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So happy birthday again
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lighting Up The Candles
Lighting up the candles, lighting up our love
Lighting up the candles, lighting up our love
Lighting up the candles
To what use to be
Tender memories in moments of love
Happy times and bad times
All seem wonderful
When you have a toast to moments of love
Lighting up the candles, lighting up our love
Lighting up the candles
To what use to be
Tender memories in moments of love
Happy times and bad times
All seem wonderful
When you have a toast to moments of love
I really think we could have made it
To that forever and a day
But destiny and fate decided
They would get in our way
Lighting up the candles
Wishing you the best
Like the happiness in moments of love
For lighting up the candles
Spark the memories
Helping us to see more moments of love
I really think we could have made it
To that forever and a day
But destiny and fate decided
They would get in our way
For lighting up the candles
Spark the memories
Helping us to see the need for what was
Helping us to see more moments of love
Lighting up the candles, lighting up our love
Lighting up the candles, lighting up our love
Lighting up the candles, lighting up our love
song performed by by Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Queen Gormlai
NOT fingers that e'er felt
Fine things within their hold
Drew needles in and through,
And smoothed out the fold,
And put the hodden patch
Upon the patch of grey
Unseemly is the garb
That's for my back to-day!
O skinflint woman, Mor,
Who knows that I speak true
I had women once,
A queen's retinue;
And they were ones who knew
The raiment of a queen;
Their thoughts were on my tire,
Their minds were on my mien!
Light of hand and apt,
And companionable,
Seven score women, Mor,
I had at my call,
Who am to-day begrudged
The blink of candle-light
To put it on, the garb,
That leaves me misbedight.
I wore a blue Norse hood
The time I watched the turns
And feats of Clann O'Neill
We quaffed from goblet-horns;
A crimson cloak I wore
When, with Niall the King,
I watched the horses race
At Limerick in the Spring!
In Tara of King Niall
The gold was round the wine,
And I was given the cup
A furze-bright dress was mine;
And now this clout to wear
Where I rise to sup whey,
With root-like stitches through
The hodden on the grey!
No more upon the board
Candles for kings are lit,
No more can I bid her
And her bring gowning fit;
The bramble is no friend
It pulls at me and drags;
The thorny ground is mine
Where briars tear my rags!
poem by Padraic Colum
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Phenomenal Candlestick in a rural Cathedral
I stand on the altar
Being an honest pillar.
Candles burn meekly,
In the horrible night
I am alone like a ghost?
The remaining wax they scrape
Early in the morning
I am waiting, in vain!
And I realized the candles
Which burnt to give light?
Though I hold them
I am only a cat's-paw
And the Ownership
Goes to that superimpose?
To Frank James Ryan Jr. in gratitude!
*We two form a multitude.
-Ovid
poem by Nimal Dunuhinga
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Let's Just Have Dinner and Skip the Sex
I think practicing safe sex is a good idea.
Especially today.
However...
Don't you think the use of rubber gloves,
Masks and candles is a bit much?
And you want us to put the candles where?
To conserve energy?
You want to save on your electric bill?
And you don't know if I'll provide the heat you need?
Let's just have dinner and skip the sex.
I'm tired of it already!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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An array of candles
On that corner
There is this array of
Candles
That you see
If you only look
Carefully
There is one candle
There
Its light is about to
Stop
Its wick so short
To last for
Another minute
That candle is my
Life
And soon it will
Signify an
End
Do not ask me
I do not want an
Extension
Even for a
Second
I had enough of
This light
This little light
I had enough of this
Vast darkness
There is no time
Nicer enough
To convince me
For more of it
I had enough
Let me say it again
I had enough of
You.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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50 Candles
Its gettin kinda dark already, should I light em?
Hey baby Im ready, oh so ready
I wanna make love to you, hey
Take em off, throw em down
Come here and let me feel whats in front of me
The outside world is of no concern
Just let our bodies and the candles in the room burn
With feverish passion uncontained
Chorus:
Feels like one of those nights
Lady, Im in need of love in a hurry
50 candles burn bright
And all is right, as our bodies unite
Take our time, do it right
Give me your hand touch me right here
Oh so good want it more and more
Each moment your fingers linger all around
As I kiss you in the place where your composure comes undone
And your mind runs
Well make love til the sun completely rises
Come play with me
Let me be the toy
That fufills your needs
cause Im yours tonight and youre all mine, roll with me
Dont be afraid let the feeling take you away
To a world of ecstasy
Where all you go to do is be free and give your all and all
Chorus
Rap:
Come and get this, waited all my life for your touch and soft kiss
And life will never be the same, while ya moan and groan
I hear your voice call my name
Holding your body like a plastic molding
Your soul Ill be controlling
As the candles burn, we toss and turn
From night to day, all our pleasures we learn
Come and play with me tonights our night baby,
50 candles burn bright
Come and roll with me
Make love to me
Hold on tight
Its going to be a bumpy ride
Chorus
song performed by by Boyz II Men
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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the ivy climbs
on my grandparents cross
somewhere in the field—
kindled candles
shadows come to life
tanka by Mircea Teculescu from Albatross (2005), translated by Alexandra Flora Munteanu
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Immortal Love
When you lie beside me
Naked and Bare -
With the warmth of my caresses
Touching you everywhere...
You'll feel the power of my
Passionate Love -
Melting away the icy coldness
In your Persona -
Igniting the effervescent Flame
Of eternal love and endless passion
Those raw desires of human emotion.
Like the beautiful, bright candles of Diwali
And the lovely, fragrant roses of Valentine
Our love will sparkle and shine forever...
With the misty fragrance of togetherness
Like the lingering aroma of scented candles
Which permeates the air and hangs on there...
Long after the candles have flickered out.
So may our love be eternal and effervescent
Like the fragrant roses of Valentine
And the sparkling candles of Diwali.
For no matter -
How many roses wither out,
How many candles blow out,
There is always the Valentine's Day
And the Festival Diwali to celebrate.
Every year, on a special day
With more new roses,
And more lovely candles.
So the essence lives on...
And the celebration too
Just like we celebrate Love
With all its highs and lows
Loving ourselves...
And loving the you in me
And the me in you.
Even if our life fizzles out -
Like the withering roses
And the melting candles
Beyond life unto death,
Beyond death, into after-life...
Our love takes us on, and lives on
Long after we are dead and gone.
And the memories and the remnants
Remain on this Blessed Earth -
The fragments of our love and pain
Inspiring others to carry on
living and loving each other,
Whatever be the weather...
Be it the warm sunshine
Or the stormy rain.
Those memories, those remnants -
In our letters, words and poems
For others to read, relish and cherish
And bless our souls...
May be, with their wishes and prayers,
We might become 'one' in heaven
After shedding our dualities
On this mortal earth -
When our breathing bodies, die and perish.
poem by Aparna Chatterjee
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