Sunset
Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors
which it passes to a row of ancient trees.
You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you
one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.
leaving you, not really belonging to either,
not so hopelessly dark as that house that is silent,
not so unswervingly given to the eternal as that thing
that turns to a star each night and climbs-
leaving you (it is impossible to untangle the threads)
your own life, timid and standing high and growing,
so that, sometimes blocked in, sometimes reaching out,
one moment your life is a stone in you, and the next, a star.
poem by Rainer Maria Rilke
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Related quotes
Ars Poetica
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit
Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown -
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs
Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,
Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind -
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs
A poem should be equal to:
Not true
For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf
For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea -
A poem should not mean
But be
poem by Archibald MacLeish
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Evening
The sky puts on the darkening blue coat
held for it by a row of ancient trees;
you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight,
one journeying to heaven, one that falls;
and leave you, not at home in either one,
not quite so still and dark as the darkened houses,
not calling to eternity with the passion of what becomes
a star each night, and rises;
and leave you (inexpressibly to unravel)
your life, with its immensity and fear,
so that, now bounded, now immeasurable,
it is alternately stone in you and star.
Translated by Stephen Mitchell
Submitted by zenfishsticks
poem by Rainer Maria Rilke
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Room With A View
First thing he does when he climbs out of bed
He searches out a place to drink his daily bread
He wraps himself up tight in alcohol
It keeps him warm at night, like grandmas shawl,
When he was a child, with everything planned,
And his body was clean
Now he sits all alone
In a room with a view of the brick wall he's run into
Life has a way of leaving people like him stained
First thing she does when she goes out at night
She sells a smile to get what fills her inside
She brings plenty home and slowly gets stoned in a room by herself
She sits all alone in a room with a view of the brick wall she's run into
Life has a way of leaving people like us stained
song performed by by Warrant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Of A Virgin Born
Have you seen the
Star of wonder
Star of grace
Star by which
The stars themselves
All navigate?
Have you sensed the
Star behind all sight
Reaching out
Through all the senses
Calling you in
Silent song?
Is this the
Star that brought me here
The light behind my eyes
The store of shining words
Before the living thoughts
Are spoken?
Have you seen the
Star of wonder
Star of grace
Star that lights
The life behind
Each face?
poem by Steven Silent Wolf
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Through These Front Windows
See how our neighbor’s trees
fill with dusky breeze
as bright sky fades to bluest steel.
Light laces through the blackening limbs;
swaying crowns arch
while just above
climbs the golden star.
Oh! See how the planet, worlds apart
from our own treading voyager,
glides through God’s black, velvet heart,
and darkness fill the tender earth
as sudden night joyfully buoys
our slowly turning, blue-green world
with His sacred void.
poem by Steven Federle
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Loneliness
Being apart and lonely is like rain.
It climbs toward evening from the ocean plains;
from flat places, rolling and remote, it climbs
to heaven, which is its old abode.
And only when leaving heaven drops upon the city.
It rains down on us in those twittering
hours when the streets turn their faces to the dawn,
and when two bodies who have found nothing,
dissapointed and depressed, roll over;
and when two people who despise eachother
have to sleep together in one bed-
that is when loneliness receives the rivers...
poem by Rainer Maria Rilke
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Loneliness (Einsamkeit)
Being apart and lonely is like rain.
It climbs toward evening from the ocean plains;
from flat places, rolling and remote, it climbs
to heaven, which is its old abode.
And only when leaving heaven drops upon the city.
It rains down on us in those twittering
hours when the streets turn their faces to the dawn,
and when two bodies who have found nothing,
disappointed and depressed, roll over;
and when two people who despise each other
have to sleep together in one bed -
that is when loneliness receives the rivers...
poem by Rainer Maria Rilke from Das Buch der Bilder (21 September 1902), translated by Robert Bly
Submitted by anonym
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Reaching Out
See how the child reaches out instinctively
To feel how fire will feel.
See how the man reaches out instinctively
For what he cannot have.
The pull and the push of it all.
Reaching out for the hand.
Reaching out for the hand that smacked.
Reaching out for that hand to hold.
Reaching out for the star.
Reaching out for the star that explodes.
Reaching out for mama.
See how the flower leans instinctively
Toward the light.
See how the heart reaches out instinctively
For no reason but to touch.
The pull and the push of it all.
Reaching out for the hand
Reaching out for the hand that smacked
Reaching out for that hand to hold.
Reaching out for the star.
Reaching out for the star that explodes.
Reaching out for mama.
(cant we see...)
Reaching out for mama.
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My First Love Poem
When God created heaven and he placed those stars above,
I knew right then the star I'd chose would fill my life with love,
The greatest gift bestowed to me is the best received by far,
because that's the day I've met you and realised that you're my star,
I can't forecast what life will hold but there is one thing I know,
That if we keep it watered well our plant of friendship will grow,
You will always be the brightest star in the heavens of my heart,
And I won't despair when dark clouds near for my star shines through the dark.
poem by FeChristie Wong
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Missing Star
WHY did the star leave the sky,
The far, pure sky?
Shone she not high and hallowed and fair?
Could she not tarry her life-time there?
Why must she fall and fade?
She had heaven nigh.
I of the earth, I would she had stayed
In her lonely air.
Higher than love lived my star,
My clear, cold star.
Why must she droop to our mists below?
Ah, for the glory of long ago!
Ah, for the pride no more!
When she stood so far.
Would she were lost in the days before,
In the perished glow.
Star wandered out of my light,
Once all my light,
Seeing the sky through a dullness of tears,
Crying for thee to the empty years,
Where should I seek for thee
Mid the. desert night?
Not on the earth.
Ah! the star that nears
Has forgotten to be.
poem by Augusta Davies Webster
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Flower's Song
Star! Star, why dost thou shine
Each night upon my brow?
Why dost thou make me dream the dreams
That I am dreaming now?
Star! Star, thy home is high --
I am of humble birth;
Thy feet walk shining o'er the sky,
Mine, only on the earth.
Star! Star, why make me dream?
My dreams are all untrue;
And why is sorrow dark for me
And heaven bright for you?
Star! Star, oh, hide thy ray,
And take it off my face;
Within my lowly home I stay,
Thou, in thy lofty place.
Star! Star, and still I dream,
Along thy light afar
I seem to soar until I seem
To be, like you, a star.
poem by Abram Joseph Ryan
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Star Light Star Bright
'star light star bright'
eons passed by
into earth's womb
sunk into oceans
diluted into galaxies
and you're the same
'twinkle twinkle
little star...'
when the ancient me
roamed the length and breadth
of the expanding space
and intriguing earth
you were the one guiding me
now with not much wonder
left in life
earth bound woes
never allowing a gaze
'spent and tired'
night after night
i dissolve into
the dark spaces
you traverse
before you shine
22oct2009
20.11hrs
poem by Indira Babbellapati
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Star
Maurice white, eddie del barrio & allee willis
In the sky, shines a star, spaces,
Near and far, calling out, who you are
And smiling in the night.
Star light, star bright beam across the
Sky -- falling, calling can you tell me why --
Star light, star bright mighty light to see.
Shining, smiling down on you and me --
Star hides from the rain, it turns
Against the pain, fooling many in the game
While smiling in the night --
I can feel the dark, take the night,
Apart, but then, the stars come out
And lift my heart --
Believing, theres a star, for everyone
Makes it easier, to recall, that together
For the children of the world -- theres
A star smiling for us all
Star, shining high, cultivating my desire
Graceful in the sky
And smiling in the night
Chorus out
song performed by by Earth Wind And Fire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stargazer
High noon
Oh Id sell my soul for water
Nine years worth
Of breakin my back
Theres no sun in the shadow of the wizard
See how he glides
Why hes lighter than air
Oh I see his face
Where is your star
Is it far, is it far, is it far
When do we leave
I believe, yes, I believe
* in the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
Just to see him fly
So many die
We built a tower of stone
With out flesh and bone
Just to see him fly
Dont know why
Now where do we go
Hot wind moving fast across the desert
We feel that our time has arrived
The world spins while we put his wing together
A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky
Oh I see his face
Where is your star
It is far, is it far, is it far
When do we leave, yeah
I believe, I believe
*
All eyes see the figure of the wizard
As he climbs to the top of the world
No sound as he falls instead of rising
Time standing still
Then theres blood on the sand
Oh I see his face
Where was your star
Was it far, was it far
When did we leave
We believe, we believe, we believe
In the heat and rain
With whips and chains
To see him fly
So many die
We built a tower of stone
With out flesh and bone
To see him fly
But why, it dont rain
With all our chains,
Did so many die
Just to see him fly
Look at my flesh and bone
Now look, look, look, look
Look at this tower of stone
I see a rainbow rising
Look there on the horizon
And Im coming home
Coming home, Im coming home
Time is standing still
He gave me back my will
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Going home
Im going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is weeping
We still hope, we still hope, oh
Take me back
He gave me back my will
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Going home
Im going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is weeping
We still hope, we still hope, oh
Take me back, take me back
Back to my home, oh, oh...
song performed by by Rainbow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Even In The Quietest Moments
Even in the quietest moments
I wish I knew what I had to do
And even though the sun is shining
Well I feel the rain --- here it comes again, dear
And even when you showed me
My heart was out of tune
For theres a shadow of doubt thats not letting me find you too soon
The music that you gave me
The language of my soul
Oh lord, I want to be with you.
Wont you let me come in from the cold?
Dont you let the sun fade away
Dont you let the sun fade away
Dont you let the sun be leaving
Wont you come to me soon
And even though the stars are listening
And the oceans deep, I just go to sleep
And then I create a silent movie
You become the star, is that what you are, dear?
Your whisper tells a secret
Your laughter brings me joy
And a wonder of feeling Im natures own little boy
But still the tears keep falling
Theyre raining from the sky
Well theres a lot of me got to go under before I get high
Dont you let the sun disappear
Dont you let the sun disappear
Dont you let the sun be leaving
No, you cant be leaving my life
Say that you wont be leaving my life
Say that you wont be leaving my life
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Lord, wont you come and get into my life
Lord, wont you come and get into my life
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Lord, dont go
And even when the song is over
Where have I been --- was it just a dream?
And though your door is always open
Where do I begin --- may I please come in, dear?
song performed by by Supertramp
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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September Sky
Cool air, September sky.
My vision bordered by trees,
Dying for the winter-
God's silent fireworks,
Brilliant reds, oranges, yellows.
There is the threat of frost in the air,
A biting chill which seeps into my clothes.
The smell of a woodstove is in the air,
Invigorating.
It is as much a part of the September sky
As the colors on the wind.
There is a stillness in the air,
Punctuated by the cries of a few lonely birds.
I look to the sky,
Clear blue, like your eyes.
I feel lost, lonely-
I am in this dream,
But you are not.
I am leaving, I know,
Leaving behind a connection of the heart
That I once was unaware of.
I am alone, September Sky.
poem by James Grengs
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Battered Shells
Standing lonely in a crowd
Feelings severed, screaming loud;
Heart rejected, growing cold
Trusting ways begin to fold
Waking eyes find life revealed,
Wonder when the dirge was pealed;
Love was captured, tears ran wild
From the young but learning child
Finding life like solitaire
Some that need but none that care,
Most that take but none that give
All that die and none that live
Reaching out to no one there
Leaving all your feelings bare;
Soon to nothing they will grind
Leaving but a shell behind
Looking 'round this empty sea
Battered shells stand facing me,
Standing near but none in reach
Each alone on private beach
poem by Terry O'Leary
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Radio Star
Edwin McCain
Radio Star
And how my dad beat me and how much he drank
Do you think it'll help my records sell
Cause Im the radio star with the cars and the clothes
The fancy guitars and the spoon in my nose
You know in my world now anything goes
You all want to be me, and Ill be gone in a week
Hang out with Britney and Fred Durst
Arrive in a limo, Ill leave in a hearse
And I cant decide now which part is worse
Losing my life to the game, or losing the fortune and fame
Cause Im the radio star with the cars and the clothes
The fancy guitars and the spoon in my nose
You know in my world now anything goes
You all want to be me, and Ill be gone in a week
You put me on TV with all the cool stars
Like Letterman, Conan and Jay
Cause were all experts at the art of PR
And nobody knows that Im gay
Im the radio star with the cars and the clothes
The fancy guitars and the spoon in my nose
You know in my world now anything goes
You all want to be me, and Ill be gone in a week
Im the radio star
Im the radio star
Im the radio star
Im the radio star
song performed by by Edwin McCain
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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They May Rail at this Life
They may rail at this life -- from the hour I began it
I found it a life full of kindness and bliss;
And, until they can show me some happier planet,
More social and bright, I'll content me with this.
As long as the world has such lips and such eyes
As before me this moment enraptured I see,
They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies,
But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.
In Mercury's star, where each moment can bring them
New sunshine and wit from the fountain on high,
Though the nymphs may have livelier poets to sing them,
They've none, even there, more enamour'd than I.
And, as long as this harp can be waken'd to love,
And that eye its divine inspiration shall be,
They may talk as they will of their Edens above,
But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.
In that star of the west, by whose shadowy splendour,
At twilight so often we've roam'd through the dew,
There are maidens, perhaps, who have bosoms as tender,
And look, in their twilights, as lovely as you.
But though they were even more bright than the queen
Of that Isle they inhabit in heaven's blue sea,
As I never those fair young celestials have seen,
Why -- this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.
As for those chilly orbs on the verge of creation,
Where sunshine and smiles must be equally rare,
Did they want a supply of cold hearts for that station,
Heaven knows we have plenty on earth we could spare,
Oh! think what a world we should have of it here,
If the haters of peace, of affection and glee,
Were to fly up to Saturn's comfortless sphere,
And leave earth to such spirits as you, love, and me.
poem by Thomas Moore
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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That one star
Remember that summer, i used to lie down on the grass.
In the countryside, i used to watch the stars every night.
Were always lots of stars in the dark blue sky,
Were always rich lightened in the deep sky.
And there was only one star that i liked.
Was in different places everyday night,
But i would find it every time.
And there was one special star that i wondered.
Was the lightest one in my eyes,
But no one else could find it.
That one star stayed in my memories,
That one star is still in my mind.
Too far to catch it,
Too close to run away from it.
Every night it would appear in the sky.
Every day it would disappear in the light.
Someday i couldn't wait for the night.
Then i used to pray for the night to come quickly.
Still i see that one star,
Even on the another side of the earth.
Still i see that one star,
Even in the middle of my dream.
That one star never left me.
That one star never came close.
Just like in the beginning,
Same in the end.
That one star.
That one star.
poem by Sukhee Bukhbat
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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