The leader is born
What do you want to be:
the tail of a lion
or the head of a rat?
Tail is fragile and safe.
Head is a bonnet and braving.
Some are tails, and trail behind.
Some are heads, and plunge ahead.
A leader is born and not made.
31.12.2000, pmdi.
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Tails
A lion has a tail and a very fine tail,
And so has an elephant, and so has a whale,
And so has a crocodile, and so has a quail–
They’ve all got tails but me.
If I had sixpence I would buy one;
I’d say to the shopman, ‘Let me try one’;
I’d say to the elephant, ‘This is my one.’
They’d all come round to see.
Then I’d say to the lion, ‘Why, you’ve got a tail!
And so has the elephant, and so has the whale!
And, look! There’s a crocodile! He’s got a tail!
You’ve all got tails like me!’
poem by Alan Alexander Milne
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In The Fashion
A lion has a tail and a very fine tail
And so has an elephant and so has a whale,
And so has a crocodile, and so has a quail-
They’ve all got tails but me.
If I had sixpence I would buy one;
I’d say to the shopman, ‘Let me try one’;
I’d say to the elephant, ‘This is my one.’
They’d all come round to see.
Then I’d say to the lion, ‘Why, you’ve got a tail!
And so has the elephant, and so has the whale!
And, look! There’s a crocodile! He’s got a
tail !
You’ve all got tails like me!’
poem by Alan Alexander Milne
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Logic
'Tis strange, but true, that a common cat
Has got ten tails, — just think of that!
Don't see it, eh? The fact is plain:
To prove it so I rise t'explain.
We say a cat has but one tail:
Behold how logic lifts the veil!
No cat has nine tails: don't you see
One cat has one tail more than she ?
Now add the one tail to the nine,
You'll find a full ten-tailed feline.
As Holmes has said, in his "One-Horse Shay,"
Logic is logic; that's all I say.
poem by Charles Follen Adams from Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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The Domestic Stones (fragment)
(Translated from the French by David Gascoyne)
The feet of morning the feet of noon and the feet of evening
walk ceaselessly round pickled buttocks
on the other hand the feet of midnight remain motionless
in their echo-woven baskets
consequently the lion is a diamond
on the sofas made of bread
are seated the dressed and the undressed
the undressed hold leaden swallows between their toes
the dressed hold leaden nests between their fingers
at all hours the undressed get dressed again
and the dressed get undressed
and exchange the leaden swallows for the leaden nests
consequently the tail is an umbrella
a mouth opens within another mouth
and within this mouth another mouth
and within this mouth another mouth
and so on without end
it is a sad perspective
which adds an I-don't-know-what
to another I-don't-know-what
consequently the grasshopper is a column
the pianos with heads and tails
place pianos with heads and tails
on their heads and their tails
consequently the tongue is a chair
Tiger By The Tail
What a shock it was so surprising
You looked so small and frail
I didnt know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
People said that you must be joking
You let emotions run away with you
I realized a little too late
I bit off more than I could chew
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
Sometimes you grip it right
And sometimes you fail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
At times life can be so enlightening
But it can turn on you
Lately it gets so complicated i
I dont know what the tiger will do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
Sometimes you grip it right
And sometimes you fail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
Sometimes you grip it right
And sometimes you fail
I grabbed the tiger by the tail
song performed by by Rick Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mermaid
Yet, there it as-
An image composed of droplets mustering into focus
Reversible. Itself of itself the watery isomer.
Idea given substance, however tenuous and fading-
Tail, head, tail, tail, head.
An ancient enigma, certainly not pretty
But in sum, bewitching.
Had it power over flesh, could it see me?
Only indirectly, I recalled, as in the water's mirror,
And I must desire it first.
'Choose', said the hologram, sternly, from its higher station.
It was as if a hand had suddenly cupped my head.
But what part of the mermaid was I?
The muscular tail that could knock a man clear
Across a quarterdeck, against the rail?
A treacherous tail with a fornix?
Dumbly pummeling the floorboards, waterborne no more,
Spectral hues revived with a bucket of sea-water
Sparkled like a Roman grotto?
Judgement recoiled from the notion.
No, I would not!
The sickening barnacles, sea worts, the loathesome remoras,
Flukes, raggedy, gummed with oily beads
Always needing combing, combing, combing-
I touched my...
poem by Morgan Michaels
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Reason A Dog
You keep knockin but you cant come in
The way you love I adore
You always come never know where you been
But a-now Im here baby to even the score
Youre up, youre down
Youre always running in place
Triathlon if you please
Youre always beggin me for a taste
But I aint up to snuff if you sneeze
Yak yak yak
Lord you give me the bends
Heads and tails
Youre all out of love
Like the reason a dog
Has so many friends
He wags his tail instead of his tounge
Your older sister
Shes a lot like you
She likes to grab my mircophone
Now there aint too much she wont do
Especially when were all alone
Youre up, youre down
Youre always runnin in place
Triathlon if you please
Her minds on rewind and erase
You might get shot, babe
When youre shootin the breeze
Yak yak yak
Lord you give me bends
Youre heads and tails
Are calling for love
Like the reason a dog
Has so many friends
He wags his tail instead of his tounge
(repeat)
Your older sister
Shes a lot like you
And there aint too much she wont do
Theres always something
That you got to say
I lose my mind and then I surely fade away, yeah
Yak yak yak
Lord you give me the bends
Youre heads and tails
Now look what you done
Like the reason a dog
Has so many friends
He wags his tail instead of his tounge
(repeat)
song performed by by Aerosmith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Better to be an ant's head than a lion's tail.
Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a lion.
Better be the head of a rat than the tail of a lion.
Better be the head of a cat than the tail of a lion.
Weird-Bird
from the wire chirp
on the wire chirp
frantic head
to and fro
to and fro
chirp, chirp, chirp
little bird on a wire
head and beak
to and fro
to and fro
ten times in a second
tail up, tail down, tail up, tail down
the tight feathered bodice
doing a twist
legs angled tight on tiny wire
a tightrope walker
chirp, chirp, chirp
looking for some fun
looking for a companion to share its day
chirp, chirp, chirp
inspired by
Weird-Bird
Birds are flyin' south for winter.
Here's the Weird-Bird headin' north,
Wings a-flappin', beak a-chatterin',
Cold head bobbin' back 'n' forth.
He says, 'It's not that I like ice
Or freezin' winds and snowy ground.
It's just sometimes it's kind of nice
To be the only bird in town.'
Shel Silverstein
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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It is better to be the head of a mouse, then the tail of a lion.
Cutter Cat Vs. The Jets
I met an alley cat
Pussyfootin around
Til the break of dawn
Found me knocked out flat on my head
Some feline beauty
Waved her tail my way
I just had to stay
I couldn't get the blood off my hands
She made my eyes bug out
Her tail stand up
And I ain't even in heat for a month
House cat
You really got it made
Sleepin all night
And perfect delight of day
Some feline beauty
Waved her tail my way
I just had to stay
I couldn't get the blood off my bed
She made my eyes bug out
Her tail stand up
And I ain't even in heat for a month
Some bad cats from 4th Street
Come down to our alley
Well we say that's cool
But just stay away from me and my boys
Eyes clash
And claws slash
And green-eyed fur goes flyin
Midnight
Catfight
Neckbite
Die
When you're a Jet
You're a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette
Til your last dyin day
When you're a Jet
Let 'em do what they can
Little boy
song performed by by Alice Cooper from School's Out
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sonnet: Nothing Is Permanent
Some friends have left; some more are leaving too;
To greener pastures, grass, more succulent;
I wonder when comes turn to me, to you;
And if it comes, I'm sure, we won't relent.
'Tis sad that people never realize,
That all Indians are brothers and sisters;
And yet they cheat them by the game of dice;
Tho' honesty in this world sure matters.
'Ask not what your country has done for you;
Ask what you have done for it”-it is said;
The reverse saying with time becomes true;
For life is short before each one is dead.
If head is right, the tail will wag but slight;
If tail is right, the head can't show its might.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Little Slit in the Tail
I’M GLAD that the Bushmen can’t see me now
A-doing it tall in the town;
I’ve an inch-brimmed hat on my sun-burnt brow—
And my collar jumps up and down.
I’m wearing a vest that would charm a snake,
And a tie like a lost soul’s wail;
And I’m dressed in a coat of the latest make,
With a little slit in the tail:
With a little slit in the tail of it,
With a little slit in the tail.
My pants alone are a thing of joy,
And they’re built to show my bends,
With a crease behind and a crease before,
And a little curl in the ends.
I carry my nose-rag in my cuff,
And the lot should get me gaol—
I paid five guineas for my rig-out,
And one for the slit in the tail:
For the little slit in the tail of it,
For the little slit in the tail.
poem by Henry Lawson
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Gutter Cat Vs. The Jets
I met an alley cat
Pussyfootin' around
Till the break of dawn
Found me knocked out flat on my head
Some feline beauty
Waved her tail my way
I just had to stay
I couldn't get the blood off my hands
She made my eyes bug out
Her tail stand up
And I ain't even in heat for a month
Meow
House cat
You really got it made
Sleepin' all night
And perfect delight of day
Some feline beauty
Waved her tail my way
I just had to stay
I couldn't get the blood off my bed
She made my eyes bug out
Her tail stand up
And I ain't even in heat for a month
Meow
Mrreow
Meow
Meow
Meow
Some bad cats from 4th Street
Come down to our alley
Well, we say that's cool
But just stay away from me and my boys
Eyes clash
And claws slash
And green-eyed fur goes flyin'
Midnight
Cat fight
Neck bite
Die
When you're a jet, you're a jet all the way
From your first cigarette till your last dyin' day
When you're a jet, let 'em do what they can
Little boy, you got friends, you're a family man
The jets are in gear
They're always well respected
You're never alone
When company's expected
You're well-protected
Here come the jets like a bat out of hell
Somone gets in our way
Someone don't look so well
When you're a jet you stay a jet
song performed by by Alice Cooper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Take Us to Your Leader! ...
These 'new' aliens,
Are all over the place!
'Take us to your leader!
We need to speak to your leader.'
~Geesssh...
What a bad time to arrive.
You see...
'That one' was actually elected.
However,
Those running around objecting?
There is not a leader among them.
But if you listen to them,
You might believe all of them are.
Let's see...
You want to toss a coin on this?
Heads...
You go to that guy over there.
Tails?
Good luck!
You ready? ~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shake A Tail Feather
(o. hayes, v. rice, a. williams)
Producer: chris lor-aldge
Albums: whats love got to do wth it
B-side of the why must we wait until tonight? single
Well I heard about the girl
Youve been dancing with
All over the neighborhood
Tell me why didnt you ask me baby?
Or didnt you think I could?
Well I know that your partner will never step aside
Ive seen you do the jerk all night
Why didnt you ask me baby?
I would have shown you how to do it right
Do it right
Do it right
Do it right
Do it right
Do it right
Do it right
Do it right
Ahhhh!
Twist it
Shake it
Shake it
Shake it baby
Here we go loop de loop
Shake it up baby
Here we go loop de la
Bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Well, you bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Well, you bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
All right
Ahhhh!
Twist it
Shake it
Shake it
Shake it baby
Here we go loop de loop
And we shake it up baby
Here we go loop de la
All right now
Bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
So you bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
You bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Well can I see you bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather?
Well bend over and let me see you shake a tail feather
Do it
Shake it
Shake it
Shake it baby do the twist
Come on baby oh come on
Ohhhh come on
Ahhh
Ahhh
Twist it
song performed by by Tina Turner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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