The Relic Taken, What Avails The Shrine?
THE relic taken, what avails the shrine?
The locket, pictureless? O heart of mine,
Art thou not worse than that,
Still warm, a vacant nest where love once sat?
Her image nestled closer at my heart
Than cherished memories, healed every smart
And warmed it more than wine
Or the full summer sun in noon-day shine.
This was the little weather gleam that lit
The cloudy promontories - the real charm was
That gilded hills and woods
And walked beside me thro' the solitudes.
The sun is set. My heart is widowed now
Of that companion-thought. Alone I plough
The seas of life, and trace
A separate furrow far from her and grace.
poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Image worship
Why mounts my blood to cheek and brow,
Like an ascending flame,
Whene'er from careless lips I hear
The accents of thy name?
Why, when my idle fancy seeks
Some pictured form to trace,
Beneath my pencil still will grow
The features of thy face?
Why comes thy haunting shadow thus
Between the world and me,
To bind my spirit with a charm
That blinds to all but thee?
To bid me watch thine upward course,
Thy path from mine so far;
As earth, 'mid all the hosts of heaven,
Watches the polar star?
Thy cold and polished courtesy,
Each look and tone of thine,
Might well have roused the woman's pride
In duller souls than mine.
They tell me, too, thy heart is light, --
That more than once thou'st loved;
And 'mid all flowers of loveliness
That bee-like thou hast roved.
Why is it, then, while o'er thy heart
There comes no thought of me,
The good, the true, the beautiful,
All speak to me of thee?
Think'st thou 'tis what the world calls love,
Love that return is seeking?
No -- I would scorn a love I sought,
Although my heart were breaking.
It is because within the human heart
There is an altar to an Unknown God,
Who from the gods of this world dwells apart,
And in the Unseen, the Unreal, has his abode.
This disembodied thought the soul pursues,
And seeking in the visible a sign,
She moulds an image, like the apostate Jews,
And sets her idol on the vacant shrine.
Thus worshipped once an Indian maid the sun;
Thus was an Arab boy won by a star;
Thus loved a maid of France the god in stone;
And thus did Numa love a shape of air.
What were the sun, the star, the god, to them,
The fond idolators! thou art to me;
And rapturous as a poet's earliest dream,
Is the sweet worship that I give to thee.
The world around me is so dark and cold,
Life hath for me such draughts of bitter sadness,
Oh, bid me not the mocking Real behold!
Oh, wake me not from this delicious madness!
poem by Anne Lynch Botta from Poems (1848)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Heart & Soul
Love in a vacuum, love in space.
Love without even a little hint of a trace.
Love in confusion and love doesnt show on your face.
Love is a stranger, love is a box.
Love is the key that fits a million locks.
Love is a mystery when love is the devil you go.
Put your heart and soul where I can see them shine.
I wish youd put your heart and soul
Where I can think theyre mine.
I wish you put your heart and soul
Where I can see them shine.
Love in a distance, love in a walk.
Love in the limit if only people could talk.
Love for the moment till it swings like a hawk.
Love for tomorrow, love for today.
Love for the hour it could be coming your way.
Love for a puzzle you need a solution to play.
Put your heart and soul where I can see them shine.
I wish you put your heart and soul
Where I can think theyre mine.
I wish you put your heart and soul
Where I can see them shine.
I wish you put your heart and soul
Where I can think theyre mine
I wish you put your heart and soul
Where I can see them shine.
I wish you put your heart and soul
Where I can think theyre mine...
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Song: Oh the Tear
Oh the tear is in my eye, and my heart it is breaking,
Thou hast fled from me, Connor, and left me forsaken;
Bright and warm was our morning, but soon has it faded,
For I gave thee a true heart, and thou hast betrayed it.
Thy footsteps I followed in darkness and danger,
From the home of my love to the land of the stranger;
Thou wert mine through the tempest, the blight, and the burning;
Could I think thou wouldst change when the morn was returning.
Yet peace to thy heart, though from mine it must sever,
May she love thee as I loved, alone and for ever;
I may weep for thy loss, but my faith is unshaken,
And the heart thou hast widowed will bless thee in breaking.
poem by Joseph Rodman Drake
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Thine Heart Conceive
The heart feels what the mind cannot conceive.
How can thou love me? But in thy love thou burn
Mine heart solemnly, my life savior I perceive,
For thou take mine heart's ashes from thy golden urn
And blow them into me, for my soul to spring,
Spring in the season of all love temperate
Flute like thy breathe to mine heart and soulfully sing,
Temperament to me, love to mine heart moderate
As I sit by thy gentle fire content and warm
Pondering the question of love and how can it be?
That thou ravishingly burn while I slowly transform,
Into a soft wax that quickly emasculates me.
For thou say nothing but only breathe
The love mine heart feels and thine heart conceive
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy
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Storm (Just Blaze Remix) (feat. Jay-Z)
My life had taken me beyond the the planets and the stars
And you're the only one that could take me this far
I'll be forever searching for your love
I walked away but I was wrong
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm
How will I get trough this storm?
At night, I pray before I sleep in hope of finding you
I've opened up my heart, I want you to come through
I close my eyes, I'm searching for your love
I walked away but I was wrong
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm
How will I get trough this storm?
Jay-Z:
I got the bounce Lenny
Check me out
Brooklyn's bad boy back again
Feet hit the ground runnin' and my back's to the wind
Angels on my shoulders, head in the clouds
No, I'm not rappin', I'm just thinkin' real loud
My karma's my armor, my charm and wit
Is like a lethal bomb, I'm warm and s***
And I did bad for good but when you're trapped in the hood
You do worse for less, homie earth's a test
Only God can judge me
My heart ain't ugly
But the toughts that I drop is heavy
Try budge me
Mama loved me, pop left me
Still the homies call me lucky lefty
I'm flashy and bentley
Deceptively smart
I make hustlin' heaven and pimpin' an art
Long as I know that I'm blessed
'Cause I'm loved in depth
I can walk trough water and not get wet
I'm that fresh
I walked away but I was wrong
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm
How will I get trough this storm?
Jay-Z:
There you have it,just blaze
Young hov, Lenny Kravitz
Not your average
Get your umbrella
It's raining macs and broads
All grace to God
I walked away but I was wrong
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm
How will I get trough this storm?
song performed by by Lenny Kravitz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Storm
Just Play
My life has taken me beyond the planets and the stars
And you're the only one that could take me this far
I'll be forever searching for your love
I walked away but I was wrong (I was wrong)
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm (You're the fire that keeps me wrong)
How will I get through this storm?
At night, I pray before I sleep in hope of finding you
I've opened up my heart, I want you to come through
I close my eyes, I'm searching for your love
Oh No No No No
I walked away but I was wrong (I was wrong)
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm (You're the fire that keeps me wrong)
How will I get through this storm?
Jay-Z: I got the bounce Lenny
Check me out
Brooklyn's bad boy back again
Feet hit the ground runnin' and my back's to the wind
Angels on my shoulders, head in the clouds
No, I'm not rappin', I'm just thinkin' real loud
My karma's my armor, my charm and wit
Is like a lethal bomb, I'm warm and s***
And I did bad for good but when you're trapped in the 'hood
You do worse for less, homie earth's a test
Only god can judge me
My heart ain't ugly
But the thoughts that I drop is heavy
Try budge me
Mama loved me, pop left me
Still the homies call me lucky lefty
I'm flashy and bentley
Deceptively smart
I make hustlin' heaven and pimpin' an art
Long as I know that I'm blessed
'Cause I'm loved in depth
I can walk through the water and not get wet
I'm that fresh
I walked away but I was wrong (I was wrong)
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm (You're the fire that keeps me wrong)
How will I get through this storm?
Jay-Z: There you have it
Just Play
Young hov, Lenny Kravitz
Not your average
Get your umbrella
It's raining macs and broads
all grace to god
I walked away but I was wrong
You're the one that keeps me strong
You're the fire that keeps me warm
How will I get through this storm? (2x)
song performed by by Lenny Kravitz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A summer love
A warm summer's night
nestled cozy in your arms
rocking back and forth
from a wooden swing
hung by an oak tree
we sit
nothing but silence
just lingering thoughts
rafting in the summer's breeze
floating toward stars bright
the feel of your touch
warm breath against my neck
makes my heart beat rapidly
as i lay my head upon your shoulder
and your arm wrapped around me
sweet tender lips full of smiles
speaks of our love so pure and true
when you lay them upon mine
no words are needed
for our love is already known
the look in your eyes
tells all
on this warm summer's night
a summer love is all that remains.
poem by Darkangel Flyfree
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The Princess: A Medley: O Swallow
O Swallow, Swallow, flying, flying South,
Fly to her, and fall upon her gilded eaves,
And tell her, tell her, what I tell to thee.
O tell her, Swallow, thou that knowest each,
That bright and fierce and fickle is the South,
And dark and true and tender is the North.
O Swallow, Swallow, if I could follow, and light
Upon her lattice, I would pipe and trill,
And cheep and twitter twenty million loves.
O were I thou that she might take me in,
And lay me on her bosom, and her heart
Would rock the snowy cradle till I died.
Why lingereth she to clothe her heart with love,
Delaying as the tender ash delays
To clothe herself, when all the woods are green?
O tell her, Swallow, that thy brood is flown:
Say to her, I do but wanton in the South,
But in the North long since my nest is made.
O tell her, brief is life but love is long,
And brief the sun of summer in the North,
And brief the moon of beauty in the South.
O Swallow, flying from the golden woods,
Fly to her, and pipe and woo her, and make her mine,
And tell her, tell her, that I follow thee.
poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Mother Song
_From the Portuguese._
HEAVY my heart is, heavy to carry,
Full of soft foldings, of downy enwrapments--
And the outer fold of all is love,
And the next soft fold is love,
And the next, finer and softer, is love again;
And were they unwound before the eyes
More folds and more folds and more folds would unroll
Of love--always love,
And, quite at the last,
Deep in the nest, in the soft-packed nest,
One last fold, turned back, would disclose
You, little heart of my heart,
Laid there so warm, so soft, so soft,
Not knowing where you lie, nor how softly,
Nor why your nest is so soft,
Nor how your nest is so warm.
You, little heart of my heart,
You lie in my heart,
Warm, safe and soft as this body of yours,
This dear kissed body of yours that lies
Here in my arms and sucks the strength from my breast,
The strength you will break my heart with one of these days.
poem by Edith Nesbit
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This Love Is Real
I can taste your lipstick in the wine
I can feel your heartbeat close to mine
With your love wrapped around me
Im silent and still
I know that this love is real
I have tasted other lips I thought were true
I have looked into the eyes I thought were you
Now touching just to touch
And feeling just to feel
I know that this love is real
Someone should tell our dreams when love is gone
While still in slumber memories linger one
Sometimes I lie awake in bed till dawn
Thinking of you
Now youre gone
Tender is the heart that sleeps in rest
Tender is the hope of tenderness
Love thy neighbor as thyself
And thou shall not steal
I know that this love is real
Love thy neighbor as thyself
And thou shall not steal
I know that this love is real
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In My Heart...
In my heart...sweet devotion
In my heart...deep emotion
In my heart...lies true bliss
In my heart...your warm, last kiss
In my heart...a burning fire
In my heart...endless desire
In my heart...our love was built
In my heart...I hide no guilt
In my heart...memories of our love
In my heart...I keep your last hug
In my heart...Memories of this war
In my heart...I don't want them anymore.
poem by Philip Lore
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The War Films
O living pictures of the dead,
O songs without a sound,
O fellowship whose phantom tread
Hallows a phantom ground --
How in a gleam have these revealed
The faith we had not found.
We have sought God in a cloudy Heaven,
We have passed by God on earth:
His seven sins and his sorrows seven,
His wayworn mood and mirth,
Like a ragged cloak have hid from us
The secret of his birth.
Brother of men, when now I see
The lads go forth in line,
Thou knowest my heart is hungry in me
As for thy bread and wine;
Thou knowest my heart is bowed in me
To take their death for mine.
poem by Sir Henry Newbolt
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Companion-companion
Companion in need is companion indeed,
But what the use of having companion if the heart still like sword;
When the malicious and vice deed,
Veil in the charm and beauteous words.
I choose a malignant foe than a malicious companion,
Who unlurk all the hideous vices;
In thee, I still hold my compassion,
But thou served me a bad prejudice.
A prejudice took thee further away from me,
From all the sweet moment in our days;
And when the memories seem to fade from thee,
It declared that the love is finally unsway.
poem by Instalasi Sastra
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Rain Or Shine
Every time you go
This much I know
That it don't mean nothing
Cause I've closed the back door
And every night apart you were in my heart
So don't you worry
Cause I'm ready for this love to restart
There is a reason
We came together
Rain or Shine I'll love you all my life
We'll weather the seasons
We'll laugh and cry
Rain or shine I'm yours, you're mine
I'll love you all my life
When I feel afraid
In my own parade
That marches through me
And I don't recognize
A single face
You drew a line in the sand
Then you took my hand
And we crossed over
Now I finally understand that
There is a reason
We came together
Rain or Shine I'll love you all my life
We'll weather the seasons
We'll laugh and cry
Rain or shine I'm yours, you're mine
I'll love you all my life
Yeah...
Now I finally understand that...
There is a reason
We came together
Rain or Shine I'll love you all my life
We'll weather the seasons
We'll laugh and cry
Rain or shine I'm yours, you're mine I'll love... yeah
There is a reason
We came together
Rain or Shine I'll love you all my life
We'll weather the seasons
We'll laugh and cry
Rain or shine I'm yours, you're mine
I'll love you all my life
song performed by by Vonda Shepard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Release, let go.
You gave me your hand,
you took me away.
Now I look at you,
you've taken my heart away.
I thought I grew stone cold,
you warmed my heart
you brought me near
I thought we'd never be apart.
You pick up just where we left off
you act like its okay
Then you choose to leave me be
You've wrenched my heart free.
There is more than meets the eye
that much you must know
that much of what you give
I keep and let live.
Fester and obtrusive,
my memories of you hold.
Leave me and begone.
No more are you mine.
Little Girl So Fine
After the music had stopped
I still heard it playing
I moved a little closer to hear
The words she was saying
She said Ill never break your heart
Ill never try to fake it
My love is here for you
All you have to do is take it
Kisses sweeter than wine
My little girl so fine
The night seemed to say it was right
But could I believe her
My heart said, its time to go
But my eyes wouldnt leave her
Theres always somebody trying to break your heart
Somebody trying to take it
My little girl tried so hard
To help me make it
Kisses sweeter than wine
My little girl so fine
Oh, oh, oh, oh, sha la la
Oh, oh, sha la la
So fine
Oh, oh, oh, oh, sha la la
Oh, oh, sha la la
So fine
When we danced
I forgot everything and whispered
Hold me tight
Take a chance
On what tomorrow brings
Wont you be mine, be mine
Be mine tonight
We walked away laughing together
Into the night for ever and ever and ever
Now I know
Ill never break me babys heart
Ill never try to fake it
Ill give her all my love
All she has to do is take it
Kisses sweeter than wine
My little girl so fine
Kisses sweeter than wine
My little girl so fine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Kisses sweeter than wine
My little girl so fine
Oh, oh, oh, oh, sha la la
Oh, oh, sha la la
So fine
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One Girl, One Trouble
Whether the weather be cold
Whether the weather the bold
We'll weather the weather
No matter the weather
That was how I felt
Fastened with love—like a belt
Love close to my heart I held
Little wonder the geld
Always swayed by beauty
Lost to love, a duty
Now filled in the heart with guilt
Struck in the heart by a hilt
I'd sought something better
For once I thought I'd met her
For twice I felt I'd net her
For her worse I was no better
Her eyes striking as the blue sea
Arousing as that green tea
Beautiful, elegant and priced
Now with uncertainty she's spiced
One said in love too easily
Now trying for love born steadily
Heading for love now dizzily
For for her has her love come readily
poem by Ayokunle Adeleye
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Υμνος αυμνος
O Thou whose image in the shrine
Of human spirits dwells divine;
Which from that precinct once conveyed,
To be to outer day displayed,
Doth vanish, part, and leave behind
Mere blank and void of empty mind,
Which wilful fancy seeks in vain
With casual shapes to fill again!
O Thou that in our bosom’s shrine
Dost dwell, unknown because divine!
I thought to speak, I thought to say,
‘The light is here,’ ‘behold the way,’
‘The voice was thus,’ and ‘thus the word,’
And ‘thus I saw,’ and ‘that I heard,’—
But from the lips that half essayed
The imperfect utterance fell unmade.
O Thou, in that mysterious shrine
Enthroned, as I must say, divine!
I will not frame one thought of what
Thou mayest either be or not.
I will not prate of ‘thus’ and ‘so,’
And be profane with ‘yes’ and ‘no,’
Enough that in our soul and heart
Thou, whatso’er Thou may’st be, art.
Unseen, secure in that high shrine
Acknowledged present and divine,
I will not ask some upper air,
Some future day to place Thee there;
Nor say, nor yet deny, such men
And women saw Thee thus and then:
Thy name was such, and there or here
To him or her Thou didst appear.
Do only Thou in that dim shrine,
Unknown or known, remain, divine;
There, or if not, at least in eyes
That scan the fact that round them lies,
The hand to sway, the judgment guide,
In sight and sense Thyself divide:
Be Thou but there,—in soul and heart,
I will not ask to feel Thou art.
poem by Arthur Hugh Clough
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Requiescat in Pace Terra Amare
Bereft of mine love's grace no earthily love to dole
Dearth is her love to the detriment of mine soul
I'll always gaze at her opaque image and wonder
What love could be like if we not lived asunder
Why my soul mate dared to reject me?
And why was love not woven into my destiny?
My love is a phantom, a mistress I cry to
When love I do not have to sweeten mine rue..
I shan't forsake earthily love, for there never was
Love to forsake; it must be dead, when love doth die?
It must died on thy lips when no love thou spoke
Died on thy heart from the dead thou never awoke.
If thou took thy image of me, and took my image of thee
And sweetly blended, thou would get love, transformed completely
But I'll never know as love never knew me, for my love thou killed
when thou chose me not. Now I won't dream of thee alive
so you can live and taunt me with no love and deprive
thy treacherous soul who mates not with me…
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy
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Sonnet Of A Love Gone In The Wind
SONNET OF A LOVE GONE IN THE WIND
Melvin Banggollay
I never thought the love I have conceived
With a woman whom I always believed
As the final resting place of my charm
That I vow to nest a tender love so warm,
Will ever plant in my heart seeds of despair
When all her love to me suddenly disappear,
With the magic of a man gifted with a charm
That blinded her heart to love me not I am,
As a man who has nothing but only a love
Ever wiling to serve and care beyond above,
Ever willing to offer my life as a deity
Only to prove that I am a man so worthy
To nestle the love she had shared to me
But now gone with the wind till eternity.
'Written with grief when my wife left me.'
poem by Melvin Banggollay
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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