The Dead To Clemenceau:
NOVEMBER, 1929
Come (we say) Clemenceau.
Why should you live longer than others? The vacuum that sucked
Us down, and the former stars, draws at you also.
No wrench for a man near ninety.
They were younger who crowded us out of distinction the year you drove them
Like flies on a fire. We don't say it was wrong.
We don't say it was right.
These heavy choices are less than verbal, down here, to us dead.
Never a thorn in the crown of greatness down here.
Not even Wilson laments here
The cuckoo brood of design. This is the cave you conjectured;
Nothing in death, as nothing in life, surprises you.
You were not surprised when France
Put you aside, when the war was finished, as a sick man mending
Puts aside the strong poison that turned his fever.
You'd not be surprised to hear
Your enemies praising your name and the Paris cannon applaud you;
Not surprised, nor much pleased, nor envious of more.
Your negative straightness of mind
And bleached like a drowned man's cast-up thigh-bone by eroding age-
Hardly required the clear corrections of death.
poem by Robinson Jeffers
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Related quotes
Word Association Exercise
Moon - Glow - Worm - Grave - DEATH
Rose- Thorn - Cut - Bleed - DEATH
Dove - Peace - Rally - Riot - DEATH
Telephone - Conversation - Preservation - Fallacy - DEATH
Hospital - Disinfectant - Panic - Pain -DEATH
Sorry, folks, this is no joke,
if you're looking for laughs
read Ogden Nash.
(This actually was a word association exercise set by my poetry course tutor.I was surprised how it turned out.I must have been having 'one of those days' - it's not meant to be taken seriously) .
poem by Neil Crawford
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I Go Sailing
I took a worthless trip
Down lifes avenue
Just to try to find a way to smile again
While I was on my way
I met a wise man who said
That happiness you only find within
I learned my lesson then
So I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
I go sailing
Be surprised what you can find
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what youll find
I took a friends advice
Who said go up and away
Take the magic of a mystery tour
But I felt so all alone
Though I could almost touch the stars
I started missing things I touched before
The tour was such a bore
So I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
I go sailing
Be surprised what you can find
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what youll find
(repeat)
song performed by by Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sick & Tired
I feel it, there's tension inside of me
Pressure is presently pushing down on me
The first time it starts with just you and I'm
Repeating myself but you don't hear me
I can see what you see
But is it worth it to me?
The same old conversation
Over and over and over
I'm just sick and tired
Of all those lies you tell me
You say those same things to me
Over and over and over
It's safe to say you're surprised
I see right through you this time
But I keep telling you
It's over, it's over, it's over
You've taken these things that belong to me
Twisted so tightly and torn so carefully
The last time it ends with just you and I
Alone in a room with these torn bed sheets
I can see what you see
And it ain't worth it to me
The same old conversation
Over and over and over
I'm just sick and tired
Of all those lies you tell me
You say those same things to me
Over and over and over
It's safe to say you're surprised
I see right through you this time
But I keep telling you
It's over, it's over, it's over
You swore that I'd regret it
Now thanks to you I can't forget it
Cost of this constant battle
Won't even miss you at all
Free from those lies that you call...
I'm just sick and tired
Of all those lies you tell me
You say those same things to me
Over and over and over
It's safe to say you're surprised
I see right through you this time
But I keep telling you
It's over, it's over, It's over
I'm just sick and tired
Of all those lies you tell me
You say those same things to me
Over and over and over
It's safe to say you're surprised
I see right through you this time
But I keep telling you
It's over, it's over, It's over
song performed by by Default
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When You Are Not Surprised
When you are not surprised, not surprised,
nor leap in imagination from sunlight into shadow
or from shadow into sunlight
suiting the color of fright or delight
to the bewildering circumstance
when you are no longer surprised
by the quiet or fury of daybreak
the stormy uprush of the sun’s rage
over the edges of torn trees
torrents of living and dying flung
upward and outward inward and downward to space
or else
peace peace peace peace
the wood-thrush speaking his holy holy
far hidden in the forest of the mind
while slowly
the limbs of light unwind
and the world’s surface dreams again of night
as the center dreams of light
when you are not surprised
by breath and breath and breath
the first unconscious morning breath
the tap of the bird’s beak on the pane
and do not cry out come again
blest blest that you are come again
o light o sound o voice of bird o light
and memory too o memory blest
and curst with the debts of yesterday
that would not stay, or stay
when you are not surprised
by death and death and death
death of the bee in the daffodil
death of color in the child’s cheek
on the young mother’s breast
death of sense of touch of sight
death of delight
and the inward death the inward turning night
when the heart hardens itself with hate and indifference
for hated self and beloved not-self
when you are not surprised
by wheel’s turn or turn of season
the winged and orbed chariot tilt of time
the halcyon pause, the blue caesura of spring
and solar rhyme
woven into the divinely remembered nest
by the dark-eyed love in the oriole’s breast
and the tides of space that ring the heart
while still, while still, the wave of the invisible world
breaks into consciousness in the mind of god
then welcome death and be by death benignly welcomed
and join again in the ceaseless know-nothing
from which you awoke to the first surprise.
poem by Conrad Potter Aiken
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Not Surprised You Do Not Know Me
I am not surprised you do not know me.
For years our conversations have been about you.
Your likes and dislikes.
Your cravings and appetites.
Your opinions with judgements passed.
And your need to compete...
With my activities,
That affords you some kind of mental relief.
I am not surprised you do not know me.
Nor am I shocked to hear you say...
I do not understand,
A life lived your way!
You are right...
I don't.
And that is why you don't know me!
Nor do I have a need,
For you to begin that now!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The Cuckoo
That's the cuckoo, you say. I cannot hear it.
When last I heard it I cannot recall; but I know
Too well the year when first I failed to hear it -
It was drowned by my man groaning out to his sheep 'Ho! Ho!'
Ten times with an angry voice he shouted
'Ho! Ho!' but not in anger, for that was his way.
He died that Summer, and that is how I remember
The cuckoo calling, the children listening, and me saying 'Nay'.
And now, as you said, 'There it is', I was hearing
Not the cuckoo at all, but my man's 'Ho! Ho!' instead.
And I think that even if I could lose my deafness
The cuckoo's note would be drowned by the voice of my dead.
poem by Edward Thomas
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It has pleased no less than surprised me that of the many studies whereby I have sought to extend the field of general chemistry, the highest scientific distinction that there is today has been awarded for those on catalysis.
quote by Wilhelm Ostwald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Oh
It is snowing and death bugs me
as stubborn as insomnia.
The fierce bubbles of chalk,
the little white lesions
settle on the street outside.
It is snowing and the ninety
year old woman who was combing
out her long white wraith hair
is gone, embalmed even now,
even tonight her arms are smooth
muskets at her side and nothing
issues from her but her last word - 'Oh.' Surprised by death.
It is snowing. Paper spots
are falling from the punch.
Hello? Mrs. Death is here!
She suffers according to the digits
of my hate. I hear the filaments
of alabaster. I would lie down
with them and lift my madness
off like a wig. I would lie
outside in a room of wool
and let the snow cover me.
Paris white or flake white
or argentine, all in the washbasin
of my mouth, calling, 'Oh.'
I am empty. I am witless.
Death is here. There is no
other settlement. Snow!
See the mark, the pock, the pock!
Meanwhile you pour tea
with your handsome gentle hands.
Then you deliberately take your
forefinger and point it at my temple,
saying, 'You suicide bitch!
I'd like to take a corkscrew
and screw out all your brains
and you'd never be back ever.'
And I close my eyes over the steaming
tea and see God opening His teeth.
'Oh.' He says.
I see the child in me writing, 'Oh.'
Oh, my dear, not why.
poem by Anne Sexton
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Life Or Death?
Every day we live, we always face death
We get closer to it, every time we take a breath
Life is special but death brings peace
Life brings reality and things you believe
Death is hard for everyone around
Death is quiet, no more bad sounds
Life is also hard, all the things we go through
Life can never be easy, no matter what you do
Death is sad, for those who cry
Death is meaningful, for those who die
Life is a work of art, it's nice to look
Life is full of teachings, like an open book
Death is the new life, might as well be dead
Death is a lot more, for what's up ahead
Life brings new things, always something new
Life brings surprises, something out the blue
Death is scary, nothing we want to see
Death is negative, a place we don't want to be
Life is full of love, with the ones close to you
Life is full of money, for those who sue
Death is empty, nothing compared to this
Death is a lot of things, too long of a list
But life is everything; don't wait till there's nothing left
Death can wait, so don't waste your last breath
So just pick your choice, which one? Life or death?
poem by Triauna Hall
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I knew we were going to marry someday, but I was absolutely surprised when he actually proposed. And surprised he had bought a ring. I ran around the yard screaming.
quote by Jennifer Garner
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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While Mayor Daley surprised me today with his decision to not run for reelection, I have never been surprised by his leadership, dedication and tireless work on behalf of the city and the people of Chicago.
quote by Rahm Emanuel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Death of an Aunt
She attracted fire
Like a piece of dry twig
Otherwise, it’s a routine act of cooking
In the ordinariness of a day
Lurked the fatal fire
Waiting for long years
To be ignited to caress her body
By and by embrace her in its fiery passion
Striking her right at the origin of life
As a child I was always surprised
How she could be my aunt—
Gruff voice like the opening of
A corrugated iron gate
Contracted muscles
Skin dry enough to attract fire(!)
Whenever we visited her
She always cooked at the same stove
In a kitchen that later turned into her last resting place
Wonder if her legs could ever open to welcome his seed
Childless, she left behind a husband
Who nursed her death on his paralytic hand
Into his own death
04feb2011
22.12hrs
poem by Indira Babbellapati
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It Is Rather Shocking To See
I am not surprised at all,
That today there seems to be...
A lack of comprehension centered,
Around one's identity with a dignity not flaunted.
I am not surprised at all,
To witness this kind of environment.
But it is rather shocking...
To see pitbulls walking their 'owners' on a leash!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Disingenuousness
Here lies another box for nature,
Carbon ready;
Black to eyes down here,
Where death is at its job.
Up there you’ll hear a rhythmic sob
Or two from living yet-to-dies –
A humming lacrimoso –
It all but cleans the eyes:
Forget it –
The dismal show of grief –
Life is only chemistry –
Our stay is only brief.
It’s we who hype it up!
Diaphragms jerk again;
The jet monotone of hearses
Feeds the disingenuousness
Of undertakers –
They seem to stare at something up ahead –
For them, it’s in the blood,
To taxi off the dead.
Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2011
The March of Death
Death death death death death death death death death death death
Death death death death death death death death death death death
Death death death death death death death death death death death
Death death death death death death death death death death death
Death death death death death death death death death death death
Death death death death death death death death death death death
poem by Mark R Slaughter
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Raging Sea
Sometimes the journey makes you weary
Feels like a long and winding road
Sometimes this life can lose it's meaning
But you might be surprised to find some hope
Maybe you're wondering where love is
You may feel it's far away from here
Maybe you're wondering where I am
You might be surprised to find I'm near
Chorus:
And when your life is tossed and turning
And your on the raging sea
I'll come and pull you from the water
Then you will know that you are free
So if you're stumbling through the valley
Or if you're tempted to give up the fight
Reach out your hand and I will lead you
I will be your strong arm in the night
Repeat chorus
song performed by by Michael W. Smith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beauty ought to look a little surprised: it is the emotion that best suits her face. The beauty who does not look surprised, who accepts her position as her due - she reminds us too much of a prima donna.
quote by E.M. Forster
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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People are always so surprised when they meet me. Firstly, that I'm 'so tiny', and secondly that I'm 'so sweet'. They seem surprised that they're not scared of me. The aggressive side of me comes across in my music, but I'm just a sweet girl.
I was surprised by how much I like being a father; surprised at what a decent father I am, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to dump my selfishness.
quote by Michael Zaslow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Macabre Beauty
They say death is the end,
But I don't think so,
Death's an old friend,
Waiting for us to go,
Away from this realm,
When our job's over,
The world seems a dream,
That keeps on going forever.
They say death is dark,
As dark as coal,
Extinguishing life's spark,
Dragging into it's hole,
Little do they realize,
That this is nature's law,
So, why're they surprised,
For it's like this since long ago?
They consider death macabre,
For it's the final end,
Like a sharpened saber,
Cutting the delicate thread,
But though it may seem,
That death's always macabre,
But it does itself redeem,
By bringing a new future.
Strangely, I find myself at peace,
When I am not at ease,
I request death, oh please!
Have me from my bonds release!
Silently, death does it's duty,
Therein lies it's macabre beauty.
poem by Suvankar Sen
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A Few Old Memories
Just a few old memories
Slipped in through my door
Though I thought I had closed it
So tightly before
I cant understand it
Why it should bother my mind
For it all belongs to another place and time
Just a few old keep-sakes
Way back on the shelf
No, they dont mean nothin
Well Im surprised theyre still left
Just a few old love letters
With the edges all brown
And an old faded picture
I keep turned upside-down
Just a few old memories
Going way back in time
Well I can hardly remember
I dont know why Im cryin
I cant understand it
Well Im surprised myself
First thing tomorrow morning
Ill clean off that shelf
Just a few old keep-sakes
Way back on the shelf
No, they dont mean nothin
Well Im surprised that theyre left
Just a few old love letters
With their edges all brown
And an old faded picture
I keep turned upside-down
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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