Bridge-Guard in the Karroo
". . . and will supply details to guard the Blood River Bridge." District Orders-Lines of Communication, South African War.
Sudden the desert changes,
The raw glare softens and clings,
Till the aching Oudtshoorn ranges
Stand up like the thrones of Kings --
Ramparts of slaughter and peril --
Blazing, amazing, aglow --
'Twixt the sky-line's belting beryl
And the wine-dark flats below.
Royal the pageant closes,
Lit by the last of the sun --
Opal and ash-of-roses,
Cinnamon, umber, and dun.
The twilight swallows the thicket,
The starlight reveals the ridge.
The whistle shrills to the picket --
We are changing guard on the bridge.
(Few, forgotten and lonely,
Where the empty metals shine --
No, not combatants-only
Details guarding the line.)
We slip through the broken panel
Of fence by the ganger's shed;
We drop to the waterless channel
And the lean track overhead;
We stumble on refuse of rations,
The beef and the biscuit-tins;
We take our appointed stations,
And the endless night begins.
We hear the Hottentot herders
As the sheep click past to the fold --
And the click of the restless girders
As the steel contracts in the cold --
Voices of jackals calling
And, loud in the hush between,
A morsel of dry earth falling
From the flanks of the scarred ravine.
And the solemn firmament marches,
And the hosts of heaven rise
Framed through the iron arches --
Banded and barred by the ties,
Till we feel the far track humming,
And we see her headlight plain,
And we gather and wait her coming --
The wonderful north-bound train.
(Few, forgotten and lonely,
Where the white car-windows shine --
No, not combatants-only
Details guarding the line.)
Quick, ere the gift escape us!
Out of the darkness we reach
For a handful of week-old papers
And a mouthful of human speech.
And the monstrous heaven rejoices,
And the earth allows again,
Meetings, greetings, and voices
Of women talking with men.
So we return to our places,
As out on the bridge she rolls;
And the darkness covers our faces,
And the darkness re-enters our souls.
More than a little lonely
Where the lessening tail-lights shine.
No - not combatants - only
Details guarding the line!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Related quotes
At The Station Of The Versailles Railway
I WAITED for the train unto Versailles.
I hung with bonnes and gamins on the bridge
Watching the gravelled road where, ridge with ridge,
Under black arches gleam the iron rails
Clear in the darkness, till the darkness fails
And they press on to light again—again
To reach the dark. I waited for the train
Unto Versailles; I leaned over the bridge,
And wondered, cold and drowsy, why the knave
Claude is in worship; and why (sense apart)
Rubens preferred a mustard vehicle.
The wind veered short. I turned upon my heel
Saying, “Correggio was a toad”; then gave
Three dizzy yawns, and knew not of the Art.
poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
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I like your books
In the betting line the other
day
man behind me asked,
"are you Henry
Chinaski?"
"uh huh," I answered.
"I like your books," he went
on.
"thanks," I answered.
"who do you like in this
race?" he asked.
"uh uh," I answered.
"I like the 4 horse," he
told me.
I made my bet and went back
to my seat....
the next race I am standing in
line and here is this same man
standing behind me
again.
there are at least 50 lines at
the windows but
he has to find mine
again.
"I think this race favors the
closers," he said to the back of
my neck. "the track looks
heavy."
"listen," I said, not looking
around, "it's the kiss of death to
talk about horses at the
track..."
"what kind of rule is that?"
he asked. "God doesn't make
rules..."
I turned around and looked at him:
"maybe not, but I
do."
after the next race
I got in line, glanced behind
me:
he was not there:
lost another reader.
I lose 2 or 3 each
week.
fine.
let 'em go back to
Kafka.
poem by Charles Bukowski
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Try To Remember Some Details
Try to remember some details. Remember the clothing
of the one you love
so that on the day of loss you'll be able to say: last seen
wearing such-and-such, brown jacket, white hat.
Try to remember some details. For they have no face
and their soul is hidden and their crying
is the same as their laughter,
and their silence and their shouting rise to one height
and their body temperature is between 98 and 104 degrees
and they have no life outside this narrow space
and they have no graven image, no likeness, no memory
and they have paper cups on the day of their rejoicing
and paper cups that are used once only.
Try to remember some details. For the world
is filled with people who were torn from their sleep
with no one to mend the tear,
and unlike wild beasts they live
each in his lonely hiding place and they die
together on battlefields
and in hospitals.
And the earth will swallow all of them,
good and evil together, like the followers of Korah,
all of them in thir rebellion against death,
their mouths open till the last moment,
praising and cursing in a single
howl. Try, try
to remember some details.
poem by Yehuda Amichai
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Lining Track
This song was first released on the all aboard! album. it is the only album it has been released on.
Mo boys, is you right
Done got it right
All I hate about linin track
These ol boys are gonna break my back
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Down in the holler below the fleld
Angels working on the chariot wheel
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Mary and the babe was a sittin in the shade
Thinking on the money that I aint made
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Moses stood on the red sea shore
Gotta batten down the waves with a 2 by 4
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Now if I could I surely would
Stand on the rock where moses stood
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Matthew, mark, luke and john
All them disciples dead and gone
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Mo boys, is you right
Done got it right
All I hate about lining track
These ol boys about to break my back
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
Mo boys, cant you line em (track a lack)
See eloise gonna line em track
Words and music by huddie ledbetter
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Scottish Engineer
With eyes that searched in the dark,
Peering along the line,
Stood the grim Scotsman, Hector Clark,
Driver of "Forty-nine".
And the veldt-fire flamed on the hills ahead,
Like a blood-red beacon sign.
There was word of a fight to the north,
And a column too hardly pressed,
So they started the Highlanders forth.
Heedless of food or rest.
But the pipers gaily played,
Chanting their fierce delight,
And the armoured carriages rocked and swayed.
Laden with men of the Scots Brigade,
Hurrying up to the fight,
And the grim, grey Highland engineer
Driving them into the night.
Then a signal light glowed red,
And a picket came to the track.
"Enemy holding the line ahead;
Three of our mates we have left for dead,
Only we two got back."
And far to the north through the still night air
They heard the rifles crack.
And the boom of a gun rang out,
Like the sound of a deep appeal,
And the picket stood in doubt
By the side of the driving-wheel.
But the engineer looked down,
With his hand on the starting-bar,
"Ride ye back to the town,
Ye know what my orders are,
Maybe they're wanting the Scots Brigade
Up on those hills afar.
"I am no soldier at all,
Only an engineer;
But I could not bear that the folk should say
Over in Scotland -- Glasgow way --
That Hector Clark stayed here
With the Scots Brigade till the foe was gone,
With ever a rail to run her on.
Ready behind! Stand clear!
"Fireman, get you gone
Into the armoured train --
I will drive her alone;
One more trip -- and perhaps the last --
With a well-raked fire and an open blast;
Hark to the rifles again!"
On through the choking dark,
Never a lamp nor a light,
Never an engine spark
Showing her hurried flight,
Over the lonely plain
Rushed the great armoured train,
Hurrying up to the fight.
Then with her living freight
On to the foe she came,
And the rides snapped their hate.
And the darkness spouted flame.
Over the roar of the fray
The hungry bullets whined,
As she dashed through the foe that lay
Loading and firing blind,
Till the glare of the furnace, burning clear,
Showed them the form of the engineer
Sharply and well defined.
Through! They are safely through!
Hark to the column's cheer!
Surely the driver knew
He was to halt her here;
But he took no heed of the signals red,
And the fireman found, when he climbed ahead,
There on the door of his engine -- dead --
The Scottish Engineer!
poem by Andrew Barton Paterson
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Border Lord
Darkness had us covered when we split from minnesota in the morning
In the rain
Black as I was feeling and the street was slick and shiny as a snake
Each of us was a-humming to a half forgotten echo
Hangin over in the brain
Tappin time and thinking of the time we never had the time to take
Losing to the rising cost of living high and loving hard
And leavin every yesterday behind
Learning every bridge you cross, is burning down before youre off and
Running
Like the devil just in time
Chorus:
Breakin any ties before they bind you
Taking any comfort you can find
Running like youre running out of time
Take it all-take it easy-till its over-understanding
When youre headin for the border lord
Youre bound to cross the line
Good lookin women every time you stumble
Waitin there to catch you when you fall
Gettin to you bad enough to let em
Keep you backin up till just before your backs against the wall
Chorus:
Breakin any ties before they bind you
Takin any comfort you can find
Runnin like youre runnin out of time
Take it all-take it easy-till its over-understanding
When youre headin for the border lord
Youre bound to cross the line
song performed by by Kris Kristofferson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Domino
In the glow of the night
The grey of evening fills the room,
Theres no need to look outside,
To see or feel the rain.
Then I reach across to touch her,
But I know that shes not there.
Rain keeps running down the window pane.
Time is running out for me.
Cant you see what you are doing to me?
Cant you see what you have done?
As I try to pass another long and sleepless night,
A hundred crazy voices call my name,
As I try to pass them by,
I almost can believe that she is here,
Here in the glow of the night.
Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what youve begun?
Do you see we shall never be together again?
All of my life.
Lonely people, empty rooms,
Pointless violence, silent tombs.
Could it be that we shall be together again?
Sheets of double glazing help to keep outside the night,
Only foreign city sirens can cut through,
Nylon sheets and blankets help to minimize the cold.
But they cant keep out the chilling sounds.
Will the nightmare soon give way to dreaming
That she is here with me?
Here in the glow of the night.
Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what youve begun?
Do you see we shall never be together again?
All of my life.
Lonely people, empty rooms,
Pointless violence, silent tombs.
Could it be that we shall be together again?
Could it be that we shall be together again?
In silence and darkness
We held each other near that night
We prayed it would last forever.
The last domino
Blood on the windows
Millions of ordinary people are there
They gaze at the scenery
They act as if it is perfectly clear
Take a look at the mountains
Take a look at the beautiful river of blood.
The liquid surrounds me
I fight to rise from this river of hell
I stare round about me
Children are swimming and playing with boats
Their features are changing
Their bodies dissolve and I am alone.
Now see what youve gone and done.
Now see what youve gone and done.
Well now you never did see such a terrible thing
As was seen last night on t.v.
Maybe if were lucky, they will show it again
Such a terrible thing to see - oh
But theres nothing you can do when youre next in line
Youve got to go domino.
Now Im one with the living and Im feeling just fine
I know just what I gotta do
Play the game of happiness and never let on
That it only lives on in a song - oh
Well theres nothing you can do when youre next in line
Youve got to go domino.
Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what youve begun?
In silence and darkness
Hold each other near tonight
For will it last forever?
Will it last forever - forever...
Theres nothing you can do when youre the next in line
Youve got to go domino.
Do you know, do you know, do you know what you have done
Do you see what youve begun?
Cos theres nothing, nothing, nothing
Theres nothing you can do, theres nothing you can do
Do you see, do you see what you have done?
song performed by by Genesis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Layin It On The Line
You see it every day in every way
We all hear the same routines
They all say that its okay
Just let us take care of everything
So we lay it on the line
Layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Just layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, were livin on the front line
I can see it in the faces
We got trouble in the streets tonight
And power keeps us in our places
And it doesnt matter if youre left or right
You lay it on the line
Layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Just layin it all, right on the line
Layin it on the line, (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Take it to the wilderness
Into the jungle sun
Lookin for the voice of reason
Inside this babylon
Got u.s. boys on foreign soil
Spillin their blood to keep the peace
Cities will vanish in turmoil
While the sheiks lay sleepin on the beach
We lay it on the line
Layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Just layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Layin it on the line
Just layin it all
Layin it on the line
Just layin it all
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I'm no longer blind (Quatern poetry)
(A Quatern is a sixteen line French form composed of four quatrains. It is
similar to the Kyrielle and the Retourne. It has a refrain that is in a
different place in each quatrain. The first line of stanza one is the second
line of stanza two, third line of stanza three, and fouth line of stanza four.
A quatern has eight syllables per line. It does not have to be iambic or follow
a set rhyme scheme. line 1 line 2 line 3 line 4 line 5 line 6 (line 1) line 7
line 8 line 9 line 10 line 11 (line 1) line 12 line 13 line 14 line 15 line 16
(line 1)
Dear Lord, please have mercy on me,
You're always near my painful soul,
You are my focus and my goal,
In the falling rain I'm your tree.
Help me for I am a sinner.
Dear Lord, please have mercy on me.
'Cause I'm Your humble devotee,
Asking Christ to come for dinner.
Guard Thou with light this pain of mine.
I'm no longer blind I can see.
Dear Lord, please have mercy on me.
Your words through me will always shine.
Save me by Your grace, set me free.
Keep my way, truth and life in Christ.
And so I'll know that Thou exist.
Dear Lord, please have mercy on me.
poem by Marieta Maglas
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Indian Girl
I see the snowflakes falling
I hear the drumbeat calling
I am just only lonely Indian girl
Braver than all the brave now
I sit at every pow-wow
I fought a million men for Indian girl
Ten hides and twenty horses
that's what the tribal law says
Too much for me to pay for Indian girl
Oh sun shine on sun shine on
and take my darkness away
Oh sun shine on sun shine on
and bring this girl my way
Far from her lonely teepee
wind sends her sweetness to me
too much for me to bear my Indian girl
Gather your things together
and bring your wedding feather
We'll steal away forever Indian girl
chorus x2
song performed by by Hollies
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Delete Every Line
His poor heart is broken
a soul in distress,
sad words ever spoken
there's no happiness.
He is lonely, so lonely
and pines for her only
for her tender caress.
She hears his voice calling
at the end of the day
teardrops keep falling
her world in disarray.
She is lonely, so lonely
and yearns for him only
but she's travelling his way.
Two hearts were broken
but the sun soon will shine
unkind words that were spoken
'delet every line'.
poem by Joyce Hemsley
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With Drake in the Tropics
South and far south below the Line,
Our Admiral leads us on,
Above, undreamed-of planets shine--
The stars we know are gone.
Around, our clustered seamen mark
The silent deep ablaze
With fires, through which the far-down shark
Shoots glimmering on his ways.
The sultry tropic breezes fail
That plagued us all day through;
Like molten silver hangs our sail,
Our decks are dark with dew.
Now the rank moon commands the sky.
Ho! Bid the watch beware
And rouse all sleeping men that lie
Unsheltered in her glare.
How long the time 'twixt bell and bell!
How still our lanthorns burn!
How strange our whispered words that tell
Of England and return!
Old towns, old streets, old friends, old loves,
We name them each to each,
While the lit face of Heaven removes
Them farther from our reach.
Now is the utmost ebb of night
When mind and body sink,
And loneliness and gathering fright
O'erwhelm us, if we think--
Yet, look, where in his room apart,
All windows opened wide,
Our Admiral thrusts away the chart
And comes to walk outside.
Kindly, from man to man he goes,
With comfort, praise, or jest,
Quick to suspect our childish woes,
Our terror and unrest.
It is as though the sun should shine--
Our midnight fears are gone!
South and far south below the Line,
Our Admiral leads us on!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Layin It On The Line
You see it every day in every way
We all hear the same routines
They all say that its okay
Just let us take care of everything
So we lay it on the line
Chorus:
Layin it on the line, layin it on the line
Layin it all, right on the line
Just layin it on the line, layin it on the line
Layin it all, were livin on the front line
I can see it in the faces
We got trouble in the streets tonight
And power keeps us in our places
And it doesnt matter if youre left or right
You lay it on the line
Layin it on the line, layin it on the line
Just layin it all, right on the line
Layin it on the line, layin it on the line
Layin it all, right on the line
Take it to the wilderness
Into the jungle sun
Lookin for the voice of reason
Inside this babylon
(guitar solo)
Got u.s. boys on foreign soil
Spillin their blood to keep the peace
Cities will vanish in turmoil
While the sheiks lay sleepin on the beach
We lay it on the line
Layin it on the line, layin it on the line
Layin it all, right on the line
Just layin it on the line, layin it on the line
Layin it all, right on the line
Layin it on the line
Just layin it all
Layin it on the line
Just layin it all
song performed by by Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sending Those Mixed Messages
No!
My name is 'not' Angel.
Everybody's trying to get in a free 'cruise'.
And at my expense.
'Listen to Me!
You were specifically given an assignment.
When asked the 'code'...
You are to reply accordingly.
That's 'another' one you let escape.'
Ok ok ok.
I understand that, My Father.
But my name is not Angel.
I 'am' an angel.
And that is a tremendous difference.
The question I 'should be asked,
Is this...
Are you an 'angel'?
'Why is it,
You are the only one...
I find I 'have' to qualify My wishes.
Do you realize what time it is?
And I am on a schedule to raise conscious levels,
Around here.
DETAILS! Details.
Let ME worry about the details.
Is that clear? '
Sure!
Now...
What details do You refer to?
And how clear should I be?
'BOY!
Where on EARTH did you come from? '
Father...?
Aren't I 'not' Your creation?
There You go again.
Sending those mixed messages.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Falling Short Of Words
from this window
glass i see narra trees
the leaves had fallen
it is cold
i am alone looking carefully at the details
of leafless twigs
branches are dry
barks are cracked
the grasses below are brown
beside the fence two boys are playing hide and seek
cars blue and white and black are parked
in one area like gossiping women
i am alone thinking about some details
falling short of words.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Shine
(featuring Pink)
Written by Lisa Marie Presley and Linda Perry
Unidentified flying object in space
If I were identified you couldn't make me erase
You never understood me and I'd have to applaud
It's lonely out here alone but I can't be what I'm not
You can be all the writing on the wall
That you want
I'll be the line across it
I'll blow your mind
I'll blow your mind
And all the others can shine
But not like I can shine
You could have set me free
If you'd eased up on the line
It's supposed to be quiet
But it's loud in this sky
I'll take care of the vultures with a glass of wine
You can be all the writing on the wall
That you want
I'll be the line across it
I'll blow your mind
I'll blow your mind
You can be all the writing on the wall
That you want
I'll be the line across it
I'll blow your mind
I'll blow your mind
song performed by by Lisa Marie Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Secret
Two girls discover
the secret of life
in a sudden line of
poetry.
I who don't know the
secret wrote
the line. They
told me
(through a third person)
they had found it
but not what it was
not even
what line it was. No doubt
by now, more than a week
later, they have forgotten
the secret,
the line, the name of
the poem. I love them
for finding what
I can't find,
and for loving me
for the line I wrote,
and for forgetting it
so that
a thousand times, till death
finds them, they may
discover it again, in other
lines
in other
happenings. And for
wanting to know it,
for
assuming there is
such a secret, yes,
for that
most of all.
poem by Denise Levertov
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An Eye For Details
details
are
everything
sometimes
details
are not just good
sometimes
details
are everything
an eye
for
detail
eye
mind
understood
heart hand
desire
to do good
patterns possibilities
dreams birth reality
perfection creativity
time to listen focus
hear earth cry
end abuse exploitation
nature models sustainability
ecosystems elastic diversity
interactive beautified energy
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Lonely
(mark jones/lari white/chuck cannon)
Theres a band called the lonely playin downtown tonight
And man, they know their way around the blues
Theres not an empty space in the parkin lot
And theres a line stretchin around the block
And the sad man standin at the door says the place is full of broken hearts
If youre here to see the lonely, if youre here to see the lonely
Its standin room only for the lonely
Oh, you can dance with a stranger under the smoky blue lights
You can stand alone with lovers who love to lose
You can drown in your pain if theres room at the bar
You can hide your tears, you can cry in the dark
While the lonely sings a song straight to your broken heart
If youre here to see the lonely, if youre here to see the lonely
Its standin room only
If youre here to see the lonely, if youre here to see the lonely
Its standin room only
If youre here to see the lonely, if youre here to see the lonely
If youre here to see the lonely, if youre here to see the lonely
Its standin room only
song performed by by Toby Keith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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White Line
(Emmylou Harris Paul Kennerley)
It seems like I was there from the start
A witness to your wild and reckless heart
You showed me the way but now you're gone
Quicker than the trigger of an outlaw's gun
Living fast and dying young
A victim of this road you left me on
White line took my baby
Led him down that dark highway
Headlight blind driving crazy
If my wheels keep turning
Gonna roll that white line away
We worked the road as hard as we could drive her
But now I am the only survivor
From night to night at every place I play in
The sweetness of your song remains
I'll be the keeper of the flame
Til every soul hears what your heart was saying
White line took my baby
Led him down that dark highway
Headlight blind driving crazy
If my wheels keep turning
Gonna roll that white line away
All the nights you spent alone
All the love I'd never shown
All the words I could not say
Till that white line took you away
White line took you away
I'll follow this white line down where it's winding
Cause somewhere up ahead your light's still shining
The sound of the silver strings will guide me
I've stood and watched the bridges burn
I'm past the point of no return
Oh how I wish that you were here beside me
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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