Mesopotamia
1917
They shall not return to us, the resolute, the young,
The eager and whole-hearted whom we gave:
But the men who left them thriftily to die in their own dung,
Shall they come with years and honour to the grave?
They shall not return to us; the strong men coldly slain
In sight of help denied from day to day:
But the men who edged their agonies and chid them in their pain,
Are they too strong and wise to put away?
Our dead shall not return to us while Day and Night divide--
Never while the bars of sunset hold.
But the idle-minded overlings who quibbled while they died,
Shall they thrust for high employments as of old?
Shall we only threaten and be angry for an hour:
When the storm is ended shall we find
How softly but how swiftly they have sidled back to power
By the favour and contrivance of their kind?
Even while they soothe us, while they promise large amends,
Even while they make a show of fear,
Do they call upon their debtors, and take counsel with their
friends,
To conform and re-establish each career?
Their lives cannot repay us--their death could not undo--
The shame that they have laid upon our race.
But the slothfulness that wasted and the arrogance that slew,
Shell we leave it unabated in its place?
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Related quotes
John Robinson
AIR -- "The Drunkard"
Come listen, friends, and hear a song,
It is a doleful one,
About a young man, dead and gone --
He died far away from home.
John Robinson this young man's name,
His age I cannot tell,
And he was loved by all his friends,
And he was known full well.
His father and mother being dead,
It left him an orphan boy,
When he was with his brother
His health failed him, poor boy.
Kind friends they thought 'twould do him good
To travel for his health;
To California he did go
With his Uncle Zera French.
He was not gone but a short time
When a letter his friends received;
It told how homesick Johnny was,
How he for home did grieve.
It said that he was getting worse,
And his money was nearly gone,
And if he did not soon return
Never more would he see home.
It said, "Dear Brother, will you please
Some money to me send,
For I fear I have not got enough
To bring me back again.
The doctor says I must soon return,
If I wish my home to see,
For if I stay my life is short,
For the air disagrees with me."
His brother Will the letter read,
It made his eyes grow dim.
"Dear brother, he shall soon return,
For I will go and fetch him."
This brother dear was very kind;
With money, he went with haste
For to bring him home again,
But Oh! he went too late.
For he was sick, and very bad --
Poor boy, he thought, no doubt,
If he came home in a smoking car
His money would hold out.
He started to come back alone --
He came one-third the way --
One evening in the car alone
His spirit fled away.
No friend was near to speak to him,
Or hear his dying moan;
How sad, how sad it must have been
To die there all alone;
No loving friends to soothe his brow,
Or ease his weary form;
Poor soul, poor soul is now at rest,
For his soul to heaven has gone.
Telegraph dispatch was sent his friends --
How sad were they to hear --
How their loved one died all alone,
In a car with no one near.
The brother brought his body home
To his friends that loved him best.
He's sleeping in their grave yard now
Let peace be e'er his rest.
poem by Julia A Moore
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A Far Cry
In the dead of night
On the wings of the wind
I hear the ocean bell
With a flash of light
In the beat of the dark
The sound I know so well
I shall never forget you
It's been so long
I should never have left you
The call so strong
[chorus]
It's a far cry from a wild world
It want to get back to you
Such a long road, to the homeland
I must make my way to a far cry
From the chords of the earth
To the depths of the sea
I will return
As I look to the hill
Through the eyes of the storm
I touch the flame
I shall never forget you
It's been so long
I should never have left you
The call so strong
[chorus]
It's such a far cry
song performed by by Asia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Outlaws
1914
Through learned and laborious years
They set themselves to find
Fresh terrors and undreamed-of fears
To heap upon mankind.
ALl that they drew from Heaven above
Or digged from earth beneath,
They laid into their treasure-trove
And arsenals of death:
While, for well-weighed advantage sake,
Ruler and ruled alike
Built up the faith they meant to break
When the fit hour should strike.
They traded with the careless earth,
And good return it gave:
They plotted by their neighbour's hearth
The means to make him slave.
When all was ready to their hand
They loosed their hidden sword,
And utterly laid waste a land
Their oath was pledged to guard.
Coldly they went about to raise
To life and make more dread
Abominations of old days,
That men believed were dead.
They paid the price to reach their goal
Across a world in flame;
But their own hate slew their own soul
Before that victory came.
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Strong Black Woman
Baby, such a long life, my child
So many stories I have to tell you
Of slavery and of tragedy
Sit down and listen to my tales
Everybody thinks that the strong black woman died
No, she only stood back because she had not cried
She took a minute to rest. She cried. Her heart so heavy
But she’s back, baby. And child, she’s so pretty
I’m a strong black woman, and I am fighting
Don’t mess with me; I’ll leave your eyes shining
I give these children all the love they crave
I’ll beat away any energy that makes life grave
Hallelujah, the strong black woman still lives
Hallelujah, the strong black woman still gives
Hallelujah, can you feel the strength of her?
Hallelujah, this woman is one you can’t deter
Praise the lord’s name and speak in tongues
May all the strong black women live so long
I am a strong black woman, I am here
A strong black woman lives in my heart
Hallelujah, the black woman is so strong
Hallelujah, this has become my favorite song
Hallelujah, the strong black woman prospers
Hallelujah, she is no different than her brothers
The strong black woman never died, she lives
See, no matter what happens she always survives
I am here, I am a strong black woman, in disguise
And this newly strong black woman never dies
Praise the lord’s name the black woman is back
Now the world knows that we survive any attack
Give her all the suffering children or people in despair
Because the strong black woman will return them to air
The strong black woman was not lynched or killed
She gave herself a proud face and lived on so skilled
Praise the lord’s name and know that she lives on
Hallelujah, the strong black woman will never be gone
poem by German Alcala
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Return Trip
I will return to my place of Birth
To that place before Mother Earth
I will return to that Day of Awakening
To that Day of a New Beginning
I will return to my very first Sun
My very first Moon, my very first Star
I will return to that place that never was far
I will return to the land of the Beautiful,
the Good, the Grateful
Where there is nothing to forgive
For there is no sin
Where there is no regret
Life is what you dream
Where Innocence is never put to test
Where all is Sacred and blessed with Happiness
I will return to my place and time of Birth
I will return
I am not Cursed
poem by Sonya Florentino
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I Dont Even Know Their Names!
his spirit left his body,
and walked through the hells.
a firm voice spoke:
'keep your eyes open,
look, and see! '
he saw dark skinned children,
their bodies frail and thin,
their features carved with hunger.
he saw women and children,
running from the bombs,
young men gunned down,
in the streets.
he saw the homeless family,
sleeping in a beaten old car,
hoping no one would come
to make them move.
he saw the young addict shaking,
the young woman helpless,
her baby crying in the bare apartment.
he saw the young man sent to prison,
trying to hide his fear,
a fear so strong they
could smell it on him!
he saw the woman who'd been beaten,
the man jobless and angry.
he saw millions of Native Americans,
slaughtered, and left for the crows.
he saw the old couple hungry,
in their apartment with no lights,
and no heat in the dead of winter...
'i cant take it any more,
what has this got to do with me?
i dont even know their names! '
'their names are anybody, and everybody...
they are why you must return.
they are your children, your
brothers and sisters, your father
and your mother...
they are your responsibility!
you must return to finish the work! '
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The return of the native,
Fully teethed I left you.
Toothless I return to you.
Where from I had come,
There to I want to return
In between, I never came back
Nor did I give you any thought.
Which bird thinks of the nest
When he flies in gay?
In twilight, cows return to shed.
As night falls, I return to you.
In your cradle, I was born,
Only where my roots are known.
On return, I shall dropp to you
What I had earned elsewhere
So that, of me, you are aware
And I can pass away with after care.
24.05.2002, pakd
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Praying For The Return Of Pleasure
when love is gone
to another island
crossing the sea
i pray for pleasure
i light a candle
and offer the flowers
for the grand icon
the winds are strong
there is storm coming
and love may not return
the icon smiles
for the truth is
when love is gone
it is gone
and there is no promise
that it will return
in the eye of the storm
love sinks and cannot come back
anymore
there are no reasons
for separations
when love is broken and
beyond repair.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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I Know Youre Out There Somewhere
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know Ill find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
And somehow Ill return again to you
The mist is lifting slowly
I can see the way ahead
And Ive left behind the empty streets
That once inspired my life
And the strength of the emotion
Is like thunder in the air
cos the promise that we made each other
Haunts me to the end
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know Ill find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know Ill find you somehow
And somehow Ill return again to you
The secret of your beauty
And the mystery of your soul
Ive been searching for in everyone I meet
And the times Ive been mistaken
Its impossible to say
And the grass is growing
Underneath our feet
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know Ill find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know Ill find you somehow
And somehow Ill return again to you
From the words that I remember
From my childhood still are true
That theres none so blind
As those who will not see
And to those who lack the courage
And say its dangerous to try
Well they just dont know
That love eternal will not be denied
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know Ill find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know Ill find you somehow
And somehow Ill return again to you
Yes I know its going to happen
I can feel you getting near
And soon well be returning
To the fountain of our youth
And if you wake up wondering
In the darkness Ill be there
My arms will close around you
And protect you with the truth
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know youre out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know Ill find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know Ill find you somehow
And somehow Ill return again to you
song performed by by Moody Blues
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Christmas Day
A young gentleman came riding past,
On a snow blue winters day,
He asked to drink by our fire
And I was pleased to let him stay,
He drank there quietly for a while,
And then he turned and said to me,
Your eyes are green,
Like summer grass,
Your lips are red,
Like a fresh cut rose,
Your hair is soft,
Like an Irish stream,
And your voice,
Is filled with sweet beauty
And the last words I heard him say
Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
And the night will come,
But I won't sleep,
As I watch the stars that lead him,
I cannot place where he is,
But still my heart goes with him,
I'm saving all my Sunday clothes
For the day that I'll be leaving,
Father knows,
My sister knows,
And my friends,
They're happy for me,
And the priest he says,
You should thank God,
For the blessing,
Of such beauty
And the last words
I heard him say,
Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
(On Christmas Day)
(I shall return for you my love)
And the last words
I heard him say
Were the last words
I ever
Heard him say
I shall return,
For you,
My love
On Christmas Day
I swear,
I will return,
On Christmas Day,
And yes,
I shall return,
On Christmas Day,
I shall return,
For you,
On Christmas Day
My love,
I will return,
On Christmas Day
I shall return,
My love
On Christmas Day
On Christmas Day
song performed by by Dido
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Waiting For That Day
So every day I see you in some other face
They crack a smile, talk a while
Try to take your place
My memory serves me far too well
I just sit here on this mountain thinking to myself
Youre a fool boy
Why dont you go down
Find somebody
Find somebody else
My memory serves me far too well
Its not as though we just broke up
Its not as though it was yesterday
But something I just cant explain
Something in me needs this pain
I know Ill never see your face again
Cmon now
Ive got to be strong now
Now everybodys talking about this new decade
Like you say the magic numbers
Then just say goodbye to
The stupid mistakes you made
Oh my memory serves me far too well
Dont you know that
The years will come and go
Some of us will change our lives
Some of us still have nothing to show
Nothing baby
But memories
And if these wounds
They are self-inflicted
I dont really know
How my poor heart could have protected me
But if I have to carry this pain
If you will not share the blame
I deserve to see your face again
Cmon now
You dont have to be so strong now
Come back
Come back to me darling
I will make it worth your while
Come back to your baby
I miss your kiss
I miss your smile
Seems to me the peace I search to find
Aint going to be mine until you say you will
Dont you keep me waiting for that day
I know, I know, I know
You hear these words that I say
You cant always get what you want
(return to top)
song performed by by George Michael
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Farewell Address at the Argyle Hall
Fellow Citizens of Dundee.
I now must bid farewell to ye.
For I am going to London far away.
But when I will return again I cannot say.
Farewell! Farewell! to the bonnie banks o' the Silvery Tay.
Also the beautiful Hill o' Balgay.
And the ill fated Bridge o' the Silvery Tay.
Which I will remember when I am far away.
Farewell! to my friends and, patrons all.
That rallied around me in the Music Hall.
And those that has rallied around me to night,
I shall not forget when out of sight.
And, if I ever return to Dundee again,
I hope it will be with the laurels of fame.
Plac'd on my brow by dame fortune that fickle Jade.
And, to Court her favour I am not afraid.
Farewell! to every one in the Argyle Hall.
That has Come to hear McGonagall.
Recite, and sing, his Songs to night.
Which I hope will long be rernember'd when I'm out of sight.
Adieu to all my enemies that want to mock me when passing by.
But I excuse them for their ignorance and leave them to the most high.
And, once again, my friends, and enemies. I bid ye all good bye.
And when I am gone ye will for me heave a sigh :-
I return my thanks to my Chairman and my Committee,
For the Kindness they have always shown to me.
I hope the Lord! will protect them when I am far away.
And prosper them in all their undertakings by night and by day.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
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I Am Wearied
Return to me like a ghost, a wearied creature like a man
Who was so appalled by youth that he died and became as I can.
Return to me as if you know me from somewhere else,
The place is no secret from where you came, someone else.
Return now, return and frighten me as a good ghost
Frying bacon, working magic on a basis easternmost.
I seek refuge from you, for the returning is so secret,
I can not find a more evil man than you, a man to interpret.
poem by Naveed Akram
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The Sun Has Gone Away
It feels like my sun has gone away
To get me through my day
I cannot see I do not speak
Yet I am not afraid
For the sun may be gone but it will return
The bright lights no longer burn
So I am waiting for you
To come back home
I promise to take good care
Of everything you've left behind
You'll return to find
The tears have been all mopped up
and don't you dare look away
The sun will rise someday
and when it does
We'll all be there
and when it does
this will all seem fair
So the darkness swallows me whole
and it's not depressing, it's not at all sad
I'm just happy to have all the good times we've had
The sun has gone away
We will wait here wondering
When will the sunrise
Not for some time honey
I will say, until the bright of day
I promise to hold her tight
Not let her out of my sight
and when you get back you might
find that nothing has changed at all
and don't you dare look away
The sun will rise someday
and when it does
We'll all be there
and when it does
This darkness wont be so heavy to bare...
poem by Moth Harris
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Slaughter In A Grave
It's a killer and it's prowls
Night after night
It's murderer in the vault
It lives for a fight
It's a story of soul
That has come for revenge
On murderous grounds he
Seeks his victims for the night
Listen to the night for
The shout of the skull
It's the call of death's return
And the vengeance of the God
It's a bad land and the
Storm comes to chill
It's a passage and the killer
Feels remorse to kill in fear
It's a victims who fixes the man with hate
A dead man drives crime in his
Fate so near
In the black vault the strange
Spirit commands the victims soul
To return in his body and to
Revenge his bloody murder so cold
On the screaming place
Mad spirit reighs with his killing soul
On his crazy face the vengeance
Makes it's course with fever...
In vaults
song performed by by Voivod
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Prison Song
(Your attention please. As warden Abbiss announced ealier this week, Ionia state penitentiary
Is now number one in the country among inmate education. Thirty-one percent of you have earned
Your GED and or diplomas this year alone. As promised we now present to you in concert, your
Own fellow inmate Syn. Let's keep it cool and conduct ourselves properly boys. Let's show the
Warden we can do this again sometime. Here is Syn.)
I can remember, all that she gave to me
I can remember, how much she hated me
I can remember, just what she kept from me (Bitch!)
And I remember, all that she left to me
I can recall it, when the love was gone
I can recall it, when the pain was strong
I can recall it, when her palm would flash for what seemed like all night the terror would
Last
I can remember, the look in my brother's eyes
I can remember, whats left but another try?
I can remember, the heat in the summer time
And I remember, all that was never mine
I can recall it, when the love was gone
I can recall it, when the pain was strong
I can recall it, when her palm would flash for what seemed like all night the terror would
Last
I'm not here tryin to make amends
Turn back time and I'd kill her again
It's what I call justifiable sin
Cock the hammer back!
And I put two in
I can remember, half her head was gone
And I remember, it was all over the lawn
Also remember, the cops were everywhere
I can remember, I didn't even care
I can recall it, when the love was gone
I can recall it, when the pain was strong
I can recall it, when her palm would flash for what seemed like all night the terror would
Last
I'm not here tryin to make amends
Turn back time an
song performed by by Zug Izland
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shes Got Her Ticket
Shes got her ticket
I think she gonna use it
I think she going to fly away
No one should try and stop her
Persuade her with their power
She says that her mind is made
Up
Why not leave why not
Go away
Too much hatred
Corruption and greed
Give your life
And invariably they leave you with
Nothing
Young girl aint got no chances
No roots to keep her strong
Shes shed all pretenses
That someday shell belong
Some folks call her a runaway
A failure in the race
But she knows where her ticket takes her
She will find her place in the sun
And shell fly, fly, fly...
song performed by by Tracy Chapman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Melted Snow
Dead before you died.
Lying there eyes blank.
You whose eyes spoke volumes,
Struck dumb.
Their light dimmed
Your hard drive wiped,
No more that passionate embrace,
Now there was only passivity
Your passion had dissolved
In the acid that was Aids.
But not my love.
That was not eroded.
You had left many months before.
Blind to the pain you caused.
Heavy the guilt I sometimes felt.
I wished this burden lifted.
To be rid.
I wanted you to return, return
And inhabit that place you had, left.
Find a path back from the twilight.
Grasp Ariadne's thread.
Slowly you faded.
No last rally
Each hour a razor cut to me.
I bargained selfishly with God,
Let him live a vain plea.
The judge has judged, sentence passed,
No reprieve.
No fanfare your last farewell,
Just a gentle sigh.
Safe at last.
Like the snow that had melted in the night
You were gone.
(To Graham)
poem by Paul Brookes
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On Christmas Day
A young gentleman came riding past
On a snow blue winters day
He asked to drink, by our fire,
And I was pleased to let him stay
He drank there quietly for a while,
Then he turned and said to me
Your eyes are green, like summer grass,
Your lips are red like a fresh cut rose,
Your hair is soft like an irish stream
And your voice is filled with sweet beauty
And the last words I heard him say
Were I shall return, for you, my love, on christmas day
The night will come but I wont sleep,
As I watch the stars that lead him,
I cannot place where his is,
But still my heart goes with him,
Im savin all my sunday clothes
For the day the day that Ill be leavin
Father knows, my sister knows,
And my friends, theyre happy for me
And the priest he says, you should thank god,
For the blessing of such beauty,
And the last words I heard him say
Were I shall return for you, my love, on christmas day
I shall return for you, my love, on christmas day.
And the last words I heard him say
Were the last words I ever heard him say
I shall return for you, my love, on christmas day
I swear, I will return on christmas day,
And yes, I shall return on christmas day
I shall return, for you, on christmas day,
My love I will return on christmas day,
I shall return, my love on christmas day
On christmas day...
song performed by by Dido
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Untitled. wip
you were made in perfection and love
you were given great life from above
yet you make him cry
do you not know why
that your God is now weeping for you.
you were given the power of love
you were given the power from above
yet you chose to stay
far and far away
now it feels like your God is not there
~
you don't turn night into day,
with your thoughts, with your actions and words.
you could have turned the night into day
yet you chose to stay far far away
he put his life on the line,
your God the great and divine
conquered death and was killed all for you.
Do you know how he cries,
do you know how he hurts.
Do you know how he longs for your return.
Turn back, turn back and return,
Turn back, turn back and return.