Wallace Stevens

It Must Give Pleasure

I
To sing jubilas at exact, accustomed times,
To be crested and wear the mane of a multitude
And so, as part, to exult with its great throat,


To speak of joy and to sing of it, borne on
The shoulders of joyous men, to feel the heart
That is the common, the bravest fundament,


This is a facile exercise. Jerome
Begat the tubas and the fire-wind strings,
The golden fingers picking dark-blue air:


For companies of voices moving there,
To find of sound the bleakest ancestor,
To find of light a music issuing


Whereon it falls in more than sensual mode.
But the difficultest rigor is forthwith,
On the image of what we see, to catch from that


Irrational moment its unreasoning,
As when the sun comes rising, when the sea
Clears deeply, when the moon hangs on the wall


Of heaven-haven. These are not things transformed.
Yet we are shaken by them as if they were.
We reason about them with a later reason.

poem by Wallace StevensReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Related quotes

20th Century Promised Land

Stories came like the wind
Joining every bridge in the wind
Ringing out footsteps
Calling out stell-heels
I give voice
I give breath
Count out evenings and stars
How fast can these things move on
Taking roots back to yourself
And the reason for fear was moving on
And on
Some time
Great times
Troubled time
Fire for the times
Ringing out footsteps
Calling out steel-heels
Promised land
Great times in commotion
Here come every day
It only lasts an hour
Unhappy the land that has no heroes
No! unhappy the land that needs heroes
And the reason for fear was moving on
The speed of light was moving on
Dont cry
Tears are only wasted waters
Some say God her only loves the proud
Be damned on luck
But not dishearted
Nothing to prove
And nothing to present
I give voice
I give breath
Catching winds in my hand
My hand
Some times
Great times
Catching wind in my hand
My hand
Some times
Great times
Troubled times
Fire for the times
Ringing out footsteps
Calling out steel-heels
Promised land
Great times in commotion
Here comes every dat
It only lasts an hour
Unhappy the land that has no heroes
No! unhappy the land that needs heroes
Ill call you out
Ill scream you out
And I dont care if youre afraid
When city sounds invade the air
Catch the wind in their hands
Promised land
Catch the wind in their hands
Promised lands
Promised lands
Promised lands
Great times in commotion
Lyrics : j kerr music : simple minds (c) emi publishing ltd reproduced without permission

song performed by by Simple MindsReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Finally

Anderson/squire/howe/white/sherwood/khoroshev
Finally... we put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... put it to the test
Finally
Make no mistake to the mainstream
Music be the master planner
Just like the books you read
Youll hear it on your radio scanner
Its not so much what you know
Or who you know thats coming
Its what you do regardless
Its what you do... eventually
Finally... we put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... put it to the test
Finally
Ive seen them running, down and out
Never mind the good intentions
A dreamer with a reason to live
Is as clear as his next invention
You take a second look to find
A second chance at giving
The voices say do not despair
Theres a real good reason youre living
I could feel the earth moving
I could see sky falling
We can chase the storm
We can sing the rain
Walk the final distance
Live this life again
Finally... we put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... put it to the test telling me to let go
I can feel the earth moving (I can sing the rain)
I can feel the rain coming (live this life again)
I can feel the storm
I can sing the rain
I can free my heart
Live this life again
You can choose to stand
You can choose to fall
You can see the rain
You can have it all
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving

song performed by by YesReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Finally

Anderson/squire/howe/white/sherwood/khoroshev
Finally... we put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... put it to the test
Finally
Make no mistake to the mainstream
Music be the master planner
Just like the books you read
Youll hear it on your radio scanner
Its not so much what you know
Or who you know thats coming
Its what you do regardless
Its what you do... eventually
Finally... we put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... put it to the test
Finally
Ive seen them running, down and out
Never mind the good intentions
A dreamer with a reason to live
Is as clear as his next invention
You take a second look to find
A second chance at giving
The voices say do not despair
Theres a real good reason youre living
I could feel the earth moving
I could see sky falling
We can chase the storm
We can sing the rain
Walk the final distance
Live this life again
Finally... we put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... put it to the test telling me to let go
I can feel the earth moving (I can sing the rain)
I can feel the rain coming (live this life again)
I can feel the storm
I can sing the rain
I can free my heart
Live this life again
You can choose to stand
You can choose to fall
You can see the rain
You can have it all
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving

song performed by by YesReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Conversation With A Genius

Like mountains - on this brow
Laurels of praise.
'I can't sing!'
- 'You will!' - 'Sound

(Put me on a diet
of flour!)
Like milk -
Is gone from my breast.

Empty. Dry.
In full-blown spring?
I feel like a twig.'
- 'That's an old song!

Drop it, don't blabber!'
'From now on I'd better -
Pound gravel!'
- 'All the more reason to sing!'

'Am I a bullfinch,
To sing
Day in and day out?'
- 'Even if you can't,
My bird, sing!

Out of spite!'
'What if I can't
put two lines together?'
-'When could - anyone?!' -

'It's torture!' - 'Bear it!'
'A mown meadow -
My throat!' 'Then wheeze:
That's a sound, too!'

'It's lions' business
Not women's.' - 'Children's:
Though disembowelled -
Orpheus still sang!'

'So, even in the grave?'
- 'Under a headstone, too.'
'I can't sing!'
- 'Sing about that!

poem by Marina Ivanovna TsvetaevaReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

And for no reason

and for no reason
I start to sing;

for no reason
I flick the duster
as if I’m in some song-and-dance act;

for no reason
I stop; sit down; fall silent;

for no reason
get up again; do something else
with a light heart;

for what has reason
to do with all this?
it always arrives just a moment too late
to enjoy such events.

*

[leaning on Hafiz’ poem of this title]

poem by Michael ShepherdReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share
Christina Georgina Rossetti

A Hope Carol

A night was near, a day was near,
Between a day and night
I heard sweet voices calling clear,
Calling me:
I heard a whirr of wing on wing,
But could not see the sight;
I long to see my birds that sing,
I long to see.
Below the stars, beyond the moon,
Between the night and day
I heard a rising falling tune
Calling me:
I long to see the pipes and strings
Whereon such minstrels play;
I long to see each face that sings,
I long to see.
Today or may be not today,
Tonight or not tonight,
All voices that command or pray
Calling me,
Shall kindle in my soul such fire
And in my eyes such light
That I shall see that heart's desire
I long to see.

poem by Christina Georgina RossettiReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

My Lonely Guitar

At a corner my guitar waves her hand
inviting me to pick her up, to strum her
strings, to find out if all her chords
blend in harmony with my fingers.

It is waving her hand before my eyes
as in those birthdays, meetings, teaching,
and parties where her strings were made
busy to play melodies to people around.

Tonight she waves her hand again
calling me to play with her our common
game of songs which others can sing along.
But I just cannot play with my guitar today.

For whatever reason let this lonely night
find out; let me sleep and let sweet melody
sleep with me in my dreams and
let my guitar help me find the right chords
for my lonely song.

poem by Elizabeth Padillo OlesenReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Melody Of Love (Epris Mix)

I always
Stayed away from love
Afraid of what might
Might happen
Till I thought
I heard a sound above
Singing through my very
Own heart
Was a melody
I never heard
Like birds singing loud
To the sky
Never dreamed that
True love would help me
Find my way
Didnt know how deep Id fallen
Until you rescued, rescued me
Suddenly
Strings began
I heard the melody again and again
The sound of music
Flowing through my head
So rare
Im walking on air
Melody of love
Sing that song for me yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
One lonely night
You up and dance into my dreams
Baby you set my heart on fire
So Ive been burning
Burning ever since yeah
Suddenly
Strings began
I hear the melody again and again
The sounds of trumpets
Flowing through my head
So rare Im walking on air
Melody of love
Sing that song for me yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
Melody of love
Oh set me free yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
Oh melody
Oh melody
I can really feel it
You can feel it, too
Oh melody
Oh melody
Melody of love
Sing that song for me yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
Melody of love
Oh set me free yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away

song performed by by Donna SummerReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Melody Of Love

I always
Stayed away from love
Afraid of what might
Might happen
Till i thought
I heard a sound above
Singing through my very
Own heart
Was a melody
I never heard
Like birds singing loud
To the sky
Never dreamed that
True love would help me
Find my way
Didn't know how deep i'd fallen
Until you rescued, rescued me
Suddenly
Strings began
I heard the melody again and again
The sound of music
Flowing through my head
So rare
I'm walking on air
Melody of love
Sing that song for me yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
One lonely night
You up and dance into my dreams
Baby you set my heart on fire
So i've been burning
Burning ever since yeah
Suddenly
Strings began
I hear the melody again and again
The sounds of trumpets
Flowing through my head
So rare i'm walking on air
Melody of love
Sing that song for me yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
Melody of love
Oh set me free yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
Oh melody
Oh melody
I can really feel it
You can feel it, too
Oh melody
Oh melody
Melody of love
Sing that song for me yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away
Melody of love
Oh set me free yeah
I want to hear somebody sing
Melody of love
Oh take me away

song performed by by Donna SummerReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

To Jane: The Keen Stars Were Twinkling

I.
The keen stars were twinkling,
And the fair moon was rising among them,
Dear Jane.
The guitar was tinkling,
But the notes were not sweet till you sung them
Again.

II.
As the moon's soft splendour
O'er the faint cold starlight of Heaven
Is thrown,
So your voice most tender
To the strings without soul had then given
Its own.

III.
The stars will awaken,
Though the moon sleep a full hour later
To-night;
No leaf will be shaken
Whilst the dews of your melody scatter
Delight.

IV.
Though the sound overpowers,
Sing again, with your dear voice revealing
A tone
Of some world far from ours,
Where music and moonlight and feeling
Are one.

poem by Percy Bysshe ShelleyReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Hearts To Heart

Maurice white, beloyd taylor & azar lawrence
When ya down and youre out
And you feel like you wanna shout
Come along, sing along
Let the music pull you out
When ya down and youre out
And you feel like you wanna shout
Gather round, to the sound
That will keep you gettin down
If you feel out of shape
And you need to communicate
Get up, explore
Tune in and dont ignore
Let the groove in your shoes
Release you from the blues
Come on, sing along
Join in this happy song
Everybody say -- make you feel
Much better now
Everybody swing -- let you heart
Discover how
Hearts to heart, let the people sing
Hearts to heart, let our voices ring
Hearts to heart, let our bodies move
Hearts to heart, we can share the groove
When ya down and youre out
And you feel like you wanna shout
Come along, sing along
Let the music pull you out
Gather round, to the sound
That will keep you gettin down
Lose your blues and your dues
Bad times, been throwin around
Hearts to heart, beating hearts together
Hearts to heart, music makes it better
Hearts to heart, all the people say
Hearts to heart, let the music play

song performed by by Earth Wind And FireReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Why Should I Feel Blue

I saw a moonlit scene I never will forget
I stole a kiss at daybreak
I never did regret it
Sometimes I wonder why I even try
So why should I feel blue?
I heard the sound of footsteps swaying in the dark
I poked my head out silent thats how it started
What to my eyes appeared as dust became a vision I dont know
What had finally found me with my back against the wall
Was destiny intruding all around me
And as the day wore on I knew
Another lonely night could never be
If theres is a reason you might try and forget
Id like to find it cause I like to relive it
Sometimes I wonder why I ever cry
So why should I feel blue?
I was caught drifting disappearing from the land
Whitecaps in profusion all around me
But somehow in our eyes I found the strength to sail upon the raging sea
If theres a reason for the way that life is
Id like to find it after all whos life is it
Sometimes I wonder why I even try
So why should I feel blue?
What had finally found me with my back against the wall
Was destiny intruding all around me
And as the days wore on I knew
Another lonely night with you could never be
I saw a moonlit scene I know it was real
All that you can ever do when love is reveal
Sometimes I every try why I even try
So why should I feel blue?
Sometimes I wonder why I ever cry
So why should I feel blue?

song performed by by Gordon LightfootReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Modern Love XXXII (Okie the zen golden retreiver)

Evening star gives eternal kisses of fireflies
to the dark face of the moon
the joyful moon cracks an ocher grin
and falls in love with a reflection
on the green river
the red tails of dancing fireflies
escape from the moon's mouth
into the adoration
Racoons take off their masks
preparing for bed
the river politely refuses
to carry the lunar mirror
leaves it at the waterfall's door
who returns it to the evening star
during the moon's void
a mocking bird awakens the meditating trees
the rocks hidden under the falls miss the sun
the sun's lover lives an hour of light years away
the lunar grin, reflection, evening star
seek hiding places from the dawn
the sudden stillness gives birth
to thousand of mohican souls
who dance in concentric circles
while running down whitmore falls
the evening star ashamed of history
fades into the blue
the moon finds great happiness
in disappearing
the unseen ocean opens arms
and awaits the moon's image
arias of water sing
eternal mantras
where mind's heart dances
joyous silence of a single note
a breath whispering by
between the longing of the ocean
and the moon's love of infinite reflections
and the adoring evening star
an open window creates a wall
of antigue white and mauve moths
as a golden retreiver leaps from a black rock
chasing a teasing blue heron who flies
up over black trees into the bend of the river
creating dawn, as the golden bellyflops laughing

poem by Liberatore SuffolettaReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sing With The Music

Sing with the music, sing high and low
sing with the music so that I will know.
So that I will know what is truly in your heart.
Sing your own song and all will take part.

Pick up the pieces, from the floor and then,
You can start a song that will have a happy end.
Forget everything, you have ever felt,
Become a part of music and let your soul melt.

Sing with the music, sing high and low,
Sing with the music so that I will know.
So that I will know what is truly in your heart.
Sing your own song
and all will take part.

poem by Vera SidhwaReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Step Into These Shoes

Step into these shoes feel this heart
Step into these shoes they might fit you
See through these eyes might be the same view
If Id lived through the same things as you
Id share the laughs, and cry the tears that you do
Chorus
Step into these shoes and feel this heart
Step into these shoes no reason to fight
Look into m mind it might fit you
Act out this part is it so different to you
Even if we dont ever agree
The only difference is cosmetically
Step into these shoes no reason to fight
Step in step into these shoes and feel this heart
Just feel my heart it beats with you
We float downstream in the same canoe
You might find the ocean faster than me
But Ill see it eventually
Step into these shoes and feel this heart
Step into these shoes no reason to fight
Step into these shoes and feel this heart
Oh feel this heart please feel it
Step into these shoes and feel this heart oh feel
This heart please feel it
Step into these shoes and feel this heart
Step in step into these shoes no reason to fight
Step in step into these shoes and feel this heart
Step in step into these shoes no reason to fight anymore
Feel this heart oh feel it
Step in step into these shoes no reason to fight

song performed by by Howard JonesReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dry Your Eyes

Words and music by neil diamond and j.r. robertson
Dry your eyes and take your song out, its a newborn afternoon.
And if you cant recall the singer you can still recall the tune.
Dry your eyes and play it slowly like youre marching off to war;
Sing it like you know hed want it, like we sang it once before.
And from the center of the circle to the midst of the waiting crowd,
If it ever be forgotten sing it long and sing it loud and come dry your eyes.
And he taught us more about giving than we ever cared to know,
But we came to find the secret and we never let it go.
And it was more than being holy and it was less than being free,
And if you cant recall the reason can you hear the people sing.
Right through the lightning and the thunder to the dark side of the moon,
To that distant falling angel that descended much too soon
And come dry your eyes.
Come dry your eyes.

song performed by by Neil DiamondReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share
Katherine Mansfield

Voices of the Air

But then there comes that moment rare
When, for no cause that I can find,
The little voices of the air
Sound above all the sea and wind.

The sea and wind do then obey
And sighing, sighing double notes
Of double basses, content to play
A droning chord for the little throats--

The little throats that sing and rise
Up into the light with lovely ease
And a kind of magical, sweet surprise
To hear and know themselves for these--

For these little voices: the bee, the fly
The leaf that taps, the pod that breaks,
The breeze on the grass-tops bending by,
The shrill quick sound that insect makes.

poem by Katherine MansfieldReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

I wonder

I stood there waiting for his silent complaisance.

The blue birds sing in a small voice.

My moon hangs in the sky like burning ice.

In my embarrassment I have to look at the wood floor twice.

The lights all around us in the dark feel nice.

The wind blows the sea to the surface.

His gray suit has a most rugid appearance.

My long blue dress flows with his slow pace.

I find his words taking me to a different place.

Passion fills his beastlike face.

The stars up above us are like lace.

My heart really wants to give him a chance.

He holds me in his arms and begins to dance.

While I wonder if this is a real romance.

poem by Lyda MeryReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Still Waiting

So am I still waiting
For this world to stop hating
Can't find a good reason
Can't find hope to believe in

Drop dead a bullet to my head
Your words are like a gun in hand
You can't change the state of the nation
We just need some motivation
Three times casino eviction
Just lies and more contradiction

So tell me what would you say
I'd say its up: to me

So am I still waiting
For this world to stop hating
Can't find a good reason
Can't find hope to believe in

Ignorance and Understanding
We're the first ones to jump in line
Out of step for what we believe in
But whos left? To start the pleading
How far will we take this
It's not hard to see through the sickness

So tell me what would you say
I'd say its up: to me

So am I still waiting
For this world to stop hating
Can't find a good reason
Can't find hope to believe in

This can't last forever
Time won't make things better
I feel so alone
Can't help myself
And no one knows
If this is worthless
Tell me: so

What have we done
We're in a war that can't be won
This can't be real
I don't know what to feel

So am I still waiting
For this world to stop hating
Can't find a good reason
Can't find hope to believe in

So am I still waiting
For this world to stop hating
Can't find a good reason
Can't find hope to believe in

song performed by by Sum 41Report problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Song from My Heart

Song in my heart,
Speak to me,
Sing me your sweet melody.

The days been hard,
Evenings long,
Sing me tonight a joyous song.

So many times
When all hope was gone,
I listened to your cry, a painful mourn-

But now all is serene,
The night is still-
Hum to me softly, if you will.

Oh song from my heart,
Music within me,
Sing me a song filled with melody.

poem by Ashley OrmonReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share