In A Motel Parking Lot, Thinking Of Dr. Williams
I.
The poem is important, but
not more than the people
whose survival it serves,
one of the necessities, so they may
speak what is true, and have
the patience for beauty: the weighted
grainfield, the shady street,
the well-laid stone and the changing tree
whose branches spread above.
For want of songs and stories
they have dug away the soil,
paved over what is left,
set up their perfunctory walls
in tribute to no god,
for the love of no man or woman,
so that the good that was here
cannot be called back
except by long waiting, by great
sorrows remembered and to come
by invoking the thunderstones
of the world, and the vivid air.
II.
The poem is important,
as the want of it
proves. It is the stewardship
of its own possibility,
the past remembering itself
in the presence of
the present, the power learned
and handed down to see
what is present
and what is not: the pavement
laid down and walked over
regardlessly--by exiles, here
only because they are passing.
Oh, remember the oaks that were
here, the leaves, purple and brown,
falling, the nuthatches walking
headfirst down the trunks,
crying "onc! onc!" in the brightness
as they are doing now
in the cemetery across the street
where the past and the dead
keep each other. To remember,
to hear and remember, is to stop
and walk on again
to a livelier, surer measure.
It is dangerous
to remember the past only
for its own sake, dangerous
to deliver a message
you did not get.
poem by Wendell Berry
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Related quotes
A Walk Down My Memory Lane
Remember...
The day we wed.
Remember...
How we snuggled in bed.
Remember...
Walking in the oceans' sand,
Remember...
I'm in a hostile land.
Remember...
The ring, you're first surprise.
Remember...
My happy, green eyes.
Remember...
How I used to smile.
Remember...
Its been a long trial.
Remember...
My devotion.
Remember...
All my emotion.
Remember...
Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Remember...
To be open and giving.
Remember...
Our old birch tree.
Remember...
Remember me!
Remember...
The hot tub bath.
Remember...
Walking on the forest path..
Remember...
Your wedding gown.
Remember...
The love we found.
Remember...
When the war has passed.
Remember...
Our love will forever last.
poem by Philip Lore
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Do You Remember Any of It? I Do
i remember when i met you
i remember when i fell in love with you
i remember when you said 'i love you'
i remember when i said it back
i remember what we had planed
i remember how perfect we were
i remember the late phone calls
i remember the songs you sang me
i remember when everything turned up side down
i remember the endless nights of tears
i remember wishing things were back to the way they were
i remember how you hurt me
i remember feeling like i was nothing to you
i remember waiting to hear from you again
i remember your last words to me
i remember they were ' i dont know if i love you anymore'
i remember feeling like i just died
i remember thinking you died
i remember the pain
do you remember any of it? i do
poem by Alicia White
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Reincarnation
Somewhere
I think of you
Somewhere
I remember you
You are with me like the wind
From a faraway land and I know it is you
The way you kiss me still makes me quiver
Wind-lips touching my cheeks my neck
Wind hands caressing my arms my hands my chest
Wind-body hushing pressing against my body today
There is a sense of longing about two
Past bodies,
Two past warm bodies pressing to
Past warmth and past time somewhere
Only that it is too hard to remember the details
Of that past love, past the season, only that it is hard
To remember why that love died untimely
Now we are here, I am in this present body of a writer
For some reason you read me in your present body of a reader
You are telling me that something in my poem catches
The eye of your soul and you begin to remember
This is him, this is him, he was there with me before
Your way of telling me without seeing me is a feeling too
We were there before we were together we just can’t remember the details.
Today you are the thought that touches me like the wind-mind
So gently, a thought comes to my brain, a feminine thought claiming
A right that was there before, and which today vehemently denies.
The present seals it with birth.
Locked.
Another death is needed to open it.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Her Beauty
I heard them say, "Her hands are hard as stone,"
And I remembered how she laid for me
The road to heaven. They said, "Her hair is grey."
Then I remembered how she once had thrown
Long plaited strands, like cables, into the sea
I battled in -- the salt sea of dismay.
They say, "Her beauty's past." And then I wept,
That these, who should have been in love adept,
Against my font of beauty should blaspheme.
And hearing a new music, miss the theme.
poem by Max Plowman
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The Past Is An Old Man's Poem
The Past is an old man’s poem
And all he was
And all he can never be again
And all the people he loved
No longer here-
And all the times he can barely remember
And never forget
And all the love lost
And all the waste
And all the sadness
And all the joy and the still strong happiness-
The Past is an old man’s poem
Written in his memory
And waiting to be said again and again
While he lives through another day and another night and another memory lost
The past is an old man ‘s poem
And that poem too will be gone before long.
poem by Shalom Freedman
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My Memories of Then
I remember moments far back in the deepness of my mind
Of past times, of you and me and a life that has been
I remember thoughts I use to have all throughout the night
When my world was about you, one that I have always knew
I remember knowing how you were the part that made me whole
The wings on my back now unusable, that let me flew
I remember then, why I no longer wanted the world's gold
Because I had you, making me feel like I'm important
I remember the days passing so quickly, now lost forever
That defined my youth, and the man that was forming
I remember those words always said and never stuttered
About the love we shared, the duality intertwining
I remember the clouds, the weather that was above us
The cold days in warmth, on a big bed we were lying
I remember the end, the memories now covered with dust
But everything I know about you is still perfectly fine
I still remember your face, and all that we've said and seen
How it came to be, and how it came to pass is all in my mind
poem by Piscine Kipling
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St. John's, Cambridge
I stand beneath the tree, whose branches shade
Thy western window, Chapel of St. John!
And hear its leaves repeat their benison
On him, whose hand thy stones memorial laid;
Then I remember one of whom was said
In the world's darkest hour, "Behold thy son!"
And see him living still, and wandering on
And waiting for the advent long delayed.
Not only tongues of the apostles teach
Lessons of love and light, but these expanding
And sheltering boughs with all their leaves implore,
And say in language clear as human speech,
"The peace of God, that passeth understanding,
Be and abide with you forevermore!"
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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I Remember.....
I remember going to your house,
Staying up till the early hours of morning
I remember shaving our legs together,
And putting on lotion;
I remember when we went to Winnipeg just a few weeks ago,
And tried on the really good-smelling perfume
I remember going to the park together,
Sometimes at lunch, sometimes after school
I remember “doing our homework”,
When really we just wanted to be together
I remember the first time you took me to your youth,
And saturate,
And our much fun we had
I remember having sleepovers,
How I would always fall asleep before you
I remember just this past year when,
For Christmas, you gave me love and reindeer socks
I remember writing notes to each other,
In class,
Sometimes getting caught, most often not
I remember using this type of font to do our E.L.A homework,
Of course waiting till the last minute
I remember your hugs and how you were most often there,
Even when I acted like a bear
I remember us being annoyed at each other a lot,
But we always made up the next day
I remember how cheesy this poem may be,
But I just wanted to say,
I love you **, and I will remember you till we meet again
(dedicated to Allysson)
poem by DaunaLee Martens
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Present
Bury the Past
Forget the Future
Think about the Present
Be alert and cautious in the present
Do not regret about the past
Or worry about the future
Past is gone
Future is unknown
Present is what you have today
So utilise it to the fullest extent
Its your life's biggest asset
That will fetch you great dividends
Realize that this is a gift given to you by God
That's why it is called as "PRESENT"
poem by Kavita Iyer
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It Could Have Been You
We were so close yet so far away
Id reach out, youd be gone
Moments that still talk my breath away
Theres so much more to life than loving you
You dont need me, no...
I...cant wait all my life, on a street of broken dreams
It could have been you my love (where are you now)
Oh i...still wonder if you remember the night
It could have been you
Time washes over, memories
I cant look back no more
Change has forsaken, our promises
Theres someone else for you to hold again
So please stop your crying
I...cant wait all my life, on a street of broken dreams
It could have been you my love (where are you now)
Oh i...still wonder if you remember the night
It could have been you
Remember, remember, girl I remember
I...cant wait all my life, on a street of broken dreams
It could have been you my love (where are you now)
Oh i...still wonder if you remember the night
It could have been you (where are you now)
Should have been you my love (where are you now)
It could have been you my love, (where are you now)
Remember...remember...remember
song performed by by Journey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I remember...(How could I forget?)
I remember your skin, 'cause it's perfect when we meet,
I remember your voice, 'cause without it I can't speak,
I remember your noise, as I'm taking you out of your mind
I remember your pressure, as it made me melt into the sublime.
But mostly, I remember you crying and asking me how someone could love a monster,
I remember you threading your hands through my hair pulling my face to you so you could see the fear written,
I remember you telling me that you'd understand if I left.
I remember comforting you as person A, B and C walked away,
I remember calling you, already knowing what you needed to say,
I remember you calling me angel, so where did that go?
I remember everything, even if it wasn't real, so tell me, is that so?
I remember you giving me everything
I remember giving you my all
I remember watching you put me on a pedestal,
I remember watching myself fall.
(January 18,2009)
poem by Deona Skidmore
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I Remember Love
(graham russell, michael sherwood)
Ive been staring at the floor
And Ive been holding back the tears
And Id been talking to the walls
If the walls had ears
And now it seems that every time
I look into your eyes
There is only so far I can see
(chorus)
So take me back there
Where only we can go
When you touch me the memories unfold
And I remember love
I remember love
Do you remember love?
Ive been looking to the future
And Ive been dreaming of our past
But now Im counting on this moment
cause it may be the last
And days go by and still I try
To reach into your soul
There is only so far I can go
(chorus)
Remember the times when our world was alive
And all of the answers were clear
Remember the times when our souls would ignite
And passion explodes into tears
And I remember love
I remember love
Do you remember love?
song performed by by Air Supply
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Remembered Past
The fimiler breath of your old lies.
Somehow changed my life.
Every now and again I remember we were friends.
Even though its in the past maybe can change at last.
I remember your long lost stare
I remember the sent of your hair.
I remember every touch an kiss,
I remember my fingers tracing your lips.
I remember losing you bit by bit
I remember when it slipped.
I remember when I fell
I remember how it felt
But what I remember the most is that you didn't hurt.
That you were okay with letting go
My Innocent Childhood
soil soil and soil, , playing in the soil,
No fear of disease, no fear of toil.
What a wonderful days that was,
i always remember my childhood, my innocent childhood..
Only friend no foes,
no thinking of what dont and what does.
No fear of future, no thinking of present,
i always remember my childhood, my innocent childhood..
What was the past, leave it, it surpassed,
what has to happen, lets face when it comes.
Future planning! What is this?
i always remember my childhood, my innocent childhood..
Play was religion and play was God,
only thing which gave fear, was my fathers rod.
Crying crying crying a lot, then said love you pappa,
i always remember my childhood, my innocent childhood..
poem by Zeya Mallick
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I Will Remember You
Amy grant/gary chapman/keith thomas
Copyright 1991 age to age music, inc./riverstone music, inc./edward grant, inc./yellow elephant music, inc. (ascap), adm. by reunion music group, inc.
I will be walking one day
Down a street far away
And see a face in the crowd and smile
Knowing how you made me laugh
Hearing sweet echoes of you from the past
I will remember you.
Look in my eyes while youre near
Tell me whats happening here
See that I dont want to say good-bye
Our love is frozen in time
Ill be your champion and youll be mine
I will remember
I will remember you.
Later on
When this fire is an ember
Later on
When the nights not so tender
Given time
Though its hard to remember darlin
I will be holding
Ill still be holding to you
I will remember you.
So many years come and gone
And yet the memory is strong
One word we never could learn
Good-bye
True love is frozen in time
Ill be your champion and youll be mine
I will remember you
So please remember
I will remember you
I will remember you
I will remember you
I will remember you.
song performed by by Amy Grant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One of Those Blessings
You say you remember me,
From a past I have long forgotten?
And you remember almost in detail...
What I did as a child and what schools I attended.
Teachers I had.
Who my friends were and what we did.
The old neighborhood and where I use to live.
The swing I swung on...
And my first puppy love?
I appreciate that.
But I don't remember you at all.
I don't remember you coming around,
When we had very little to eat.
I don't remember you...
When my family and I slept on one bed,
And for years we did that as we went to sleep!
I don't remember you during my latchkey days.
Where were you in the 'brickyard',
During that phase?
I only have this to say...
God has blessed me tremendously.
And perhaps not remembering you,
Is one of those blessings!
Who knows?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Remember Your Past
Try to remember our past,
Remember who made you what you are today;
try to remember your past in times like this.
You dumped me like a trash,
You lied to me like a thief,
You treated me like a fool,
You sold me like a baby,
But do remember the past always.
I have made you what you are today,
Like another client on the Libyan Desert;
Do give credit wher it is due,
Do remember my love for you;
I thought you were my friend but,
Today i am your enemy.
Many are dead and gone,
Many are still waiting to learn;
But, do remember your past.
In this life,
Some may like you and others may hate you;
But, some medicines are easier taken than others.
I thought you were my friend but,
Today i am your enemy.
Now you are against me,
You've turned away from me to another;
You've really disappointed me.
My heart is very sad,
But my mind will always remember you;
You've stolen my trust to marry another man.
Try to be righteous for once,
Try to learn for the better;
Do remember your past at all times.
In the greatest time of trouble,
In the finals of love;
You've really disappointed me.
In the finals of history,
That is when you will look for me;
In the finals of trust,
Money is not everything;
First impressions do matters a lot.
One day,
The bells will ring down on you;
One day,
You will surely remember me for all my love;
You are a grown up woman,
But you've stolen my trust to marry another man.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Remember When..
remember when i would cry
remember when you would just pass by
remember when you left
remember when i was blessed
remember when you left me
remember my whole family
remember your doughters and your sons
remember that they are not the only ones
remember all the trauma you caused
remember when our paths were crossed
remember when you wanted to say good bye
my world shattered because you were to me a nice mom.
i dont think you will remember this
because this might seem like nonsense.
poem by Jocelyn Padilla
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Remember When
Remember when I was young and so were you
And time stood still and love was all we knew
You were the first, so was I
We made love and then you cried
Remember when
Remember when we vowed the vows
and walked the walk
Gave our hearts, made the start, it was hard
We lived and learned, life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt
Remember when
Remember when old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts
Remember when
Remember when the sound of little feet
was the music
We danced to week to week
Brought back the love, we found trust
Vowed we'd never give it up
Remember when
Remember when thirty seemed so old
Now lookin' back, it's just a steppin' stone
To where we are,
where we've been
Said we'd do it all again
Remember when
Remember when we said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad
For all the life we've had
And we'll remember when
Remember when
Remember when
song performed by by Alan Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Let The Memorial Hill Remember
Let the memorial hill remember instead of me,
that's what it's here for. Let the par in-memory-of remember,
let the street that's-named-for remember,
let the well-known building remember,
let the synagogue that's named after God remember
let the rolling Torah scroll remember, let the prayer
for the memory of the dead remember. Let the flags remember
those multicolored shrouds of history: the bodies they wrapped
have long since turned to dust. Let the dust remember.
Let the dung remember at the gate. Let the afterbirth remember.
Let the beasts of the field and birds of the heavens eat and remember.
Let all of them remember so that I can rest.
poem by Yehuda Amichai
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