Symbols
A STORM BEATEN old watch-tower,
A blind hermit rings the hour.
All-destroying sword-blade still
Carried by the wandering fool.
Gold-sewn silk on the sword-blade,
Beauty and fool together laid.
poem by William Butler Yeats
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Related quotes
For E. McC
Gone while your tastes were keen to you,
Gone where the grey winds call to you,
By that high fencer, even Death,
Struck of the blade that no man parrieth;
Such is your fence, one saith,
One that hath known you.
Drew you your sword most gallantly
Made you your pass most valiantly
'Gainst that grey fencer, even Death.
Gone as a gust of breath
Faith! no man tarrieth,
‘Se il cor ti manca,’ but it failed thee not!
'Non ti fidar,’ it is the sword that speaks
‘In me.’
Thou trusted'st in thyself and met the blade
'Thout mask or gauntlet, and art laid
As memorable broken blades that be
Kept as bold trophies of old pageantry.
As old Toledos past their days of war
Are kept mnemonic of the strokes they bore,
So art thou with us, being good to keep
In our heart's sword-rack, though thy sword-arm sleep.
ENVOI
Struck of the blade that no man parrieth
Pierced of the point that toucheth lastly all,
'Gainst that grey fencer, even Death,
Behold the shield! He shall not take thee all.
poem by Ezra Pound
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Johnny Blade
Tortured and twisted, he walks the streets alone
People avoid him, they know the streets his own
Cold blade of silver, his eyes they burn so wild
Mean as a tiger, societys own child
Go the tiger, burn in hate
You know you have to, johnny blade
Hes the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny blade, johnny blade
Life has no meaning, and deaths his only friend
Will fate surprise him, where will he meet his end?
He feels so bitter, yes hes so full of hate
To die in the gutter, I guess thats johnnys fate
Rivals all across the land
He kills them with his knife in hand
Hes the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny blade, johnny blade
Johnny blade, johnny blade
Well you know that johnnys a spider
And his web is the city at night
Hes a victim of modern frustration
Thats the reason hes so ready to fight
Hes the one that should be afraid
What will happen to you, johnny blade?
Oh he knows his futures decided
And he aint gonna change it, no way
He was born to die in the gutter
Hell keep fighting 'till the end of his days
Been alone all through his life
His only friend is a switchblade knife
Hes the one who should be afraid
What will happen to you, johnny blade?
You fool the people
Whos fooling who?
Its time to listen
Whos fool are you?
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Fool I Am
Never ceasing to pretend
that one day soon I'll have your hand.
However this will never come to pass.
The fool I am it would never last.
The fool I am with a heart of glass.
The fool I am who will soon at last,
be ripped and torn from the past.
You could not love nor could I blame,
thee a fool who seems quite plain.
The fool I am I hoped you would,
but clearly I'm not all that good.
The fool I am, so beaten and weary.
When will I be found worthy?
poem by Michael McParland
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Going on a Demon Hunt
We're going on a demon hunt
Chasing down the hellish fiends
Laughing as we cut them down
With the Sword of our mouth
A double edged blade
Demons here
Demons there
Demons everywhere
They can run
But they can't hide
Running from my Righteous Blade
The Word of God
Let the monsters run
Let them flee
Because it's demon hunting day
poem by Patrick Tincher
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Wine From The Water
[parsons/bairnson]
You can take me up, you can wind me down
Theres no escape, but Ill never drown
No wires or strings, no rough and smooth
Just fire and stings, watch me closely, watch my every move
I can count your money while I check your hand
And you know I just cant lose
Wine from the water, gold from a tree
I wouldnt fool you, theres nothing up my sleeve
Look for a mirror, theres nothing there
I get rings out of nowhere, money from thin air
I can break these chains, while Im upside down
Well it may seem strange, I dont hit the ground
Now you see my hand, is quicker than your eye
You should know by now, what you see here, all of its a lie
I can count your money while I check your hand
And you know I just cant lose
Wine from the water, gold from a tree
I wouldnt fool you, theres nothing up my sleeve
Think of a number, Ill get it right
Throw me in the river, tie my hands up tight
I can wind you up, I can turn you round
No cunning stunts, till the ladys found
No coils or springs, just nice and smooth
No knaves or kings, find the lady, watch my every move
I can count your money while I check your hand
And you know I just cant lose
Wine from the water, gold from a tree
I wouldnt fool you, theres nothing up my sleeve
Look for a mirror, no, nothing there
I get rings out of nowhere, money from thin air
Wine from the water, gold from a tree
Now I wouldnt fool you, theres nothing up my sleeve
Think of a number, Ill get it right
You can throw me in the river, tie my hands up tight
Wine from the water, gold from a tree
Now I wouldnt fool you, theres nothing up my sleeve
Look for a mirror, theres nothing there
I get rings out of nowhere, money from thin air
song performed by by Alan Parsons Project
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Defeated
Think not because you raise
A gleaming sword,
That you will win to praise
Before the Lord.
And though men hail you great
Unto the skies,
Deem not 'twill ope' the gate
Of Paradise.
Though you have gold and gear
And fame and power,
What odds when you draw near
The Judgement Hour?
But if in bloody dust
Yet unafraid
You battle for the Just
With broken blade--
Then will the Lord look down
With eyes of love,
And you shall win a Crown
All price above.
poem by Robert William Service
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Any Other Fool
(dianne warren)
I couldnt see paradise right before my eyes
When I had you here by my side
I didnt know that no-one else
Could ever take your place
But, now I know
I know that I should have stayed
And seeing you tonight
I only wonder why
I ever said goodbye
Any other fool would never walk away
Even a fool would still be there
Holding you
Any other fool would know I never
Should have let you go
I had it all as any fool could see
Any other fool but me, oh, ahh, oh
Anyone else never would have let the feeling die
Anyone else would have fought to keep it alive
If they were in my shoes
Theyd know the love we had
Was love too good to lose
Any other fool would never walk away
Even a fool would still be there
Holding you
Oh, any other fool would know
I never should have let you go
I had it all when you were loving me
I had it all as any fool could see
Any other fool but me, oh, oh, oh
I had it all when you were loving me
I had it all as any fool could see
Any other fool but me
Any other fool would never walk away
Even a fool would still be there
Holding you
Oh, any other fool would know
Never should have let you go
Had it all as any fool could see
Any other fool but me
Oh, oh, oh
Even a fool would still be there holding you
Any other fool would know
I never should have let you go
I had it all as any fool could see
song performed by by Dusty Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ages
In that stone head, obscenity
Has been preserved a thousand years;
A bible-leaf of families
Have shuddered at the pointed ears.
The sword that hangs upon the wall
Is notched the length of its long blade,
And children at the village school
Dream of the trusses it has mowed.
Close against the lichened tower
Still lives a witch. Around her head
She wears a shawl, and white as flour
Her lips count every step she treads.
But when the dusk-born lovers stand
The figure sobs, 'Oh where's my soul?'
The sword sighs for the long-dead hand,
The old hag huddles from the owl.
poem by Henry Treece
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Relics
In that stone head, obscenity
Has been preserved a thousand years;
A bible-leaf of families
Have shuddered at the pointed ears.
The sword that hangs upon the wall
Is notched the length of its long blade,
And children at the village school
Dream of the trusses it has mowed.
Close against the lichened tower
Still lives a witch. Around her head
She wears a shawl, and white as flour
Her lips count every step she treads.
But when the dusk-born lovers stand
The figure sobs, 'Oh where's my soul?'
The sword sighs for the long-dead hand,
The old hag huddles from the owl.
poem by Henry Treece
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bladesmith Alchemy
He toils over fire fueled by coke
Forging a fine Damascus blade
Coaxes, cajoles, at last invokes
A sacred fire totem…unafraid
The Bladesmith knows;
Salamanders can pass thru fire
Unburnt/unharmed by such heat
A tempered blade its one desire
Lest, this fine sword be incomplete
Thru blade salamander does pass
Pursued by fiery flames from hell
Thru blinding smoke of sulfur gas
Mission done, he bids “farewell”
Revealed here the secret of 'Damascus Steel'
Perfected by one tiny amphibian's ordeal
(Inspired by Howlin Dervish)
ROTMS
poem by Ray Lucero
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Song
Tho' veiled in spires of myrtle-wreath,
Love is a sword that cuts its sheath,
And thro' the clefts, itself has made,
We spy the flashes of the Blade !
But thro' the clefts, itself has made,
We likewise see Love's flashing blade,
By rust consumed or snapt in twain :
And only Hilt and Stump remain.
poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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A Fool And His Money
The longer love survives
The more it's easy to be blind
When it is obvious it's over
I put my trust in you
I spent my love and I thought I knew
But now things just don't look the same
I paid the price with a love I thought was strong
Counting on you I was wrong
Just like a fool and his money
Just like a fool, I let it slip away
Just like a fool and his money
All the love has gone
You think everything's all right
But love can change that all over night
And the hand you hold is colder
And then your fortunes fade
You really need the gold that you've thrown away
And all you believed in has changed
I paid the price for leaving love to chance alone
Now I know this bird has flown
Just like a fool and his money
Just like a fool, I let it slip away
Just like a fool and his money
All the love has gone
As the rain pours down in a starless night
And my heart longs only for you
A fool to cry
Just like a fool and his money
A fool...
Just like a fool...
Submitted by Michael Hack
song performed by by Wang Chung
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fan-Piece, For Her Imperial Lord
O fan of white silk,
clear as frost on the grass-blade,
You also are laid aside.
poem by Ezra Pound
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By the Sword.
Your father made you
a sword out of metal
at the place he worked
and brought it home
one night after work
and gave it to you
after tea and said
Be careful how you use it
I don't want you using it
dangerously
ok
you said
and went off
with the heavy sword
into the spare room
you called the toy room
the place you fought
bad knights to save
damsels in distress
or have shoot outs
with cowboys
on the wrong side
of the law
and got your gun
out of the holster
before them
and plugged them
full of caps
or the pretend saloon
where you could go
for a shot of red eye
and once you had
the sword with you
you examined it carefully
running a finger along
the blunt blade
and then
you were set upon
by the enemy knights
out of nowhere
three onto one
and you had a sword fight
and being the top guy
you soon had them licked
and lying dead
and you heard your father
call out
from the dining room
Be careful you don't
kill anyone with that
and you murmured
Too late
I've just put them
to the sword
and he laughed
and your mother said
You shouldn't make him
weapons of death
it gives a false view
of the world
but your father just said
It's just a toy
just a bit of pretence
and a kid's got to have
something to use
in his defence
against invisible foes
and then they rowed
and so you shut the door
and put away the sword
and got out your gun
you could blow away
far more of them
and it was louder
quicker and more fun.
poem by Terry Collett
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Sword Of Mine
The Sword that I carry
Though made not of iron or steel,
It is a mighty sword
That I proudly do so wield.
Though it wont break the skin
Or combat the weapons of a foe
But this is a mighty sword of mine
More precious than silver or gold.
This sword that I carry
I proudly display it in my hand,
For I know this sword of mine
Is greater, than any other mans.
It comforts me when I am tired
It will warm me when I am cold
It will lie down beside of me
To protect, and strengthen my soul.
The sword that I hold
Is tattered, and so very worn
It has been a friend along side of me,
In the sunshine and many storms.
It has shown me a path to follow
And has lit the road that I walk,
And those nights when I was alone and scared
Then to me, I could hear it talk.
The sword that I wield
Though may be different, in shape or size,
But it is the same sword
Which for years has cushioned the souls cry.
It has been here since the dawn of time
And will be here when the great walls fall,
And then when all men of war and hate reflect,
My sword, will be the mightiest sword of all.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
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Fool To Think
Look at me dreaming of you
All I could hope is to have you
To have you walking with me
Laughing so in love, we two
Almost drunkenly
I did imbibe of this
Fantasy of you and me
Was I a fool to think?
The way you looked at me
I swear you did
But you looked away too quick
Was I a fool, was I a fool to think
That you would take me home
As if I was yours
Was I a fool to think at all?
Ive grown tired of love
You are the trouble with me
I watch you walk right by
I smile, you do not notice me
Treat me recklessly
All you do is toss me pennies out
But the silence in me is screaming
Wont you come and get me?
Was I a fool to think?
The way you looked at me
I swear you did
But you looked away too quick
Was I a fool, was I a fool to think
That you would take me home
As if I was yours
Was I a fool to think at all?
Was I a fool to think?
The way you looked at me
I swear you did
But you looked away too quick
Was I a fool, was I a fool to think
That you would take me home
As if I was yours
Was I a fool to think at all?
You make a mess of me here
I dance a thousand steps for you
If you say yes to me
Ill be whatever gets you through
You make a mess of me here (was I a fool? )
I dance a thousand steps for you (was I a fool? )
Was I a fool, was I a fool to think?
Am I a fool, am I a fool for you?
song performed by by Dave Matthews Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Six Blade Knife
Your six blade knife can do anything for you
Anything you want it to
One blade for breaking my heart
One blade for tearing me apart
Your six blade knife-do anything for you
You can take away my mind like you take away the top of a tin
When you come up from behind and lay it down cold on my skin
Took a stone from my soul when I was lame
Just so you could make me tame
You take away my mind like you take away the top of a tin
Id like to be free of it now - I dont want it no more
Id like to be free of it now - you know I dont want it no more
Everybody got a knife it can be just what they want it to be
A needle a wife or something that you just cant see
You know it keeps you strong
Yes and itll do me wrong
Your six blade knife - do anything for you
song performed by by Dire Straits
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Let not the sword-blade mock its handle for being blunt.
aphorism by Rabindranath Tagore from Stray Birds (1916), translated by Rabindranath Tagore
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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The Dead Soldier
Where the sword has opened the way the man will follow
'Look! they came, the triumphant army!
Over yon hill see their weapons peeping!'
Still I spoke not but my wheel sent turning,
I closed my eyes for my heart was weeping,
My heart was weeping for a dead soldier.
Who is he who looks towards me?
''Tis no man but a gay flag flying.'
Red was his mouth and his white brow thoughtful,
Blue his eyes—how my soul is crying,
My soul is crying for a dead soldier.
'Kneel ye down, lest your eyes should dare them,
Kneel ye down and your beads be saying.'
'Lord, on their heads Thy wrath deliver,'
This is the prayer that my lips are praying,
My heart is praying for a dead soldier.
'Best cheer the path of the men victorious,
For he is dead and his blade lies broken,
His march is far where no aid can follow,
And for his people he left no token,
He left no token, the dead soldier.'
The way of the sword a man can follow,
See the young child with his gold hair gleaming.
When falls the oak must the acorn perish?
He lifts the blade and his eyes are dreaming,
He dreams the dream of the dead soldier.
poem by Dora Sigerson Shorter
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Blade There are worse things out tonight than vampires. Dr. Karen Jenson Like what Blade Like me.