The Gods Are Dead
The gods are dead? Perhaps they are! Who knows?
Living at least in Lempriere undeleted,
The wise, the fair, the awful, the jocose,
Are one and all. I like to think, retreated
In some still land of lilacs and the rose.
Once high they sat, and high o’er earthly shows
With sacrificial dance and song were greeted.
Once… long ago. But now, the story goes,
The gods are dead.
It must be true. The world, a world of prose,
Full-crammed with facts, in science swathed and sheeted,
Nods in a stertorous after-dinner doze!
Plangent and sad, in every wind that blows
Who will may hear the sorry words repeated: –
‘The Gods are Dead!’
poem by William Ernest Henley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Written-In-Red
(To Our Living Dead in Mexico's Struggle)
Written in red their protest stands,
For the gods of the World to see;
On the dooming wall their bodiless hands
have blazoned "Upharsin," and flaring brands
Illumine the message: "Seize the lands!
Open the prisons and make men free!"
Flame out the living words of the dead
Written-in-red.
Gods of the World! Their mouths are dumb!
Your guns have spoken and they are dust.
But the shrouded Living, whose hearts were numb,
have felt the beat of a wakening drum
Within them sounding-the Dead men's tongue—
Calling: "Smite off the ancient rust!"
Have beheld "Resurrexit," the word of the Dead,
Written-in-red.
Bear it aloft, O roaring, flame!
Skyward aloft, where all may see.
Slaves of the World! Our cause is the same;
One is the immemorial shame;
One is the struggle, and in One name—
MANHOOD— we battle to set men free.
"Uncurse us the Land!" burn the words of the Dead,
Written-in-red.
poem by Voltairine de Cleyre
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Gods
Gods of the white man,
Gods of the black man,
Gods of the almond shade
all of these Gods
have done one thing,
made the people afraid.
Gods of the red man,
Gods of the brown man
Gods of the yellow hue,
all of these Gods
have done the same
divided them into
Separate people
who've been led to believe
their God is the holy one
to save their souls
and pardon them
and deliver them
from earthly sin.
How can there be
so many Gods?
Isn't there only one?
One for every single soul
born unto this earth.
He's every color that there is
since the world's begun.
poem by Edwina Reizer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Retrieved Poetry
Poetry is dead,
Some would say.
But the inspiration that befell the poet,
But the gods that cursed the poet
Would never allow him grow weary.
It keeps pouring out like morning dew
From sundown to cock crow.
Poetry is dead,
Some would say.
Those would get paid
That wishes it out of this world.
Judgement day, the pay day, even today
,
Memories linger of what the gods inspired.
Only poetry has survived a worldwide flood.
Poetry is dead,
Some have said.
But the inspiration keeps coming,
But the memory keeps living.
Poetry lives on even when the world is dead;
It dies only if it is not poetry
And there is only a good few poetry.
Poetry is dead,
Some have said.
Until we start seeing poetry as poetry
And nothing more, until that day,
Until we start thinking he is inspired,
Until we stop thinking for the poet;
He is possessed he is innocent.
Poetry is dead,
So goes the argument.
Even as we cut from the same tree,
Even as we speak same universal language,
You cannot cut deep if your axe's blunt.
We can never speak from same mouth.
You can only say your own thought.
Poetry is dead,
So goes the argument,
If poetry is dead killed by death,
If poetry is dead swallowed by death,
The corpse should be in our front.
We should know how to bury it.
We should dig not cover it with dust.
Poetry is dead,
If poetry is really dead,
There is cause to weep bitterly,
There is cause to think deeply
For the world has been stripped naked.
For poetry is great, ageless, timeless, bottomless
At the burial we must remain emotionless.
poem by Chime Justice Ndubuisi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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If There's A God
If there's a God that God is for everybody and in every good person that God you will find
And if there's a God that God is not judgemental but understanding very wise and kind
The fundimentalists say that their God is a true God and those who pray to other Gods to false Gods pray
The true God than their God must be far kinder a far superior God in every way,
Some people who are spiritual as well as quite wise say there's only one God and that's the God within
And that God is ever kind and none judgemental and capable of forgiving even mortal sin
The God men wage war for is not a true God and many go to war in their God's name
A true God would not need them as worshippers war to a true God would be a thing of shame
If there's a God that God is a kind spirit and far greater than the God's we hear about
He even could embrace the non believers and give them the benefit of any doubt
The Gods we hear about they do seem cruel Gods so egotistical in their own way
An eye for an eye does seem for to appease them for everyone's life a true God respect would pay
And if there's a God that God is for all people unlike the God that humankind create
A God who believes on a fair go for all people and the only God we ought to celebrate.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The Rainbow
Watch the white dawn gleam,
To the thunder of hidden guns.
I hear the hot shells scream
Through skies as sweet as a dream
Where the silver dawn-break runs.
And stabbing of light
Scorches the virginal white.
But I feel in my being the old, high, sanctified thrill,
And I thank the gods that the dawn is beautiful still.
From death that hurtles by
I crouch in the trench day-long,
But up to a cloudless sky
From the ground where our dead men lie
A brown lark soars in song.
Through the tortured air,
Rent by the shrapnel's flare,
Over the troubleless dead he carols his fill,
And I thank the gods that the birds are beautiful still.
Where the parapet is low
And level with the eye
Poppies and cornflowers glow
And the corn sways to and fro
In a pattern against the sky.
The gold stalks hide
Bodies of men who died
Charging at dawn through the dew to be killed or to kill.
I thank the gods that the flowers are beautiful still.
When night falls dark we creep
In silence to our dead.
We dig a few feet deep
And leave them there to sleep -
But blood at night is red,
Yea, even at night,
And a dead man's face is white.
And I dry my hands, that are also trained to kill,
And I look at the stars - for the stars are beautiful still.
poem by Leslie Coulson
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Be Glad The Gods Know What Is Good For You
you made a pilgrimage to the mountains
climbed the steep hills and crossed the ten rivers
you sailed the five seas and walked the three continents
you are praying for the fulfillment of a wish
for a dream to come true
and you whisper it to the ears of the gods
offering food and flowers
lighting scented candles and letting the smokes from the incenses
spread to the heavens
as you bow your head and prostrate on your legs
and make your chants
in humble worship
the gods did not grant what you were asking
they all said no and you asked for a reconsideration
they all denied your motion
it was given to someone else and you wish you were dead
lightning hit the man you envied and thunder sounded like happy drums
the man to which your wish was granted is now dead.
be glad for the gods know what is good for you
when they denied it, they said it is not meant for you
and they never wanted you dead that early in his bed.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Second Nature
WHEN I was young how fair the skies,
Such folly of cloud, such blue depths wise,
Such dews of morn, such calms of eve,
So many the lure and the reprieve--
Life seemed a toy to break and mend
And make a charm of in the end.
Then slowly all the dew dried up
And only dust lay in the cup;
And since, to slake his thirst, man must,
I sought a cup that had no dust,
And found it at the Goat and Vine--
Mingled of brandy, beer and wine.
The goat-cup, straight, drew down the skies
And lit them in lunatick wise:
What had been rose went scarlet red,
And the pearl tints grew like the dead.
And the fresh primrose of the morn
Was the wet red of rain-spoiled corn.
Now, with a head that aches and nods
I hold weak hands out to the gods;
And oh! forgiving gods and kind,
They give me healing to my mind,
And show me once again the lawn
Green and clear-gemmed with dews of dawn.
O gods, who look down from above
Upon our tangle of lust and love,
And, in your purity, perceive
The worth of what our follies leave:
Give us but this, and sink the rest--
To know that dew and dawn are best.
poem by Edith Nesbit
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All Dead, All Dead
Memories, my memories
How long can you stay
To haunt my days
She came without a farthing
A babe without a name
So much ado about nothing
Is what shed try to say
So much ado my lover
So many games we played
Through every fleeted summer
Through every precious day
All dead all dead
All the dreams we had
And I wonder why I still live on
All dead all dead
And alone Im spared
My sweeter half instead
All dead
And gone
All dead...
All dead all dead
At the rainbows end
And still I hear her own sweet song
All dead all dead
Take me back again
You know my little friends
All dead
And gone
All dead and gone
Her ways are always with me
I wander all the while
But please you must forgive me
I am old but still a child
All dead all dead
But I should not grieve
In time it comes to everyone
All dead all dead
But in hope I breathe
Of course I dont believe
Youre dead
And gone
All dead
And gone
song performed by by Queen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You don't even exist...
Sharpen up your blunt canines
Summon up the lost souls
Call your gods to tackle me
'cause you have no existance
Lo! under the veil of lion-skin
there stands some beast
some beast of burden...
Serve your gods to tackle me
'cause you have no existance
Silence is the best answer
And you had some questions
You answered them quite well
Backstabbing is not the silence
Find your gods to tackle me
'cause you have no existance
You fear the wind; i'm the wind
You breathe in me, spit on me
But you couldn't catch me
And i've caught you red-handed
Kneel to your gods to tackle me
'cause you have no existance
My pride's my life, you attack it
You aint've pride, you're proud
Torment your gods to tackle me
'cause you have no existance
To me, you're zero existance
nor your gods bother me
You know the pain, you know it
To inflict pain, you need rebirth
Sing your elegy, write your wish
resurrect your dead soul
Resurrect your gods to tackle me
'cause you have no existance...
26-03-2006
poem by Usman Hanif
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If There's A True God
If there's a true God that true God must be kinder
Than the Gods the billions kneel to for to pray
The selfish Gods that men do go to war for
And invade Countries from their own Homeshores far away.
If there's a God that God does not live out there
Your true God is your God who lives within
And if your God within is not philanthropic
Then you are one who is vulnerable to sin.
If there's a true God that God is not divisive
With the followers of other Gods he would not want us to fight
Your true God would not want you to others to feel superior
Or you to be looked on as a lesser light.
If there's a true God that God does have compassion
And that God believes in human equality
But sad to say the Gods many do worship
Are Gods who do seem to crave an enemy.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Written in Emerson's Essays
“O Monstrous, dead, unprofitable world,
That thou canst hear, and hearing, hold thy way!
A voice oracular hath peal’d to-day,
To-day a hero’s banner is unfurl’d;
Hast thou no lip for welcome?”—So I said.
Man after man, the world smil’d and pass’d by;
A smile of wistful incredulity
As though one spake of life unto the dead—
Scornful, and strange, and sorrowful, and full
Of bitter knowledge. Yet the will is free;
Strong is the soul, and wise, and beautiful;
The seeds of god-like power are in us still;
Gods are we, bards, saints, heroes, if we will!—
Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery?
poem by Matthew Arnold from Sonnets (1849)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Gods Mistake
Have a friend, calls me up
Says hello, then hangs up
He must have read my mind
These are the days of a diffrent paradigm
Maybe once, even twice
He said God does not play dice
Yet if hes everywhere
Hes in casinos with aces to spare
Oh, love is gods mistake
Oh, love is gods mistake
Ours is not to reason why
As we fall from way up high
Into the water
Like a lamb to the slaughter
Even now, gods mistake
Sets us up for one more heartbreak
God you look mighty fine
Dressed as the devil in a cosmic pantomime
Oh, love is gods mistake
Oh, love is gods mistake
Never was so much at stake
Oh, love is gods mistake
song performed by by Tears For Fears
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gods Comic
Wish youd known me when I was alive, I was a funny feller
The crowd would hoot and holler for more
I wore a drunks red nose for applause
Oh yes I was a comical priest
With a joke for the flock and a hand up your fleece
Drooling the drink and the lipstick and greasepaint
Down the cardboard front of my dirty dog-collar
Chorus:
Now Im dead, now Im dead, now Im dead,
Now Im dead, now Im dead
And Im going on to meet my reward
I was scared, I was scared, I was scared, I was scared
He might of never heard gods comic
So there he was on a water-bed
Drinking a cola of a mystery brand
Reading an airport novelette, listening to andrew lloyd-webbers requiem
He said, before it had really begun, I prefer the one about my son
Ive been wading through all this unbelievable
Junk and wondering if I should have given
The world to the monkeys
Chorus
Im going to take a little trip down paradises endless shores
They say that travel broadens the mind, til you cant get your head out of doors
Im sitting here on the top of the world
I hang around in the longest night
Until each beast has gone bed and then I say
God bless and turn out the light
While you lie in the dark, afraid to breathe and you beg and you promise
And you bargain and you plead
Sometimes you confuse me with santa claus
Its the big white beard I suppose
Im going up to the pole, where you folks die of cold
I might be gone for a while if you need me
Now Im dead, now Im dead, now Im dead,
Now Im dead, now Im dead and youre all
Going on to meet your reward
Are you scared? are you scared? are you scared?
Are you scared?
You might have never heard, but gods comic
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In The Lap Of The Gods
Ah ah ah ah ah
Leave it in the lap of the gods
Ah ah ah
I live my life for you
Think all my thoughts with you and only you
Anything you ask I do for you
I touch your lips with mine
But in the end I leave it to the lords
Leave it in the lap of the gods
What more can I do?
Leave it in the lap of the gods
I leave it to you
Leave it in the lap of the gods
Leave it in the lap of the gods
I want you to
Leave it in the lap of the gods
Leave it in the lap of the gods
Leave it in the lap of the gods
Lap of the gods
song performed by by Queen from Sheer Heart Attack
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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As One Very Powerful Deity
Gods created the universe,
That's what numerous bibles state,
All life the creators did disperse,
Then they left us to our fate.
The miracle is the diversity of life,
Just how do we all survive?
Is it these Gods who give us strife?
Or do they help us to stay alive?
What came first the chicken or the egg?
I guess only the Gods can tell,
It truly is a question to beg,
It's like, is there a Heaven and Hell.
They must all be really clever,
As it was completed in six full days,
Work on the seventh, never,
That's their day to laze.
Could that mean that Gods needs rest?
Surely that can't be true,
I would imagine they'd all be full of zest,
Or I'd imagine chaos would ensue.
An endless cosmos forever evolving,
Keeping it safe is a major task,
Constant problems which do need resolving,
For our Gods help we all tend to ask.
They must be busy all year round,
Well apart from their day of leisure,
Wherever there's trouble to be found,
We all pray to our national treasure.
Humans believe in multiple Gods,
Yet religion can be so unforgiving,
That is why we are all at odds,
Dying is the reason we are living.
Before we pass we live in hope,
That to Gods Heaven we will ascend,
If we don't, how would we cope,
As past mistakes we cannot amend.
Who made them and who made their maker?
Or are they all just one big illusion,
If they are that would be an Earth shaker,
All that would do is create more confusion.
Myself, well I've been thinking hard,
If these beings are so high and mighty,
The creator of the Gods I would have to regard,
‘' As One Very Powerful Deity ‘'
She reigns supreme For new friend Sid
The old gods sleep they are not dead
Although neglected still they wait
for worshippers who long since fled.
Hope to regain their former state.
This hope they cherish as they dream
of pomp and power and sacrifice
and in their wakeful moments scheme.
But all their schemes will not suffice.
To reinstate their golden days,
The days when they held pride of place
and worshippers sang in their praise.
Before they fell into disgrace.
Invaders came with foreign gods.
Displaced the local deities.
Though some survived against the odds
and still were worshipped secretly.
As fashions change new gods prevail
and the old gods are driven out
But true believers will not fail
They know without the slightest doubt.
Although in public they comply
with dictates of authority.
This is pretence for public show
but deep within their hearts they know.
The Mother Goddess rules us still
though she appears in different guise.
She always did and always will.
She is all seeing and all wise.
10-Jun-08
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Twilight Of The Gods
Insania 20 14
Weve thrown away our former gods
Controlling our day
We have created better ones
So we control the way
We are the ones with the power
To hold down the enemy
Our gods are perfection
And they are protecting our lives
We still need some more of them
To be safe from the other side
As long as were stronger
Nothing will happen to us
Fireflash in the night
Just an evil dream
Holy war in the sky. . . .never
Insania 20 16
Error in store 103
We watch the sun at night
The pretty gods weve built ourselves
Now terminate our lives
Silicon brain powered voices
Are crying attack tonight
In anger, burning our world
Doomsday has come
And there is no place to hide away
The future is over
And there is no turning back
Fireflash in the night
Now reality
Holy war in the sky. . . .
Chorus
Twilight of the gods
Insanias dead and gone
Another world was born
But the twilight soon will come
Fireflash in the night
Now reality
Holy war in the sky
Chorus
song performed by by Helloween
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Malediction
I am walking in the last rays of the setting sun.
Whistling a hangmans tune with head held high swinging my gun.
I say this little boy is angry, I say this little boy is mad!
This little boy comes to destroy, stone-eyed, cold-faced in swathes of vengeance clad.
And the black cock crows. and a dead wind blows.
In my wake are seven men who tried to steal my soul.
In my belly six wild wolves curse and howl from their foul hole.
I say no earthly will may stop me, I say no earthly will may try.
No earthly will may halt the spill of blood from wounds and tears from craving eyes.
And the black cock crows. and a dead wind blows.
Below me burn the city lights like fires of pearls and jewels.
Im climbling down the city walls, unseen, unfussed - the sentries must be fools.
I say all pleasantries are over, I say all pleasantries are past.
My enemies, you pimps and thieves, prepare to meet your nemesis at last.
And the black cock crows. and the dead wind blows.
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ill Bet You A Kangaroo
(larry murray)
Well Ill bet you a kangaroo
We could all dance to a didjeridoo
Everybodys looking for something new
Bet you something old could get to you
Come on boys, give it a chance
Adelaide ladies just love to dance
Come on boys, give it a chance
All gods children just love to dance
Well Ill bet you a kangaroo
The worlds been waiting for a didjeridoo
Theres a new day coming and it wont be long
When we can all lean on a one-note song
Come on boys, give it a chance
London ladies just love to dance
Come on boys, give it a chance
All gods children just love to dance
Listen boys, I hear thunder
Rolling up from a way down under
Theres a flash on the horizon
Like a midnight sun arising
Matilda is awaking
The world is awaiting for a song
Youve been waltzing way too long
Matilda I think its time
You did a step all of your own
Youve been waltzing away too long
Matilda is awaiting
The world is awaiting for a song
Come on boys, give it a chance
Nashville ladies just love to dance
Come on boys, give it a chance,
All gods children just love to dance
Ill bet you a kangaroo
The worlds been waiting for a didjeridoo
Theres a new day coming and it wont be long
When we can all lean on a one-note song
Come on boys, give it a chance
Nashville ladies just love to dance
Come on boys, give it a chance
All gods children just love to dance
song performed by by Olivia Newton-John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Adventurer of God
They are solid steel, the rocks are built by gods,
Mountains and volcanoes are one, by gods.
Yet we see the lava flow and the abolishment,
To address them is to arrive at and abandon, by gods.
Any geographical feature on the map carries fascination,
One is adventured, one is fine with distortion, by gods.
The map is a remedy for the plain and ill, the happier,
Yellow streams and wooden forests are a distinction, by gods.
Let us laugh and be merry on this whole globe,
Let godliness reign supreme with this incantation, by gods.
The gods are lovable towards their kingdom,
The wishes of the valley are mine in slow-motion, by the gods.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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