Heraclitus
They told me, Heraclitus, they told me you were dead,
They brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed.
I wept, as I remembered, how often you and I
Had tired the sun with talking and sent him down the sky.
And now that thou art lying, my dear old Carian guest,
A handful of grey ashes, long long ago at rest,
Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales, awake;
For Death, he taketh all away, but them he cannot take.
poem by William Johnson Cory
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Related quotes
Bitter Tears
In the mist
Of my endless search
The best in life
Becomes clear
The rest just begins
To fade by itself
Thats a trick I learnt
Though it took so long
Bitter tears taste so sweet
Chorus
Im seeing my way
For the first time in years
When the love around
Begins to suffer
And you cant find love
In one
In one another
Push away those bitter tears
Bitter tears
And I thought I was doing no wrong
And I thought I was doing no wrong
In the hour of your needs
Lips are trembling
Cause youre gonna be free
Realise what were doing here
The time is right to kill your fears
Bitter tears taste so sweet
Chorus
And I thought I was doing no wrong
Push away those bitter tears
Push away those bitter tears
Push away those bitter tears
Push away those bitter tears
Thats what they call doing no wrong
Thats what they call doing no wrong
Push away those bitter tears
Push away those bitter tears
Push away those bitter tears
Thats what they call doing no wrong
song performed by by INXS
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Itinerant Singing Girl
Fatherless and motherless, no brothers have I,
And all my little sisters in the cold grave lie;
Wasted with hunger I saw them falling dead -
Lonely and bitter are the tears I shed.
Friendless and loverless, I wander to and fro,
Singing while my faint heart is breaking fast with woe,
Smiling in my sorrow, and singing for my bread -
Lonely and bitter are the tears I shed.
Harp clang and merry song by stranger's door and board,
None ask wherefore tremble my pale lips at each word;
None care why the color from my wan cheek has fled -
Lonely and bitter are the tears I shed.
Smiling and singing still, tho' hunger, want, and woe,
Freeze the young life-current in my veins as I go;
Begging for my living, yet wishing I were dead -
Lonely and bitter are the tears I shed.
poem by Jane Francesca Wilde
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And She Is Left To Face The End Alone
She's lost the dearest love she has ever known
And now she has to face the end alone
Her only daughter's ashes gone to sea
But of others she doesn't need their sympathy.
A bright and lucid woman for her years
For her dead daughter she has shed many tears
She wept when there was no one there to see
And now of hurtful sorrow she feels free.
She feel glad that she has lived to see another Spring
To hear again the white backed magpie sing
And see the yellow flowers on wattle tree
And hear the grey thrush pipe his melody.
Her daughter's ashes borne miles away
By the sea currents from Port Phillip bay
And Thelma like old soldier soldier on
And all her childhood friends long dead and gone.
A braver or wiser woman I've not known
And she is left to face the end alone
Her only daughter's ashes gone to sea
But of others she doesn't seek their sympathy.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Love Has Remembered Me
Written by: myles goodwyn
Love wont remember me
Its been so long
And thats what Ive told myself
But you proved me wrong
You opened up my eyes
And helped me to see
That love has a way of finding
Those in need
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
It seems too long since weve been together
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
Its been so long, seemingly forever
Love has remembered, love has remembered me
I felt so all alone
And at times afraid
That love had foresaken me
It just seemed that way
Then you walked into my life
And you turned my whole world around
Ours is a true love
It cant be found
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
It seems too long since weve been together
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
Its been so long, seemingly forever
Love has remembered, love has remembered me
Love wont remember me
Its been so long
And thats what Ive told myself
But you proved me wrong
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
It seems too long since weve been together
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
Its been so long, seemingly forever
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
It seems too long since weve been together
Love has remembered me (love has remembered)
Its been so long, seemingly forever
Love has remembered
Love has remembered
Love has remembered
(love has remembered)
song performed by by April Wine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last Words
Dead! all's done with!
-- R. Browning.
These blossoms that I bring,
This song that here I sing,
These tears that now I shed,
I give unto the dead.
There is no more to be done,
Nothing beneath the sun,
All the long ages through,
Nothing--by me for you.
The tale is told to the end;
This, ev'n, I may not know--
If we were friend and friend,
If we were foe and foe.
All's done with utterly,
All's done with. Death to me
Was ever Death indeed;
To me no kindly creed
Consolatory was given.
You were of earth, not Heaven. . .
This dreary day, things seem
Vain shadows in a dream,
Or some strange, pictured show;
And mine own tears that flow,
My hidden tears that fall,
The vainest of them all.
How Long
‘How long is it dear, since we were wed,
when first I ventured into your bed.
We’ve made it through together since then,
time filled with laughter, and counting to ten’.
‘How long is it since we were wed,
teapot filled up, toast with butter spread.
Memories formed and loved treasures kept,
times of bright smiles, moments when we’ve wept’.
‘How long is it dear since we were wed,
letters and cards, so numerous, read.
Funny jokes told and stories so sad,
accepting good, along with the bad’.
‘How long is it dear, since we were wed,
and what’s for us in the times ahead.
Shall we go on in the same old way,
each looking back to our own heyday’.
‘How long is it since we were wed,
no, cannot remember either, Ted.
But never mind, it was long ago,
and anyway I still love you so’.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Tootie
You put a rose in my hand
Put a dollar in my pocket
But you dont understand
How the days grow longer, the sky is black as night
I see the morning but you wont see the light
I thought about you for a long, long time
I wrote about you but my words dont seem to rhyme
And now youre lying here
But my heart still beats for you
Had a dream about you
You sat right down beside me
And you told me we were through
It was all so real and you told me reasons why
You brought me to the window
And you taught me how to fly
I thought about you for a long, long time
I said I love you but we just dont have the time
And now youre lying here
But my heart still beats for you
I thought to hold you for a long, long time
You said I love you but my heart wont seem to chime in
And now youre lying here
And my heart still beats for you...Im trying, and my heart still beats for you
song performed by by Hootie & The Blowfish
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall
(words & music by larry gatlin)
I told her to leave me alone
Thats what shes done, just what shes done
And a house built for two, aint a home
When its lived in by one, one lonely one
And I can no longer hear footsteps, come right down the hall
Here come the teardrops, bitter they are, harder they fall
She caught me lying, then she caught a train
And I caught a fever walking home in the rain
Oh yeah!
But its over and Im done
She left me once and for all
Here come the teardrops, bitter they are, harder they fall
Here come the teardrops, bitter they are, harder they fall
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Dream
I heard the dogs howl in the moonlight night;
I went to the window to see the sight;
All the Dead that ever I knew
Going one by one and two by two.
On they pass'd, and on they pass'd;
Townsfellows all, from first to last;
Born in the moonlight of the lane,
Quench'd in the heavy shadow again.
Schoolmates, marching as when they play'd
At soldiers once - but now more staid;
Those were the strangest sight to me
Who were drown'd, I knew, in the awful sea.
Straight and handsome folk, bent and weak, too;
Some that I loved, and gasp'd to speak to;
Some but a day in their churchyard bed;
Some that I had not known were dead.
A long, long crowd - where each seem'd lonely,
Yet of them all there was one, one only,
Raised a head or look'd my way;
She linger'd a moment - she might not stay.
How long since I saw that fair pale face!
Ah! Mother dear! might I only place
My head on thy breast, a moment to rest,
While thy hand on my tearful cheek were prest!
On, on, a moving bridge they made
Across the moon-stream, from shade to shade,
Young and old, women and men;
Many long-forgot, but remembered then,
And first there came a bitter laughter;
A sound of tears a moment after;
And then a music so lofty and gay,
That eve morning, day by day,
I strive to recall it if I may.
poem by William Allingham
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You would have understood me, had you waited
You would have understood me, had you waited;
I could have loved you, dear! as well as he:
Had we not been impatient, dear! and fated
Always to disagree.
What is the use of speech? Silence were fitter:
Lest we should still be wishing things unsaid.
Though all the words we ever spake were bitter,
Shall I reproach you dead?
Nay, let this earth, your portion, likewise cover
All the old anger, setting us apart:
Always, in all, in truth was I your lover;
Always, I held your heart.
I have met other women who were tender,
As you were cold, dear! with a grace as rare.
Think you, I turned to them, or made surrender,
I who had found you fair?
Had we been patient, dear! ah, had you waited,
I had fought death for you, better than he:
But from the very first, dear! we were fated
Always to disagree.
Late, late, I come to you, now death discloses
Love that in life was not to be our part:
On your low lying mound between the roses,
Sadly I cast my heart.
I would not waken you: nay! this is fitter;
Death and the darkness give you unto me;
Here we who loved so, were so cold and bitter,
Hardly can disagree.
poem by Ernest Christopher Dowson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Can You Hear Them?
So sick and tired of living
And so afraid to die
I've lived so many lives
And still I wonder why
The way the world perceives me
Is not the way I am
The one half thinks I'm crazy
The other thinks I'm mad
I spent a long long time alone in my room
I need your help to get me out of this gloom
Can you hear them
All the voices in my head
They freak me out
Can you hear them
They won't be happy 'till I'm dead
They freak me out
Ten thousand million nightmares
Temptation by the score
I used to get so high
And still I wanted more
You think my time is wasted
In search of who I am
I tried to so hard to kill
The boy inside the man
I spent a thousand years one night in my room
I've lived so many lives and that is my doom
Can you hear them
All the voices in my head
They freak me out
Can you hear them
They won't be happy 'till I'm dead
They freak me out
Can you hear them
All the voices in my head
They freak me out
Can you hear them
They won't be happy 'till I'm dead
They freak me out
I never thought I'd smile again
Always thought I'd be here on my own
Sometimes when I'm down
You come and save me again
And again
And again
And again
I'll never understand it
It makes no sense at all
Just look at what I've done
It's time to count the score
I've spent a long long time alone in my room
I need your help to get me out of this gloom
Can you hear them
All the voices in my head
They freak me out
Can you hear them
They won't be happy 'till I'm dead
They freak me out
Can you hear them
All the voices in my head
They freak me out
Can you hear them
They won't be happy 'till I'm dead
They freak me out
song performed by by Ozzy Osbourne from Down To Earth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mine Host
There stands a hostel by a travelled way;
Life is the road and Death the worthy host;
Each guest he greets, nor ever lacks to say,
"How have ye fared?" They answer him, the most,
"This lodging place is other than we sought;
We had intended farther, but the gloom
Came on apace, and found us ere we thought:
Yet will we lodge. Thou hast abundant room."
Within sit haggard men that speak no word,
No fire gleams their cheerful welcome shed;
No voice of fellowship or strife is heard
But silence of a multitude of dead.
"Naught can I offer ye," quoth Death, "but rest!"
And to his chamber leads each tired guest.
poem by John McCrae
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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So William Is Not Dying
i have long told
you, a poem is
detached from
the poet
the stranger
talking to you
might have
been
talking about
another
stranger too
be detached
like
a mirror
and yet
so immersed
in the
image of your
own face
the realities
we write
are lies
behind
the realities
of others
william
has just told
you
the reality
of death
and he pretended
it was him
in that coffin
surrounded by
friends, parents
and children
and lovers
could be just
all in his mind
but the truth
has been told
and you
received them
fairly verily
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bitter Heart
Why is your heart bitter?
What have I said?
What have I done?
Forgot that I nurtured you
My son?
Yet in my need
Your heart revealed
A blind spot
A bad seed
If someone told me
I would not believe
But you did it to me
Which I could cry
But my tears are punctured
And like a dead man
Your inconsideration rips
Why is your heart bitter?
What have I said?
What have I done?
No compassion
No empathy
If I were you
I could not sleep
My conscience
Would torment me
If I were you
I could not see
My eyes would be red-hot
Hotter than the sun
This is horrid
Buried deep within
Unmask it now
Stunt its growth
Don't let it flourish
Pluck it from the root
And kill it!
poem by Buxton Shippy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Begone wan ghost what wantest thou.
Why dost thou haunt me constantly
I owe no duty now to thee
I did whilst thou didst live but now
There is no law that doth allow
a long dead wife to harass me.
When kindly death hath set me free.
I suffered thy tongue long enow.
Thou wert a shrew with bitter tongue.
Thou didst not hesitate to use
to make my life a misery.
The choice I made when I was young
led to a lifetime of abuse.
God knows I am well rid of thee.
Sunday,07 February 2010.
http: // blog myspace.com/poeticpiers
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Eyes Have Been Open
Listen...
You've already been conditioned,
To ignore those voices of dissent.
You sought to be entertained and absent...
While the government dipped from your savings,
With excuses to smother your common sense.
And now you wish for my opinion on this?
Didn't I give that to you...
As you refused my directness.
Choosing to be screwed by those in silk suits?
Believing my thoughts,
Were from someone bitter and distraught.
And now you feel used like a prostitute abused!
Listen...
Those sobs you hear are closer to your ears.
Not mine!
My eyes have been open for a long long time.
I've never been distracted by the facts.
Or a slick game played,
To backstab me from behind!
Alone and isolated.
With my integrity attacked.
That has been your affliction,
To provide a 'fix' to keep you addicted!
And now you have become sick,
From the overdose of it!
What words do you wish,
To hear spilling from my lips?
An empathy to pity you?
That wont happen today.
Remember you told me just yesterday...
My point of view you did not value!
And people like 'me'...
Will always find reasons to feel betrayed.
Remember you told me that...
Just yesterday?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Turncoat
Set me out forewarned
While the heather glistened,
Tramped the starbright road
While my lady listened,
Soldiers at the doors,
Muskets at the casement,
All Kilmarnock groaned,
Milady in the basement.
There the road to Ayr
There the road to Dumfries
Torn by here or there
Mauchline; there lay Humphries:
‘Where’s the Laird o’ Fife? ’
Pikemen swarm all over,
All the red stained coats
By Portsmouth, and by Dover.
‘Take the road, ’ she said,
‘Take it, I’ll come after,
Find the Laird o’ Fife,
Lead us back to laughter,
Tell them Scotland’s sons
Have been led to slaughter,
Let them beat their drums
And save the old Laird’s daughter.’
On to Auckinleck
While the moon shines brightly
Cumnock came and went,
The horse drops dead beside me;
Sleep I by the light,
Tramp by wood and water
Lonely, night by night
For the old Laird’s daughter.
Eyes that gleamed like stars
Lips that would despair me,
Hands so soft and fair,
Heart that would not spare me
Sat at Marchburns stream
Met a man called Donald:
‘The army’s in some dream,
The Laird is at Kirconnel.’
One more night on foot
I found the army lying –
‘Where’s the Laird of Fife? ’
‘In grief, the Laird is dying! ’
Then I saw his head
Bowed and grey and broken,
‘A horseman brought the news,
And news has brought a token.’
He showed me where the brooch
Was stained with bitter blood there,
From where Milady lay
He’d took it from her throat there,
And there the clasp was broke
Just where the pike had thrust it,
Had entered at her throat
And there the blood had rust it.
Late, by Kirk and brae
These nights there, have I wandered,
Each eve I sit and pray
For love so basely squandered;
I have worn the red,
Lain long in the heather,
Sought Milady’s bed
And loved her as no other.
‘Take the road, ’ she said,
But I had long betrayed her,
Left her with the dead,
With Humphries men, dismayed her,
On some night as this
And where my love is lying
Death will come as bliss,
And red will stain my piping.
13 August 1996
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Wanna Hear It From Your Lips
(eric carmen/dean pitchford)
I hear it from my friends
I hear it on the street
I hear it in the air, here and there, everywhere
And from everyone I meet
And every time I hear you love me
Ooh, my heart skips
But I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh, you never told me)
I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh)
I hear it in my car
I hear it on the phone
I hear it in a crowd, nice and loud, completely now
I hear it when Im all alone
And every time I hear you love me
Ooh, my heart skips
But I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh, you never told me)
I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh)
Everybodys been told, and the whole world knows
Just how good our love is gonna be
But ooh-ee (ooh-ee), baby (baby)
You never told me
You never told me
I see it in your eyes
I feel it in your touch
You even found a way you can say all you mean
But you never say too much
And if youd only say you love me
Ooh, my heartll flip
And I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh, you never told me)
I got to hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh you never told me)
Baby, baby, I got to have it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh, you never told me)
I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh, you never told me)
I wanna hear it from your lips
(you never told me, ooh, you never told me)
I wanna hear it from your lips
song performed by by Eric Carmen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Night
SWIFTLY walk o'er the western wave,
Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave,--
Where, all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear
Which make thee terrible and dear,--
Swift be thy flight!
Wrap thy form in a mantle grey,
Star-inwrought!
Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day;
Kiss her until she be wearied out.
Then wander o'er city and sea and land,
Touching all with thine opiate wand--
Come, long-sought!
When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sigh'd for thee;
When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,
And the weary Day turn'd to his rest,
Lingering like an unloved guest,
I sigh'd for thee.
Thy brother Death came, and cried,
'Wouldst thou me?'
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,
Murmur'd like a noontide bee,
'Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?'--And I replied,
'No, not thee!'
Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon--
Sleep will come when thou art fled.
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, beloved Night--
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!
poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Long Way Home Long Way Home
Walking down an alien street a miserable day in February,
thought he was dreaming asked what am I doing here.
The buildings and people are not as he remembered as
a child. He tried to cross the street but cars kept coming.
A woman took his arm and helped him to cross.
They told him he had lived here for twenty years but
told him in English as he didn't understand the language
these strange people spoke. Tired he sat down at
pavement café, a man asked him what he wanted… he didn't
now so the kind man brought him coffee.
I must find my way home, he said to himself, but I don't know
where it is. Then he remembered that his mother was dead,
he had been asleep, and as he slept the world changed and
he was lost in a future that was not his.
poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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