Difference In The Dark
They say the pot calls every kettle black
and pokers poke fun always at a shovel,
and chiropractors call a doc a quack,
but please don’t call my home sweet home a hovel.
They say that every lawyer is a shark,
and that a sexy woman has to be a slut,
but I can’t tell the difference in the dark,
or when the light’s on, when my eyes are shut.
When standing up, a man deserves applause,
but if he can’t, what should you call his poker
when narrative can’t keep up with the laws
of nature, and the poker is a joker?
Inspired by a review by Charles Rosen of a new edition of the Essays of Montaigne published by Pléiade (NYR, February 14 2008) :
He was, in fact, only fifty-five years old, but he was already experiencing the sense of old age. In another essay he describes what advancing years have done to him. “I can no longer make children standing up” [perhaps that was considered a proof of virility in his time]….
A view of adultery as completely natural is developed at length…At one point he addresses all male readers directly: “And of you have cuckolded somebody”-and that logically means it will happen to you. In the East Indies, he reports, a married woman is expected to be chaste, but she is allowed to abandon herself to any man who gives her an elephant. The essay best reveals an essential trait of Montaigne: he had almost no sense of guilt-regret often enough, of course, but no guilt It is no wonder that he thought repentance more a nuisance than a virtue. “On Some Verses of Virgil” is not only a nostalgic and frank discussion of sex, but also a collection of misogynistic anecdotes and jokes, banalities and classical traditions, largely to establish that it is absurd to force women to live by rules fashioned by men, and to require them to believe that that are not interested in sex, when they are in fact more lascivious than men—having so much less to occupy them…The coexist happily. And the idea is reinforced by further commonplaces:
It is easier to attack one sex than to excuse the other. As we say: the ot calls the kettle black. [More literally, the poker makes fun of the shovel.]
2/2/08
poem by Gershon Hepner
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Related quotes
Shovel And Tongs
The Poker proposed to the shovel
That they should be man and wife,
'I think,' said he, 'that we could agree
As we journey along through life.'
The Shovel blushed as she answered,
'I thank you kindly, Mister,
But my promise belongs to the faithful Tongs,
So I only can be your sister.'
And when the couple were married
The Stove gave the Shovel away;
And it seemed too bad that the Poker, poor lad,
Was the Tongs' best man on that day.
But the Poker soon after was wedded
To the hearth broom, slender and slick;
And 'twas whispered about Mrs. Tongs was put out
Because he found comfort so quick.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs
The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and Tongs,
They all took a drive in the Park,
and they each sang a song, Ding-a-dong, Ding-a-dong,
Before they went back in the dark.
Mr Poker he sate quite upright in the coach,
Mr Tongs made a clatter and clash,
Miss Shovel was dressed all in black (with a brooch),
Mrs Broom was in blue (with a sash).
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
And they all sang a song!
'O Shovely so lovely!' the Poker he sang,
'You have perfectly conquered my heart!
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! If you're pleased with my song,
I will feed you with cold apple tart!
When you scrape up the coals with a delicate sound,
You enrapture my life with delight!
Your nose is so shiny! your head is so round!
And your shape is so slender and bright!
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
Ain't you pleased with my song?'
'Alas! Mrs Broom!' sighed the Tongs in his song,
'O is it because I'm so thin,
And my legs are so long - Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
That you don't care about me a pin?
Ah! fairest of creatures, when sweeping the room,
Ah! why don't you heed my complaint!
Must you needs be so cruel, you beautiful Broom,
Because you are covered with paint!
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
You are certainly wrong!'
Mrs Broom and Miss Shovel together they sang,
'What nonsense you're singing today!'
Said the Shovel, 'I'll certainly hit you a bang!'
Said the Broom, 'And I'll sweep you away!'
So the Coachman drove homeward as fast as he could,
Perceiving their anger with pain;
But they put on the kettle, and little by little,
They all became happy again.
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
There's an end of my song!
poem by Edward Lear
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4% Pantomime
The management said they were sorry
For the inconvenience you are suffering
And mr. booking agent, please have mercy
Dont book the jobs so far apart
We went up to griffith park
With a fifth of johnny walker red
And smashed it on a rock and wept
While the old couple looked on into the dark
Oh, richard, tell me if its poker
Oh, richard, tell me, whos got the joker and is it poker
Deuces wild, like an only child
Ill see what you got. how much is in the pot
You pay the tips and Ill collect the chips
Its a full house tonight -- everybody in town is a loser
Yeah, you bet
The dealers been dealing me bad hands
From the bottom of the deck without the slightest blush
And I dont know whether to call or check
But right now I feel like I got a royal flush
And my lady didnt show from frisco
But we had to go on with the show
Everybody got stoned -- it was a gas, it was a smash
Everybody got wrecked, checked. oh, oh, oh, oh.
Oh, belfast cowboy, lay your cards on the grade
Oh, belfast cowboy, can you call a spade a spade
Oh, richard, tell me, is the game poker
I cant understand who the fool is that holds this joker
Is it poker
Oh, belfast cowboy, lay your cards down on the table
Oh, belfast cowboy, do you think youre able
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Everyone calls it India, but I call it Home!
Everyone calls it India, but I call it home. The place where I grew up. Where I started life, met my first friends. Where life started to make sense. Everyone calls it India, but I call it home. When I am in trouble all my friends are there, but most of all my home saves me from all. Where I learned to speak and learned my ABCs. Everyone calls it India, but I call it home. Where I learned to walk, I took my first steps but then fell, my home was there to rescue me. Where life started to make sense, its not just India, it’s my home. Everyone calls it India, but I call it home
poem by Innocent Angel
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A Game Of Poker
A deck of cards, and I think of the game poker
An ace is a joker
Or a choker
In the game of poker
You can win from behind
With five, four or three of a kind
Never be in a rush
To dish out a flush
When you do, rub it in a a blush
This game of poker, I love so much
Every card and every single touch
Winners, beginners, high shakers and losers
poem by Sylvia Chidi
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Where's the Poker?
The poker lost, poor Susan storm'd,
And all the rites of rage perform'd;
As scolding, crying, swearing, sweating,
Abusing, fidgetting, and fretting.
"Nothing but villany, and thieving;
Good heavens! what a world we live in!
If I don't find it in the morning,
I'll surely give my master warning.
He'd better far shut up his doors,
Than keep such good for nothing whores;
For wheresoe'er their trade they drive,
We vartuous bodies cannot thrive."
Well may poor Susan grunt and groan;
Misfortunes never come alone,
But tread each other's heels in throngs,
For the next day she lost the tongs;
The salt box, colander, and pot
Soon shar'd the same untimely lot.
In vain she vails and wages spent
On new ones--for the new ones went.
There'd been (she swore) some dev'l or witch in,
To rob or plunder all the kitchen.
One night she to her chamber crept
(Where for a month she had not slept;
Her master being, to her seeming,
A better play fellow than dreaming).
Curse on the author of these wrongs,
In her own bed she found the tongs,
(Hang Thomas for an idle joker!)
In her own bed she found the poker,
With the salt box, pepper box, and kettle,
With all the culinary metal.--
Be warn'd, ye fair, by Susans crosses:
Keep chaste and guard yourselves from losses;
For if young girls delight in kissing,
No wonder that the poker's missing.
poem by Christopher Smart
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Black Boys In The Corner
Black Boys On The Corner (Lynott)
------------------------
One of the black boys said
"I need none of your pity"
It's your mama that don't
Like you loose in the city
But stick about, take note
Take a tip, take no back lip
Come come a little closer
Let me see you snap your fingertip
Because standing on the corner
Just might suit you or maybe baby
There's something else you wanna do
Like rolling dice, nice
Like shooting pool, hey that's cool
I'm a little black boy and I don't know my place
I'm just a little black boy, I just threw my ace
I'm a little black boy, recognize my face
One of the black boys said
"I'm a giving a warning"
"People been putting me down"
"I'm so tired I'm yawning"
A new suit, pretty boots to boot
And I'm feeling slick
Gonna go to town, look around
And pull a chick
Of course standing on the corner
Might suit you or maybe baby
There's something else that you wanna do
Like playing poker, joker
Like to back a race, ace
I'm a little black boy and I don't know my proper place
I'm a little black boy, get my head in its space
I'm a little black boy, I just play my bass
I'm a little black boy, it's no disgrace
song performed by by Thin Lizzy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Standing On The Outside
I aint livin here no more, I aint even keepin score
Its too late to change, its over, Im drownin in a sea of tears
Nothin I can say to you makes any difference
There aint nothin I can do, none of its makin sense
Chorus:
Standing on the outside - Im lookin in at you - standing on the outside
Standing on the outside - Im running out of time - standing on the outside
Im so tired of bein alone in a world that feels so cold
Theres got to be a light that I can find
Theres got to be a soul somewhere that shines for me
Now I dont want to live without love anymore, I just wanna live my life
Loves gonna open up the door, show me its light again
(chorus)
Nothin I can say to you makes any difference
There aint nothin I can do, none of its makin sense
Standing on the outside - Im lookin in at you - standing on the outside
Standing on the outside - what can I do - standing on the outside
Standing on the outside - Im lookin in at you
Standing on the outside - yes Im lookin in at you
Standing on the outside - Im lookin in at you... (to fade)
song performed by by Meat Loaf
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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They Who Prepare My Evening Meal Below
They who prepare my evening meal below
Carelessly hit the kettle as they go
With tongs or shovel,
And ringing round and round,
Out of this hovel
It makes an eastern temple by the sound.
At first I thought a cow bell right at hand
Mid birches sounded o'er the open land,
Where I plucked flowers
Many years ago,
Spending midsummer hours
With such secure delight they hardly seemed to flow.
poem by Henry David Thoreau
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My Best Friend Danny
I met him in nineteen fifty-six
he was my best friend
him and I, was always in a fix
of our fights, we always did mend.
There was the time
we painted the fence
wanted to do the job, real fine
used a whole gallon of paint
it didn't make sense
my brother dave asked,
'What happened to all the paint'?
when we told him, 'We used it all, '
he laughed, I thought, he was going to faint,
thru the years, with that story,
we have really had a ball
Then there was the time
we tried to chop down the tree
my brother got mad, but the three was mine
oh, we were so care-free
I never forget the racoon,
that followed us home,
he seemed to like our radio
that was playing a tune
the racoon, seemed so a lone
I never forgot the indian head
pennies, he sold me,
he stole them, of crime he led,
he had taken them from his dad
I should have known, he sold them so cheap
to get them back, his father was glad
He always did something
to me that was real mean
to make up, a present he would bring
of our friendship, he would lean
He taught me how to smoke
this you say, you call a friend.
when I could have had a stroke,
but he always had money to lend
When I didn't have any friends at all,
Danny was always, by my side
and it sure made me feel tall
if any one picked on me, he would
beat their hide
Every one called him and I a clown,
each one laughed so hard
that it, really brought them down,
at poker, he could really hide a card
Every morning before school
we played poker, he cheated a lot
and with him, I wanted to fight a duel
but he told me 'I cheat not.'
Of the down town loop, we did ride
in nine-teen fifty-nine
our car through the streets, would glide
trying to find girls
that would be his or mine
In nine-teen sixty, my dog shep died,
it was very depressing and sad
him and I, all day we cried
it made me unhappy and a little mad
In nine-teen sixty-two
he joined the army
I tried to join, but didn't make it
those days were very stormy
after what he went through,
I didn't mind a bit
In nine-teen sixty-seven
the army let him go,
at home at last, I thought I was
in heaven
but I soon found out, it wasn't so
The army had changed him, in many ways
Danny was not the same anymore
as I looked back, at those good old days
when I always heard him, knock on the door
All he wanted to do now, is go drink
he could'nt sit still very long
and he was really starting to sink
he had seen action, against the Viet Cong
Next to him one night
a man's throat was slashed, a man who was kind
it wasn't good, or right
and what it must have done, to Danny's mind
Over the years, I saw him, until eighty-one
hav'nt seen him since
remember well, good times and all the fun
Danny where ever you are,
you are still my best friend
does that make sense.
Black Boys On The Corner
One of the black boys said
I need none of your pity
Its your mama that dont
Like you loose in the city
But stick about, take note
Take a tip, take no back lip
Come come a little closer
Let me see you snap your fingertip
Because standing on the corner
Just might suit you or maybe baby
Theres something else you wanna do
Like rolling dice, nice
Like shooting pool, hey thats cool
Im a little black boy and I dont know my place
Im just a little black boy, I just threw my ace
Im a little black boy, recognize my face
One of the black boys said
Im a giving a warning
People been putting me down
Im so tired Im yawning
A new suit, pretty boots to boot
And Im feeling slick
Gonna go to town, look around
And pull a chick
Of course standing on the corner
Might suit you or maybe baby
Theres something else that you wanna do
Like playing poker, joker
Like to back a race, ace
Im a little black boy and I dont know my proper place
Im a little black boy, get my head in its space
Im a little black boy, I just play my bass
Im a little black boy, its no disgrace
song performed by by Thin Lizzy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Western Paper
Women throughout history have been generally looked upon as being the weaker sex, and to be the lesser of the two. The Old Testament and the New Testament gives two different views on how women were viewed in each of their times. Throughout these two, changes to christianity occured, and that is the justification behind the differences.
The Old Testament of the bible gives a description of how women were viewed during that time. It depicts what would now be considered obsurd practices of treating women. For example, women that were not married were not allowed to leave their fathers house, women were viewed mainly for child bearing, and that they were not allowed to appear in public venues. Specific references in the book of Genesis show that women were objectified and often used as sexual objects. After doing some research, the book of Exodus reveals that women were considered property of her father untill she became married, where then, ownership would transfer and she would become property of her new husband. Women were treated unjustly and unfairly during this time, and were regarded as being 'dirty' for being a woman.
The New Testament has somewhat of a mixed view on the equality of women to men, but it certainly gives more credit and justification to women being equal. There are still references in the New Testament to how women are considered unequal to men, but there are also new thoughts and ideas of equality of both sexes. Most blatently put, the book of John states that 'All people, men and women, have the opportunity to become children of god' implying that it was all inclusive, meaning both genders, all races, and all sexual orientations. In the same relation, the book of Galatians quotes 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus'.
The bible as a whole has mixed opinions on alot of things, and the standing of women is one of the indescrepencies that is shown. In the Old Testament more than the New Testament, women were objectified and looked down upon. They were viewed as property and as sexual objects. Men were quoted talking about having sex with a women against their will, and it also stated strict restrictions on how a woman should live her life. The New Testament began to shed a little bit more light on the subject, and started giving a little bit more credit and respect to women. Women, as far back as biblical times, have always been thought of as the lesser of the sexes. The contrast is prevalent between the standards of women in the Old and New Testament of the bible.
The arguement arises as to how sexist the bible is. Although I do not agree with the statement that the bible is sexist, I do believe that the way that the bible portrays women is unfair and that it is wrong to objectify women, but the bible ultimately says that God created men and women equal, and that Jesus Christ, the son of God, died for the sins of all people, not just for men.
Over the course of nature, and all the time of human existance on earth, women have be subjected to unfair treatment. The Old Testament gives a more harsh aspect to it, and the New Testament shows a litle bit more respect for women and their place in society. I think that christianity has become corrupt, but in the sense that people are caught up in the congregation aspect rather than the religious aspect of christianity, and are begining to miss the point, to fail to see what the main message in the bible really is.
Cinder Alley
Lovely lovely carol sue
I see the heel of the father
Crush the head of the serpent for you
An that beast who found
His way up to your room
You know the one the one
Whos colors are never true
Yeah you do
Yet all the while neath
His banner you did stand
neath the shadow of his wing
Do you remember
Sorrow stands near an close at hand
Sorrow stands an in sorrows hand
The burning ember
Hell come a cinder
Fire call the kettle black
The dark can only hinder it
It will not hold you back
Nor tear you asunder
And the good shepherd
Lo he left all the others
An went to look for you
Yes an he did find thee
An with bruised hands
He did unbind thee
Brought you out
Into the light of day
Hell come a cinder
Fire call the kettle black
The dark can only hinder it
It will not hold you back
Nor tear you asunder
O come and stand with me mother
As we wait for the masters voice
An head that way together
Hell come a cinder
Fire call the kettle black
The dark can only hinder it
It will not hold you back
Nor tear you asunder
song performed by by 16 Horsepower
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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From The West
How did this come about?
Of your opportunity and my opportunity;
For a child is born with a special name,
And like the interpretations of my love.
Forty years in the wilderness and of the vast difference,
But come here to see things for yourselves;
For you will need money like honey for your body and,
Molasses like the love of your mind on this lake.
I'm from the West and i want your love,
But you are the East and you've seen my face;
For the pot that calls the kettle black is around us.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Black And Blue
You never call me, babe,
Until your man is gone,
I know it's you
When I pick up the
telephone.
You ask me how I am
And if I'm doing well,
When all you want from
me
Is just to ring your bell.
Take your time, we can
do some lines,
'Cos it's alright.
We can feel fine drinking
midnight wine,
'Cos it's alright.
Black and blue, black
and blue,
I said come over here,
baby,
And love me till I'm
black and blue.
You got the key to love
Dressed in your innocent
smile,
You know you touched
me baby,
So won't you stay for a
while.
And take your time, we
can do some lines,
'Cos it's alright.
We can feel fine drinking
midnight wine,
'Cos it's alright.
Black and blue, black
and blue,
I said come over here,
baby,
And love me till I'm
black and blue.
Black and blue, black
and blue,
I said come over here,
baby,
And love me till I'm
black and blue.
(Solo)
Take your time, we can
do some lines,
'Cos it's alright.
We can feel fine drinking
midnight wine,
'Cos it's alright.
Black and blue, black
and blue,
I said come over here,
baby,
And love me till I'm
black and blue.
Black and blue, black
and blue,
I said come over here,
baby,
And love me till I'm
black and blue.
I said come over here,
baby,
And love me till I'm
black and blue.
Black and blue...
TOP
She's A Woman
She got everything I
need,
She makes me smile, she
makes me bleed.
'Cos she's a woman.
She got the end, she got
the means,
She's in my heart and in
my dreams
An' it makes me cry. I
wanna make her mine.
She ain't black, but, she
got soul,
She ain't young, she ain't
old,
She shine like silver, burn
like gold.
'Cos she's a woman,
she's a woman.
She got everything I
need,
She got comfort, she got
speed.
She's a woman, she's a
woman.
She do me bad, she do
me good,
She got the Gypsy in her
blood.
Cos' she's a woman,
she's a woman.
She ain't black, but, she
got soul,
She ain't young, she ain't
old,
Shine like silver, burn
like gold.
She's a woman, she's a
woman.
She got a fire in her eyes,
I know she sees through
all my lies,
'Cos she's a woman,
she's a woman.
I know I'm the danger
zone
If I leave her all alone.
'Cos she's a woman,
she's a woman.
She ain't black, but, she
got soul,
She ain't young, she ain't
old,
Shine like silver, burn
like gold.
She's a woman, woman,
She's a woman, she's a
woman.
(Solo)
She's a woman, woman,
She's a woman.
She got everything I
need,
She make me smile, she
make me bleed.
She's a woman, she's a
woman.
She got the end, she got
the means,
She, make me shiver in
my jeans.
'Cos she's a woman,
she's a woman.
She ain't black, but, she
got soul,
She ain't young, she ain't
old
She shine like silver, burn
like gold.
'Cos she's a woman,
she's a woman.
She's a woman...
pure text
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song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Initial feedback we got from people was that Poker could and should be a product in its own right. For us, that was definitely a case of us not seeing the forest for the trees since we are Poker nuts.
The Lady Wore Black
On a lonely walk this morning
A light mist in the air
Dark clouds laughing at me in silence
Casting shadows through my hair
In the distance I saw a woman
Dressed in black with eyes of grey
She wore her pain like a shackled spirit
Eternal life was her debt to pay
The lady wore black
Its the sign of the prisoners lives
The lady wore black
See the years through the tears in her eyes
The lady wore black
Her mystic power calls to me
The lady wore black
Her love can set me free
The wind song whispered a warning
Telling me to beware
Of the quiet shadowed woman
And of the sadness I would share
We sat together for sometime together in silence
Never speaking in words
Of all her thoughts she spoke with her eyes
And I listened remembering all I heard
The lady wore black
Its the sign of the prisoners lives
The lady wore black
See the years through the tears in her eyes
The lady wore black
Her mystic power calls to me
The lady wore black
Her love can set me free
The words she spoke were of forgotten lives
And of all knowledge gained
Memries I had and didnt know why
With a smile she explained
I should have listened to the winds cold warning
And walked the other way
I touched her soul and now I bear her sentence
But for her love Ill gladly pay
The lady wore black
Its the sign of the prisoners lives
The lady wore black
See the years through the tears in her eyes
The lady wore black
Her mystic power calls to me
The lady wore black
Her love can set me free
song performed by by Queensryche
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Our Piece Of Heaven
Heaven is where the heart lies
and the heart lies where it calls home
and home is always
where you hang your hat.
So this conclusion is evident
heaven has to be a place
we call our home.
We can travel the world far and wide;
enjoy the places that we visit.
We are always thankful
whenever our travels end
and we are back where we started.
Our piece of heaven
that place we call our home.
13 February 2008
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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