Pride Comes Before A Fall
The great one does not last a champion in his prime
He lost to a younger man with some help from father time
The years had left him slow time takes care of us all
He defended his pride but pride comes before a fall.
And even what a difference five or six years can make
To keep on keeping on for him a big mistake
He should have called it quits a couple of years ago
For the money he kept going though the years had left him slow.
Once feted and admired but that was in the past
And he too had his day and nothing ever last
He went down rather tame to one that he once would beat
And for one proud as he there is no pride in defeat.
The beaten one this time he has called it a day
Though perhaps six years ago he should have given his game away
But his pride kept him going wisdom never was his friend
And his glory day for him one might say at an end.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
My Friends Back In My Prime Years
My friends back in my prime years I never did disown
It's just that I live far from them and apart we have grown
We drank and played football together but our separate ways we've gone
And we have forged new friendships and life of course goes on.
My friends back in my prime years may now look a bit gray
And they might not know me or I might not know them if by chance we met today
In my memory they have remained young but in reality
The years have left their mark on them as the years have left their mark on me.
Old father time the aloof one to anyone doesn't bow
And some of my friends of my prime years may be grand parents now
Perhaps they now are showing their age and time has left them slow
They could run fast as I recall some twenty years ago.
My friends back in my prime years I may now not recognize
For time leaves it's mark on all of us I've come to realize
I drunk beer with them in the pub and with them played football
And that was many years ago as I can well recall.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Once Mighty Bay
Fifteen years ago he could run as fast as the wind
The champion group 1 gelding of the thoroughbred kind
At the big City race tracks big races he won
The big bay in his prime was the Nation's number one
Racehorse and highest stakes winner and the one to beat
In his racing life he never tasted defeat
But in his retirement his face looking gray
A shadow of the horse he once was is the ageing big bay
In his younger years he was the Nation's pride
And to watch him race people came from places far and wide
But it has been awhile now since he was in his prime
And he is losing out to the father of time
And like every dog every race-horse has it's day
He can scarce raise a trot now the once mighty bay.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Cormac Dinneen
They wanted him in Kerry to play with their football team
But Cormac he loved Millstreet and he wore their famous green
And he too wore the red Cork jersey with passion and with pride
A legend in his playing days and he was known far and wide.
I watched him play as a veteran when he was past his prime
Way back in the late fifties some forty years in time
Against one ten years younger he more than held his own
A marvellous defender then one of the finest known.
The Millstreet fans they loved him a player they did revere
He never shirked a challenge a stranger to all fear
He never was found wanting when he was put to the test
And in the Cork County colours he played against the best.
When Millstreet's elder gaelic football fans talk of the Millstreet greats they've seen
A player they always mention is the great Cormac Dinneen
To them he was one of Millstreet's best and they still heap upon him praise
For he was one of their heroes in Millstreet's glory days.
And though time catch up on everyone and the years have made him slow
He was a Cork and Millstreet great some fity years ago
And in forty eight when Millstreet won the County he lived up to his name
As one of Ireland's best defenders then in the Gaelic football game.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
This pride of mine
Is it my absurd pride,
Which countenanced you to take off and run?
Is it my rainbow pride,
Which made you flee to the searing sun?
I beg of you
Stop! Think twice
A little pride is better than nice.
That is a saying plausibly far from wise!
If your love could fall once more out of the sky
This pride of mine I throw out amply to the sea
I tell no lie and I speak no lies
This pride of mine, I’ll give to another for free
For years and years
I have chewed over on my pride
Crying out inside beclouded tears
Our love went down with a dingy backslide
But! But!
This pride of mine was too blind to see
Sometimes it draws out the beauty in me
Sometimes it sheds out the ugly in me
Like leaves falling off once a blossoming tree
This pride of mine
Needs to resign
This pride of mine
Isn’t sweeter than wine
But! But!
If your love could fall once more out of the sky
This pride of mine I throw out amply to the sea
I promise to be humble, humble and humble
For upon your type of love I may never stumble!
Copyright 2006 - Sylvia Chidi
poem by Sylvia Chidi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Pride Cometh Before the Fall
Humility was discussing Pride with Heart:
Heart had decided Pride was a great asset.
Discretion chimed in with a hearty disagreement,
“You roll in the pit with this swine! ”
Humility was being denied his rightful place.
Prudence, the brother of Discretion,
Had been outlawed throughout the land
As soon as Pride convinced Heart
That it was he who should take Prudence’s place.
Mistrust had been bound and gagged while he attempted to speak his piece
But Ignorance was allowed to stay.
Knowledge and Experience tried to warn Heart
But he could not see as Pride blocked his view,
Keeping Heart’s attention for his plan.
Now there was only one thing left to do.
Superstition was led to the far reaches of the dwelling
All the while crying out the time old saying,
“Pride cometh before the fall, ” but no one could hear it.
“Ah, ” Pride sighed with relief, “peace and quiet at last! ”
Unbeknownst, there was a rebellious force rising
To defeat that pig called Pride.
He was being a hog with Heart.
A plan was laid and put into play.
There was a knock on Heart’s door and Pride,
Thinking he’d rid this dwelling of rebels,
Gladly offered the guest to enter.
Only, his friend Ignorance was not at this door, no,
Love entered. Pride sprang to his feet,
“You? ! ? What are you doing here? ! ? ”
“I would like a meeting with Heart, if you’d be so kind.”
Heart, having just spoken with Sincere and Individual,
Decided for himself to let Love have his desired appointment.
Heart had a long stay with Love and
With much dismay, Pride knew he had been beaten.
For as the saying goes, “Love conquers all! ”
And now we know: Pride surely cometh before the fall...
Just no one ever mentioned it was the fall into Love.
07-30-2008
poem by Rachel Williams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Little Susan
Air -- "The Pride of Caldair"
Once there was a little girl
And her friends loved her dear --
Her parents loved their little one,
She did their hearts cheer.
They loved their little darling,
As with them she did roam,
They called her little Susan,
The pride of their home.
Blue eyes had little Susan,
And light flaxen hair,
And she was a pleasant child to see,
So beautiful and fair.
With her parents she will never more
On earth with them roam --
They loved their little Susan,
The pride of their home.
Her parents had more children,
There were nine of them all --
There are eight of them living,
For God but one called.
The flower of their family
God called to his home,
It was their little Susan,
The pride of their home.
Her friends will not forget her,
Though she died years ago --
It was John H. Moore's daughter,
Her age was four years old.
She is waiting in heaven,
Waiting for her friends to come
And be with their little Susan,
The pride of their home.
poem by Julia A Moore
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Future Is The Children's
The future is the children's and I am of the past
And I too had my young years but nothing ever last
On looking back the Seasons how quickly the years have gone
Old age is fast approaching and the clock ticks on and on.
The future is the children's the children of today
They have the gift of youth with them though youth with them won't stay
On looking back decades from now when time has left them slow
They will wonder as I do where did the years to go.
The years are catching up one me and time has left me gray
And the future is the children's that would be true to say
The people in their sixties are running out of time
And few of them will be living when today's children are in their prime.
The future is the children's and to them alone belong
And those who will tell you differently have somehow got it wrong
But the hands of time keep turning and time on none does wait
And all of us are branded with an invisible use by date.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Foolish Pride
There are times, we have what's called,
foolish pride and then there comes a time,
when we should cast it aside! Having too
much pride, can stand in your way and in
many a case, it just doesn't pay! You have
to know, when to say, enough, is enough,
why wait, until it's worse and the going, gets
rough? In some instances, it's okay to have
a little pride, be aware, when it gets out of
control, as too much of anything, can make
you, a lost soul! Don't let pride, stand in your
way, if you want to get someone's attention,
do it, in the proper manor and you won't have
any, intervention. So there you have it, you
know what too much pride, can do, try to
be cognizant, of what is, the best for you!
poem by Audrey Heller
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
No Matter How Long It Takes!
There is something about the 'not' caring,
That makes the more of it done.
When I hear someone say,
They could care less...
I know they care too much!
Usually that statement is made
By someone who wants to declare
A caring that had been there...
Is gone!
How wrong!
I remember in my 'last' relationship...
Which seems many years ago!
Well...
It was many years ago,
But that is not my point I wish to make!
I was told, 'I don't care about you.
Where you go or what you do! '
Of course,
I knew then that this was some kind of ploy.
To get me seduced to a manipulation of sorts!
Well...
That person left!
Believing I didn't think they really care.
I know they do!
And I have been waiting for an apology!
I am patient like that.
No matter how long it takes!
So if it has been thirty years?
I can be just as stubborn!
They will eventually realize the 'error' of their ways.
And I?
Well...
I do pride myself on having incredible patience.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
For You On Your Birthday
It’s March the second——
somehow again it has come.
Outside the weary sky yawns light
and I am feeling numb.
I should be calling you right now
on a tired telephone;
but I cannot bring myself to
pretend you will not condone.
Sitting silent in silent shadows
hugging my knees up close to me and deciding,
deciding.
It’s all about the decisions with you,
it’s all about the derisions with you.
I can’t say I don’t know this day,
I am the sun without the shine, dull
and unending,
my body here and now and frozen with
my heart trapped in time.
My breath trapped, locked
in my lungs.
You can stare and you can scorn
but you know me.
This is the correlation between dignity and pride.
What have you after all these years,
what have you left to hide?
What have you seen that made you refuse to
coincide?
It’s March the second, two years later,
still much where we were.
The days are turning, rotating crazy,
I remember a shining green hill and shimmery sky
and a daisy.
The funny thing is, you never had any
daisies.
My heart is like a broken drum, with broken beats
rum pum pum.
My heart is like a shattered mirror——
or do you hold your pride dearer?
This is the correlation between heartbreak and pride,
because you are breaking my heart
with every, every smile.
And all the while:
what have you after all these years
what have you left to hide?
Am I too young to see
this brutal
side?
Am I too young to see this
dream die?
I will watch the sunrise, watch the
sunset glisten into condensation
between my fingers,
waiting for the simile; for
the correlation:
March the second, here it comes,
it will come and it will come
and never stop coming.
Whatever you say now, it will last,
I’m going to live a long time.
So
this is the correlation between grace and pride.
What have you, after all these years,
what have you left to hide?
When every person lost of life has
raced before your eyes,
maybe then you’ll look up
in surprise.
Maybe then, I plead——
you’ll realize:
I won’t laugh and I won’t smile
when I reflect upon
all that took place here
even before
dawn.
poem by Caroline Weeks
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Daddys Song
Years ago I knew a man
He was my mothers biggest fan
We used to walk beside the sea
And hed tell how my life would be
When I grew up to be a man
Years ago we used to play
He used to laugh when I ran away
But when I fell and hurt my knee
He used to come and comfort me
And the pain would go away
Years ago I knew a boy
He was his daddys pride and joy
But when the daddy went away
It was such a rainy day
That he brought out all his toys
Now the momma did explain
Trying to take away the pain
He just couldnt understand
That his father was not a man
And it all was just a game
Years have passed and so have i
Making it hard to cry
And if and when I have a son
Let it all be said and done
Let all that sadness pass him by
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
On Seeing A Photograph
A photo of an ageing face stirs an old memory
He is plainly not a shadow of the man he used to be
His balding head is hoary gray his hair it was dark brown
When we played football as teenagers in the park in our Hometown.
He was a sprightly youth back then two years younger than I
On looking back the decades the years just seemed to fly
He played football worked in the fields and walked miles every day
But like me he seems the worst for wear the years have left us gray.
Perhaps we would be strangers now if by chance we did meet
We might not recognize each other in passing on the street
We age a little every day time of us all takes care
And leaves us looking in the end the very worst for wear.
A photograph of one I knew from many years ago
And he has aged as I have aged time on us all does show
We played football together when we were near to our life's prime
But in the end we all lose out to ageless father time.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Boys I Went To School With
We played football in the school yard and we swam in the Finnow
But the years go by so quickly and to father time we bow
And the boys I went to school with perhaps now looking gray
And many of them from the Homeland shore like me live far away.
Many of the boys I went to school with and that's going back more than four decades in time
Are now ageing grand fathers and years beyond their prime
And those legs that could move so quickly some forty years ago
Now feeling tired and heavy and their fastest pace is slow.
The boys I went to school with have known a better day
And that time takes care of everyone it would be fair to say
Our young years went too quickly and time just flitted by
And on looking back it seems like only yesterday when I was a school boy.
Some of the boys I went to school with to the grim reaper have gone
But life back in the old Hometown as usual carries on
And in the fields near Millstreet Town where the rank rushes grow
The Finnow on towards Drishane and the Blackwater flow.
Most of the boys I went to school with I have not seen for years
But for my fading memories I don't have any tears
We played football in the school yard and in Summer swam in the Finnow
But the years go by so quickly and to father time we bow.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Too Much Pride
Say good morning this is your lucky day
Most of your problems theyre gonna slip away
Oh Im gonna help you, I can show you the way
So give me so time my friend and hear what I say
You got too much pride, too much pride
Drive yourself crazy, you got too much pride
Take a look at the downside anyway that you choose
Out here on the upside you aint got nothing to lose
Oh Im gonna help you, I can show you the way
So give me some time my friend and hear what I say
You got too much pride, too much pride
Drive yourself crazy, you got too much pride
Too much pride it will drive you wild
It will burn your soul, cut you deep inside
Drag you down, get in your way
So take a look my friend listen what I say
You got too much pride, too much pride
Drive yourself crazy, you got too much pride
song performed by by Chris Rea
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Walkaway
Theres a river of tears I need to cry.
Been holding back for years.
Theres a mountain so high I need to climb.
To wipe away the fears.
Solitude and loneliness
Have been a friend of mine.
As Im turning my back on emptiness.
I leave them all behind.
Who knows
Just where Im going.
Does tomorrow belong to me.
Walk away this time with my head up high
Walk away just me and myself.
Walk away with pride nothing left to hide.
But it just feels right to be one
And just walkaway
I could never forget how hard I tried.
When we were oh so young.
Just one tender moment I cannot find.
Well maybe I had none.
Strength will be by my side.
Although I feel afraid.
But I know its too late for this goodbye.
Theres nothing left to say.
Who knows
Just where Im going.
Does tomorrow belong to me.
Walk away this time with my head held high
Walk away just me and myself.
Walk away with pride nothing left to hide.
But it just feels right to be one
And just walkaway this time.
One day youll realise
That the tears you saw in my eyes.
Will be there forever.
Walk away this time with my head up high
Walk away just me and myself.
Walk away with pride nothing left to hide.
But it just feels right to be one
And just walkaway
Just walkaway
And just walkaway
(repeat to fade)
song performed by by Geri Halliwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
As Years Go By
Tell me how the years go by
Its been a long long time
Tell me how your plans fell through
And how you changed your mind
Tell me bout the hearts you broke
How many have you known
Tell me how the years went by
And left you all alone
Tell me dear
I want to hear
bout the lost and wasted years
Tell me when now tell me why
Tell me how the years go by
Tell me how the years go by
Like borrowed dancing shoes
That gather dust beneath your ned
Mislaid and seldom used
Like a heart that haunts a phone booth
On a corner far from home
Tell me how the years went by and left you
All alone
Close your eyes
Tell me what do you see
Its an imperfect world
Still we dream perfect dreams
Its no big surprise when were down on our knees
Truth isnt always what we will believe.
Tell me how the years go by
In seasons at your door
And how the things you left me for
Dont matter anymore
Tell me how the more we learn
The more we leave unknown
Tell me how the years went by and left you
All alone
Alone
Close your eyes (x3)
song performed by by Level 42
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Identity Crisis!
When born, I was called “baby”
And later they called me “Abby”
Within 5 years they called me “student”
And for 7 years, like that I spent
Then they called me “teen”
I loved it and felt like a queen
Then I was called “woman”
And those times, were the best
Then some one tied a knot and called me “wife”
I hated those times, it was horrible and gross
In years I became “mother”
It was beautiful but tough
Then being called “grandma”
My times got better and better
Then at last I was called “old”
And my body was frail and cold
All this time I wondered,
Where my identity has gone
Some where in the middle, I had lost it
Through the ages, I had a crisis
An identity crisis to say!
DECEMBER 23,2008
poem by Sania Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Favourites
Authors are funny creatures
whenever we write.
Most of the time
we don’t like what we’ve written,
but there are occasions
when we will write something
that we really do like,
then we hate
letting that fledgling out of the nest.
I’ve been writing for more years
than I really care to admit,
and yes, I have my favourites
among all the writing I’ve done.
A novel called Blind Tiger
has never left the nest
and a short story called
The Man Who Was Always Late,
again never seen by anyone.
However is saying that,
there have been a couple
I have actually let go.
Both were originally song lyrics,
which I’ve turned into poems.
One I actually sang in a concert at one time
with the curious title of
I’ll Take All The Blame.
The other has really done me proud,
it has reached the dizzy heights
of the top 500 poems here.
It was only released
because I felt it was the only good thing
I had at the time
and is called
Just Beyond The Sunset.
I loved it when I wrote it
on a merry-go-round
some forty odd years ago
as I looked towards the west
at a setting sun.
Now it is the best-loved poem I have
with another fifteen others
adding it to their favourites as well.
26 December 2007
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Vic and Vo
When one remembers Vo Rogue the famous race horse one remembers his trainer Victory Rail
For they were great together and they never seemed to fail
To give value for money Vo Rogue the gallant bay
Was a champion on pace galloper who often led all of the way
The mighty weight for age horse who galloped without shoes
He won many group races and was seldom seen to lose
Well trained by the likeable Vic and ridden by Cyril Small
Their feats Australian racegoers forever will recall.
Not one bred in the purple and of an unfashionable breed
But when the starting gates flew open Vo bounded to the lead
An out and out front runner he did not need a racing plan
He galloped on relentlessly and 'twas beat him if you can.
Since Vo Rogue was a champion a decade has gone by
And on looking back those years have sped how time just seems to fly
He must be getting on in years and time has left him slow
And where he lives in retirement now I wouldn't even know
And as for Vic Rail well he died young a rare bug laid him low
He lost his last battle in life five or six years ago
Around the trainer and his horse a legend it did grow
And racing folk will long recall the feats of Vic and Vo.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Couple More Years
I've got a couple more years on you, baby...that's all.
I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
And it ain't that I'm wiser...
It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you, baby.. that's all.
I've walked a couple more roads than you, baby...that's all.
And I'm tired of runnin' while you're only learning to crawl.
And you're headin somewhere...
But I've been to somewhere... and found it was nowhere at all.
And I've picked up a couple of years on you baby... that's all.
Now sayin' goodbye, girl don't never come easy at all.
But you've got to fly 'cuz you're hearin' those young eagles call.
And someday when you're older, you'll smile at a man strong and tall.
And you'll say I've got a couple more years on you, baby... that's all.
I've got a couple more years on you baby... that's all.
You'll say I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
It ain't that I'm wiser...
It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you baby... that's all.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!