Related quotes: by Bob Dylan "Twas down...

The Death Of Emmett Till (Live On Radio) [Oct 62, Billy Faier Radio Show, NYC]

by Bob Dylan
"Twas down in Mississippi no so long ago,
When a young boy from Chicago town stepped through a Southern door.
This boy's dreadful tragedy I can still remember well,
The color of his skin was black and his name was Emmett Till.
Some men they dragged him to a barn and there they beat him up.
They said they had a reason, but I can't remember what.
They tortured him and did some evil things too evil to repeat.
There was screaming sounds inside the barn, there was laughing sounds out on the street.
Then they rolled his body down a gulf amidst a bloody red rain
And they threw him in the waters wide to cease his screaming pain.
The reason that they killed him there, and I'm sure it ain't no lie,
Was just for the fun of killin' him and to watch him slowly die.
And then to stop the United States of yelling for a trial,
Two brothers they confessed that they had killed poor Emmett Till.
But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this awful crime,
And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind.
I saw the morning papers but I could not bear to see
The smiling brothers walkin' down the courthouse stairs.
For the jury found them innocent and the brothers they went free,
While Emmett's body floats the foam of a Jim Crow southern sea.
If you can't speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that's so unjust,
Your eyes are filled with dead men's dirt, your mind is filled with dust.
Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood it must refuse to flow,
For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!
This song is just a reminder to remind your fellow man
That this kind of thing still lives today in that ghost-robed Ku Klux Klan.
But if all of us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give,
We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live.

song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes

Brothers

Lets get to the point now
Just because weve got the same mum and dad
That dont mean im your keeper
That dont mean I owe anything to you
You dont care for me
And man I dont think that much of you
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
I dont approve of anything you do
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
Cain and abel and me and you
You drove my car when we were young boys
And you tore it up too
You never paid to get it fixed
And you got me beat up a time or two
I know I should forgive and forget
But man I still hold a grudge against you
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
I dont approve of anything you do
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
Cain and abel and me and you
It is as normal as it can be
This sibling rivalry
We should have dropped it at 22
But man I cant stand the things you do
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
Youre always want something from me
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
It was so much fun having you in the family
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
Now that were grown it aint helped nothin? at all
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
On my birthday, please dont bother to call
Cause were brothers brothers brothers
Brothers brothers brothers
Yeah, youre my brother brother brother
Brothers brothers brothers
Yeah, were brothers brothers brothers
Yeah, were brothers brothers brothers
Brothers brothers brothers

song performed by by John Mellencamp
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Giving Me A Bad Name

Talking about your brothers
People stop the fighting,
Gotta move it on
Oh my people,
Now I come flying now
Came flying from a nation
About the seggregation
Still keep it on the part
I wanna know where we gonna start
Yeah yeah yeah, your brothers are giving me, your brothers are giving me a bad name
Oh giving me a bad name,
I wanna fight about now that you know were on the same, on the same...
I think,
And Im fighting,
Were talking about the white knights of the ku klux klan
Beat them, and keep them all them down, keep them down,
You can see a black, and you can see a white...
And we can talk about this order, indicisive
All your brothers are giving me,
Ohhh! giving me a bad name,
Oh youre giving me a bad name...
Come on now,
We got to argue people,
Brothers, Im talking about the brothers that are giving me a bad name,
Im talking about the vmp, and the nf and the ku klux klan...
Oh we gotta stop that going on...
I think you understand what Im trying to say,
Im saying all those brothers are giving me a bad name,
Ohhh.... giving me a bad name...
We got to fight on, we got to move on...
All those brothers
All your brothers, all your sisters...

song performed by by Jamiroquai
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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She Stands By Her Son

He is a serial killer and awful things he has done
But his mother says he is not guilty and she stands by her son
A jury found him guilty but with their verdict she does not agree
She says my son is innocent i believe what he told me
That he did not murder those women the jury got it wrong
For him forty years in prison is forty years too long
For one completely innocent of any serious crime
The jury they erred badly they got it wrong this time
Though human blood and hair found on the bodies of the victims of foul play
According to the lab technicians did match his D N A
But there must have been a mix up and grieved am i to say
that for the crimes of some evil one my innocent son must pay
And all others say he is guilty she is the only one
To say that he is innocent she won't forsake her son.

poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Birmingham Six

They came out of prison
To face the real world
Those long-suffering men,
Seventeen years they had served.
Seventeen years for a bomb crime
They did not commit...how can we
Be so wrong, when on the Jury
we sit.

I quote words from
Gilbert and Sullivan's
Trial by Jury:

'Now, jurymen, hear my advice.
All kinds of vulgar prejudice
I pray you set aside.
With stern judicial frame of mind
From bias free of every kind
This Trial must be tried'.

poem by Joyce Hemsley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Are Wanted…

They raped your mother
They shot your father
At point blank
They blinded your sister with a pink
Handkerchief, slapped your brother
Kicked the baby’s crib
Sprayed deadly mace
Spat on her face
And broke the left rib
Of the poor maid
All of those victims are innocent
Who committed no crime; they are too decent
To be victimized by this raid
This is normal procedure
Under a police state
Where there is no future
Today is maybe the date
That you take your last breath
Nothing is cheaper than death.

They killed my Kindergarten’s teacher
That early morning
The whole town was mourning
My teacher spoke like a great preacher
His name was Mr. Michel Gros Jean
He was very nice, he was not mean
The world lost a great man
I can swear that he committed zero sin
He was apparently assassinated
Because a friend showed him a speech
That was written by Lenin
It was a big deal, a major sin
To analyze a draw, a sketch
That was done by an opinionated
Communist. Mr. Michel knew nothing
About such censorship
An innocent was executed for no reasons
People’s lives are cheap
When dictators rule nations.

I remember vividly that awful day
I must have been five years old
This sad event stained my mind and my soul
This poem is dedicated
To all men, women and children
Who were tortured and executed
Like Mr. Gros Jean who placed the first pen
In my hand. He taught me my first lesson
He was a wanted man
You are a wanted person
Too, because I was the student of a great man
His legacy will live on forever
He is in my heart, I will always remember
This giant. He is smiling now. He is having a great day.
You can find out more about the stories of my brothers and sisters
By Google: Fordi9.com. I thank you brothers and sisters.

poem by Hebert Logerie (February 2012)
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Perfect System

Im in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
Im in love with you I know
Im in love with everyone too
Were all comrades now you know
Were all brothers under the skin
With a few adjustments now
Living in the perfect system
The adjustments simple there is really no pain
Youll hardly notice anything has changed
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
Theres no need for fighting now
Theres no reason to wear a frown
In a perfect system
Theres no confrontation
Unnecessary friction
To impede our concentration
Weve simply done away with
Unnecessary friction
I live in a system
I got an occupation
I get enough nutrition
By eating protein biscuits
Recommended by the system
Its routine regulation
I had an operation . . .
Im in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
Im in love with you I know
Im in love with everyone too
I can tell by the look in your blank dull eyes
That you agree, but Im not a bit surprised
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
Theres no need for fighting now
Theres no reason to wear a frown
I had an operation
With no adverse reaction
They tampered with my brain some
It helped me see the reason
For living in the system
It helped me see the reason
(were all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world theres uniformity
(were all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world theres conformity
(were all brothers in a perfect world)
Theres no need for spontaneity
Perfect system were all brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
I know and I know that you love me too
(brothers to the end) I know Im in love with everyone too
(brothers to the end) I know were all comrades under the skin
(brothers to the end) I know living in a perfect system
Brothers to the end

song performed by by Oingo Boingo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Wise Brothers

FIRST VOICE

So long adrift, so fast aground,
What foam and ruin have we found—
We, the Wise Brothers?
Could heaven and earth be framed amiss,
That we should land in fine like this—
We, and no others?

SECOND VOICE

Convoyed by what accursèd thing
Made we this evil reckoning—
We, the Wise Brothers?
And if the failure be complete,
Why look we forward from defeat—
We, and what others?

THIRD VOICE

Blown far from harbors once in sight,
May we not, going far, go right,—
We, the Wise Brothers?
Companioned by the whirling spheres,
Have we no more than what appears—
We, and all others?

poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Blood Brothers

Maurice white, jon lind, nicky brown & brock walsh
So my friend
Voices from the past reunite at last
Back when we grew up on the streets
The world was at our feet
Do you recall the two of us
How we used th sing when everything
Was new to us
From the time that we were old
Enough to stand
It was you and I together to the end
Oh, what our souls believe we will
Always be
Blood brothers time cant divide
What our hearts have said with a
Drop of red
Blood brothers till the end
Through these years
Time has not been kind to others left behind
These streets where you and I once played
Nothings left today
What happened to the dreams we shared
Do we just go on like it was
Never there
Do I tell you that theres hope beyond
These walls
That to help you Id do anything at all
What our souls believe we will
Always be
Blood brothers time cant divide
What our hearts have said with a
Drop of red
Blood brothers, the bond we made never
Will break
Blood brothers to the end

song performed by by Earth Wind And Fire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Burr(r) Oak Cemetery aka How Cold is That!

In the south side outskirts of Chicago,
Where President, then US Senator, Barack Obama made himself known.
In Alsip, at the cold-hearted Burr Oak Cemetery, the owners,
-If you want to know,
Decided to ‘resell’ the land, not ‘loan’,
Previous plots,
-mind you that bodies were entombed,
-that were owned by others.
Some where famous,
such as civil rights icon Emmett Till,
Blues singers Dinah Washington and Willie Dixon.
Remembered,
- and some were not
The plots were the final resting spots,
For fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers.

.How cold is that?

Some bodies where exhumed, some of them were mutilated,
--and taken to a trash heap.
Other caskets were crushed to make room for more.
Headstones were removed,
--once for the family member’s memories to keep.
These souls are not resting in peace.
Come to think of it,
- Michael Jackson’s is at not at peace but rather at a ‘piece’.
His body is not buried yet,
It has been two weeks ago, lest we forget.

How cold is that?

Last Tuesday, there was memorial service for Jackson.
However there was not an open casket.
Was his body there?
Doesn’t anyone at the memorial service even care?
His brain is in a forensic toxicology lab somewhere.
It’s a pain to die, especially when you are or aren’t famous.
Where ever it may be,
Neverland or Burr Oak Cemetery,
- it’s rather incredulous.
By the way, where will the brain go?
Is it possible that they are putting Michael Jackson’s body on ice?
So to speak, for a few more weeks?
To make sure that he is all intact when Jehovah summons his body?
Is there no end to this mayhem, please help somebody!
As far as the Burr Oak Cemetery situation is concerned;
“The suspects, all of whom are black, were identified as Carolyn Towns,49,
Keith Nicks,45, and Terrence Nicks,39 — all of Chicago —
and Maurice Dailey,61, of Robbins. (Illinois)
They each have been charged with one count of dismembering a human body,
-a felony.”

How cold is that?

7-10-09

poem by Joe Rosochacki
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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song performed by by Scorpions
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Price Of A Soul

“I know I’m a down and out, wet and freezing cold,
but what do you want of me, a man who feels so old.
I’m so tired; just leave me alone so I can get some sleep
and with luck God will my soul safely keep.

Tell me what you want! I’ve got nothing to give you,
no money, no jewellery, and my body is worthless too.
Or are you a Good Samaritan here to give me money?
Oh, go away; you can’t do anything for me.”

“What if I could do something for you, like make you well again
and make you feel younger and fitter, and free from all your pain?
Because I’m the kind of guy who has the power to do this for you,
if you promise to do something for me; just the odd thing or two.

Well, I can see that you’re thinking.., what do you say old man?
No one else will make you this offer, there’s only me that can?
If you turn me down you’ll be dead anyway in a very short time.
What’ve you to lose? Give me a reason, why should you decline? ”

“And I suppose the only thing you want is my God given soul
the only thing I have that’s complete and whole.
In all the years I’ve had it, it has been of no use to me
and yet you want it in exchange for my misery.”

“Tell me old man how did you know it was your soul that I desire?
Do you think that I’m evil and come from a land of fire?
People have somehow managed to get the wrong impression of me,
if I was an evil creature would I set your pain free?

Now, you might say that I’m getting the better of the deal,
but hey, come on, think about it, let us both get real.
Your time is almost over and I’m offering you a new lease of life,
I’ll give you three years of health and wealth, and a pretty wife.

Come on now old man, before it’s too late, what do you say,
are we going to make a deal before you slip away?
Your aged soul is of little use to you when you have gone,
so let’s live and let live, begin a new life from now on! ”

“And if I agree and say yes to the exchange of my soul
what will happen to it when I have paid you my toll?
Will my soul burn for eternity in the far reaches of hell,
or be tormented and tortured for reasons you won’t tell? ”

“I don’t know where you get all these untrue stories from,
nothing like that happens when you’ve departed and gone.
I’m an angel who gathers lost souls, which I keep with others
and you’ll join a family of soul mates, sisters and brothers.

After I’ve helped and collected a couple of thousand or more
you’ll energise me, so I can help other souls at death’s door.
So there you are, there’s nothing sinister and no one gets fired,
and in the end we’re all happy to achieve what we desired.”

“Is it true that we have to have a contract signed in blood,
so there’s no going back and that is understood.
And if you do want everything written down that way
I’ll have no choice but to agree to all you say.”

“Ah for progress; these days a teardropp to seal the contract will do
and everything and more that I promised will be granted to you,
but remember in three years from now your soul will become mine,
so make the most of your life and have a really great time.”

Three extraordinary years have passed by as though one day
and the payment of a soul is due without delay.
“Hello my old friend you look full of life, so healthy and well,
your extension of life hasn’t been wasted, this I can tell.”

“I’ve had a truly exceptional time and I want to thank you a lot,
but is there any way we can postpone the contract we’ve got? ”
“What! Every time I do a suffering, dying person a good turn,
they throw it back into my face; when will they ever learn?

Listen closely old man, a deal is a deal and that is a fact,
and when it’s made with me there’s no going back.
Now is the time to give me a sealing teardropp from your eye
and then we can say our last final goodbye.”

“I’m sorry I can’t, it’s impossible because I have dry eyes,
operations on both have been unsuccessfully tried.”
“This is wasting time and no good to me! We have a deal
you’ll have to renew it, this time in blood, for real.”

“I don’t want to sign a new deal; things are different in my life,
I have responsibilities now, a child and a new wife.”
“All these wonderful things happened to you because of me!
You owe me your soul and that’s how it will be!

Very well, I accept that I cannot have your soul today,
but the moment you die you will definitely pay,
and don’t go away thinking that you have outwitted me
your soul will be mine soon, you are not accident free.”

poem by Orlando Belo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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God Knows

GOD counts the tears that we have cried
GOD knows the times that we have lied
He knows all, that enters and leaves our mind
And he knows too, if we are evil or if we are kind.
GOD knows the words that we have said
GOD knows also where we lay our head
He knows the sins that we hold in our heart
And he even knows when our end will part.
GOD knows all that's in our soul
GOD knows all that we do know
He knows the hairs that's on our head
He knows the words we speak before they are said.
GOD knows the steps that we will take
GOD knows the plans that we will make
He knows all that's in our brain
As he is the one to end our suffering and our pain.
So this I say to all my sisters and brothers
Also to my neighbors and friends and all others
Before you tell a lie the truth is already known
So heed what you say before that seed is sewn.
Before you commit a evil please think once again
Is worrying and suffering in your soul worth that sin
So before you commit a sin that causes evils and woes
Please remember my friend; that GOD already knows.

Randy L. McClave

poem by Randy McClave
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Hung My Head

Early one morning with time to kill
I borrowed jebs rifle and sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
I drew a bread on him to practice my aim
My brothers rifle went off in my hand
A shot rang out across the land
The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I set off running to wake from the dream
And my brothers rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And thats where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me why had I run
Then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head
Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
I see the judge high up in his chair
Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And well ask the jury what verdict they find
I said I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
Hes come to fetch me to see what they done
Well ride together til kingdom come
I pray for gods mercy for soon Ill be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head

song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Hung My Head

Early one morning with time to kill
I borrowed jebs rifle and sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
I drew a bread on him to practice my aim
My brothers rifle went off in my hand
A shot rang out across the land
The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I set off running to wake from the dream
And my brothers rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And thats where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me "why had I run"
Then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head
Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
I see the judge high up in his chair
"explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And well ask the jury what verdict they find"
I said "i felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead"
I hung my head, I hung my head
Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
Hes come to fetch me to see what they done
Well ride together til kingdom come
I pray for gods mercy for soon Ill be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head

song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life chess

It was like yesterday
that I saw two soldiers
play a game of chess,
both were just pawns
in the hands of an evil being.

They fell from the board
and were placed horizontal
right next to it,
as if their existence
didn’t really matter.

Their lives were wasted
and somewhere back in the states
their status changed to the departed,
before the game of war
had really started.

It was like yesterday
that I saw two soldiers die,
shot out of their vehicle
by a rocket propelled grenade
and splattered, scorched and burnt.

Without choice I was part of the game
and just the Lord knows
from where true courage came
and at times I and my brothers
fought the fight
to the best of our ability.

Today peace reigns
and the game is over and done
and all my brothers have gone,
but at times it all again
becomes real to me
and forever I am at war
with the demons in my soul.

[Reference: Brothers => Brothers in arms. States=> Back home in the RSA.]

poem by Gert Strydom
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Mankinds Events

Before recorded time there was only the sun
Prior to the beginning there was an evil one.
Man came from out of the universal creator's desire
Before even the flame there was energy and fire.

Creation came prior to man's thoughts
Man is man, but a God he is definitely not.
Man could not survive without anoher
The vessel of earth's future; she is called our Mother

Evil waits on the opposite side to share and give
Children are humanities reason and purpose to live.
If the body and mind does not change and grow
Only yesterday's knowledge will the mind ever know.

Evil is alone and has no sisters of brothers
It exists by attachment to the mind of another.
Evil does exist but has no human life
Relatives of prejudice, hate and fear used to incite.
Evil holds not the keys to life and death
It has no children and resides where there is no energy left.

poem by AHO Speaks
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Country Death Song

I had me a wife, I had me some daughters.
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Well, Im a thinkin and thinkin, till theres nothin I aint thunk.
Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk.
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
Come little daughter, I said to the youngest one,
Put your coat on, well have some fun.
Well go out to mountains, the one to explore.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Come little daughter, I will carry the lanterns.
Well go out tonight, well go to the caverns.
Well go out tonight, well go to the caves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
A led her to a hole, a deep black well.
I said make a wish, make sure and not tell and
Close youre eyes dear, and count to seven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove.
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love.
I through my child into a bottomless pit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
Gather round boys to this tale that I tell.
You wanna know how to take a short trip to hell?
Its guarenteed to get your own place in hell.
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well.
Dont speak to me of lovers, with a broken heart.
You wanna know what can really tear you apart?
Im going out to the barn, will I never stop in pain?
Im going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.
Gordon gano: vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian ritchie: acoustic bass guitar
Victor delorenzo: drums, vocals
Tony trischka; banjo
Produced by mark van hecke
Recorded at secret sound studio, new york city
gorno music reprinted with permission

song performed by by Violent Femmes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Country Death Song

song performed by by Violent Femmes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Charity

Oh, loyal Orange breth-er-en.
I pray you act as Christlan men,
And, should your spleen arise, count ten
Before you speak.
Nay, bear me, brothers, I beseech.
Refrain from all un-Christian speech
Remember! He, whose Word we preach,
Was ever week.

The lazy, low Italian,
The cheating, shifty Mexican
All Papist creatures to a man;
Avid brutes at that
The scum that Rome's base agents skim
With mummery from ages dim.
Dear brothers, let us sing a n'ymn,
And pass the bat.

Oh, Orangemen, I cannot find
Words to express my state of mind
Fit epithets to name the kind
Of brutish man
Who takes the word of Popery
Concerning dim eternity.
But, brothers, let us ever be
Ker-is-ti-an.

Then, look upon the Irish too
A miserable murd'rous crew!
They'll feed you up on Irish stew,
Then cut your throat.
And - it is truth that I allege
They'll shoot you from behind a hedge
Dear brothers, recollect your pledge,
And peace promote.

Oh, loyal, loving, Orangemen,
Be tolerant and kindly when
You preach about your fellow men.
E'en as I be.
Be ever mild and circumspect.
(A curse on all the Popish sect!)
And brothers, brothers, recollect
Sweet Charity.

poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Inasmuch As Ye Did It Not . . .

If Jesus came to London,
Came to London to-day,
He would not go to the West End,
He would come down our way;
He'd talk with the children dancing
To the organ out in the street,
And say he was their big Brother,
And give them something to eat.

He wouldn't go to the mansions
Where the charitable live;
He'd come to the tenement houses
Where we ain't got nothing to give.
He'd come so kind and so homely,
And treat us to beer and bread,
And tell us how we ought to behave;
And we'd try to mind what He said.

In the warm bright West End churches
They sing and preach and pray,
They call us 'Beloved brethren,'
But they do not act that way.
And when He came to the church door
He'd call out loud and free,
You stop that preaching and praying
And show what you've done for Me.'

Then they'd say, 'O Lord, we have given
To the poor both blankets and tracts,
And we've tried to make them sober,
And we've tried to teach them facts.
But they will sneak round to the drink-shop,
And pawn the blankets for beer,
And we find them very ungrateful,
But still we persevere.'

Then He would say, 'I told you
The time I was here before,
That you were all of you brothers,
All you that I suffered for.
I won't go into your churches,
I'll stop in the sun outside.
You bring out the men your brothers,
The men for whom I died!'

Out of our beastly lodgings,
From arches and doorways about,
They'd have to do as He told them,
They'd have to call us out.
Millions and millions and millions,
Thick and crawling like flies,
We should creep out to the sunshine
And not be afraid of His eyes.

He'd see what God's image looks like
When men have dealt with the same,
Wrinkled with work that is never done,
Swollen and dirty with shame.
He'd see on the children's forehead
The branded gutter-sign
That marks the girls to be harlots,
That dooms the boys to be swine.

Then He'd say, 'What's the good of churches
When these have nowhere to sleep?
And how can I hear you praying
When they are cursing so deep?
I gave My Blood and My Body
That they might have bread and wine,
And you have taken your share and theirs
Of these good gifts of mine!'

Then some of the rich would be sorry,
And all would be very scared,
And they'd say, 'But we never knew, Lord!'
And He'd say, 'You never cared!'
And some would be sick and shameful
Because they'd know that they knew,
And the best would say, 'We were wrong, Lord.
Now tell us what to do!'

I think He'd be sitting, likely,
For someone 'ud bring Him a chair,
With a common kid cuddled up on His knee
And the common sun on His hair;
And they'd be standing before Him,
And He'd say, 'You know that you knew.
Why haven't you worked for your brothers
The same as I worked for you?

'For since you're all of you brothers
It's clear as God's blessed sun
That each must work for the others,
Not thousands work for one.
And the ones that have lived bone-idle
If they want Me to hear them pray,
Let them go and work for their livings
The only honest way!

'I've got nothing new to tell you,
You know what I always said -
But you've built their bones into churches
And stolen their wine and bread;
You with My Name on your foreheads,
Liar, and traitor, and knave,
You have lived by the death of your brothers,
These whom I died to save!'

I wish He would come and say it;
Perhaps they'd believe it then,
And work like men for their livings
And let us work like men.
Brothers? They don't believe it,
The lie on their lips is red.
They'll never believe till He comes again,
Or till we rise from the dead!

poem by Edith Nesbit
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

En.Citatepedia^®.ro

The Death Of Emmett Till (Live On Radio) [Oct 62, Billy Faier Radio Show, NYC]

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The Death Of Emmett Till (Live On Radio) [Oct 62, Billy Faier Radio Show, NYC]

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Inasmuch As Ye Did It Not . . .

En.Citatepedia^®.ro