Of what's to come the wise perceive things about to happen. Sometimes during moments of intense study their hearing’s troubled: the hidden sound of things approaching reaches them, and they listen reverently, while in the street outside the people hear nothing whatsoever.
quote by Constantine P. Cavafy

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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But Wise Men Perceive Approaching Things
Because gods perceive future things, men what is happening now,
but wise men perceive approaching things.
Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana, VIII, 7.
Men know what is happening now.
The gods know the things of the future,
the full and sole possessors of all lights.
Of the future things, wise men perceive
approaching things. Their hearing
is sometimes, during serious studies,
disturbed. The mystical clamor
of approaching events reaches them.
And they heed it with reverence. While outside
on the street, the peoples hear nothing at all.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy

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There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.
James Lovell in speech to Girl Scouts in DuPage County, Illinois, 1997

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Long Ago, Far Away
by Bob Dylan
To preach of peace and brotherhood,
Oh, what might be the cost!
A man he did it long ago
And they hung him on a cross.
Long ago, far away;
These things don't happen
No more, nowadays.
The chains of slaves
They dragged the ground
With heads and hearts hung low.
But it was during Lincoln's time
And it was long ago.
Long ago, far away;
Things like that don't happen
No more, nowadays.
The war guns they went off wild,
The whole world bled its blood.
Men's bodies floated on the edge
Of oceans made of mud.
Long ago, far away;
Those kind of things don't happen
No more, nowadays.
One man had much money,
One man had not enough to eat,
One man lived just like a king,
The other man begged on the street.
Long ago, far away;
These things don't happen
No more, nowadays.
One man died of a knife so sharp,
One man died from the bullet of a gun,
One man died of a broken heart
To see the lynchin' of his son.
Long ago, far away;
Things like that don't happen
No more, nowadays.
Gladiators killed themselves,
It was during the Roman times.
People cheered with bloodshot grins
As eye and minds went blind.
Long ago, far away;
Things like that don't happen
No more, nowadays.
And to talk of peace and brotherhood,
Oh, what might be the cost!
A man he did it long ago
And they hung him on a cross.
Long ago, far away;
Things like that don't happen
No more, nowadays, do they?
song performed by by Bob Dylan

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strange Things Happen
She believes in god
And karma too
Paranormal powers
You know some people do
Got scorpio risin
Uh huh
Tell you whats in your stars
She was down in rio
Turn the heads of state
Got em into makin
This planet a better place
On copacabana
Uh huh
Oh yeah she radiate better go meditate
Everytime I touch my baby
Strange things happen
Strange things happen
Everytime I touch my baby
Strange things happen to me
Strange things happen
Oh ohhh ohhhh
Oh oh strange things happen
Everytime I touch my baby
Strange things happen to me
Met a pshycic reader
With a crystal ball
Had a vision
Said we could have it all
I caught her gazin
Uh huh
At our destiny cosmically
Everytime I touch my baby
Strange things happen
Oh ohhh ohhhh
Oh oh strange things happen
Everytime I touch my baby
Strange things happen to me
Strange things happen
Oh ohhh ohhhh
Oh oh strange things happen
Everytime I touch my baby
Strange things happen to me
Strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange
Strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange
Strange strange strange
Strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange
Strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange
Strange strange strange
Strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange strange
Strange strange strange strange strange
song performed by by Beach Boys

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Prophets Song
Words and music by brian may
Oh oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
Beware the storm that gathers here
Listen to the wise man
I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair
Spreading his hand to the multitude there
A man who cried for a love gone stale
And ice cold hearts of charity bare
I watched as fear took the old mans gaze
Hopes of the young in troubled graves
i see no day I heard him say
So grey is the face of every mortal
Oh oh people of the earth!
listen to the warning the prophet he said
For soon the cold of night will fall
Summoned by your own hand
Ah ah children of the land
Quicken to the new life take my hand
Fly and find the new green bough
Return like the white dove
He told of death as a bone white haze
Taking the lost and the unloved babes
Late too late all the wretches run
These kings of beasts now counting their days
From mothers love is the son estranged
Married his own his precious gain
The earth will shake in two will break
And death all round will be your dowry
Oh oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
For those who hear and mark my words
Listen to the good plan
Oh oh oh oh and two by two my human zoo
Theyll be running for to come
Running for to come out of the rain
Oh flee for your lives who heed me not
Let all your treasures make you fear for your life
Deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you
Ah people can you hear me?
And now I know and now I know
And now I know and now I know
That you can hear me
And now I know and now I know
And now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know
The earth will shake in two will break
Death all around around around around
Around around around around
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know
Wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo
Listen to the wise listen to the wise listen to the wise
Listen to the wise listen to the wise man
La la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la
La la
La la
Come here I hear you
Come here I hear you
Come here I hear you
Ah ah ah ah ah
Listen to the man listen to the man listen to the man listen
To the mad man
God gave you grace to purge this place
And peace all around may be your fortune
Oh oh children of the land
Love is still the answer take my hand
The vision fades a voice I hear
Listen to the madman!
But still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the madman!
song performed by by Queen

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Things Happen For Their Reasons
Things happen for their reasons.
And there is no need to make excuses,
For the obviousness...
Of those mistakes made.
Things happen for their reasons.
And,
What is there to say...
That can excuse mistakes away.
Stop that need to medicate.
Things happen for their reasons.
Why waste time in prolonged debates.
Thing happen for their reasons.
What is the purpose for seeking escapes.
Things happen for their reasons.
Acceptance eases,
The facing of one's fate.
Things happen for their reasons.
They happen for their reasons.
Stop that need to feed on grief.
Things happen for their reasons.
Why squeeze a healing wound to bleed.
Things happen for their reasons
They happen for their reasons.
And aging doesn't make one safe.
Or offer escapades as a gateway to charade.
Things happen for their reasons.
They happen for their reasons.
Things happen for their reasons.
And there is no need to make excuses,
For the obviousness...
Of those mistakes made.
Even while one ages,
With a life reminisced played on many stages...
Try their best to gracefully accept,
Things happen for their reasons.
And those experienced,
Eventually see this.
Things happen for their reasons.
And in the living of one's life...
A discovery reveals,
Those reasons with insight.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Love (Love Poem)
Halfway across Europe, missing you,
Missing me, forever absent, always near.
Moments of intense closeness, followed by
Absence, more painful than a root canal,
But, the moments together, precious,
Beyond feeling, more intense than
Things, which we fill our lives for
Comfort, an antidote to the
Loneliness, that is part,
Of global living
Today.
poem by Ian Beckett

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Learning
I think I've learned too many things
and I kow it's not over 'til the fat lady sings.
But I think I hear her sound coming 'round.
And I don't like her approaching sound.
You know they say that ignorance is bliss
but learning truths I cannot resist.
Does that make me different?
Does that make me strange?
You bet it does but I can't exchange
all of these things that are living with me.
So just like the tides are a part of the sea
I move along and take it in stride.
It lives with me. It lives inside.
So I keep my mind open and learn more things
and maybe some day when the fat lady sings
I'll be ready for her song.
poem by Edwina Reizer

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Represented By Observation
People do not listen with intent to comprehend.
People hear what they want to.
Even if the words they hear were never mentioned.
He specifically stated 'No acts of terror will be condoned'.
And those hearing what they wished heard him say this,
'What was done was an act of terror'.
Even with his taped remarks repeated...
Those who oppose his comments,
Still hear what they want to hear.
Because people do not listen to achieve clarity.
And this is represented by observation.
To describe and act not yet committed,
Is different than hearing those insisting...
There was something they heard,
But nothing of it was mentioned...
To fit their twisting of it.
~So what is it that you're saying? ~
'I like my pizza topped with onions, green peppers...
Roasted red peppers and saugage.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sonnet: This is Earthly Life!
Some things are there we cannot tell outright;
Sometimes, we can’t afford to speak the truth;
Some situations may worsen over night;
Sometimes, we can’t get rid of one bad tooth!
When opportune moments are never rife,
When friends are rare to spot amidst a crowd,
When sorrows, grief, keep coming back as strife,
We must be cool and call our God’s name loud.
Yet, things can never stay forev’r like this;
Our faith in God and truth will blossom soon;
And straighten will things that had gone amiss;
Our patience turns a blessing and a boon!
Some things in life that happen appear weird;
At times, ’tis wise to grow and keep a beard!
poem by John Celes

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Dialogue (Part 1 & 2)
Part i
Are you optimistic 'bout the way things are going?
No, i never ever think of it at all
Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
No, i try to mind my business, that is, no business at all
When it's time to function as a feeling human being
Will your bachelor of arts help you get by?
I hope to study further, a few more years or so
I also hope to keep a steady high
Will you try to change things
Use the power that you have, the power of a million new ideas?
What is this power you speak of and this need for things to change?
I always thought that everything was fine
Don't you feel repression just closing in around?
No, the campus here is very, very free
Don't it make you angry the way war is dragging on?
Well, i hope the president knows what he's into, i don't know
Don't you ever see the starvation in the city where you live
All the needless hunger all the needless pain?
I haven't been there lately, the country is so fine
But my neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause they haven't got the time
Thank you for the talk, you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes of things to come
Well, if you had my outlook your feelings would be numb
You'd always think that everything was fine
Part ii
We can make it happen
We can change the world now
We can save the children
We can make it better
We can make it happen
We can save the children
We can make it happen
song performed by by Chicago

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That Voice Again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
Its the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
Im listening to the conversation
Judge and jury in my head
Its colouring everything
All we did and said
And still I head that sharp tongue talking
Talking tangled words
I can sense the danger
Just listen to the wind
I want you close I want you near
I cant help but listen
But I dont want to hear
Hear that voice again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
Its the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
Im hearing right and wrong so clearly
There must be more than this
Its only in uncertainty
That were naked and alive
I hear it through the rattle of a streetcar
Hear it through the things you said
I can get so scared
Listen to the wind
I want you close I want you near
I cant help but listen
But I dont want to hear
Hear that voice again
What I carry in my heart
Brings us so close or so far apart
Only love can make love
I want you close I want you near
I cant help but listen
But I dont want to hear
I hear that voice again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
Its the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
song performed by by Peter Gabriel

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Looking From The Outside
I may happen to make things look that way...
But nothing I've known in my life,
Has been made for me easy.
As a child I disliked to hear folks say,
I got everything I wanted.
But they were looking from the outside.
On the inside unsolicited headaches,
Is what I got.
With chores to do that were unstoppable.
The first room I had to myself,
Was a converted closet.
And I slept on a cot.
Believe it or not...
On a street called Garden.
I may happen to make things look that way...
But nothing I've known in my life,
Has been made for me easy.
And as I age today reflecting back on those days,
People use to use others to boost themselves to heights.
By telling lies and hiding behind alibis,
To cover up their hatred felt and those they despised to spite.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Miracle
Sometimes things we’ve done
are far beyond our grasp to do.
Sometimes they are called miracles,
but they just happen
and you can’t explain why.
It is as if you’ve tapped into
some hidden power
that lies within yourself,
or is it God’s hand on yours.
No matter the explanation,
these things do happen
with no apparent reason.
The only word
we can use to describe them
is a miracle.
26 March 2008
poem by David Harris

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Why Can't You Listen?
Why can't you listen?
Why can't you hear words from Me?
Why can't you sit and just be...
To listen.
Listen.
Why can't you listen?
Why can't you hear words from Me?
Why can't you sit and just be...
To listen.
Listen.
Why do you call Me?
Why do you say you're alone?
You wish for Me to appear.
And yet when I'M near.
Your closed ears wont hear Me!
Why do you pray to Me?
Master I Am of your World.
I'M with you there silently.
But you will not see...
Everything that is Me!
One I Am and only One!
Maker of your Moon, Stars and Sun.
All things on Earth that is there...
Is there if you ask,
But your faith does not last!
Why can't you listen?
Why can't you hear words from Me?
Why can't you sit and just be...
To listen.
Listen.
Why do you call Me?
Why do you say you're alone?
You wish for Me to appear.
And yet when I'M near.
Your closed ears wont hear.
A word.
Why can't you listen?
Why can't you hear words from Me?
Why can't you sit and just be...
To listen to Me.
Listen...
And let Me in!
'Father...
Clear my mind of these obstacles! '
I'M trying!
But you wish it 'your' way.
And not the way MY way is.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dialogue
Part i
Are you optimistic bout the way things are going?
No, I never ever think of it at all
Dont you ever worry
When you see whats going down?
No, I try to mind my business, that is, no business at all
When its time to function as a feeling human being
Will your bachelor of arts help you get by?
I hope to study further, a few more years or so
I also hope to keep a steady high
Will you try to change things
Use the power that you have, the power of a million new ideas?
What is this power you speak of and this need for things to change?
I always thought that everything was fine
Dont you feel repression just closing in around?
No, the campus here is very, very free
Dont it make you angry the way war is dragging on?
Well, I hope the president knows what hes into, I dont know
Dont you ever see the starvation in the city where you live
All the needless hunger all the needless pain?
I havent been there lately, the country is so fine
But my neighbors dont seem hungry cause they havent got the time
Thank you for the talk, you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes of things to come
Well, if you had my outlook your feelings would be numb
Youd always think that everything was fine
Part ii
We can make it happen
We can change the world now
We can save the children
We can make it better
We can make it happen
We can save the children
We can make it happen
song performed by by Chicago

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Main Street
One light blinking off and on
Blood of life in this town is gone
Lost all its pieces but the pawn
Tomorrow stopped coming with the dawn
In my dreams, Ive seen
Things that only seem to happen on the silver screen
When its over theres no walking out
Cuz Ive been all they talk about
Cuz what aint goin down
On main street
I went too early with a friend of mine
Just to see what it was all about
Hit the freeway and it blew my mind,
I had to find a way of gettin out
She said, they say, hey you gotta live a little
In my mind, Id find lost aint living,
Even there in the middle of main street
Yeah....
Never did the things I though I would
Woulda left just didnt know I could
If things dont work like they should
It aint for better but its for good
Cuz in my dreams Ive seen
Things that only seem to happen on the silver screen
When its over theres no walking out
Cuz Ive been all they talk about
Cuz what aint goin down
In my dreams Ive seen
Things that only seem to happen on the silver screen
When its over theres no walking out
Cuz Ive been all they talk about
Cuz what aint goin down
On main street
song performed by by Garth Brooks

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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For The Love Of Money
Money money money, money
Some people really need it (oh, well)
Some people got to have it (in vain)
Listen here yall, do things, do things, do bad things with it
So you will do things, do things, do good things with it
Talk about cash money, no help at all
For the love of money
People will steal from their mother
For the love of money
People will rob their own brother
For the love of money
People cant even walk the street
Because they never know who in the world they gotta beat
For that lean, mean, mean green
For the love of money
People will lie, lord, they will cheat
For the love of money
People dont care who they hurt or beat
For the love of money
A woman will sell her precious body
For a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight
Call it lean, mean, mean green
Almighty dollar
I know money is the root of all evil
Do funny things to some people
Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime
Money can drive some people out of their minds
Got to have it, I really need it
How many things have I heard you say
Some people really need it
How many things have I heard you say
Got to have it, I really need it
How many things have I heard you say
Lay down, lay down, a woman will lay down
For the love of money
All for the love of money
Dont let, dont let, dont let money rule you
For the love of money
Money can change people sometimes
Dont let, dont let, dont let money fool you
Money can fool people sometimes
song performed by by Utopia

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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But Why? ?
people beg on street
people damage public property
people are insecure
people r jealous
people r foolish
people r ill-treated
people quarrel with eachother
people cry
people die
people r tortured
people r murdered
people r tense
people r disloyal
BUT WHY? ?
the reason? ? ? MONEY
money makes things happen
but why........
poem by Sakshi Mathur

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Tiny Demons
One of them plays a piccolo in my ear
Another one makes me smell things that arent there
And they know where to hide
And they know everything thats inside
Of my head
Tiny demons, inside me
One of them ties a lasso around my heart
Another makes me nod when I drive the car
And they wont ever leave
But they wont show their faces to me
And they wait til I feel
Like theyre gone and they jump out and steal
My relief
Tiny demons, inside me
Listen, listen
Listen for the sound
That is not in the music
Only you can hear it,
Only you can use it
Its the sound of someone breathing,
Its the breath of life
Its the sound that you are weaving
With the thread of life
Listen, listen
Listen to the sound,
Let nothing disturb you
You are in a place
Where nothing can hurt you
If you feel a strange sensation,
It can do no harm
Like the spiral of creation,
It will soon move on
song performed by by Todd Rundgren

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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