This guarded mode of existence was like living under a tyranny. People's speech, their voices, their very glances, became furtive and repressed. Every individual taste, every natural appetite, was bridled by caution. The people asleep in those houses, I thought, tried to live like the mice in their own kitchens; to make no noise, to leave no trace, to slip over the surface of things in the dark.
quote by Willa Cathe

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Related quotes
No Weapons Day
What are we fighting for?
Why all the non-sense, why all the wars?
Fighting for freedom, fighting for peace,
bringing innocent victims to their knees.
Isn’t there a better way,
by putting down all your weapons,
putting down all weapons just for a day.
We live in a world of survival mode,
survival for money, food and home.
Survival for all of our beliefs,
even when they bring suffering.
We live together on this planet,
many people and one planet all alone.
Shouldn’t we work together to create
solutions to all of world’s problems?
Does war solve anything?
Just causing more revenge.
For people are trying to defend,
their beliefs and region.
End all tyranny and government control,
let the people’s voices be heard,
Start a website for people’s voices around the world.
Written By Christina Sunrise
poem by Christina Sunrise

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sans People
Will you let me have a glimpse of people?
People on the streets? People sauntering by, people smiling.
People intending to take a right turn,
Suddenly changed the mind and took to the left.
People across the meadows,
Past the shops, cinemas, theatres, Opera houses,
People racing down, people in the cars, bus, tram, train.
How I wish to have a glimpse of them, the procession of people!
Will you let me have a glimpse of them-
Men, women and children in the houses?
Am I to live only with the fluky glimpse of a strip of cloud
Or the streak of sun, penetrating through the chinks of my window?
People, they said are barred out,
I've to live the rest of my life sans people.
poem by Taslima Nasrin

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Two Gather
Together, nothing seems so hard.
And more than, we become. Together, I see a happy home, but sometimes when am alone I picture home, of where two or many see the joy of living, together. This canes my ass on why am isolated & others are living together. And forever we all can live to see for it is love & not hate that conceives unity.
Together I see our individual strength in a solid & compact match, we want and we attain coz together we can make it.
Together we were meant to be. Now we enjoy killing each other yet followers of Christ we are on our way. Together, no one stands my way coz living as brothers adds more to my individual power, I become strong. You see, am obsessed with we people & there I receive my blessing for we mingle & happily we live together.
Always Beware
Whenever someone says caution,
we should always beware,
unless they tell us of the danger
we must always take care.
Sometimes it is used for people
whom someone think are a bad lot.
There we must make our own judgement,
and in doing so,
we might leave caution behind.
Therefore, whenever we hear caution,
we should always beware
and take care
until we know
the path we take is clear.
19 May 2008
poem by David Harris

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Houses
People who are afraid of themselves
Multiply themselves into families
And so divide themselves
And so become less afraid.
People who might have to go out
Into clanging strangers' laughter,
Crowd under roofs, make compacts
To no more than smile at each other.
People who might meet their own faces
Or surprise their own voices in doorways
Build themselves rooms without mirrors
And live between walls without echoes.
People who might meet other faces
And unknown voices round corners
Build themselves rooms all mirrors
And live between walls all echoes.
People who are afraid to go naked
Clothe themselves in families, houses,
But are still afraid of death
Because death one day will undress them.
Submitted by Stephen Fryer
poem by Arthur Seymour John Tessimond

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Darkness! !
I am alone in this dark room
waiting for the sunlight to appear
but its obvious it won't
i am living in a dark world filled with dark people
the sky is dark the houses are dark
my life...........is dark
who am i?
well they always call me the queen of the dark
because i am a dark person as i write this i realize
the sun should not come because i love the dark
i breathe it, i live it, i smell it, and feel it
so i say to the sun stay where you are
because i love my life filled with darkness
poem by Tyreesha Smith

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Blind Them With Your Reach For The Stars
Why cling onto what people think?
Is that going to change?
Are you...
Going through any misgivings?
If you are...
Let that be a natural process.
People are going to voice their opinion.
And some do not care how that is done.
Or if what is done,
Hurts anyone.
They just want the taste of that venom,
Dripping from their lips.
Every second, minute and hour...
A ticking clock tocks.
Why try to stop what is a fixture,
Of one's routined appetite?
As long as you give 'power'
To that which decides, select and contemplates,
Your choices made in your life...
What is the point of saying whose life it is,
Lived?
You definitely are not the one living it.
And if you are...
Why cling onto what people think?
When in the environment of those who are thoughtless...
You do not have to pretend to do the same..
And not one of them are pretending to maintain a sanity.
Why stoop to that level?
When you can blind them with your reach for the stars!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Life Without Money!
Could it be possible to live without money?
Why can’t man live without money in the world?
Long back I saw an African movie about this;
It is called “Gods Must Be Crazy! ”
One can get the idea to live without money!
Even today people are living life in farm houses
Far away from the civilised world of materialism
Without needing money for any purpose there!
In the forest and farm houses far away from towns
Life of the people needs no money at all it seems!
We can live without money but not without hunger!
Nature has given hunger and also all things to survive;
It is man’s own creation to live as slaves of comforts
In the world where nothing is permanent in time bound life!
poem by Ramesh T A

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Tressure And Dry Earth
The dry earth every time generated dark smoke everywhere like morning misty
Delight full sky with sun voyaging full of day without space for dark cloud time of every
Ounce upon time made many of lake seen like one of garden grass with tasty
The people of sin excavated for destroying the proud of history among dry
The natural dowry destroying ignorant people it be hate for living people
They never get to chance for living like human the hell will open it will be true
The people turn to back world via clause till die all of innocent people
They refuse theme with people and natural will hate and revenge
The history and heritages thieving sin people without knowing proud of mother s land
Where can shown some day to own children this is mine deposited for my love proved
The future heritage dry earth and empty forest live and sorrow with gathered
Oh the dowry from father vanish children cried with sorrow weeping wiped
The smooth whether turn to dry and harmfully for people living better
With large thirsty wild animal carcass showing every village near
Demolish link with natural the people feared and shivered and murmur
Although they not allowed pure reality by word of believably will listen wind whisper
poem by Inguruwatta Pushpadewa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Leave Them. Leave Them Alone
When people are immuned,
To get a message that is coming...
Leave them.
Leave them alone.
When people stubbornly refuse to hear a message,
Others hear...
Just leave them,
Alone on their own.
Too many have been fitted to be limited!
So leave them.
Leave them alone.
Too many have been gifted with the flapping of lips.
So leave them.
Leave them alone.
When people are immuned,
To get a message that is coming...
Just leave them.
Leave them alone.
When people rather shuck and jive,
To realize their own survival...
Just leave them,
Alone on their own.
Too many wish to sit and make a game of it.
So leave them.
Leave them alone.
Too many rather drift and not take benefit,
So leave them...
Leave them alone.
Fools are taking numbers just to stand and wait.
So leave them.
Leave them alone.
Fools like this await for frosting on their cake.
So leave them,
To taste it alone.
Too many wish to sit and make a game of it.
So leave them.
Leave them alone.
Too many rather drift and not take benefit,
So leave them...
Leave them alone.
When people are immuned,
To get a message that is coming...
Just leave them.
Leave them alone.
When people stubbornly refuse to hear a message,
Others hear...
Just leave them,
Alone on their own.
Just leave them.
Leave them alone!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In The Dark
Make me fumble
Make me fall
Make my heart stop and start
To tremble uncontrollably
Let my eyes see fear make desire
Keep those who long apart
Forbid the kiss
And leave us innocent
Of the things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
Make me remember
Make me forget
Make my mind unable
To force the body to do its will
Let it be right for belief and denial
To share a space in the heart and leave us only to imagine
About the things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
Make me pretend
Make me expect
Things can go and come to pass
Without trial or tribulation
Let this life space and time
Leave my body with permanent marks
Faded scars and lines
But not a single impression
Of the things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
Let me be tempted
Let me be torn
But make my thoughts pure and not
Morally corrupt in form
Let us sleep tonight
Let innocence lie in our dreams and secret hearts
With burning desire
A need to know and do
The things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
The things some do in the dark
song performed by by Tracy Chapman

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Circumspection
Many things i see concern me about people
I see people do stupid things
I see people do things to help the world
I see people do many things that someday they will not be proud of
Concerns come from the stupid things i see people do
If there a thousands of people doing things that i see
The world is a lot worse than what i thought
But other things i see cause me to see the good side of things
People that i see do acts of kindness make me see the world in other ways
But from what i see some people do i am filled with concern.
poem by Jacob Wortman

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Leave Those Cranky People Alone
It is best to leave those cranky alone.
It pays to leave those cranky people alone.
Leave those cranky people,
Seeking nothing but an evil.
You,
Just...
Leave those cranky people alone!
When you answer your telephone,
To stop a constant ringing.
Just leave those cranky people alone.
And all you hear is whining,
With a blues heard singing.
Just,
Leave those cranky people alone.
It pays to leave those cranky people alone.
It is best to leave those cranky...
Alone.
Don't condone it.
Leave those people alone.
Don't you try to own it!
Leave those people alone.
Don't,
Condone it.
Leave those people alone.
Don't you try to even own it!
Leave those people alone.
When nothing but complaints,
Drop out of their mouths.
Just,
Leave those cranky people alone.
It is best to leave those cranky alone.
It pays to leave those cranky...
Alone.
Keep your mind freed from heating.
Leave those people alone.
Don't you dare accept their beating.
Leave those people alone.
When you feel a headache brewing,
And you don't know what to do.
Hey..
Leave those cranky people alone!
In the morning when the Sun comes,
Shining on you bright!
Don't you turn away to get it out of your sight,
No!
Leave those cranky people alone.
Yes!
You've got to leave those cranky people alone.
Yes! Yes!
Leave those cranky people alone.
Yes!
You've got to leave those cranky people alone.
Yes! Yes!
Leave those cranky people alone!
In the morning when the Sun comes,
Shining on you bright!
Don't you turn away to get it out of your sight,
No!
Leave those cranky people alone.
Yes!
You've got to leave those cranky people alone.
Yes! Yes!
Leave those cranky people alone.
Yes!
You've got to leave those cranky people alone.
Yes! Yes!
Leave those cranky people alone!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Cutting Greens
curling them around
i hold their bodies in obscene embrace
thinking of everything but kinship.
collards and kale
strain against each strange other
away from my kissmaking hand and
the iron bedpot.
the pot is black.
the cutting board is black,
my hand,
and just for a minute
the greens roll black under the knife,
and the kitchen twists dark on its spine
and i taste in my natural appetite
the bond of live things everywhere.
poem by Lucille Clifton

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Evil I See In Others
The evil I see in others in my own self I see
And the so called evil people are no less evil than me
'Tis not my place to judge others leave the Law take it's course
Than us mere living mortals there is some far greater force.
Look at the power of Nature no greater force than she
She claims all living creatures yet of guilt she is free
None ever say she's evil what's evil anyway?
The words of good and evil just words that people say
About those they see as good or evil others we like to pigeon hole
Have I right to condemn others when there's darkness in my soul
I'm only good and evil come tell me what are you
Since you tell me that you have a God but to your own self are you true?
For a callous act of one individual we condemn an entire race
And people are judged by their postal address and the colour of their face
We talk of love and harmony whilst war we do embrace
By making yourself a better person you'll make the World to live in a better place.
The evil I see in others in my own self I see
But you there Mr Perfect of all sin are you free?
You say that one is evil leave that person alone
You are not one that's free of taint so you should not cast the stone.
poem by Francis Duggan

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Chance Meetings
In the mazes of loitering people, the watchful and furtive,
The shadows of tree-trunks and shadows of leaves,
In the drowse of the sunlight, among the low voices,
I suddenly face you,
Your dark eyes return for a space from her who is with you,
They shine into mine with a sunlit desire,
They say an 'I love you, what star do you live on?'
They smile and then darken,
And silent, I answer 'You too-I have known you,-I love you!-'
And the shadows of tree-trunks and shadows of leaves
Interlace with low voices and footsteps and sunlight
To divide us forever
poem by Conrad Potter Aiken

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Prescribed Thought A Prescribed Mode Of Action
There is no such a thing
There is no such a thing as a most natural way
There is no such a thing as a most natural way of expressing a thought
There is no such a thing as a most natural way of expressing a thought a mode of action
There is no such a thing as a most natural way of expressing a thought a mode of action a form of logic
After so much thought
After so much thought about loneliness
It becomes apparent
Logic can no longer be relied upon
Logic can no longer be relied upon as a base for studying the structure of language
The structure of my poetry
The structure of my soul
The structure of my God
I dare think
I dare to know
I dare to think
I will not be hardwired from the thinking of my birth rising from some dogmatic slumber.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Purgatory
Beautiful people - got their beautiful lives - got their
Beautiful husbands - got their beautiful wives - got their
Beautiful bankers - got their beautiful lawyers
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people are sent to destroy us
Beautiful people - got their beautiful kids - got their
Beautiful schools where the beautiful other half live - got their
Beautiful futures in their beautiful professions
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people got the money for the lessons
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
Cos, I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Beautiful people got their beautiful clothes - got their
Beautiful mansions - down their beautiful country roads - got their
Beautiful Doctors - in their beautiful surgeries
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people like a little privacy
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
Cos, I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Beautiful losers on their beautiful estates got their
beautiful job centres on the beautiful welfare wait and wait
Beautiful dreamers - out of their beautiful skulls
All things are bright and beautiful
As long as they're beautiful, people stay beautiful.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to lau
song performed by by Ian Hunter

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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An Emptiness Collected (Things)
Things,
People pray for.
Things,
People have.
Things,
All around the people.
And things they have make them sad.
Things,
They ask of God to give.
Things,
They get don't please.
And when they realize it's not things they need...
That touch that is desired and wanted,
Has come to leave...
Them!
With their things!
And a generous offering,
Felt...
Of an emptiness collected!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Two People Living On This Earth
There are two people living on this earth but,
We don't really see them most of the time;
There are supernatural beings and human beings,
And with the best and the worst of life among us too!
The ugly and the beautiful,
The slow and the fast,
The male and the female,
The conscience and the unlearned,
The bold and the coward,
The circumcised and the uncircumcised,
The wise and the fool,
The positive and the negative,
The black and the white,
For these are the Creator's images on this earth.
Two people indeed are in the midst of things,
And like the dead and the living;
But to fail or to pass an exam depends on you.
Your faith may lead you on like your hopes and dreams,
With people who love you and those who hate you;
But the noise of the air is like the surface of the sea,
And like the mystic of life's own rules.
To be near or to be afar off,
And like a hard worker and a lazy worker;
But a boy or a girl who comes after birth to continue the ceation is like,
An incumbent and the opposition of a government seat!
Two identies indeed in the status of mankind,
Normal and the enlargement of things to think about;
For the selfish and the selfless are compacted together,
With many troubles to seek for peace at last!
Two identities on this earth,
And like the White House and the Black Stone in distance apart!
But the dark and the light will bring in reality,
And like the up and down of one's life on this earth.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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