poetry and stuff

[texasgal]

I thought I'd start a new thread where we can place poetry and prose that we compose or find and would like to share. Here's my first contribution which I found this morning.

I believe the author of the following poem is Marcia Falk. I should find the name for a fact before posting so that I can give proper credit. However, that would take quite a bit of research. When I find the name, I'll add it as a modification.

This poem and Pete Seeger's song of the same title are based on the Biblical book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes).
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For Everything There Is A Season

For everything there is a season,
A time for every matter under the heavens.

A time to be born, and a time to die.

We cannot choose our time of birth, but we can choose our way of life.
We cannot hope to live forever, but we can choose to live with courage.

For everything there is a season,
A time for every matter under the heavens.
A time to destroy and a time to heal.

Now is the time to remake ourselves, a time to destroy ignorance and evil within us and around us,
A time to begin the work of healing and making whole again.

For everything there is a season,
A time for every matter under the heavens.
A time to break down, and a time to build up.

Break down old habits of thought in which people who are different are despised.
Time now to build a new society.

For everything there is a season,
A time for every matter under the heavens.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh.

Weep to see talents wasted, gifts misused;
To see men, women, and children thwarted by poverty and oppression.

A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Mourn with all who suffer loss; ease their burden with your care,
Then dance and draw them into your circle of joy:
That human circle which will one day be unbroken.

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

Hold your friend within your arms and closer still, as spirit touches soul, and you are one.
But listen also to the call for help.
When there is work to do, turn to the task which cannot wait.

There is a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.

Keep silent when speaking would hurt a neighbor and bring him shame.
Speak out when silence would be betrayal, when the weak need strength, and victims of injustice a champion.

That is our task so that we shall yet witness shalom for all humanity.

[hutchshottie]

What a great idea. I love to write so i may be posting on here all the time.
I write a lot, including poems. Some are about the sad times in my life. I wrote one for my dear 94 year great grandmother when she passed. My family loved it.

This one is dedicated to my cousin, as it is about her baby she sadly lost

Empty

An empty chair, an empty bed
An empty place to rest your head
The silent sounds of a toy unplayed
The silent love, alive all day
A lonely teddie upon a shelf
Full of love but by itself
A box contains a love so true
But shys away from me, from you
People hush and turn aside
All she wants is to run and hide

The empty days, no laughter no fun
The empty world without the sun
The unopened gift, the vacant sheet
Longing to have the world complete
Playing days are cold and blue
Knowing the hole is open and tru
Nothing will fill, no tears will heal
Just holding on, hoping to feel
An empty chair, an empty bed
A little lost child, nothing is said.

[britgirl]

This is a great thread. It's been ages since I've read any poems and these are good. Did you ever find out the name of the author of the poem you posted Texasgal?

Hutchshottie, I'm so sorry for your cousin's loss. The poem you wrote is very emotive. I'd love to read some more of your poetry.

[hutchshottie]

Thanks

I will post more as soon as i can

[britgirl]

Oh good hutchshottie. I'll look forward to reading them.

[texasgal]

Not really a poem, but it didn't really fit anywhere else. I just received the following as an email:

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In April, Oprah interviewed poet Maya Angelou on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And there on television she said it was "exciting."

Regarding body changes, she said there were many occurring every day, like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist first. The audience laughed so hard they cried.

She is such a simple and honest woman with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:

"I've learned that no matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a
friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

[Looney Linn]

Wow, I just found this thread and I am thrilled. I have poems that I have posted on here FOREVER ago. I tried to locate them, but alas I cannot. Therefore I will be posting them Monday morning. I would post them now but they are saved on my computer at home.

[britgirl]

Thanks for posting that Texasgal. Maya Angelou seems to be very wise and a lot of what she said I totally agree with, especially these quotes;

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a
friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.


Looney Linn, I look forward to reading your poems.

[texasgal]

Thank you, britgirl. I'm glad you liked the posting. Maya Angelou is famous in USA and spoke at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. (She may have been Poet Laureate at the time? It's traditional for the current Poet Laureate to speak at presidential inaugurations so she probably was).

Here's another poem, this one composed by Rheinhold Niebuhr, date unknown but maybe in the 1930's. It might be considered too sentimental or reverent for these times, but it's one of my favorites:

“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey . . .
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. . .
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise. . .
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. . .
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. . .
I got nothing I asked for - but everything I had hoped for
Almost despite myself, my unspoken words were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed.”

[texasgal]

Received in an email. I thought it unusual enough to post here...


Sight
========

Eyeglasses or contact lenses do not change what you see;
they change how you see it.

Many times you must change how you see something
before that thing is changed in your life.

If how you see it doesn't change, then IT will never change.

It is not a matter of denying the reality of your situation
but a matter of seeing beyond your situation.

Don't deny the reality of your situation.
Deny the finality of your situation.

~Dr. Reginald P. Garmon~

[britgirl]

Thanks for sharing Texasgal.

The following poems are written by Matt Harvey. They were printed in a Sunday Newspaper Supplement. The article was entitled "Well Versed In Love".

Catch

I caught the Sun today
But you should have seen the star
That got away


Someone Somewhere

In times of food and plenty
In times of fear and doubt
When all my plates are empty
When all my stars are out

On nights of average rainfall
On days of standard sun
When breathing in is painful
When I feel I've not begun

Still some things must be sacred
And someone must be blessed
I love you when you're naked
I love you when you're dressed

In times of void and plenty
In times of void and drought
When outside I am empty
When inside I am out

I lie beside you naked
I walk beside you dressed
And some things are still sacred
And someone, somewhere, blessed.


Spellcheck

I've been feeling sleek and furry
Since you came and made me whole
And now I understand why love's
An anagram of vole


To A Very Special Slope

You're such a radiant gradient
A smooth one, not a hilly one
You're red-rimmed sign says you're one in nine
But to me you're one in a million.

If Love

If love can build a bridge,
Can affection
Put up a shelf?

[texasgal]

Wow, those are GREAT! Thank you, britgirl!

[britgirl]

You're welcome Texasgal. I thought they were a bit on the unusual side, so I thought I'd share.

We had a poster on our wall, in the office, that had a little limmerick and I thought it was quite funny. Here goes;

I wish I was a glow worm
A glow worm's never glum
How can you be unhappy
When the sun shines out your bum?

[britgirl]

Hope I'm ok to bump this thread.

I came across this poem in the Forgotten Verse section, of today's edition of the Daily Express newspaper, so I thought I've share it with you.

Daybreak - By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.[/u]

A wind came up out of the sea,
And said, "O mists, make room for me."
It hailed the ships, and cried, "Sail on,
Ye mariners, the night is gone."
And hurried landward far away,
Crying "Awake! it is the day."
It said unto the forest, "Shout!
Hang all your leafy banners out!"
It touched the wood-bird's folded wing,
And said "O bird, awake and sing."
And o'er the farms, "O chanticleer,
Your clarion blow; the day is near."
It whispered to the fields of corn,
"Bow down, and hail the coming morn."
It shouted through the belfry-tower,
"Awake, O bell! proclaim the hour."
It crossed the churchyard with a sigh,
And said, "Not yet! in quiet lie."

[Lom83]

I'm going to bump this topic up because I *finally* finished writing a poem lol which isn't exactly billiant but I'd wanted to try writing something since I used to write quite alot and hadn't in ages and I kept starting and stopping but I finally finished it lol thinking about whats going on with Owens problems with the press and what-not was what was on my mind at the time I started it so its basically about that.

This is what I wrote -

Ever Wondered?

Have you ever wondered
what its like,
ever been one of the curious
always checking, looking, to see, whats new?
The latest hit, vid, pic, always needing to know
the latest, up to date, keep feeding your mind
with gossip, rumours and trivia
to share with others over a phone call or two?
Have you ever wondered
what its like,
to be the one, always aimed at
followed, stalked and portrayed, so
scrutinised and gossipped about,
the one thing you'd realise, money can't buy
is your privacy.
Do you ever think about, what it must be like,
if you were one of those, who have their lives displayed
in waves of flashes,
who's friends turn their back and feed the press on your worst of times,
for that pay check.
To have your life critiqued,
Everyone aware of the faults you try to hide,
You never asked to be a role model,
yet still the criticism comes, from those you never heard of before,
its then that you realise, that as much as you strived to be
with all your heart, someone of fame and fortune,
the privacy and friendships you took for granted before,
are no longer guaranteed.

What do people think? let me know. I don't think its too bad considering I haven't written in ages...

and I know it doesn't rhyme, I gave up on that a good while ago lol I don't think they have to though...