Harley, thanks for that...and myself also know for know of abuse ... My husband and I raised 5 children of our own children but raised foster children also....and become very attached and felt so much pain for each child....and raised them the best we could like our own...as you see touches something in me also....words ahhhhh I see so much .... heartknows some of this....
thanks wonderful to share with us...Granny

Gosh Lamby (wipes a tear) thanks :o)
And thanks A M too :o)

OMG Harley that is superb!!! Very emotional, and particularly strikes a cord with me as I have worked with abused children for years & have witnessed so much pain & suffering. A very moving poem, and very brave of you, lots of love to you, you are a strong beautiful woman

Repetition
David Bowie


Johnny is a man
And he's bigger than you
But his overheads are high
And he looks straight through when you ask him how the kids are

He'll get home around seven
'Cause the chevy's real old
And he could have had a cadillac
If the school had taught him right
And he could have married Anne with the blue silk blouse
He could have married Anne with the blue silk blouse

And the food is on the table
But the food is cold
(Don't hit her)

"Can't you even cook?
What's the good of me working when you can't damn cook?"

Well Johnny is a man
And he's bigger than her
I guess the bruises won't show
If she wears long sleeves
But the space in her eyes shows through

And he could have married Anne with the blue silk blouse

He could have married Anne with the blue silk blouse

Shows through
Shows through
Shows through

Wow, I don't have the words for it...but that is good.

Good poetry is never a drag to read twice, harley.. Again.. *silence & feelings

Second time around reading it for me. ASTOUNDING!! :O) WTG

I posted this on the fellowship board, and while I don't normally double up my posts I have been asked to post it here too... for various reasons. So here goes. Apologies to Poetry Challenge! members who have already read this.

Childhood... by harley

DARKNES. TERROR. ANGER. PAIN.
The fear of being hurt again.
Dare not move, or make a sound.
For on my tiny form, fists will pound.

Older now, five or six.
Taking the punches, taking the kicks.
A full day at school, then smacks round the head
"clean all the house cow, then piss off to bed"

Lying in the dark, aching like mad,
It kicks off downstairs, its gonna be bad.
He's been drinking all week, no work for him
Screaming and smashing, has he broken her limb?

Silence..... oh God no, is she dead?
Has he done it at last, anger finally fed?
I daren't go and see, oh please make a sound
Need to know, need to see, but not allowed down.

I stay silent in bed and just pray
Simple wishes, like can everything be ok?
I'll be good now I promise, I swear
just as long as my mum is still there.

Morning now, unbelievable I slept
the calm is chilling, I didn't forget
not a word, don't ask, don't look
Don't see the bandage, or bruises she took.

Go to school, all is fine.
This secret has to stay mine
If I tell I'll be taken away
And worse will happen to me every day.

Hometime. What to expect? What will be there?
A sleeping ogre, to tiptoe around, if you dare?
Or a drunken rage, jet black eyes that just stare...
waiting, like a lion, to pounce if it cares.

Creep in, hold your breath, stale beer
Shh! Listen, is that a snore I hear?
Move slowly, so slowly, oh no!
Kicked a shoe, will that wake him? I don't know.

Stirrings.. murmers, the creak of the chair
My stomach churns, feel sick, fear is there.
Lurching form across the room, he knows that I'm here
I woke him up, big mistake, but don't shed a tear

To show weakness brings more pain
he can't stand it. He'll hit again and again.
"It will be worse for you... the louder you cry"
Yeah thanks mum, I'll give that one a try.

White hot pain, flashing lights in my eyes
A good head shot, he says I told some lies?
"No dad, I didn't"... "Don't answer me BACK"
Oh Jesus this hurts, please stop this attack.

Pounding and thumping reletless and hard
I'm in agony but numb, am I in bed or in the yard?
Can't see or hear now, the ringing is loud
faintly "you're a disgrace, you'll never make me proud"

Years drift by, doesn't get any better, can't get any worse.
Is this my life? No, this is more like some kind of curse.
I grit my teeth and live it, one day I'll be free
I'm 30 now and over it. Do you agree?

Wish I could write this in Greek, but my keyboard doesn´t fit.. hehehehe

Hermoupoli

Time is lulled by the music of the waters
And time blossoms at the root of your rocks.
And you, unexpected city of white and ochre,
you expect your damp memories
to the wind of the Aegean Sea and the unchanging light
And the calm sea cradles you
in my heart.

Written by: Dimitra Manda
Translation into English: Mary Pardoe
Music of: Mikis Theodorakis
Sung by: Angélique Ionatos
Album: Mia Thalassa

I like it very much. And I like this board...

Willow tree wooden, were you once a woman
Crying forlorn on the bank of a stream
For some tragic loss of a friend or lover
Hoping that time will somehow intervene

Is all that you need just someone to believe
Stand under your boughs and reach out a hand
The truth of the hand that touches your leaves
Release you and end your perpetual stand

Willow tree wooden, I've watched and waited
I've been lit both by moonbeam and sun of the day
Biding my time here, just sitting and thinking
How many years before you fade away ?

Roger Chapman 1970

Anon....was beautiful...thanks for sharing....

Bilirkisi was awesome thanks! Granny

Radiant as usual awesome also!

that is beautiful! :-) Thanks for sharing..

Hope (Alan Stivell)

Our feet tread down the same ground
Each of us lofty and weak
Sharing pride and fear,

Ireland always sends strength to heart
By songs of battle or peaceful tunes
Ireland always sends strenght to heart
And we´ll do our duty: protecting the heritage,
And the winds of Scotland sing strong in our skies
Giving hope and joy to our kinly nation
And the winds of Wales blow long and loud
Colouring the dream into reality,

A uniform world
Or in a million pieces
Somewhere in between we can still live.

Translated Breton poem/song written by Alan Stivell - from his album: 1 Douar

I've learned some things from having lived:
If you're alive, experience one thing with all your power
Your beloved should be worn out from being kissed
And you should drop exhausted from the smelling of a flower

A person can gaze at the sky for hours
Can gaze for hours at a bird, a child, the sea
To live on the earth is to become part of it
To strike down roots that won't pull free

If you cling to anything, tightly hold a friend
Fight for something with every muscle, whole body, all your passion
And if you lay yourself for a time on the warm beach
Let yourself rest like a grain of sand, a leaf, a stone

To your utmost, listen to every beautiful song
As though filling all the self with sound and melody
One should plunge head-first into life
As one dives from a cliff into the emerald sea

Distant lands should draw you, people you don't know
To read every book, know other's lives, you should be burning
You shouldn't exchange for anything the pleasure of a glass of water
No matter how much the joy, your life should be filled with yearning

You should know sorrow, honorably, with all your being
Because the pains, like joys, make a person grow
Your blood should mingle in the great circulation of life
And in your veins life's endless fresh blood should flow

I've learned some things from having lived:
If you're alive, experience largely, merge with rivers, heavens, cosmos
For what we call living is a gift given to life
And life is a gift bestowed upon us


Ataol Behramoglu
"Yasadiklarimdan Ogrendigim Bir Sey Var"

Translation by Walter Andrews

That was beautiful, Anon! :-)

awwww, couldn´t have said it any better, yet trying - L:)L

cannot find any word to express it more,
and more,
the core
of friendship online;
shivers down my spine...

for this world; for others unknown
but yet words reflects for us a known

reality

like a mirror

I often think of the blind
touching others face in order to find
their soul,
their spirit

their true self

Thank You my friends for letting me be a part of your day for a while,
with either a tear or a smile,
a big laughter or a hoot;
each time its doing me good!

20030901 ~ Radiant

Through Our Hearts

My Internet Friends

You are in my heart daily

I travel the world with each of you

Through your eyes



Through our hearts we share our joys

Our happiness, sadness and hopes



Through Our Hearts

We see no imperfection

We learn to love the mind and soul

Our typewritten words are as real

As if we were sharing coffee in the same room



Through our hearts we learn of your family

and Through our hearts you become part

of my extended family



I wish for you , all the happiness and joy

I would wish for my own children and friends



Through our hearts we learn the importance

of sharing and caring and love.

My internet friends have enriched my

life, my mind and soul and have restored the

faith in mankind.



I care not what you look like, the colour of

skin, the nationality or religion you are.

We learn to love and care for the person we

know you to be.



What a blessing it is to know, any time of day

or night we can turn on our computers and talk

to our friends far and near.

Though our hearts, we are never alone

-Anon

Curremt River....missing you...I know you are busy these holiday.....but come back soon...we need your poems also...and memories Granny

Red Dragon (tears happy tears) thank you for the poem/song....words so lovely and my heart swells as I find more truth of love now more than ever...thanks so much....for thinking of me..I cherish this now and lilac.....thanks for the music........I love it....I love music too of course :) Man I am so glad I am still here to have met all of you ...all so unique and special to me....one on one....so special...I dream of memories and I am thinking on these new ones too...These help keep a spring in my step...!!LOLOLGranny!

Oh I love that one, I was playing it earlier this morning.
click here
Have your sound on too.

This is a Welsh hymn but is poetry to me.

Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur byd na'i berlau mân.
Gofyn rwyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân.

Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos,
'Does ond calon lân all ganu,
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.

Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Chwim adenydd iddo sydd:
Golud calon lân rinweddol
Yn dwyn bythol eiw fydd.

Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad,
Esgyn ar adenydd cân.
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi imi galon lân.

(I seek not a life of riches,
Earthly gold or finest pearls,
All I seek is a heart that is happy,
A heart that is honest, a heart that is pure.

A heart that ts pure and full of goodness,
Fairer than the beautiful lily,
Only a heart that is pure can sing,
Sing by day and sing by night.

Were I to treasure earthly riches,
They are swift and fleet or wing:
A heart pure and virtuous,
Riches and eternal gain will bring.

Night and morning does my longing
Rise aloft on wings of song,
That God, for the sake of my Saviour,
Grant me a heart that is pure.)

Daniel James 1847-1920

If I may, I'd like to dedicate this to Granny this Sunday.
Call it an early birthday present!

Well I never.... *walks to corner and pouts...errupts in giggles...then pouts again.... then the giggles which turn into full blown laughter.**

Great one Cariad!!!!!!!!!!

A Divine Image


Cruelty has a human heart,
And Jealousy a human face;
Terror the human form divine,
And Secresy the human dress.

The human dress is forged iron,
The human form a fiery forge,
The human face a furnace sealed,
The human heart its hungry gorge.

William Blake

that's a good bridge ... 0:) ... ~*~

thanks ... some people know why I should have put that ... :D ... ~*~

KATHY’S SONG
By Simon & Garfunkel

I hear the drizzle of the rain
Like a memory it falls
Soft and warm continuing
Tapping on my roof and walls.

And from the shelter of my mind
Through the window of my eyes
I gaze beyond the rain-drenched streets
To England where my heart lies.

My mind's distracted and diffused
My thoughts are many miles away
They lie with you when you're asleep
And kiss you when you start your day.

And a song I was writing is left undone
I don't know why I spend my time
Writing songs I can't believe
With words that tear and strain to rhyme.

And so you see I have come to doubt
All that I once held as true
I stand alone without beliefs
The only truth I know is you.

And as I watch the drops of rain
Weave their weary paths and die
I know that I am like the rain
There but for the grace of you go I.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Over several game plays
To prove it could be done
I asked dear MidnightMedic
To try my native tongue.

I helped her with the double 'l's,
I helped her with the 'd's,
I taught her that a single 'f'
Sounds like an English 'v'.

The double 'd' becomes 'th' you see,
Double 'f' is like your 'f',
I think we conquered all of these,
I hope it was enough.

And now she knows the longest word,
It's not difficult to say,
But her friends had better take great care
To avoid the snot and spray.

The 'l's can drown your dopey dog
Or your unsuspecting cat,
Put your budgie in a plastic mac
With a lovely little hat.

Y Ddraig Goch is a fearsome beast,
He has a breath of 'cân',
But MM can drown a flock of sheep
When she sings 'Calon Lân'.

By me.

Very very nice reading and special feelings I have...thanks lilac on the one of author unknown..special I feel granny

So true:)

You are both lucky people!

People who need people, are the luckiest people in the world!

Barbra Streisand - People

Sorry, I was making fun with a friend then read your poem and made lil fun of it, but this is moving, when you know more of a background when and why poems are written.. how tragic.. yet: such huge L O V E - awesome..

Oh thank you Aragon, I also heard it in a film once too. The film was 'Carve her name with pride'

The poem was written by Leo Marks (age 60)when he heard about the death of his fiancée in a plane crash in Canada. The full details are given in his very readable book "Between Silk and Cyanide".

thank you Radiant :o)

That´s cute and cute and cute, Lilac :-)

The life that I have is all that I have
And the life that I have is yours.
The love that I have of the life that I have is yours and yours and yours.
A sleep I shall have, a rest I shall have yet death will be but a pause,
For the peace of my years in the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.

Author unknown by me.

Very nice Radiant 36 9!

LOL Radiant, very approriate here in England too today!

Nice one Lilac, I love those, especially 'Leisure'!

Yes.. it has begun..
first small drops, hesitating in touching the pavement..
there came yet no steam off the pavement, but I think the pavement must have thought:
"Hey! Whats that? What is touching me there so wet?? Long time no feel!" lol
Meanwhile..
the people took their umbrella´s out and coats, while I thought:
"Hey! Whats that? Whats touching me on my face, hair, clothes, feet so light, but wet? Whats that trying to say "hi"? Long time no feel! Lets enjoy - no umbrella for me!!"

;o)))

Copyrighted by me - 5 mins ago..

Robert Burns, 1759-1796

Is there, for honest poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that?
The coward slave, we pass him by
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Our toils obscure , an' a' that;
The rank is but the the guinea stamp;
The Man's the gowd for a' that!

2. What tho' on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hodden grey, an' a' that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A Man's a Man for a' that!
For a' that an' a' that,
Their tinsel show and a' that;
The honest man, though ne'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that!

3. Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, and stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that an' a' that,
His riband, star, and a' that;
The Man of independent mind,
He looks an' laughs at a' that!

4. A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest Man's aboon his might,
Guid faith he maunna fa' that!
For a' that an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that,
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher ranks than a' that.

5. Then let us pray that come it may —
As come it will for a' that —
That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth,
May bear the gree, and a' that;
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that
That Man to Man the warld o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that!

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep and cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

by W.H.Davies

I am the lucky one:)~

Sounds like Pete is a lucky guy. :o)

Title- My Pete


I met my true love in the one place that I never thought possible, online.

Many told me that I was foolish, that it was asinine.

A year has passed and feelings have grown, I now have a place where I feel at home.

In Pete's arms, the world seems to disappear. Oh how I love when he holds me near.

There is nowhere else that I'd rather be, than with my sweet Pete right next to me.


I love you Pete!! :)~

Right place at the right time. lol. My pleasure.

Wow! Within 20 seconds Usurper produces 12 page classic poem on request. TY. Amazing!!

Gunga Din
by Rudyard Kipling

You may talk o' gin and beer
When you're quartered safe out 'ere,
An' you're sent to penny-fights an' Aldershot it;
But when it comes to slaughter
You will do your work on water,
An' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it.
Now in Injia's sunny clime,
Where I used to spend my time
A-servin' of 'Er Majesty the Queen,
Of all them blackfaced crew
The finest man I knew
Was our regimental bhisti, Gunga Din.
He was "Din! Din! Din!
You limpin' lump o' brick-dust, Gunga Din!
Hi! slippery ~hitherao~!
Water, get it! ~Panee lao~! [Bring water swiftly.]
You squidgy-nosed old idol, Gunga Din."

The uniform 'e wore
Was nothin' much before,
An' rather less than 'arf o' that be'ind,
For a piece o' twisty rag
An' a goatskin water-bag
Was all the field-equipment 'e could find.
When the sweatin' troop-train lay
In a sidin' through the day,
Where the 'eat would make your bloomin' eyebrows crawl,
We shouted "Harry By!" [Mr. Atkins's equivalent for "O brother."]
Till our throats were bricky-dry,
Then we wopped 'im 'cause 'e couldn't serve us all.
It was "Din! Din! Din!
You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been?
You put some ~juldee~ in it [Be quick.]
Or I'll ~marrow~ you this minute [Hit you.]
If you don't fill up my helmet, Gunga Din!"

'E would dot an' carry one
Till the longest day was done;
An' 'e didn't seem to know the use o' fear.
If we charged or broke or cut,
You could bet your bloomin' nut,
'E'd be waitin' fifty paces right flank rear.
With 'is ~mussick~ on 'is back, [Water-skin.]
'E would skip with our attack,
An' watch us till the bugles made "Retire",
An' for all 'is dirty 'ide
'E was white, clear white, inside
When 'e went to tend the wounded under fire!
It was "Din! Din! Din!"
With the bullets kickin' dust-spots on the green.
When the cartridges ran out,
You could hear the front-files shout,
"Hi! ammunition-mules an' Gunga Din!"

I shan't forgit the night
When I dropped be'ind the fight
With a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a' been.
I was chokin' mad with thirst,
An' the man that spied me first
Was our good old grinnin', gruntin' Gunga Din.
'E lifted up my 'ead,
An' he plugged me where I bled,
An' 'e guv me 'arf-a-pint o' water-green:
It was crawlin' and it stunk,
But of all the drinks I've drunk,
I'm gratefullest to one from Gunga Din.
It was "Din! Din! Din!
'Ere's a beggar with a bullet through 'is spleen;
'E's chawin' up the ground,
An' 'e's kickin' all around:
For Gawd's sake git the water, Gunga Din!"

'E carried me away
To where a dooli lay,
An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean.
'E put me safe inside,
An' just before 'e died,
"I 'ope you liked your drink", sez Gunga Din.
So I'll meet 'im later on
At the place where 'e is gone --
Where it's always double drill and no canteen;
'E'll be squattin' on the coals
Givin' drink to poor damned souls,
An' I'll get a swig in hell from Gunga Din!
Yes, Din! Din! Din!
You Lazarushian-leather Gunga Din!
Though I've belted you and flayed you,
By the livin' Gawd that made you,
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

I don't suppose anybody has Kipling's Gunga Din. One of my favorites but I have no books left hardly.

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round :
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree ;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh ! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover !
A savage place ! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover !
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced :
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail :
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean :
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war !
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves ;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice !

A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw :
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome ! those caves of ice !
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware ! Beware !
His flashing eyes, his floating hair !
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.

WOW! VERY NICE! Cariad and Radiant thanks!!!