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Poems of Love
Poems For Life
Poems to Inspire
Poems of Passion
Poems of Beauty
Poems to Ponder
CRACK COCAINE
Poetry by Dina
Poetry by Dina 2
Samuel A Southworth
Dave Barsby
Dave Barsby 2
Mike Billington
Sonja Blundell
Sonja Blundell at 14
Anna Danilewicz
John Force
Patricia Fowler
Sharon Frost
Sharon Frost 2
Patricia V Hollander
Mary M Henderson
George W Knox
Patricia A Lackey
Duane Locke
LordThatsMeToday
Sylvia Lukeman
Benjamin A McDade
James
Christian by James
James on Family
Mike Diaz
Poetry by Deborah
Donald Ryburn
James Spencer
Nicole
Jessica
Rick
Links Now
Test Page
Apollo
New 2
New 3
New 4
New 5
New 6
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| Poetry! Yes! Now! |
| Poems For The Road of Life ... |
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   Reading has always been one of the things I love most. Throughout my life, there have been a few poems or inspirational pieces that have always been very important to me. They are like very dear, old friends and I've known most of them ever since I can remember. I seriously question that I could have gotten through some of the rough times without them. Below are some of the ones I love best.  This page has been a part of Poetry! Yes! Now! for quite some time. I can't imagine that, before now, I never remembered to include the following quote by Frederick S. Perle, the father of Gestault therapy. I think it is probably one of the best and most important things to remember in getting along with others and it underlines what this great country of ours stands for: Freedom! "I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful." - Frederick S. Perle - "Desiderata" has truly beenone of what I consider one of the most valuable instruction books for life. There has almost never been a time when I didn't have a copy of it somewhere. As I grew older, I bought more beautiful and more elaborate copies of it. I've collected it in all sizes and shapes and it has been the single most important, and beautiful writing in all of literature, poetry or prose I've ever encountered. It is and has been of more value than almost anything else instructional in my life. It has given me encouragement and validation beyond almost anything else, it has given me comfort, advised me and taught me how to live and survive the hard times. Thank you Max Ehrmann for holding my hand and giving me one of the most important tools for living, for helping me understand things beyond ordinary explanation or comprehension, for teaching me what would otherwise have been impossible for me to know, and for making my life easier. You have been my best friend and mentor, and I've loved you all these many years for standing by me with the words you left behind, sometimes it seemed just for me, many years before I was even born. It was if you knew I would need your wisdom to help me get through at least some of my life. DESIDERATA Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interest in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass...Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. © Max Ehrmann, 1927 © renewed by Bertha Ehrmann, 1954 Perhaps, the next most valuable has been the following for which I have no title. It was published some time ago in "Edges" and has also provided me with invaluable help in the most trying times of my life. "When we walk to the edge of all the light we have, and take our first step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe one of two things will happen - There will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be taught to fly" S. Martin - Edges - For those times when I've not had patience or understanding, or when I've wished for more when there were none, the following - also untitled - has also helped me through some rough times. "When I have ceased to break my wings against the faultiness of things and learned that compromises wait beyond each hardly opened gate, then, life will have given me the truth, and taken in exchange, my youth." For the times when people have been cruel for what seemed no apparent reason, this has also brought me comfort. "I see, in many an eye that measures me, the mortal sickness of a mind too unhappy to be kind." Of course, no teacher for the art of living and surviving would be complete without Rudyard Kipling's ... IF If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, If neither foes now loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling - I don't think Mr. Kipling would object if women were to change the last line to include us. I always have. It's always difficult to lose a loved one. In the fairly recent past, I discovered this poem which has brought me and those to whom I have given it to, a certain comfort. "Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. What poetry page would be complete without at least a small quote - or two - from the greatest of all time, William H. Shakespeare ... There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. - William H. Shakespeare - Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. William H. Shakespeare THE INVITATION It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old your are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive. It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your won sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your won soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty, even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your won life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!" It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children. It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back. It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside, when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments From The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer Copyright 1999 by Oriah Mountain Dreamer 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME 'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house, Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hope that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a Nap. When out of the East there arose such a clatter I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash! When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY! The light of His face made me cover my head It was Jesus! Returning just like He said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. In the Book of Life which He held in His hand Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as he searched for my name When He said, "It's not here" my head hung in shame. The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were read He rose without a sound While all the rest were left standing around. I fell to my knees, but it was too late, I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight, Oh if only we had been ready tonight. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear, The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There's only one life and when comes the last call We'll find that the Bible was true after all! Author Unknown Thank you for visiting my Website. I try to add to it as often as I find poetry I like that will allow me to bring you poetry you will think is beautiful, peaceful, and/or inspiring. Towards that end, I am always seeking poets, new or established, who will help me accomplish this goal. If you or someone you know writes poetry, and you'd like to send it to me to consider being published on this site, please send it to me at KisSoSoft@aol.com Please sign my Guest Book and let me know you've been here and what you think about the poetry you've read here. Also, please vote for my site by clicking the small button, found on the upper left hand corner of this or any other page on this site. Thank you. If you like, you may send me Email to let me know how you like this site. I'd appreciate your comments. Praise is always nice, but suggestions for improvement and even constructive criticism are welcome. Write to me at: KisSoSoft@aol.com Please visit my other poetry website Lovin' Angel Creations http://maxpages.com/lovinangel Thank you. |
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