Actually, I picked this stanza for a quote, but unfortunately as my Bete Noire is juxtaposed here, i had to pass it by.

you talking about HIM ?
.. and do you care so much?

Over the mountains
...And under the waves,
Over the fountains
...And under the graves,
Over floods which are the deepest
...Which do Neptune obey,
Over rocks which are steepest,
...Love will find out the way.

Where there is no place
...For the glow-worm to lie;
Where there is no space
For receipt of a fly;
Where the gnat she dares not venter,
...Lest herself fast she lay;
But if Love come, he will enter,
...And will find out the way.

.....from Love Will Find Out the Way

Friends

A friend is someone we turn to
when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone we treasure
for our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives
with beauty, joy, and grace.
And makes the whole world we live in
a better and happier place.

- Jean Kyler McManus -

Friendship is like the breeze,
You can't hold it,
Smell it,
Taste it,
Or know when it's coming,
But you can always feel it,
And you'll always know it's there,
It may come and then go,
But you can know it'll always be back.

- Terri Fanning -

If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you,
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue

If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own,
A place to find serenity,
A place to be alone

If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea,
But all these things I'm finding
Are impossible for me

I cannot build a mountain,
Or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best,
A friend who's always there

- Kahlil Gibran -

Catch .. You've also been affected by this love & friendship bug
stay away from those kitties I say

Nopes, I am a very sober character. No sudden rush of blood.

The Christians, Jews & Muslims were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their five greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said, "Lord, a plague is on the world
Lord, no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won't take care of us
Won't you please, please let us be?"
And the Lord said
And the Lord said

I burn down your cities-how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That's why I love mankind
You really need me
That's why I love mankind

I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee
From the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me
That's why I love mankind

The kid sat in balcony playing with fairies
and lovely dreams of gingerbread home
but I had died long ago

Moon was smiling down on a slated red roof
and the Jasmine was smelling as sweet
but I had died long ago


silken mist covered the glorious night
and soft music floating down the street
but I had died long ago


And there was silence of silken wraps
soft whispers and wispy words
but I had died long ago.

sunshine wokeup and kissed the mornign dew
and sparrow munched on crispy bugs
but I had died long ago

----

And today they met again
and chattered and flattered
and catered to each other's whim

He ordered buttered crabs
And after lot of contemplation
she settled on savoury shrimp

To mark the special occasion
they had finest wine Ritz offered
filling crystal glasses to the brim

And playfully waltzed
and kissed caressed
as lights on dance floor go dim

he confessed love: she professesd adoration
they were lost in each other
as if wooing god with a hymn

In the morning he kissed his wife
and she started the power packed day
as usual working out in the gym

Tum kitna achcha likhti ho Shivji!

??

Hey, are you all writing this poetry yourself, or quoting?

Catch? Shivani?

All those quoted have been acknowledged as such, excepting the one on religion. This is an anonymous one not mine. I am but an inconsequential creature who could but compile just one small stanza, the last on the list

That is by Randy Newman .. from his song "Why I love mankind"

Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why
For if the children of Israel were to multiply
Why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord
And the Lord said:
Man means nothing, he means less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower
Or the humblest Yucca tree
He chases round this desert
'Cause he thinks that's where I'll be
That's why I love mankind
I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee
From the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me
That's why I love mankind
The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said, "Lord, a plague is on the world
Lord, no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won't take care of us
Won't you please, please let us be?"
And the Lord said
And the Lord said
I burn down your cities-how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That's why I love mankind
You really need me
That's why I love mankind

Thanks for the info, shivani. I was cracking my head trying to find out who wrote this piece. Never knew, it came as a song. It's a very nice piece, takes after my heart.

That's a very nice & adorable piece, Shivani. There is a literary genius bottled up somewhere within. Unleash the full force of this talent & a great poet would be in the offing.

Sigh!!

Quiet flows the river
crossing the mighty grey mountain
gingerly over its jagged feet
and carrying a stone or two along

Quiet flows the river
passing the flower strewn valley
caressing a flower or two
enjoying breeze whistling a song

Quiet flows the river
by the thick dark forest
urging the streams down to willows
where doe galloped in its throng

Quiet flows the river
inside the ancient citywalls
where women flirt with its water
wrapping themselves in its wavy sarong

Quiet flows the river
mesmerized by wonders it met
noting it all in the wind
never stopping for an yearlong

Quiet flows the river
into the blue waiting sea
embracing her beloved
finally resting where it belong

Sighhhh!!!

What a place I have come to
there's not one poet here but two
One, presumably male
other, quite likely, a female
(But I'm not sure, just like you!!)

One hides behind a catchy nickname
the other most likely uses the real name
it matters not what they choose
the names they want to use
they are great poets all the same ;-)

Catch, you are a puzzle
Shivani, an intelligent riddle
still its good
you came where you should
HF gets richer in the middle ))

Wow, a nice description of the river's difficult passage with a subtle comparison with the tribulations of love. You are getting better & better. Keep up the tempo.

Well said.
All just men have doubts. Lack of doubt creates fundamentalists.

Would someone please inform this gentleman not to attempt to initiate a conversation with me.

( also tell him this was good )

sigh!

Mandrake, this was good, really good.

The one time I chanced my arm(??) at poetry
I think I've shot myself in the foot
Catch won't be interested in catching my attention
and Shivani just doesn't care one hoot

She has to be a girl as she's called 'She'-vani
And I better bow down to her tyranny
And start praying hard to win some forgiveness
For she won't talk to me any

Who are you?!

Is the question directed at me? rOm, I didn't get that question.... am I looking different? Is my id coming garbled / jumbled?

Oh, Mandrake you are just one hell of a guy. Hats off to your great sense of poetic humor. I am thoroughly enjoying all this & am laughing my guts out. Thou art a magician after my heart. You are definitely a sweet heart. We need more such spontaneous burst of poetry from you.
The magic spell that you had self-imposed has at last been cast aside
Now you have enthralled us with the true colours of poetic pride

Appreciation from Catch?

Highly appreciated

Mandrake,I missed your poetry as when I hit the page the last post that was by Shivani, came into view. As I was in a hurrry, ready to leave for work, I did'nt notice the one above. I am surely sorry for that. Your post & I should miss, never. With you & Rom around there is never a dull moment. You guys are the life blood of the forum.

I dont care a bit so he says
if that's what he thinks fine I am
he doesnt read me misinterprets
misquotes why should I give a damn

my advances are throttled
crushed smeared and smashed away
and always put in place by witty remarks
oh pray! do I have a word left to say

and flattered am I you think
when a tyrant I am called
I ponder over each word I uttered
what left him so apalled

"We have to live today by what truth we can get today, and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood." -William James

Forget the falsehoods, let us live for today,
Tomorrow may never see the light of day

Put the post back, the one you deleted,
Don't feel bad, I won't feel humiliated.

No, I can see your ID all right.
That question was asked in the style a kid employs in a Louis L'Amour book... asks the big laconic stud who wipes out the local pests with a sudden burst from his six-shooter.

Ha, you too are a louis l'amour fan. I never knew there were so many 'Honda the Apache' or 'Cat Ballou' around.

Yes, I guess I can be called a Louis L'Amour fan... though I haven't read many of his books over the last several years. Re-read one last month, though...

I presumed it would be taken in good fun
but truth fares always better than pun.



For what is false but truth unexplored
and tomorrow will see its glory restored.

Rommy.. I look at him in the same fashion as well.. how the hell is he possible !!

Hey, is this becoming a new trend?
Will it drive others round the bend?
Will poetic post replace prose
Will it leave other HFers morose?
Will we all end up talking in rhyme?
And by habit produce something sublime?
Or will this drive my friend rOm crazy?
And leave his brain befuddled and hazy?
Will the admins suffer us any more?
Ya kaat daalenge hamari dor?

Gosh!!! Time to vamoose from this thread before Judge Dread hangs me (rOm, I do hope you remember who Judge Dread is. If not, search on HF )

who is judge Dread you talked about?
rom seems scared of her without a doubt
and dont worry rom's crazy all right
and tries to turn others too with all might

That's a great one. Maybe we should continue with the same rhyming spirit in this thread. It's a good idea.

A flea and a fly in a flue

Were caught, so what could they do?

Said the fly, "Let us flee."

"Let us fly," said the flea.

So they flew through a flaw in the flue.



-Anonymous

There was a lady called Bright
whose speed was faster than light
she set out one day
in a relative way
And returned the previous night.

(relative - pertaining to Einstein's theory of relativity?)

That was hilarious

The man who doesn't believe in God
does he ever by anything get awed?

Do wonders amaze him?
Do miracles faze him?

Does the order of the universe not stun him?
does the desire to know not burn him?

Will one such guy on HF here
check his blog and write some more?

I do not believe in the idea of God
Far as I am concerned, it is a Fraud

I was born in a religion, the one I begot
Using my reasons, this god I forgot

In wonders & miracles, I absolutely believe not
In my heart for human kindness, there is a slot

I would rather use reason, with a mind that is clear
For that which u call creator, neither there is love, nor fear

A thought for fellow HFer's i would hold very dear
It does'nt matter whether they r far or near

I am a keen enthusiast of universal order & natural selection
But all this I do not attribute to any supernatural creation.

I believe in science, which uses factual data & logic
Unlike the creationists, who rather believe in magic.

Science is rational, public, and verifiable ,
Religion is highly irrational and despicable.

I rest my case, promising to go sometime to my BLOG
What else can be done, I am a dumb stupid FROG

I am a simple girl and do not understad
what is the meaning and purpose of life
whether to think that creation is miracle
or follow the reason's logical strife
I dont know the consequences of faith
or seen it's power that can bring alive
heard it cured ailments, accomplished impossible
Don't know what from all that to derive

Or believe dreams that help live nightmares
it's said our own imagination makes us strong
its just an effect of chemicals and hormones
Mom told me to believe in them maybe she's wrong
I also cant explain the difference in affect
a rainbow or flower has on a man and woman
or why those subtelities exist in first place
just to keep mankind alive for another season ??

I'm sure it all can be explained by logic
but then would I still feel awe or wonder
Shall I no more bask in glory of exploration
just accept something and then no more ponder
And then do I have to give up the fairies
and gaints and elves and trees that move
and angels can certainly not coexist in my mind
If I believe what reason has to prove

But how to understand the wrath of angels
and great people talking about God and religion
leadors and scientists providing armaments to kill
and saints using faith to create more division
Why do logic and faith both fail to explain
why is there so much haze in the world
I know my quest might end in despair and foolhardiness
still I cant rest untill each coil is uncurled

Daisy Bell
by Harry Dacre 1892

There is a flower within my heart,
Daisy, Daisy!
Planted one day by a glancing dart,
Planted by Daisy Bell!
Whether she loves me or loves me not,
Sometimes it's hard to tell;
Yet I am longing to share the lot
Of beautiful Daisy Bell!


Daisy Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage,
But you'll look sweet on the seat
Of a bicycle built for two !

We will go "tandem" as man and wife,
Daisy, Daisy!
Ped'ling away down the road of life,
I and my Daisy Bell!
When the road's dark we can despise
P'liceman and lamps as well;
There are bright lights in the dazzling eyes
Of beautiful Daisy Bell!


I will stand by you in "wheel" or woe,
Daisy, Daisy!
You'll be the bell(e) which I'll ring, you know!
Sweet little Daisy Bell!
You'll take the lead in each trip we take,
Then if I don't do well;
I will permit you to use the brake,
My beautiful Daisy Bell!!!

The Little Lives Of Earth And Form
Philip Larkin

The little lives of earth and form,
Of finding food, and keeping warm,
Are not like ours, and yet
A kinship lingers nonetheless:
We hanker for the homeliness
Of den, and hole, and set.

And this identity we feel
- Perhaps not right, perhaps not real -
Will link us constantly;
I see the rock, the clay, the chalk,
The flattened grass, the swaying stalk,
And it is you I see.