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Doug L
Firefly
Canada
5390 Posts |
 Posted - 12/14/2007 : 02:33:51
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Just as the winged energy of delight
carried you over many chasms early on,
now raise the daringly imagined arch
holding up the astounding bridges.
Miracle doesn't lie only in the amazing
living through and defeat of danger;
miracles become miracles in the clear
achievement that is earned.
To work with things is not hubris
when building the association beyond words;
denser and denser the pattern becomes -
being carried along is not enough.
Take your well-disciplined strengths
and stretch them between two
opposing poles. Because inside human beings
is where God learns.
Rainer Maria Rilke
http://www.myspace.com/mickeynewbury |
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buckman
Firefly
USA
2684 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2007 : 06:13:02
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Cold December brings me
Brings me nuthin but the blues
Cold December brings me
Brings me nuthin but the blues
Had a horse in evry race
Evry one he up and lose...
When she first left me
Thought I'd make it on my own
When she first left me
Thought I'd make it on my own
Now two years gone I wake up
See the empty bed and moan
Got the feelin you don't like me
Said to God the other day
Got the feelin you don't like me
Said to God the other day
He say nothin, like always
There must be a better way
Cold December brings me
Brings me nuthin but the blues
Cold December brings me
Brings me nuthin but the blues
Had a horse in evry race
Evry one he up and lose...
River she's risin tonight
Risin' higher than the roof
River she's risin tonight
Risin higher than the roof
She don't stop soon
Gonna hafta face the truth
Baby left me
Just when we got good
Baby left me
Just when we got good
Gone so far
She even left the neighborhood
Cold December brings me
Brings me nuthin but the blues
Cold December brings me
Brings me nuthin but the blues
Had a horse in evry race
Evry one he up and lose...
Hank Beukema - BarbSong Music 2005
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BarbraG
Windchimer
1797 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2007 : 21:41:51
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Snow is falling outside. It's beautiful, almost beyond description,
but deadly at the same time. I think I'll go out for just a little
while, just to feel its icy touch upon my face. The fire
is roaring in the fireplace, and marshmallows are waiting to be
roasted, but the snow is calling my name. Every individual
and one-of-a-kind showflake awaits my arrival. To make contact
with a flake is to cause its immediate disappearance, but I live
for this time of year. Looking outside across the vastness of
space outside my window, the scene takes me back to Lara and Yuri
Zhivago's castle-like structure almost buried in frozen snow and ice.
How beautiful that was. How absolutely beautiful. I can almost hear
the sleigh's bells as the horses pulled it across the ocean of snow
to take Lara to safety, though it meant leaving her love in harm's way.
Odd that that particular vision should be in my mind's eye
as I open my door and step outside. And, odd that I should
remember that was the last time she ever saw him.
BGee
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Edited by - BarbraG on 12/17/2007 21:44:41 |
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buckman
Firefly
USA
2684 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2007 : 19:37:22
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So is it how you thought it would be?
Is this what you had planned?
I don't remember having many plans.
I remember being eight, tho,
wearing that black cape mom made me
so I could be a superhero or Peter Pan.
When I jumped off the balcony
thinking I would fly, I can remember thinking
in mid-air
that the Hudson River was as blue and pretty
as I had ever seen it and that it was great to feel alive...
Then I hit the ground...
Wasn't what I had planned...
~*~
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andrew p
Firefly
USA
3930 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2007 : 07:22:07
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Hank...just one short question!
Didya fall on your head?
just wonderin' 
andrew
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music. ~John Milton
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Joe Z
Windchimer
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2007 : 08:10:09
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I too have challenged gravity. The score is Gravity 673, me 0.
But... one of these days... I will win.
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Craig
Firefly
Kyrgyzstan
3702 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2007 : 10:55:28
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Yes, Joe. I have no doubt...
Craig |
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buckman
Firefly
USA
2684 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 19:50:34
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Can a period of good
Erase decades of disappointment?
He thought he could see Margaret
sitting alone, reading, crying sometimes...
He didn't worry much about the Dutchman;
he understood what he'd been
and was just glad they were all still alive...
It becomes more important to
leave the past right where it is-
Every minute...
Surround yourself with now...
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Edited by - buckman on 12/21/2007 19:51:28 |
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BarbraG
Windchimer
1797 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2007 : 00:03:21
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"It's not what it used to be, is it?", asked the stranger just in
front of me in line, as he waited to check out, too.
"No, sir, it sure isn't", I replied. We had waited in line for a half hour,
watching the ones ahead of us unloading their shopping
carts. Most of them were overflowing. Except for one. A young
mother, alone with her little girl, had very few items in her cart,
most of which were food. The child was tugging on her mother's jacket and,
with a beautiful smile on her face, said, "Mommie, don't
be sad. It's okay, really it is. All I want for Christmas is
for you not to be so sad. I know Daddy will be home soon, I just
know he will." Her mother was counting out her money to pay, and
stopped to look into sky blue eyes looking up at her, as her own
eyes filled with tears. I could stand it no longer. I pushed my
own cart over to the side and took the money out of my pocket I
had intended to use and walked up to the counter. I spoke to the
child. "Hi !! Have you talked to Santa this year?" "Yes,", she
said. "Well, did you tell him what you want for Christmas?", I
asked. "Yes, sir. Sure. I want my daddy to come home. He drives
a truck and I haven't seen him in a long time. Oh, I forgot. I
can't talk to strangers." I looked down at her mother. She
seemed so small, even next to her little girl. She managed a
weak smile. I asked, "Do you believe in angels?". "Yes, I do."
"Well, ma'am, I can assure you I am not an angel, but something or
someone just told me to give this to you." I placed the money
in her hand. She looked at it with an expression of amazement.
She reached out to me and tried to put it back in my hand. It
was like time had stopped for me in the store. I didn't even see
the people in line who were pushing and shoving their way to the
register, their carts colliding in the process. All I could see
were blue eyes that had tears flowing like rain. I said, "Miss,
I can't accept that money back. It's not mine anymore. I guess
it never was. It's been yours all along. Yours and hers. Now,
you take it and go around the store again, okay?" Acceptance
came quickly now. She touched my cheek and said, "Sir, I won't
ever forget this, no, not ever." ... "Well, then.. That's a good
thing, isn't it? When the day comes that you can, you can pay
it forward. Now, go ON !!! Make a Merry Christmas for her. I KNOW
I'm going to have one !! " And, I did. I surely did !! There
were those in my own family who did not receive gifts this
Christmas, but they understood the reason why. They learned that
it is better to give than to receive. Truly, it is.
BGee
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Edited by - BarbraG on 12/23/2007 00:05:27 |
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Doug L
Firefly
Canada
5390 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2007 : 03:04:52
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Down below the window, on the deck, some ragged-looking
birds gather at the feeder. The same birds, I think,
that come every day to eat and quarrel. Time was, time was,
they cry and strike at each other. It's nearly time, yes.
The sky stays dark all day, the wind is from the west and
won't stop blowing. Give me your hand for a time. Hold on
to mine. That's right, yes. Squeeze hard. Time was we
thought we had time on our side. Time was, time was,
those ragged birds cry.
Raymond Carver
http://www.myspace.com/mickeynewbury |
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Doug L
Firefly
Canada
5390 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2007 : 08:49:29
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If I'm lucky, I'll be wired every whichway
in a hospital bed. Tubes running into
my nose. But try not to be scared of me, friends!
I'm telling you right now that this is okay.
It's little enough to ask for at the end.
Someone, I hope, will have phoned everyone
to say, "Come quick, he's failing!"
And they will come. And there will be time for me
to bid goodbye to each of my loved ones.
If I'm lucky, they'll step forward
and I'll be able to see them one last time
and take that memory with me.
Sure, they might lay eyes on me and want to run away
and howl. But instead, since they love me,
they'll lift my hand and say "Courage"
or "It's going to be all right."
And they're right. It is all right.
It's just fine. If you only knew how happy you've made me!
I just hope my luck holds, and I can make
some sign of recognition.
Open and close my eyes as if to say,
"Yes, I hear you. I understand you."
I may even manage something like this:
"I love you too. Be happy."
I hope so! But I don't want to ask for too much.
If I'm unlucky, as I deserve, well, I'll just
drop over, like that, without any chance
for farewell, or to press anyone's hand.
Or say how much I cared for you and enjoyed
your company all these years. In any case,
try not to mourn for me too much. I want you to know
I was happy when I was here.
And remember I told you this a while ago - April 1984.
But be glad for me if I can die in the presence
of friends and family. If this happens, believe me,
I came out ahead. I didn't lose this one.
Raymond Carver
http://www.myspace.com/mickeynewbury |
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BarbraG
Windchimer
1797 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2007 : 21:45:11
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2008 !! I remember when "2001: A Space Odyssey" first came out
It seemed SO FAR AWAY, the 21st Century. And, tomorrow night
at midnight, we will ring in 2008 !! And, strange as it
seems, ... my friends have grown older !!
Happy New Year, everyone.
BGee |
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BarbraG
Windchimer
1797 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2008 : 23:27:35
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She walked out on the pier and gazed on the blood red sunset on
the water with red diamonds glittering on the waves of the sea.
Somewhere, across that water and in another land, he was fighting
in a war she did not believe in. But, it really didn't matter
if she believed in it or not. What mattered was that he did, and he
was willing to give his life to protect what he loved most. . . her.
She had tried in every way she could imagine to see it the way
he did and had to admit that some of the things he said to her had
great merit. Like . . . "there's too much at stake to just look
the other way and hope things work out all right" . . . and . .
"our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived
in liberty" . . . and, the one he quoted most . . "if we don't
fight them over there, we will surely have to fight them over here!"
He said that 9/11 had proved that hundreds of times over.
"Just come home, Darlin'. Please just come back to me, " she
whispered, as tears rolled down her cheeks. " I miss you so
much!!"
Suddenly, a vision crossed her mind. He was being shot at, and
bullets were all around. Someone yelled, "The flag !! Get the
flag!!" She saw him crawling out of a foxhole and begin to
rise to retrieve the flag that had been dropped on the ground.
"NOOOO !! Stay there !!! Don't, Johnny. Don't!!! It's just
a piece of cloth !! It's just a SYMBOL !! It doesn't bleed !!
The red in it represents the blood, but it isn't the blood !!
It's not worth losing your life over !! JOHNNNNNYYYY !!!!"
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Doug L
Firefly
Canada
5390 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2008 : 11:55:57
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ANTHEM
The birds they sang at the break of day
Start again I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be
The wars they will be fought again
The holy dove she will be caught again
Bought and sold and bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
We asked for signs, the signs were sent
The birth betrayed, the marriage spent
The widowhood of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more with that lawless crowd
While killers in high places say their prayers out loud
They've summoned up a thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still can ring...
You can add up the parts but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march, but there is no drum
Every heart, every heart to love will come
But as a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
Leonard Cohen
http://www.myspace.com/mickeynewbury |
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BarbraG
Windchimer
1797 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2008 : 22:07:45
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Really, really like that one, Doug.
BGee |
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BarbraG
Windchimer
1797 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2008 : 20:19:49
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The package arrived today, the one I had been waiting for. The
postman handed it to me ever so gently. He couldn't have known
there was gold inside, but he handled it as if he did. There are
different types of gold, for sure. But, this one contained the
softest, the sweetest and the purest kind . . . 24 Karat !! I
knew this package contained a treasure that I wouldn't want to
share with anyone at first. I wanted to be alone with it. Totally.
That's the only way I would be able to unwrap its' beauty completely
and store it inside my mind and my heart. Beautiful words
accompanied by the sweetest music will always be in my Treasure
Chest. "Etched In Stone" arrived today . . a "self-portrait" of
Jonmark Stone ?? Would that be a good way to describe it? I sure
hope so. I've read that he writes what he knows and, for that
reason, this CD was worth waiting for. Congratulations, Jonmark ..
and to Bree for her support. I love it !!
BGee
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Doug L
Firefly
Canada
5390 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2008 : 23:03:05
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THE WILD FLOWERS
'Twas the wild flowers I preferred
Who owed nothing to nobody
Who blossomed in the ditches
And made their own way in the world
'Twas the wild flowers I admired
Who never done nothing to you,
But driven from the garden
They sang their own songs in the spring
You can have your lily
You can have your rose
That were taken and broken
And bred by people
They were grafted and lamed
Twisted and tamed
But the wild flowers I enjoyed
They had nothing to do with you
They blossomed by the roadside
And they wore their own colours in the sun
That were there before you
Will be there after you
That will out, that will out
LIke your own true nature
You can try, you can try
That you never will defeat
The wild flowers I admired
They had nothing to do with you
But banished from the garden
They made their own way in the world
They wore their own colours in the sun
And they sang their own songs in the spring
John Spillane of Cork
http://www.myspace.com/johnspillane |
Edited by - Doug L on 01/11/2008 23:04:47 |
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Ailinn
Swinger
1441 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2008 : 16:35:40
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| For years they had that hidden place. Water outside their window. The deep blue sea at the ocean end of town. The wide view of combustible horizons. The kaleidoscope sky upside down. One morning he appeared in the kitchen with his rescue rope wound loosely at his shoulder. The last time you had that lasso around my ankle I nearly drowned, she said. He winked and laughed his cracked-in-half laugh and poured himself a cup of coffee. Later, when they walked along the tide pools edge, the scythe moon was not out to help them. Nor the tarnished stars in their cold astronomy. A high-banked fog was backing up beyond the breakwater. The Coast Guard was on Alert. She was afraid of the dark in a double-time tide when he tugged on the line and pulled her into deeper water. Their daring teeth were chattering. Their mouth-to-mouth lips were blue. |
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Ailinn
Swinger
1441 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2008 : 16:39:24
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| The two egg cups with their three-minute eggs. The loaf of toast. The ruby preserves. In a certain light that's what she remembers. Through leaves of lustre glass. Those spherical discs from Dublin. Fire-polished windows at the right time of year. Melancholy sunsets. Red times. How he held his cup high when she ducked out the door and down to the shore's morning jewelry. Conch and jingle shells. Apricot and silver. |
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buckman
Firefly
USA
2684 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 17:59:31
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Ah.....
Wondered where you were, missy.... |
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The Nightly Vigil