Unconquerable Souls
From: Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Bad dogs barking loud
Big ghosts in a cloud
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Mean old Mother Goose
Lions on the loose
They don’t frighten me at all
Dragons breathing flame
ON my counterpane
That doesn’t frighten me at all,
I go boo
Make them shoo
I make fun
Way they run
I won’t cry
So they fly
I just smile
They go wild
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Maya Angelou
Prayer for the Bereaved
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I, and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me
In the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone, wear not forced air
Of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Let my name be ever the household ward that it
Always was, let it be spoken without effort,
Without a trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was. There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because
I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval,
Somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland
From: Ulysses
Come, my friends,
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Icy wings? Been reading Mallarme’s ‘Le vierge, le vivace et le bel aujourd’hui’ recently? 😀
I love that Poe piece, fits so well and a wonderfully musical, avant-garde power-chorded version was done by crazy Norwegians Arcturus years ago.
Hi, I’m Emily Dickinson, I’m going to be brilliant in ten lines. I’m not jealous. Grumble. But Tennyson? I’m shocked. 😎
Awesome stuff, Jas. Really is amazing how so much brilliant verse perfectly encapsulates the soul of the show, its *humanity*.
Jas, you are wonderfull, this was so beautiful. I loved each and every piece and they were excellent and deep and true… *sniffle*
I *heart* you for this 🙂
I gotta add that I especially was taken with the first one from William Henley. That was lovely and very fitting with our two heroes. Also loved the ones from Poe and Frost. But they were all great, full of thought and grace. True brilliance. I have no words.
I love this site 🙂 This is love and peace and trust all over. And I’m not being sarcastic (sorry Dean) 😉
Hi Jasminka
Wow! This was wonderfull.
Thank-you so much.
Jasminka, you are a wonder!
So appropriate and moving for our brothers. Very emotion inducing. (sniffling desperately)
These are wonderful–haven’t had much time for poetry since college (when I was required to make time), but I’d have loved these even if I’d never heard of the brothers Winchester
I hope it’s okay that i didn’t read a single word that was written in this article because i was too occupied drooling over the pictures that accompanied each poems. :roll::
Beautiful, Jas…as always. Loved the poems, one and all, and SOOOOO much enjoyed the screen caps. So poignantly placed. Hope your holidays are happy and safe, and look forward to hearing from you next year.
Sablegreen, anene, elenaM, Bevie, Karen, Supernarttu and Randal, happy new year and thanks so much for your sweet comments!!
After a great vacation with the people most dear to me I returned safely home. To be able to live (almost) without a computer and the internet was actually not bad, there were so many things to do, time to spend with each other (some of them I hardly see twice a year due to working conditions… don’t get me started), so I find my batteries recharged and I’m ready for this year…
Randal, to my shame I have to admit I haven’t read Mallarme a lot… does Rimbaud count (that one I love)? And, hell, yes, Tennyson… you can’t be at all surprised, eh?
Last time I was in London I went (and I do every time) to the National Portrait Gallery and for the first time I saw a painting of the young Tennyson (they change the exhibited pieces, you know). I was stunned. It’s a great thing you can acquire a print of every painting they have, and he lives now in a frame on my wall, watching over my poetry books. Beautiful, beautiful man… Sorry for rambling… And, again – yes, Poe… beloved, tragic Poe… that poem is pure music….
Supernarttu, that poem by Henley is probably my favourite. Whenever I feel down or weak (it happens) I think of Invictus (you can hear me mumbling it) and it always reminds me of the energy that lives in my soul, and I feel better. Instant magic. ).
Karen and Bevie, I’m so happy to have been able to move you with these words… these poets were/are true masters…
elenaM, perhaps you should take those poetry books out again? I bet you’ll have fun re-discovering some…
anene, sweet… well, the great thing is, poems can be read again and again and again, hehehe….
Sablegreen, I’m happy you loved the poems and caps… The great thing about composing an article like this (and the credit goes to the poets, here, I only put it together) is – I’m allowed to insert pics I personally love… Writing for this site does have a lot of perks…
Thanks, y’all (getting better with the Southern accent),
Jas