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It is with this as with religion: one usually believes what he has been taught.

quote by Knute Nelson
Added by Lucian Velea
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Wasteland

Out into the wasteland
Out into the wasteland
No religion
No religion, no religion at all
No religion
No religion, no religion at all
No religion, no religion at all
No religion
No religion, no religion at all
No religion
No religion at all
No religion
Emissionary man amongst the heathen
Cant you see a modern primitive
I came back, Im gonna find,
Im gonna give religion
When there was, no religion at all
Im outta the wasteland
Im into this head man
Im outta the wasteland
No religion at all
Im outta the wasteland
Im into this head man
Im outta the wasteland
No religion, no religion at all
Theres a man in need of resurrection
(no religion)
Cant you see a modern primitive
(no religion)
But Im a man I need my love and
Freedom (no religion)
When there was no freedom at all
Im outta the wasteland
Im into this head man
Im outta the wasteland
No religion at all
Im outta the wasteland
Im into this head man
Im outta the wasteland
No religion, no religion at all
No religion
No religion at all
No religion
No religion at all
In vr land
The future of fun
Tell me what to do
In vr law
Computer crime
Um, so sublime

[...] Read more

song performed by Billy Idol
Added by Lucian Velea
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Gunface

Gonna go downtown
Gonna get my gun
Gonna dress real sharp
Gonna beat my drum
I ain't gonna lie

Gonna walk so slow
Gonna talk just right
And my diamond ring
Gonna shine so bright
I ain't gonna lie

I've got a debt to repay
I ain't gonna cry
I put a gun in your face
You'll pay with your life

And I got my ears
And I got my eyes
And I got my narks
And my alibis
I won't waste your time

You made one false move
You made one mistake
When the juice is squeezed
That's the way it breaks
You'll pay for your crime

Your tongue lickin' way out of place
I'll rip it out
I'll stick a gun in your face
You'll pay with your life

I taught her everything I taught her how to dream
I taught her everything
I'm gonna teach her how to scream
I taught her all she knows
I taught her how to lie
I taught her everything
I'm gonna teach her how to cry

And you cause me hurt
And you cause me pain
And you turned the tap
On my burning rage
And I can't put it out

Gonna leave no sign
Gonna leave no trace

[...] Read more

song performed by Rolling Stones from Bridges To Babylon
Added by Lucian Velea
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Give Me That Old Time Religion

Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.

It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
And it's good enough for me.

Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.

Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
And it's good enough for me.

Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.

It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
And it's good enough for me.

Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.

It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
And it's good enough for me.

Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,

[...] Read more

poem by Anonymous Americas
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No Religion

We didnt know no better, and they said it could be worse
Some people thought it was blessing
Other people think that its a curse
Its a choice between fact and fiction
And the whole world has gone astray
Thats why theres no religion, no religion, no religion here today
And theres no straight answers
Of what this thing called love is all about
Some say its unconditional
Other people just remain in doubt
Well I cleaned up my diction, I had nothing left to say
Except theres no religion, no religion, no religion here today
And they ask what hate is
Its just the other side of love
Some people want to give their enemies
Everything they think that they deserve
Some say why dont you love your neighbours
Go ahead, turn the other cheek
But theres nobody on this planet that can ever be so meek
And I cant bleed for you
You have to do it your own way
And theres no religion, no religion, no religion here today
And they ask what hate is
Its just the other side of love
Some people want to give their enemies
Everything they think that they deserve
Some say why dont you love your neighbours
Go ahead, turn the other cheek
But have you ever met anybody whos ever been the meek
And its so cruel to expect the saviour to save the day
And theres no religion, no religion, no religion here today
And theres no mystery, and theres nothing hidden
And theres no religion here today
And theres no religion, no religion, no religion here today

song performed by Van Morrison
Added by Lucian Velea
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The Epic Of Sadness

Your love taught me to grieve
and I have been in need, for centuries
a woman to make me grieve
for a woman, to cry upon her arms
like a sparrow
for a woman to gather my pieces
like shards of broken crystal

Your love has taught me, my lady, the worst habits
it has taught me to read my coffee cups
thousands of times a night
to experiment with alchemy,
to visit fortune tellers

It has taught me to leave my house
to comb the sidewalks
and search your face in raindrops
and in car lights
and to peruse your clothes
in the clothes of unknowns
and to search for your image
even…..even…..
even in the posters of advertisements
your love has taught me
to wander around, for hours
searching for a gypsies hair
that all gypsies women will envy
searching for a face, for a voice
which is all the faces and all the voices…

Your love entered me…my lady
into the cities of sadness
and I before you, never entered
the cities of sadness
I did not know…
that tears are the person
that a person without sadness
is only a shadow of a person…

Your love taught me
to behave like a boy
to draw your face with chalk
upon the wall
upon the sails of fishermen's boats
on the Church bells, on the crucifixes,
your love taught me, how love,
changes the map of time…
Your love taught me, that when I love
the earth stops revolving,
Your love taught me things

[...] Read more

poem by Nizar Qabbani
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Taught To Fear And Suffer

Taught not born,
To hate.
Taught not born,
To fear.
Taught not born,
To discriminate.
And taught not born,
To jeer.

Taught not born,
To give.
Taught not born,
To take.
Taught not born to be of benefit to others.
But many bigots interfere...
With an infliction of their insecurities,
That smother one another.

Some are taught they are better than most human beings.
With a stunting of their own growth,
In isolated dreams.

And then their are those who confront others,
With obvious legitimate needs.
Ultimately to suffer from these misdeeds.

Taught not born,
To hate.
Taught not born,
To fear.
Taught not born,
To discriminate.
And taught not born,
To jeer.

Taught to greed selfishly!
Taught to deceive and steal like thieves!
And taught to cheat to succeed...
No matter who does the suffering and bleeds.

Taught to fear and suffer.
As a right,
To incite and ignite...
Fear.
As a right,
To incite and ignite...
Suffering,
Inflicted.
As a right to incite and ignite,
Fear!

[...] Read more

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Vision Of Columbus - Book 8

And now the Angel, from the trembling sight,
Veil'd the wide world–when sudden shades of night
Move o'er the ethereal vault; the starry train
Paint their dim forms beneath the placid main;
While earth and heaven, around the hero's eye,
Seem arch'd immense, like one surrounding sky.
Still, from the Power superior splendors shone,
The height emblazing like a radiant throne;
To converse sweet the soothing shades invite,
And on the guide the hero fix'd his sight.
Kind messenger of Heaven, he thus began,
Why this progressive labouring search of man?
If man by wisdom form'd hath power to reach
These opening truths that following ages teach,
Step after step, thro' devious mazes, wind,
And fill at last the measure of the mind,
Why did not Heaven, with one unclouded ray,
All human arts and reason's powers display?
That mad opinions, sects and party strife
Might find no place t'imbitter human life.
To whom the Angelic Power; to thee 'tis given,
To hold high converse, and enquire of heaven,
To mark uncircled ages and to trace
The unfolding truths that wait thy kindred race.
Know then, the counsels of th'unchanging Mind,
Thro' nature's range, progressive paths design'd,
Unfinish'd works th'harmonious system grace,
Thro' all duration and around all space;
Thus beauty, wisdom, power, their parts unroll,
Till full perfection joins the accordant whole.
So the first week, beheld the progress rise,
Which form'd the earth and arch'd th'incumbant skies.
Dark and imperfect first, the unbeauteous frame,
From vacant night, to crude existence came;
Light starr'd the heavens and suns were taught their bound,
Winds woke their force, and floods their centre found;
Earth's kindred elements, in joyous strife,
Warm'd the glad glebe to vegetable life,
Till sense and power and action claim'd their place,
And godlike reason crown'd the imperial race.
Progressive thus, from that great source above,
Flows the fair fountain of redeeming love.
Dark harbingers of hope, at first bestow'd,
Taught early faith to feel her path to God:
Down the prophetic, brightening train of years,
Consenting voices rose of different seers,
In shadowy types display'd the accomplish'd plan,
When filial Godhead should assume the man,
When the pure Church should stretch her arms abroad,
Fair as a bride and liberal as her God;

[...] Read more

poem by Joel Barlow
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She Believes In Love Again

I want her I need her
But I never let her know before
Kept her in the dark
Thought I lost her heart forever
She told me just show me
The feelings that you keep inside
And I promise that
We can put it back together
She believes in love again
She belives in me
Now weve gone far beyond
The way we used to be
And in her eyes from deep inside
She finally let me see
She believes in love again
She belives in me
I woke up I spoke up
And let her know the way I feel
Changes I could make
Wouldnt have to take a lifetime
She wants me she needs me
She always let me know before
And now its up to me
To give her all the things she needs the right way
She believes in love again
She belives in me
Now weve gone far beyond
The way we used to be
And in her eyes from deep inside
She finally let me see
She believes in love again
She belives in me
I just nearly blew it
How could I do it
I think about the pain I had put her through
God Im sorry
She said shed recover
If only Id love her
Shed open up her soul
And share her life with me
She believes in love again
She belives in me
Now weve gone far beyond
The way we used to be
And in her eyes from deep inside
She finally let me see
She believes in love again
She believes in me
In her eyes from deep inside
She finally let me see that

[...] Read more

song performed by Beach Boys
Added by Lucian Velea
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Someone Who Believes In You

Written by: neil diamond
Believe me
Im someone who believes in you
Say, you really had a million dollars
And a car for every day of the week
So what? you know what?
It wouldnt mean not a single thing
Without that someone
Who believes it too
Yeah, you gotta have someone
Who believes in you
Say, you really had a hollywood contract
And your face up on the big billboard
Big car, big star
Youd move a lot, but you wouldnt get far
Without that someone
Who believes it too
You better have someone
Who believes in you
You are the truest part of me
That quiet place where I can be strong
You come to fill my deepest needs
You call my name, and I hear your song
Believe me
Theres someone who believes in you
So, you really got the hots for stardom
All you need is some big guitar
To take you, and make you
Into an overnight star
And then youll find that
Stars get lonesome too
And you better have someone
Who believes in you
You are the truest part of me
That tender place where I can be strong
You come to fill my deepest needs
You speak my name, and I hear your song
So you really want a job in the circus
Paint you face and make the people smile
A clown, come on down
Youve been too long walking that high wire
When youre falling, youll be calling to
Be calling out to someone who believes you
Someone whos there when nobody needs you
Calling out to someone who believes in you

song performed by Neil Diamond
Added by Lucian Velea
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The Third Satire Of Dr. John Donne

Compassion checks my spleen, yet Scorn denies
The tears a passage thro' my swelling eyes;
To laugh or weep at sins, might idly show,
Unheedful passion, or unfruitful woe.
Satyr! arise, and try thy sharper ways,
If ever Satyr cur'd an old disease.

Is not Religion (Heav'n-descended dame)
As worthy all our soul's devoutest flame,
As Moral Virtue in her early sway,
When the best Heathens saw by doubtful day?
Are not the joys, the promis'd joys above,
As great and strong to vanquish earthly love,
As earthly glory, fame, respect and show,
As all rewards their virtue found below?
Alas! Religion proper means prepares,
These means are ours, and must its End be theirs?
And shall thy Father's spirit meet the sight
Of Heathen Sages cloath'd in heavenly light,
Whose Merit of strict life, severely suited
To Reason's dictates, may be faith imputed?
Whilst thou, to whom he taught the nearer road,
Art ever banish'd from the bless'd abode.

Oh! if thy temper such a fear can find,
This fear were valour of the noblest kind.

Dar'st thou provoke, when rebel souls aspire,
Thy Maker's Vengeance, and thy Monarch's Ire?
Or live entomb'd in ships, thy leader's prey,
Spoil of the war, the famine, or the sea?
In search of pearl, in depth of ocean breathe,
Or live, exil'd the sun, in mines beneath?
Or, where in tempests icy mountains roll,
Attempt a passage by the Northern pole?
Or dar'st thou parch within the fires of Spain,
Or burn beneath the line, for Indian gain?
Or for some Idol of thy Fancy draw,
Some loose-gown'd dame; O courage made of straw!
Thus, desp'rate Coward! would'st thou bold appear,
Yet when thy God has plac'd thee Centry here,
To thy own foes, to his, ignobly yield,
And leave, for wars forbid, the appointed field?

Know thy own foes; th' Apostate Angel, he
You strive to please, the foremost of the Three;
He makes the pleasures of his realm the bait,
But can he give for Love, that acts in Hate?
The World's thy second Love, thy second Foe,
The World, whose beauties perish as they blow,

[...] Read more

poem by Thomas Parnell
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Religion Of The Heart

His hair was Bible black, face like a priest
His fingers clutched the precious box and silent as a dream
He hid behind the dark sunglasses
You caught your breath
You thought he was beautiful
You didnt hear his silent scream
As he spread the dead mans ashes
Your always trying to find your worth
In the eyes of someone new
You may not think you need this baby but I think you do
You need religion of the heart, religion of the heart
(deep in your system)
Youre just searching in the dark
For a reason to believe
You need religion of the heart
You raise your glass, you drink their wine
But youre still thirsty all the time
No miracles tonight, and youll skip the midnight masses
Itll be okay in the cool clear, bright light of the day
But you just seem so scattered
As though nothing mattered baby
Youre always trying to heal yourself in someone elses skin
Turn the thieves out of the temple baby and let it in
You need religion of the heart, religion of the heart
(deep in your system)
Youre just searching in the dark
For a reason to believe
You need religion of the heart
Oh, you think that I am only joking, and it all comes down to nothing
And Im just talking to your fear but I m not
No, Im not, and you stand in the field of fire
You need religion of the heart, religion of the heart
(deep in your system)
Youre just searching in the dark
For a reason to believe
You need religion of the heart
Religion of the heart

song performed by Rick Springfield
Added by Lucian Velea
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Someone Who Believes In You

When there's a dark storm on your horizon
And you think you can't get through it
Just put your hand in my hand
And I'll show you how to do it
When the future looks uncertain
You can count on me to be there
And when your heart and soul are hurtin'
Just look and you'll see me there
Just follow where I lead
I'll give you what you need
A love that's always true
And someone who believes in you
So when you're searching for that rainbow
I will help you find it
And when a mountain stands before you
I will help you climb it
Just follow where I lead
I'll give you what you need
A love that's always true
And someone who believes in you
It's time to come alive
Your moment has arrived
I'll bring out the best in you
We can have it all
No, we will never fall
Looking down from our celestial view
Just follow where I lead
I'll give you what you need
And I'll tell you something else
You'll start believing in yourself
It's an easy thing to do
When you have someone who believes in you
Someone who believes
Someone who believes
I'm someone who believes
And you've got someone who believes in you

song performed by Air Supply
Added by Lucian Velea
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Halo

Bright light city
Youre her religion
Superstars in their own private movie
Play just like children
Lies that take her
Places shes never seen
The kiss and tell of it all
To her it seems so obscene
Shes so pretty
Her hair is a mess
We all love her
To that we confess
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
For their blindness
She sees much further
Like on a wide-screen viewing
Going down on her
Shes so pretty
Her hair is a mess
We all love her
To that we confess
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
She believes in everything
She believes in nothing, in everything
Halo, halo, halo, halo
Halo, halo, halo, halo
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
She believes in everything
She believes in nothing, in everything
She believes in everything
She believes in nothing, in everything
For she has a halo
She has a halo

song performed by Texas
Added by Lucian Velea
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Halo

Bright light city
Youre her religion
Superstars in their own private movie
Play just like children
Lies that take her
Places shes never seen
The kiss and tell of it all
To her it seems so obscene
Shes so pretty
Her hair is a mess
We all love her
To that we confess
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
For their blindness
She sees much further
Like on a wide-screen viewing
Going down on her
Shes so pretty
Her hair is a mess
We all love her
To that we confess
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
She believes in everything
She believes in nothing, in everything
Halo, halo, halo, halo
Halo, halo, halo, halo
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
She has a halo
We really do adore her
For she has a halo
Can we touch her
She believes in everything
She believes in nothing, in everything
She believes in everything
She believes in nothing, in everything
For she has a halo
She has a halo

song performed by Texas
Added by Lucian Velea
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New Religion

Dont blame me
Im crazy
Pmt and Im young
Dont hate me
Thats lazy
Plenty more work to be done
Im cravin
Im ravin
Mad about the thing that you do
Oh baby
Just save me
Im giving it up for you
You cant stop me
I cant help it
Playing with my new philosophy
Livin it up with my intuition
Getting on down is my new therapy
Working you out is my new religion
Ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba-ba-ah
Is my new religion
Ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba-ba-ah
Is my new religion
Not crazy
Well maybe
Insanitys been a friend
Unruley
So sue me
Youre driving me down the bend
Dont choke me
Provoke me
Im looking for something new
Oh baby
Just save me
Give me that thing that you do
You cant stop me
I cant help it
Playing with my new philosophy
Livin it up with my intuition
Getting on down is my new therapy
Working you out is my new religion
Ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba-ba-ah
Is my new religion
Ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba-ba-ah
Is my new religion
(I get on down, get on down, I get on down)
Uh, uh, uh, I get on down
(I get on down, get on down, I get on down)
Uh, uh, uh, I get on down
(I get on down, get on down, I get on down)
Uh, uh, uh, I get on down

[...] Read more

song performed by Geri Halliwell
Added by Lucian Velea
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Send Your Love

Finding the world in the smallness of a grain of sand
And holding infinities in the palm of your hand
And Heaven's realms in the seedlings of this tiny flower
And eternities in the space of a single hour
Send your love into the future
Send your love into the distant dawn
Inside your mind is a relay station
A mission probe into the unknowing
We send a seed to a distant future
Then we can watch the galaxies growing
This ain't no time for doubting your power
This ain't no time for hiding your care
You're climbing down from an ivory tower
You've got a stake in the world we ought to share
You see the stars are moving so slowly
But still the earth is moving so fast
Can't you see the moon is so lonely
She's still trapped in the pain of the past
This is the time of the worlds colliding
This is the time of kingdoms falling
This is the time of the worlds dividing
Time to heed your call
Send your love into the future
Send your precious love into some distant time
And fix that wounded planet with the love of your healing
Send your love
Send your love
There's no religion but sex and music
There's no religion but sound and dancing
There's no religion but line and color
There's no religion but sacred trance
There's no religion but the endless ocean
There's no religion but the moon and stars
There's no religion but time and motion
There's no religion, just tribal scars
Throw a pebble in and watch the ocean
See the ripples vanish in the distance
It's just the same with all the emotions
It's just the same in every instance
There's no religion but the joys of rhythm
Therec12

song performed by Sting
Added by Lucian Velea
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Religion or Life

Religion I hate, Life I love; one’s from earth the other from above,
The Life I love is from God, while religion is from this earthly sod.
A religion of earth leads to death; Life from God is eternal breath,
New Life is given by Christ Jesus, as religion will only mislead us.

Religion, call it what you may, distorts Truth from God’s only way,
The way provided to all of us, who in God’s Word place their trust,
New Life from God, in His Son, regarding truth, is second to none,
For religion truthfully has no part, in truly changing a sinner’s heart.

Religion can make us feel good, creating a common brotherhood,
Filling life with religious stuff, but salvifically it doesn’t do enough.
It doesn’t reach the heart of men, inspiring them to be Born Again,
Through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who alone offers men New Life.

Religion can fill a need on earth, but, eternally men need new birth,
We need to be born spiritually, to have new life with God eternally.
All religions on earth my friend, with the world will come to an end,
While all who have Life from God, will live beyond this earthly sod.

Religion comes in many forms, and around men’s ways conforms,
While God’s Only Way is higher, with Eternal Life being His desire,
Which will be granted to all of us, who, in His Son place their trust,
A Life far above all man’s ways, while giving to God eternal praise.

(Copyright ©06/2008)

poem by Bob Gotti
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Religion

Oh Religion, oh Religion,
How you've cheated me of my true lover!
How can i hope for far too long without a lover?
How can i meet my lover with this dichotomy?
How can i cry when, i have found my partner?
Oh Religion, oh Religion;
My pillow is not enough to dry out my tears.
Like the River Jordan, so are my tears;
You've cheated me of my true lover.
This is my sole partner on this earth,
Oh Safi, how can i easily forget you?
You've really touched my heart!
Now that i know the truth, what can i do?
Do i have to cry forever? !
I am stocked in your dreams.
What can love do when, Religion blocks the way?
I am stocked in the faith of my hope,
I am stocked in the journey of my dreams,
I am stocked on you.
Could it be true, when Religion plays its role?
Certainly, i am stock on you;
I know how you feel over there too.
Oh Safi, the love of my heart;
You are certainly the dream of my dreams.
Deep down in my heart,
I have got a companion who cares about me;
But, what have i done to 'Mr. and Mrs. Religion'?
Love knows no bond but,
Religion does block many of our dream lovers!
Oh Religion, how you've cheated me of my lover;
We all came from one source but,
With the laws of curiosity we are divided;
Tell me, how cruel is life?

poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Starting From Paumanok

STARTING from fish-shape Paumanok, where I was born,
Well-begotten, and rais'd by a perfect mother;
After roaming many lands--lover of populous pavements;
Dweller in Mannahatta, my city--or on
southern savannas;
Or a soldier camp'd, or carrying my knapsack and gun--or a miner in
California;
Or rude in my home in Dakota's woods, my diet meat, my drink from the
spring;
Or withdrawn to muse and meditate in some deep recess,
Far from the clank of crowds, intervals passing, rapt and happy;
Aware of the fresh free giver, the flowing Missouri--aware of mighty
Niagara;
Aware of the buffalo herds, grazing the plains--the hirsute and
strong-breasted bull; 10
Of earth, rocks, Fifth-month flowers, experienced--stars, rain, snow,
my amaze;
Having studied the mocking-bird's tones, and the mountainhawk's,
And heard at dusk the unrival'd one, the hermit thrush from the
swamp-cedars,
Solitary, singing in the West, I strike up for a New World.

Victory, union, faith, identity, time,
The indissoluble compacts, riches, mystery,
Eternal progress, the kosmos, and the modern reports.

This, then, is life;
Here is what has come to the surface after so many throes and
convulsions.

How curious! how real! 20
Underfoot the divine soil--overhead the sun.

See, revolving, the globe;
The ancestor-continents, away, group'd together;
The present and future continents, north and south, with the isthmus
between.

See, vast, trackless spaces;
As in a dream, they change, they swiftly fill;
Countless masses debouch upon them;
They are now cover'd with the foremost people, arts, institutions,
known.

See, projected, through time,
For me, an audience interminable. 30

With firm and regular step they wend--they never stop,
Successions of men, Americanos, a hundred millions;

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poem by Walt Whitman
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An Essay on Criticism

Part I

INTRODUCTION. That it is as great a fault to judge ill as to write ill, and a more dangerous one to the public. That a true Taste is as rare to be found as a true Genius. That most men are born with some Taste, but spoiled by false education. The multitude of Critics, and causes of them. That we are to study our own Taste, and know the limits of it. Nature the best guide of judgment. Improved by Art and rules, which are but methodized Nature. Rules derived from the practice of the ancient poets. That therefore the ancients are necessary to be studied by a Critic, particularly Homer and Virgil. Of licenses, and the use of them by the ancients. Reverence due to the ancients, and praise of them.

'Tis hard to say if greater want of skill
Appear in writing or in judging ill;
But of the two less dangerous is th'offence
To tire our patience than mislead our sense:
Some few in that, but numbers err in this;
Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss;
A fool might once himself alone expose;
Now one in verse makes many more in prose.

'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none
Go just alike, yet each believes his own.
In Poets as true Genius is but rare,
True Taste as seldom is the Critic's share;
Both must alike from Heav'n derive their light,
These born to judge, as well as those to write.
Let such teach others who themselves excel,
And censure freely who have written well;
Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true,
But are not Critics to their judgment too?

Yet if we look more closely, we shall find
Most have the seeds of judgment in their mind:
Nature affords at least a glimm'ring light;
The lines, tho' touch'd but faintly, are drawn right:
But as the slightest sketch, if justly traced,
Is by ill col'ring but the more disgraced,
So by false learning is good sense defaced:
Some are bewilder'd in the maze of schools,
And some made coxcombs Nature meant but fools:
In search of wit these lose their common sense,
And then turn Critics in their own defence:
Each burns alike, who can or cannot write,
Or with a rival's or an eunuch's spite.
All fools have still an itching to deride,
And fain would be upon the laughing side.
If Mævius scribble in Apollo's spite,
There are who judge still worse than he can write.

Some have at first for Wits, then Poets pass'd;
Turn'd Critics next, and prov'd plain Fools at last.
Some neither can for Wits nor Critics pass,
As heavy mules are neither horse nor ass.
Those half-learn'd witlings, numerous in our isle,
As half-form'd insects on the banks of Nile;
Unfinish'd things, one knows not what to call,

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poem by Alexander Pope
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