Most quarrels amplify a misunderstanding.
quote by Andre Gide
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Those Who Hurt and Go
When you've been hurt and it is felt,
Is if felt like no one else?
When you've been scandalized to dirt...
Is this a group effort that's hurt?
And when forgiveness is expected,
Is it easy to forget...
Those who left you feeling grief.
Perceiving you to over-react.
And you to be too sensitive.
When you've been hurt and it is felt,
Is if felt like no one else?
When you've been scandalized to dirt...
Is this a group effort that's hurt?
And when forgiveness is expected,
Is it easy to forget...
Those who left you feeling grief.
Perceiving you to over-react.
And you to be too sensitive.
There is a misunderstanding...
As to who should feel what deeply.
To what degree a hurt is felt.
And who is left to grieve.
When you've been hurt and it is felt,
Is if felt like no one else?
When you've been scandalized to dirt...
Is this a group effort that's hurt?
No!
No!
No-no-no.
There's a misunderstanding...
As to who should feel what deeply.
To what degree a hurt is felt.
And who is left to grieve.
There's a misunderstanding...
As to who should feel what deeply.
To what degree a hurt is felt.
And who is left to grieve.
And when forgiveness is expected,
Is it easy to forget...
Those who left you feeling grief,
Believing you are weak.
[...] Read more
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The Carnal Mind
Misunderstanding, sing, ring, guns, arise, dine, dean, sane, made, dues, ant;
And like the carnal mind!
But true love, care and concern for all is what we need as human beings.
Misunderstanding, rag, dig, rand, rend, sender, issue, aids, aide, aid, sit, sun;
And like the muse of love as compared to the muse of hatred! !
But the carnal mind had taken over and, minkind is now faced with wars!
However, true love, care and concern for all is what we need.
Misunderstanding, saint, stain, nun, mare, tear, near, seas, sea, sears, sear, gun, sages;
With hatred everywhere today to overcome the fruits of love!
But we the human beings need to change for the better! !
Because the wars are killing us all,
And we need a better home with love than hatred.
Misunderstanding, ears, ear, era, are, dare, dear, read, tan, run, ran, age, ages, sine;
Why should we throw bombs against each other? ! !
When this earth was meant for you and i;
For, it is better to live peacefully than with hatred that leads to war!
And, you and i know the truth onthis earth.
Misunderstanding, rats, tar, tars, is, sin, gin, den, miss, at, as, Miss, sad, mad, sage, sat;
And like the very acts of the carnal mind! !
But, is there any hope for us? !
Then we better think twice before killing someone because of hatred;
For his earth is the only one that we have.
Misunderstanding, under, understand, stand, standing, end, and, star, rat, satrs, rise;
Mind your language and watch your lips!
For we need to understand each other in a very peaceful way;
And like the sweet muse of love,
For e carnal mind is all that we need to control! !
Misunderstanding, dam, side, ride, am, in, Inn, seat, seats, sand, set, sets, sits, due;
And like the rainbow colours teachings us how to mix up with each other,
For the carnal mind had taken us to the other side!
And, war had been to us like the way we do spell out our names! !
Misunderstanding, use, uses, mind, mean, mine, man, men, sue, sues, mend, range, me;
And like the carnal mind in conflict with each other!
But, it is time we know the difference betwen right and wrong;
For, peace is better than war!
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Ive Been Missing You
Its not because Ive just been caught
Its not as if I planned this
I didnt give a single thought
One big misunderstanding
I see how things look from your side
I see how youre hurting
The reason that I didnt hide
One big misunderstanding
So I blew it again just like I always do
Its too late for sorry, this much is true
I did what I did
Just to make my way through
One more day far away from you
And Ive been missing you
Its not the first wont be the last time
Ive been caught red-handed
To tell the truth I cannot lie
One big misunderstanding
I havent got an alibi
And I cant stop them talking
Cross my heart and hope to die
One big misunderstanding
So I blew it again just like I always do
For the things that I did Im saying sorry to you
But I did what I did and I paid my dues
Ive been missing you
Its not the first wont be the last time
Ive been caught red-handed
To tell the truth I cannot lie
One big misunderstanding
I havent got an alibi
And I cant stop them talking
I cross my heart and hope to die
One big misunderstanding
So I blew it again just like I always do
For the things that I did Im saying sorry to you
But I did what I did and I paid my dues
Ive been missing you
song performed by Ub40
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Art of Misunderstanding
Awkward silence, funny situation
Fatal mistake, disaster drama
Cold war, unfortunate tragedy
Misunderstanding could lead an irony
Wrong impression, lack of communication
Ego party, early judgment
Social gap, culture shock
Misunderstanding raise from intolerance
Same purpose, different perception
Same question, different talk
Same fear, different heart
Misunderstanding tests our character
In short period, in long term
The dark past, the uncertain future
Shaking the world, dividing people
Misunderstanding define where we lay our trust
Interesting love plot, mastermind crime
Underlying meaning, uncompleted sentence
Slice of life, sketch of comic
Misunderstanding is a human story
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Canto the First
I
I want a hero: an uncommon want,
When every year and month sends forth a new one,
Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant,
The age discovers he is not the true one;
Of such as these I should not care to vaunt,
I'll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan—
We all have seen him, in the pantomime,
Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time.
II
Vernon, the butcher Cumberland, Wolfe, Hawke,
Prince Ferdinand, Granby, Burgoyne, Keppel, Howe,
Evil and good, have had their tithe of talk,
And fill'd their sign posts then, like Wellesley now;
Each in their turn like Banquo's monarchs stalk,
Followers of fame, "nine farrow" of that sow:
France, too, had Buonaparté and Dumourier
Recorded in the Moniteur and Courier.
III
Barnave, Brissot, Condorcet, Mirabeau,
Petion, Clootz, Danton, Marat, La Fayette,
Were French, and famous people, as we know:
And there were others, scarce forgotten yet,
Joubert, Hoche, Marceau, Lannes, Desaix, Moreau,
With many of the military set,
Exceedingly remarkable at times,
But not at all adapted to my rhymes.
IV
Nelson was once Britannia's god of war,
And still should be so, but the tide is turn'd;
There's no more to be said of Trafalgar,
'T is with our hero quietly inurn'd;
Because the army's grown more popular,
At which the naval people are concern'd;
Besides, the prince is all for the land-service,
Forgetting Duncan, Nelson, Howe, and Jervis.
V
Brave men were living before Agamemnon
And since, exceeding valorous and sage,
A good deal like him too, though quite the same none;
But then they shone not on the poet's page,
And so have been forgotten:—I condemn none,
But can't find any in the present age
Fit for my poem (that is, for my new one);
So, as I said, I'll take my friend Don Juan.
[...] Read more
poem by Byron from Don Juan (1824)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Quarrels are essence.
Internal quarrels produce poetry.
Societal quarrels bring out story.
External quarrels adduce theory.
Sexual quarrels reproduce arts.
05.11.2002
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Misunderstanding
In this world
There is a big misunderstanding
Between the East and the West
Betwee men and women
Between Self and Other
Between ice and fire
And some
are trying
to solve
the big misunderstanding
some
good some
but some
but good some
Hope
to solve
the big misunderstanding
& all
& all
Live
(a good life)
poem by Eman Elbadawi
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
What a Big Misunderstanding
What a big misunderstanding
that I got into on my own
(and I wanted to reconcile with you)
when I knocked in vain
with you not being home
and you appeared with someone else out of the dark.
What a big misunderstanding
that I got into on my own
(some will probably call me stupid)
and I wanted to curse,
even wanted to assault that bloke
when I saw you kissing him,
what a big misunderstanding
that I got into on my own
poem by Gert Strydom
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Our Misunderstanding
Rip out the trees and plant your flag
Now I know just where you stand
Nature means nothing to you
Something that you can't control
And we make ourselves miserable
Trying to fill the hole
It's sad that our misunderstanding
Has turned into a war
I don't know you anymore
How was I supposed to know
I was steppin' on your toes
The momentum builds to a fever pitch
Talkin' but I just can't hear
Watchin' our problems multiply
Wishin' they would disappear
It's sad that our misunderstanding
Has turned into a war
I don't know you anymore, anymore
And our love got lost in the translation
And when I see you out
You're a stranger to me now
You're a stranger to me now
I, I wish I could talk to you
I wish I could make you see
How much I care
How much you mean to me
That our misunderstanding
Has turned into a war
I don't know you anymore, anymore
And our love got lost in the translation
And when I see you out
You're a stranger to me now
You're a stranger to me now
song performed by Fastball
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Misunderstanding
There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake
I waited in the rain for hours
And you were late
Now its not like me to say the right thing
But you couldve called to let me know
I checked your number twice, dont understand it
So I went home
Well Id been waiting for this weekend
I thought that maybe we could see a show
Never dreamed Id have this feeling
Oh but seeing you is believing
Thats why I dont know why
You didnt show up that night
There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake
I was waiting in the rain for hours
And you were late
Since then Ive been running around trying to find you
I went to the places that we always go
I rang your home but got no answer
Jumped in my car, I went round there
Still dont believe it
He was just leaving
There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake...
song performed by Genesis
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The Misunderstanding
I'm charmed yet chagrined by this misunderstanding--
As when, after a riot, my city's smashed-in stores appear all
Boarded up, billboarded over, with ads for wind-insurance.
Similarly, swimmingly, I miss the point. You too?
And my misunderstanding doesn't stop there, it grows--soon
I can't see why that sudden influx of fugitives,
All the world's escapees, rubbing themselves lasciviously against the
Berlin Wall.
They stick like placards to it. Like napalm. Like ads for--
And me, I haven't even bought my biodegradable genitalia yet!
No. I was born slow, but picking up speed I run through
Our burnt-out streets, screaming, refusing to buy a house.
Finally, exasperated, the misunderstanding overtakes me, snatches
up
Handcuffs. So now here I am, found with all you others
Impatiently craning, in this queue that rumors out of sight up ahead
somewhere,
Clutching our cash eager to purchase whatever it is, nervous
As if bombs were about to practice land-reform upon our bodies,
Redistribution of eyes, toes, arms, here we stand. Then, some new
Age starts.
poem by Bill Knott
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Out Of Egypt
Eve's misunderstanding,
Cain's misunderstanding,
Nimrod's misunderstanding,
A false witness will utter lies;
For the 60-year-old apple tree has fallen.
To the prayers of the saints,
Ten of tens of love to share to all mankind;
But, the planter still lives.
Of thousands of thousands,
Of millions of millions,
Of billions of billions,
Of trillions of trillions,
Of zillions of zillions,
The 60-year-old apple tree has fallen.
Ten thousand times ten thousand,
Disease is like a seditive!
So, use your senses well in times like this.
Of many years gone by,
Of many tears gone by,
Of many fears gone by,
Of many wears gone by,
Like the precious oil upon my head;
And like him who sits on the throne.
Power, riches and wisdom;
Strength, honour and glory;
It is just like the dew of Hermon where,
The blessing of this compact city is with us always.
It started with Eve,
It started with Cain,
It started with Nimrod,
The works of Man's hand;
Like the letters of Baal out of Egypt.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A Few Words
A few words
Could bring more than a sound
Touch the ears turn wry to golden smile
or sharper than a glass to cut into pieces
Misunderstanding,
Winding up a road between us
Separating emotions out of mind from the case
Would be wrong to let ego reign the grace
How ignorant sometimes heart could be?
Deaf two ears, and blinding opened eyes
Pretend the silence is your voice
Avoiding you is not a choice
Misunderstanding
A curse of few words
Lead a way to stray from the truth
A plead for apologizing replied by ignoring
A few words used for fighting and shouting and hurting
You............Silence
Standing still but beautifully broken
I looked into your eyes and surprised
In a mirror of a story without lies
Heard...listened a word...'sorry'
Encodes a meaning of 'Forgive me'
No, your lips tightly sealed
It is your voice within sent to me
A few words
I used as the sharp glass tease
Cut you deeply, and you bleed
Saw it all behind the naked eyes
But you still standing to hold me
Never mind how wrong i can be
How i can find a magic in a few words
To heal your pain stained and clot
Regretting how wrong i did to you
To believe unreal and count your tears
I never thought so hurtful this way
When i thinking of myself it linking to you
I hurting myself whenever i hurt you
A few words
I tried to search for proper sorry
Would you blind your eyes, deaf two ears?
Words crime sound nothing but now i fear?
It fears me as i don't to lose you
...Forget the past and start a new
we never meant to be hurt...
You replied with A few words
[...] Read more
poem by Unwritten Soul
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
In Balance
IN BALANCE - SO WE BE HAPPY
Sweet love's urgings seem, soft, oft ignored,
Or censored, checked, or wanting wings to fly
With fearless feelings which would amplify
Emotions into ecstasy: - accord
Complicit, total. Can melodic chord
An empathy inspire, and fortify
Nascent love's lyre? Now may we two ally,
Become, dear heart, as bonded twins, towards
Eternity advance enchantment scored.
Harmonics tuned to hopes shared unify
Autonomy and love as you and I
Prepare fair future, peace is our reward.
Pray we'll find way to perfect harmony,
Yin-Yang, in balance, yielding sacred key.
25 April 1990 revised 14 January 2010
robi03_0311_robi03_0000 BSX_LXX
See So We Can Be robi03_1840_robi03_0000 BSX_LXX
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
SO WE CAN BE...
kindly refer to notes
Sweet seem love’s [s]urgings, soft dream oft ignored,
Or held in check, or wanting wings to fly
With seamless stitch which, rich, may amplify
Emotions urging ecstasy - accord
Complete, completing. Chord without discord
Adds harmonies that always fortify.
New birth discover now, twin souls ally,
Become, dear heart, as bonded, turn toward
Eternity as one, enchanted cord.
Hesitations fade, hopes unify
Aspirations, braid as one you, I.
Prepare together peace as shared reward.
Perfection knows no ploy, prayers answered see
Yin, Yang blend girl and boy, yield sacred key.
Author notes
robi3_1840_robi3_0000 BSX_LXX
External AND Internal acrostic SO WE CAN BE HAPPY
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
poem by Jonathan Robin
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
So We Can Be
SO WE CAN BE
Sweet seems love surging, Soft dream oft ignored,
Or held in check, Or wanting wings to fly
With seamless stitch Which, rich, may amplify
Emotions urging Ecstasy - accord
Complete, completing. Chord without discord
Adds harmonies that Always fortify.
New birth discover Now, twin souls ally,
Become, dear heart, as Bonded, turn toward
Eternity as one, Enchanted cord.
Hesitations fade, Hopes unify
Aspirations, braid As one you and I.
Prepare together Peace as shared reward.
Perfection knows no ploy, Prayers answered see
Yin, Yang blend girl and boy Yield sacred key.
15 January 2009
robi3_1840_robi3_0000 BSX_LXX
External AND Internal acrostic (capitalized) SO WE CAN BE HAPPY
See below: In Balance
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII
IN BALANCE - SO WE BE HAPPY
Sweet love's urgings seem, soft, oft ignored,
Or censored, checked, or wanting wings to fly
With fearless feelings which would amplify
Emotions into ecstasy: - accord
Complicit, total. Can melodic chord
An empathy inspire, and fortify
Nascent love's lyre? Now may we two ally,
Become, dear heart, as bonded twins, towards
Eternity advance enchantment scored.
Harmonics tuned to hopes shared unify
Autonomy and love as you and I
Prepare fair future, peace is our reward.
Pray we'll find way to perfect harmony,
Yin-Yang, in balance, yielding sacred key.
25 April 1990 revised 14 January 2010
robi03_0311_robi03_0000 BSX_LXX
See So We Can Be robi03_1840_robi03_0000 BSX_LXX
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
poem by Jonathan Robin
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight Fits
Fit the First.
THE LANDING
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."
The crew was complete: it included a Boots—
A maker of Bonnets and Hoods—
A Barrister, brought to arrange their disputes—
And a Broker, to value their goods.
A Billiard-marker, whose skill was immense,
Might perhaps have won more than his share—
But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,
Had the whole of their cash in his care.
There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck,
Or would sit making lace in the bow:
And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck,
Though none of the sailors knew how.
There was one who was famed for the number of things
He forgot when he entered the ship:
His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings,
And the clothes he had bought for the trip.
He had forty-two boxes, all carefully packed,
With his name painted clearly on each:
But, since he omitted to mention the fact,
They were all left behind on the beach.
The loss of his clothes hardly mattered, because
He had seven coats on when he came,
With three pairs of boots—but the worst of it was,
He had wholly forgotten his name.
He would answer to "Hi!" or to any loud cry,
Such as "Fry me!" or "Fritter my wig!"
To "What-you-may-call-um!" or "What-was-his-name!"
But especially "Thing-um-a-jig!"
While, for those who preferred a more forcible word,
He had different names from these:
[...] Read more
poem by Lewis Carroll (1876)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The Hunting of the Snark
Fit the First
THE LANDING
'Just the place for a Snark!' the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
'Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What i tell you three times is true.'
The crew was complete: it included a Boots--
A maker of Bonnets and Hoods--
A Barrister, brought to arrange their disputes--
And a Broker, to value their goods.
A Billiard-maker, whose skill was immense,
Might perhaps have won more than his share--
But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,
Had the whole of their cash in his care.
There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck,
Or would sit making lace in the bow:
And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck,
Though none of the sailors knew how.
There was one who was famed for the number of things
He forgot when he entered the ship:
His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings,
And the clothes he had bought for the trip.
He had forty-two boxes, all carefully packed,
With his name painted clearly on each:
But, since he omitted to mention the fact,
They were all left behind on the beach.
The loss of his clothes hardly mattered, because
He had seven coats on when he came,
With three pairs of boots--but the worst of it was,
He had wholly forgotten his name.
He would answer to 'Hi!' or to any loud cry,
Such as 'Fry me!' or 'Fritter my wig!'
To 'What-you-may-call-um!' or 'What-was-his-name!'
But especially 'Thing-um-a-jig!'
While, for those who preferred a more forcible word,
He had different names from these:
[...] Read more
poem by Lewis Carroll
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The Convocation: A Poem
When Vertue's Standard Ecclesiasticks bear,
Their sacred Robe the noblest Minds revere.
All to its Guidance do their Thoughts submit,
But such who triumph in licentious Wit;
And nauseous Mirth as high Desert esteem,
When rais'd by Scorn upon Religion's Theme
As Kings by Right Divine o'er Nations sway,
As the most worthy, their high Pow'rs obey;
Homage by all is to the Priesthood born,
And none but Fools their Heav'nly Pastors scorn.
Yet censure not the Muse's Freedom here:
If urg'd by Errors, she must seem severe!
Tho' keen her Satyr, she no Envy bears;
Tho' Priests she lashes, she their Function spares.
Nor for ill Members such the Clergy calls,
But on their Shame, and not their Glory, falls.
Of all the Plagues with which the World is curst,
Time has still prov'd that Priestcraft is the worst.
By some, what Notions thro' the World are spread?
On Falshoods grounded, and from Int'rest bred;
Errour has still the giddy World perplext,
Whilst Scripture gilds it with some sacred Text.
This wild Opinions Strife and Faction brings,
The Bane of Nations, the Misrule of Kings.
Priests oft profane what they from Heav'n derive;
Some live by Legends, some by Murders thrive,
Some sell their Gods, and Altar-Rites deface,
With Doctrines some the Brain-sick People craze.
The Pagan prey on slaughter'd Wretches Fates,
The Romish fatten on the best Estates,
The British stain what Heav'n has right confest,
And Sectaries the Scriptures falsly wrest.
Amongst the Tribe, how few are, as they ought,
Clear in their Souls, instructive in their Thought!
The Good, like Prophets, shew their Precepts pure;
The Ill with Craft the Heav'nly Light obscure;
False to their Trust, they lead their Flocks astray,
And with their Errors cloud the sacred Way.
Tho' artless Numbers may my Verses throng,
Yet now Religion's Cause inspires my Song:
[...] Read more
poem by Richard Savage
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Hudibras: Part 3 - Canto II
THE ARGUMENT
The Saints engage in fierce Contests
About their Carnal interests;
To share their sacrilegious Preys,
According to their Rates of Grace;
Their various Frenzies to reform,
When Cromwel left them in a Storm
Till, in th' Effigy of Rumps, the Rabble
Burns all their Grandees of the Cabal.
THE learned write, an insect breeze
Is but a mungrel prince of bees,
That falls before a storm on cows,
And stings the founders of his house;
From whose corrupted flesh that breed
Of vermin did at first proceed.
So e're the storm of war broke out,
Religion spawn'd a various rout
Of petulant Capricious sects,
The maggots of corrupted texts,
That first run all religion down,
And after ev'ry swarm its own.
For as the Persian Magi once
Upon their mothers got their sons,
That were incapable t' enjoy
That empire any other way;
So PRESBYTER begot the other
Upon the good old Cause, his mother,
Then bore then like the Devil's dam,
Whose son and husband are the same.
And yet no nat'ral tie of blood
Nor int'rest for the common good
Cou'd, when their profits interfer'd,
Get quarter for each other's beard.
For when they thriv'd, they never fadg'd,
But only by the ears engag'd:
Like dogs that snarl about a bone,
And play together when they've none,
As by their truest characters,
Their constant actions, plainly appears.
Rebellion now began, for lack
Of zeal and plunders to grow slack;
The Cause and covenant to lessen,
And Providence to b' out of season:
For now there was no more to purchase
O' th' King's Revenue, and the Churches,
But all divided, shar'd, and gone,
That us'd to urge the Brethren on;
Which forc'd the stubborn'st for the Cause,
[...] Read more
poem by Samuel Butler
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Hudibras: Part 3 - Canto III
THE ARGUMENT
The Knight and squire's prodigious Flight
To quit th' inchanted Bow'r by Night.
He plods to turn his amorous Suit
T' a Plea in Law, and prosecute
Repairs to Counsel, to advise
'Bout managing the Enterprise;
But first resolves to try by Letter,
And one more fair Address, to get her.
WHO wou'd believe what strange bugbears
Mankind creates itself of fears
That spring like fern, that insect weed,
Equivocally, without seed;
And have no possible foundation,
But merely in th' imagination;
And yet can do more dreadful feats
Than hags, with all their imps and teats
Make more bewitch and haunt themselves
Than all their nurseries of elves?
For fear does things so like a witch,
'Tis hard t' unriddle which is which:
Sets up Communities of senses,
To chop and change intelligences;
As Rosicrucian virtuosos
Can see with ears, and hear with noses;
And when they neither see nor hear,
Have more than both supply'd by fear
That makes 'em in the dark see visions,
And hag themselves with apparitions;
And when their eyes discover least,
Discern the subtlest objects best
Do things not contrary, alone,
To th' course of nature, but its own;
The courage of the bravest daunt,
And turn poltroons as valiant:
For men as resolute appear
With too much as too little fear
And when they're out of hopes of flying,
Will run away from death by dying;
Or turn again to stand it out,
And those they fled, like lions, rout.
This HUDIBRAS had prov'd too true,
Who, by the furies left perdue,
And haunted with detachments, sent
From Marshal Legion's regiment,
Was by a fiend, as counterfeit,
Reliev'd and rescu'd with a cheat;
[...] Read more
poem by Samuel Butler
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!