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Ducks v Swine

When swine feel sheen
then ducks
feel shy

poem by Sallam Yassin
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Ducks On The Wall

After dinner norman becomes depressed.
Star:
Normans office got on my nerves to-day.
Wife:
What do you mean? you are norman!
Star:
(shouts) I am a star!
Wife:
Youre not a star norman. youre
Just a plain ordinary little bloke and
Even if you walked down the street in
A silver suit people still wouldnt
Recognise you. youre dull, ordinary
And uninteresting! youre a drag!
Star rises from his chair and smashes
The dinner plates to the floor.
Star:
I hate this house and I hate you, but
More than anything else I hate those
Ducks!
Wife:
Dont you touch those ducks norman!
They were a present from my mother.
Look, norman, Ive had enough of you
And your ridiculous fantasies. first of
All you wanted to be a painter, then
You wanted to be an astronaut, then
A footballer and now youre playing at
Being a rock singer. if you touch those
Ducks Im leaving!
Ducks on the wall
My babys got the most deplorable taste,
But her biggest mistake
Is hanging over the fireplace.
Shes got ducks, ducks on the wall,
Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall.
My ladys got a sort of strange fascination,
An obsessive fixation
For cheap decorations
Shes got ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall.
Wo-wo-wo I love her so but if she doesnt move the ducks,
I think my mind is gonna go.
Ducks ducks on the wall.
Ducks ducks, hanging on the wall.
I leave the office and I want to relax.
Dont want to stare at a wall
And look at a duck that cant quack.
I love you baby but I cant fall
For those ducks on the wall.

[...] Read more

song performed by Kinks
Added by Lucian Velea
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Shy

Written by John Mellencamp
Can you shelter me
From this anxiety
Hey baby don't look me in the eye
'Cause I'm sexually shy shy shy
Sexually shy shy shy
I don't know why
With other girls I'm fine
But with you baby I'm shy shy shy
I hate for you to see me like this
'Cause nowhere else in my life
Does this exist
Can you shelter me
From this anxiety
Hey baby don't look me in the eye
'Cause I'm sexually shy shy shy
I'm sexually shy shy shy
Every time we talk
I can't catch my breath
I want a conversation
But I scare myself
I really can't hide behind this lie
'Cause with you baby
I'm shy shy shy
Woman
Well I'm ashamed to say
Woman
That I'm afraid this way
Woman
Yeah
Woman
I gotta stop acting so crazy
Can you shelter me
From this anxiety
Hey baby don't look me in the eye
'Cause I'm sexually shy shy shy
Sexually I'm shy shy shy
Can you shelter me
From this anxiety yeah
Hey baby don't look me in the eye
'Cause I'm sexually shy shy shy
Can you shelter me
From this anxiety yeah
Hey baby don't look me in the eye
'Cause I'm sexually shy shy shy
Sexually I'm shy shy shy
I don't know why
With other girls I'm fine
But with you baby I'm shy shy shy
I don't know why

[...] Read more

song performed by John Mellencamp
Added by Lucian Velea
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Mad The Swine (b-side Of Headlong)

I've been there before
A long time ago
But this time I wear no sandals
Ages past I gave all you people
Food and water
Three feet tall, so very small
I'm no trouble
I bring thunder, lightening
Sun and the rain
For all the people in the land
A message of love
I bring you from above
All you children gather around
Come join your hands and sing along
They call me mad the swine
I guess I'm mad the swine
I've come to save you
Save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
I walk upon the water
Just as before
I help the meek and the mild
The believers and the blind
And all the creatures great and small
Let me take you to the river
Without a fall
Then one day you'll realise
You're all the same within his eyes
That's all I've got to say
Just like before
They call me mad the swine
Mad the swine
Come to save you
Save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
All you people around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
Don't ever fail me
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
I've come to save you
Save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine

[...] Read more

song performed by Queen
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Mad The Swine

Words and music by freddie mercury
Been here before a long time ago
But this time I wear no sandals
Ages past I gave all you people
Food and water
Three feet tall so very small Im no trouble
I bring thunder lightning sun and the rain
For all the people in the land
A message of love
I bring you from up above
All good children gather around
Come join your hands and sing along
They call me mad the swine
I guess Im mad the swine
Ive come to save you save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
I woke up on the water just as before
Ill help the meek and the mild and believers and the blind
And all the creatures great and small
Let me take you to the river without a ford
Oh and then one day you realise
Youre all the same weve been in life
All Ive come to say just like before
They call me mad the swine
Im mad the swine
Ive come to save you save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
Ooh
Oh now
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
Dont ever fail me
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
Ive come to save you save you
Oh now
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the lord
Hands and praise the lord
Praise the lord
Ill get down on my knees and praise the lord

song performed by Queen
Added by Lucian Velea
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Idylls of the King: The Last Tournament (excerpt)

Dagonet, the fool, whom Gawain in his mood
Had made mock-knight of Arthur's Table Round,
At Camelot, high above the yellowing woods,
Danced like a wither'd leaf before the hall.
And toward him from the hall, with harp in hand,
And from the crown thereof a carcanet
Of ruby swaying to and fro, the prize
Of Tristram in the jousts of yesterday,
Came Tristram, saying, "Why skip ye so, Sir Fool?"

For Arthur and Sir Lancelot riding once
Far down beneath a winding wall of rock
Heard a child wail. A stump of oak half-dead.
From roots like some black coil of carven snakes,
Clutch'd at the crag, and started thro' mid air
Bearing an eagle's nest: and thro' the tree
Rush'd ever a rainy wind, and thro' the wind
Pierced ever a child's cry: and crag and tree
Scaling, Sir Lancelot from the perilous nest,
This ruby necklace thrice around her neck,
And all unscarr'd from beak or talon, brought
A maiden babe; which Arthur pitying took,
Then gave it to his Queen to rear: the Queen
But coldly acquiescing, in her white arms
Received, and after loved it tenderly,
And named it Nestling; so forgot herself
A moment, and her cares; till that young life
Being smitten in mid heaven with mortal cold
Past from her; and in time the carcanet
Vext her with plaintive memories of the child:
So she, delivering it to Arthur, said,
"Take thou the jewels of this dead innocence,
And make them, an thou wilt, a tourney-prize."

To whom the King, "Peace to thine eagle-borne
Dead nestling, and this honour after death,
Following thy will! but, O my Queen, I muse
Why ye not wear on arm, or neck, or zone
Those diamonds that I rescued from the tarn,
And Lancelot won, methought, for thee to wear."

"Would rather you had let them fall," she cried,
"Plunge and be lost--ill-fated as they were,
A bitterness to me!--ye look amazed,
Not knowing they were lost as soon as given--
Slid from my hands, when I was leaning out
Above the river--that unhappy child
Past in her barge: but rosier luck will go
With these rich jewels, seeing that they came
Not from the skeleton of a brother-slayer,

[...] Read more

poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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The Last Tournament

Dagonet, the fool, whom Gawain in his mood
Had made mock-knight of Arthur's Table Round,
At Camelot, high above the yellowing woods,
Danced like a withered leaf before the hall.
And toward him from the hall, with harp in hand,
And from the crown thereof a carcanet
Of ruby swaying to and fro, the prize
Of Tristram in the jousts of yesterday,
Came Tristram, saying, `Why skip ye so, Sir Fool?'

For Arthur and Sir Lancelot riding once
Far down beneath a winding wall of rock
Heard a child wail. A stump of oak half-dead,
From roots like some black coil of carven snakes,
Clutched at the crag, and started through mid air
Bearing an eagle's nest: and through the tree
Rushed ever a rainy wind, and through the wind
Pierced ever a child's cry: and crag and tree
Scaling, Sir Lancelot from the perilous nest,
This ruby necklace thrice around her neck,
And all unscarred from beak or talon, brought
A maiden babe; which Arthur pitying took,
Then gave it to his Queen to rear: the Queen
But coldly acquiescing, in her white arms
Received, and after loved it tenderly,
And named it Nestling; so forgot herself
A moment, and her cares; till that young life
Being smitten in mid heaven with mortal cold
Past from her; and in time the carcanet
Vext her with plaintive memories of the child:
So she, delivering it to Arthur, said,
`Take thou the jewels of this dead innocence,
And make them, an thou wilt, a tourney-prize.'

To whom the King, `Peace to thine eagle-borne
Dead nestling, and this honour after death,
Following thy will! but, O my Queen, I muse
Why ye not wear on arm, or neck, or zone
Those diamonds that I rescued from the tarn,
And Lancelot won, methought, for thee to wear.'

`Would rather you had let them fall,' she cried,
`Plunge and be lost-ill-fated as they were,
A bitterness to me!-ye look amazed,
Not knowing they were lost as soon as given-
Slid from my hands, when I was leaning out
Above the river-that unhappy child
Past in her barge: but rosier luck will go
With these rich jewels, seeing that they came
Not from the skeleton of a brother-slayer,

[...] Read more

poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Out To Lunch

(j. spinks)
Im ­ out of my head
You ­ wont understand me
Dont come knocking at my door tonight
Tell all my friends i? m all screwed up
Dont come messing with my head tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im so far out to lunch
I? m under a spell
You won? t recognize me
Don? t come knocking at my door tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im all screwed up
Dont come messing with my head tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im so far out to lunch
Im out to lunch ­ mmm ­ wont you listen ­ Im to lunch
Hey just let me sleep
Please ­ dont pressurize me
Dont come knocking at my door tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im all screwed up
Dont come messing with my head tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im so far out to lunch
Dont come knocking at my door tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im all screwed up
Dont come messing with my head tonight
Tell all my friends ­ Im so far out to lunch
Im ­ out of my head ­ Im out of my head

song performed by Outfield
Added by Lucian Velea
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Shy

After a month of just bein alone he said, I wonder what l.a.s thinkin
Streets he roamed in search of a poem amongst the wild and drinkin
When he sees cool dark skin in hot virgin white
The search was over at least 4 2night
When she co-signed and then told him she was ...
Chorus:
Shy - cool dark skin in hot virgin white
Shy - lips say wont but her body say might
Shy - looks like were gonna take the long way home 2night
Oh baby (shy)
After a look much louder than words she said, I passed my initiation
A friend of mine, he got killed and in retaliation
I shot the boy (pop! pop!), huh, twice in the head
No regrets, no sorrow - Im goin back 2morrow 2 make sure hes dead
Cuz if I dont, theyll call me a chicken, but u can call me ...
Chorus
Shy
Shy - lips say no but the body say might
Looks like were gonna take the long way home..
Looks like were gonna take the long way home..
Looks like were gonna take the long way home 2night
The girl was rough, but he called her bluff
And he told her not 2 know was better
Fact or fiction he wondered
And thats when the rain and thunder got wetter
And at the top of the page he wrote ...
Shy - cool dark skin in hot virgin white
Shy - looks like were gonna take the long way home 2night
Chorus
(oh, say it now, yeah)
(shy, shy!)
(shy)
Ooh baby, dont u wanna be alone 2night?
Shy - yeah (oh yes)
Shy (shy)
Shy - looks like were gonna take the long way home 2night

song performed by Prince
Added by Lucian Velea
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Get A Leg Up

Dont look at me dont touch me
Keep your mind straight ahead
Dont get no funny ideas about we
Or youll wish you were dead
Thats what I am thinking she must be thinking
The girl I spent 53 bucks on last night
She give me a look from the corner of her eye
That says, boy, keep acting right
How surprised was i
When she leaned over and whispered in my ear
Chorus:
Get a leg up
Get a leg over boy
Get a leg up
Whats the matter
Are you shy, shy, shy?
Im pretty good with first impressions
But sometimes im not always right
I pulled the car to the shoulder of the road
To see what she had in mind
Want me to spend the night
Hey lover boy you know I will
And my best girlfriend lives down the road
Together we will thrill ya
And im thinking to myself
I could be lucky pierre tonight
Chorus:
If I could get a leg up
If I could get a leg over boy
You know I aint that handsome
But you know I aint shy, shy, shy
The rest of the night we went on and on
And the moral to this song
Dont go making hasty judgements
Because sometimes they could be wrong
Nothing wrong with a good time
Just keep yourself protected make a list
And you can bet your life that the women dont know
The little girls are acting like this
So the next time a young one moves up
And she whispers in your ear
Chorus:
Get a leg up
Get a leg over boy
Get a leg up
Whats the matter
Now dont you be shy, shy, shy?
Get a leg up
Get a leg over boy
Get a leg up

[...] Read more

song performed by John Mellencamp
Added by Lucian Velea
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Shy Away

Roy orbison /bill dees
Oh my darling, I fear everytime youre near
I will hurt you again, so dont wait till then
Shy away, shy away, shy away from me
Theres a shadow of doubt and my mind cant work it out
I not sure of myself, so put me on your shelf
And shy away, shy away, shy away from me
Youre too much of a woman, when will you understand?
Ive got a lot of the devil in me, so never hold my hand again
Shy away, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
If I reach out for you, Ill break your heart in two
And I want you to stay so please hear what I say
Shy away, shy away, shy away from me
Please keep away from me, far away, safe from me
Darling, you must shy away, yeah-hey

song performed by Roy Orbison
Added by Lucian Velea
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New Friends (Ducks)

I recently went to the small town of Arundel,
And visited the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
I spent a relaxing few hours there strolling around.
If you haven’t already been, then you simply must.

After a while of strolling around,
I sat down to relax on a bench.
There were ducks under and around me,
Who had settled down and seemed quite content.

I sat watching tourists being taken
On a boat trip around the reed beds.
I was happy enough to sit watching the ducks:
Some, as they rested and some as they fed.

Sat there, I reached into my bag for a snack,
And, suddenly, dozens of pairs of eyes were on me.
The ducks dared to venture a little closer,
And made it obvious that they were extremely hungry.

I did feel rather guilty and apologized to them,
But there’s notices saying not to feed the ducks.
So, I very respectfully obeyed the rule,
Although, I suspect they think that rule really sucks!

As I strolled around the extensive site,
I could hear webbed feet following in my wake.
Another give away to the identity of my pursuers,
Was that I heard the quacking sound which ducks make.

But, when I turned round to look at them,
They panicked and quickly ran away.
It was if they were asking me,
‘Are you accusing us of following you? No way! ’

I turned away from them and carried on,
And the sound of slapping feet began again.
It made me smile at the apparent disinterest,
Which my pursuers were badly trying to feign.

I especially liked watching the diving ducks,
Who dive underwater, completely out of sight.
It’s usually many seconds before they reappear,
And bob back up into the daylight.

I enjoyed my trip to the nature reserve,
And I made new friends, albeit only for a while.
But I will always remember their funny antics,
And the fact that they managed to make me smile.

poem by Angela Wybrow
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Two Shots

This song was first released on the windsong album. it is the only album it has been released on.
I took two shots, got no ducks, and cold, cold hands
Last night while I was out drinking
Trying to have a good time
The lady with whom I was speaking
Thought I was feeding her some old line
When I spoke of a cold winters morning
A duck blind and a river of gray
The sound of the snow softly falling
When I thought I heard somebody say
I took two shots, got no ducks, and cold, cold hands
I could tell by the gaze of my comrades
That I was the one who had spoke
Their eyes held a message of patience
The thrill of the hunt and of hope
But when I spoke again how they listened
For the wisdom of what I might say
If the good lord had meant us to shoot one
Hed surely send more ducks our way
I took two shots, got no ducks, and cold, cold hands
Well the lady with whom I was speaking
She laughed lightly and she wandered away
My heart, like the snow in my story
Fell silent, Id hoped she would stay
Its so nice to talk to somebody
To find someone whos willing to share
I know that this life is worth living
But sometimes it just isnt fair
I took two shots, got no ducks, and cold, cold hands
I took two shots, got no ducks, and cold, cold hands
Words and music by john denver

song performed by John Denver
Added by Lucian Velea
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Sestina: A bird in the bamboo

The potter carried home a broken plate
and passing through a grove of tall bamboo,
some thing within disturbed the verdant sheen.
Intrigued, he stopped awhile to rest and wait.
A bird shot skyward, straight as arrow true,
turned somersaults and plunged back into green.

The bird had left the safety of the green,
to see from high the land as coloured plate.
An overview, to give perspective true.
Imprint in mind a map of home's bamboo
and then to hide and rest in patient wait,
before an insect hunt by thin moon's sheen.

The potter's wife delighted in the sheen,
of jagged shards of crackle-glazed jade green.
With supper not quite ready, while he wait,
he set about to mend the shattered plate.
When laid beside their wares of plain bamboo,
it's beauty shone and both declared this true.

The potter was perfectionist, it's true,
who long had strived to replicate the sheen,
of leafy shades of celadon bamboo.
One day, the kiln revealed translucent green.
The pottery's proud owner chose a plate,
as gift to Empress, hopeful then to wait.

Official staff with retinue in wait,
by Emperor's decree paid tribute true.
A portered chair arrived of fine gold-plate,
to honour maker of such lovely sheen.
Asway, the potter turned a sickly green
and gripped the shouldered poles of stout bamboo.

In city, thoughts returned to tall bamboo
and how it seemed the bird could hardly wait,
to fly back home within the dappled green.
The potter's mind was strong, his heart was true.
He learned of commerce, trade and coin's sheen,
but dreamt of home and wife and mended plate.

Back home, at last, amongst the green bamboo,
rich plate collectors, clothed in silken sheen,
confirmed that true rewards are worth the wait.

poem by Diane Hine
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Shy

Shy
By: Jean Pullman

So there’s this guy I’m really digging
I see his smile and my heart melts
I hear his voice and I get light headed
Yet I got one problem

CHORUS
I’m shy and I’m afraid to look his way
I’m shy I wouldn’t dare call his name
I’m shy I want to but I can’t talk to him
Oh I don’t why
I’m just shy

So we go to school and have a couple of classes together
Yet still I just can’t work up the nerve
I don’t know what he’ll say if I tell him
I’m afraid he’ll think I’m weird
I had a friend talk to him and give him a note
But still

CHORUS
I’m shy and I’m afraid to look his way
I’m shy I wouldn’t dare call his name
I’m shy I want to but I can’t talk to him
Oh I don’t why
I’m just shy

Well it’s the end of another day
I still haven’t made eye contact
I still got the nerve
I don’t know when I’ll talk to him
Because I am shy

poem by Jean Pullman
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Shy With You

(robbie seidman)
Producer for bonnie: desmond child
More than often when Im with you
I become a nervous kid
I imagine your old girlfriends
I imagine what you did
I dont know if this is normal
I dont know if this is love
With you I get so formal
And I feel all this other stuff
Shy with you
Though Ive been around the block
Shy with you
Cause youre the one I really want
Other guys I dont care about
So easy with them
Anything you can do without
So easy to win
I cant do without your love
So I try to play it cool
Everytime you call my bluff
I just stand there like a fool
Shy with you
Though Ive been around the block
Shy with you
Cause youre the one I really want
Shy with you
Sometimes a heart can hurt a lot
Shy with you
Cause youre the one I really want
I need your love
I need your love to see me through
I want you
I want you and so its true
Shy with you...shy with you...shy with you...

song performed by Bonnie Tyler
Added by Lucian Velea
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Camouflage

(stewart / savigar / omartian)
She came to the party
In a leather number wrapped in chains
Investigation found
She was very fond of dropping names
So I signed her book
And drove her to her home
And she looked so hot
Started to come on strong
Then she said so candidly
As I was gettin down on my knees
i dont really mean to tease
But Im shy, shy, shy, shy, shy
Camouflage
Thats nothin but camouflage
He was totally handsome
With a winning personality
Natural born leader
With connections in society
But late at night
Alone with just his wealth
He would stare in the mirror
And never see himself
He had a cadillac thirty foot long
He had a hit with every song
Sounded like somethings wrong
Why, why, why, why, why
Camouflage
It aint nothin but camouflage
Camouflage
Aint nothing but, nothin but
Nothin but camouflage
They were so well suited
With an ambience you cant ignore
But nobody realized
What went on behind closed doors
He had many affairs
But never felt fulfilled
She would hide her sadness
In alcohol and pills
She bottled everything up inside
He was too busy with his best friends wife
They couldnt look each other in the eyes
Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies
Camouflage
Just camouflage
Everywhere you go its called camouflage
Some people hide behind camouflage
C-a-m-o-u-f-l-a-g-e
I signed her book, drove her to her home

[...] Read more

song performed by Rod Stewart
Added by Lucian Velea
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Homosapien

I'm the shy boy
You're the coy boy
And you know we're
Homosapien too
I'm the cruiser
You're the loser
Me and you sir
Homosapien too
Homosuperior
In my interior
But from the skin out
I'm Homosapien too
And you're Homosapien too
And we're Homosapiens too
And you're Homosapien too
And the world filled with age are a stage where we act out our lies
And the words in the script seem to fit 'cept we have some surprise
I just want this to last all our dreams dreaming past are all gone
And if this is the case then I'm losing trace from now on
I'm a shy boy
You're a coy boy
And you know we're
Homosapien too
I'm the cruiser
You're the loser
Me and you sir
Homosapien too
Homosuperior
In my interior
But from the skin out
I'm Homosapien too
And you're Homosapien too
And we're Homosapiens too
And you're Homosapien too
And I think of your eyes in the dark and I see the star
When I look to the light and I might wonder right where you are
All the gods in the sky way up high see the earth spinning 'round
But the sun and the moon and the stars are so far from the ground
I'm the cruiser
You're the loser
Homosuperior
In my interior
Yeah I'm the cruiser
You're the loser
I'm the shy boy
You're the coy boy
Yeah I'm a shy boy
I'm a shy boy
Well I'm a shy boy
I'm a shy boy

[...] Read more

song performed by Simple Minds
Added by Lucian Velea
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The Shy Christmas Tree And The Hundred Fairy Lights

Now the Christmas tree sits shyly
In the corner of the room,
Like a shining beam of brightness
In the dismal winter gloom,
All aglow with tiny twinkles
Of a hundred fairy lights
Dancing round shy, trembling branches
In the dark December nights.

Shiny tinsel shimmers sparkling,
Twined around like silver string,
While the multicoloured baubles
Turn around and gently swing,
All reflecting light and glitter
From the hundred fairy lights
Dancing round shy, trembling branches
In the dark December nights.

Stuck tight to the top’s a fairy
In her ballerina dress;
As to what she might be thinking
You will have to try and guess:
Is she looking on with longing
At the hundred fairy lights
Dancing round shy, trembling branches
In the dark December nights?

There are presents for the grown-ups
Underneath the Christmas tree
But there’s nothing for the children
Who will have to wait and see
What old Santa has got for them
While the hundred fairy lights
Dance around shy, trembling branches
In the dark December nights.

He will go collect his reindeer
And pack presents on his sleigh
And then fly among the moonbeams,
Just before it’s Christmas day,
Guided by the twinkling starshine
Bright as all those fairy lights
Dancing round shy, trembling branches
In the dark December nights.

He will wait until each infant
Is tucked up so tight asleep,
For they mustn’t ever catch him
And they mustn’t ever peep
Till he vanishes in stardust

[...] Read more

poem by C. Richard Miles
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Ducks

(To E.M., Who drew them in Holzminden Prison)

I

From troubles of the world I turn to ducks,
Beautiful comical things
Sleeping or curled
Their heads beneath white wings
By water cool,
Or finding curious things
To eat in various mucks
Beneath the pool,
Tails uppermost, or waddling
Sailor-like on the shores
Of ponds, or paddling
- Left! Right! - with fanlike feet
Which are for steady oars
When they (white galleys) float
Each bird a boat
Rippling at will the sweet
Wide waterway ...
When night is fallen you creep
Upstairs, but drakes and dillies
Nest with pale water-stars.
Moonbeams and shadow bars,
And water-lilies:
Fearful too much to sleep
Since they've no locks
To click against the teeth
Of weasel and fox.
And warm beneath
Are eggs of cloudy green
Whence hungry rats and lean
Would stealthily suck
New life, but for the mien
The hold ferocious mien
Of the mother-duck.

II

Yes, ducks are valiant things
On nests of twigs and straws,
And ducks are soothy things
And lovely on the lake
When that the sunlight draws
Thereon their pictures dim
In colours cool.
And when beneath the pool
They dabble, and when they swim
And make their rippling rings,

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poem by Frederick William Harvey
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A Ballad of Ducks

The railway rattled and roared and swung
With jolting and bumping trucks.
The sun, like a billiard red ball, hung
In the Western sky: and the tireless tongue
Of the wild-eyed man in the corner told
This terrible tale of the days of old,
And the party that ought to have kept the ducks.
"Well, it ain't all joy bein' on the land
With an overdraft that'd knock you flat;
And the rabbits have pretty well took command;
But the hardest thing for a man to stand
Is the feller who says 'Well I told you so!
You should ha' done this way, don't you know!' --
I could lay a bait for a man like that.

"The grasshoppers struck us in ninety-one
And what they leave -- well, it ain't de luxe.
But a growlin' fault-findin' son of a gun
Who'd lent some money to stock our run --
I said they'd eaten what grass we had --
Says he, 'Your management's very bad;
You had a right to have kept some ducks!'

"To have kept some ducks! And the place was white!
Wherever you went you had to tread
On grasshoppers guzzlin' day and night;
And then with a swoosh they rose in flight,
If you didn't look out for yourself they'd fly
Like bullets into your open eye
And knock it out of the back of your head.

"There isn't a turkey or goose or swan,
Or a duck that quacks, or a hen that clucks,
Can make a difference on a run
When a grasshopper plague has once begun;
'If you'd finance us,' I says, 'I'd buy
Ten thousand emus and have a try;
The job,' I says, 'is too big for ducks!

"'You must fetch a duck when you come to stay;
A great big duck -- a Muscovy toff --
Ready and fit,' I says, 'for the fray;
And if the grasshoppers come our way
You turn your duck into the lucerne patch,
And I'd be ready to make a match
That the grasshoppers eat his feathers off!"

"He came to visit us by and by,
And it just so happened one day in spring
A kind of cloud came over the sky --

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poem by Andrew Barton Paterson
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