The Temple Of Vishnu

Grand Cañon of Arizona

Vishnu, the gods of eld are dead. Long dead
Are Zeus, Astarte, and that lotus-flower,
Isis of Egypt. Unto each his hour.
Yet thou, silent within thy temple dread,
Locked against prayers, mounted above the tread
Of climbing feet, thou from thy purple tower
Contemplatest the stern inscrutable power
Whence all things come and whither all are led.
The day in splendor of lilac and clear blue
Visits thy mighty seat. The sapphire night
Broods in the abyss with darkness, and the rain
Veils thee with clouds, hails thee and bids adieu
In thunder. Steadfast on thy terraced height
Thou seest bold time besiege thy throne in vain.

poem by Harriet Monroe
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The Nicer

He intimated that he had
penultimate authority,
though never did he say so.
And what they call in television
a 'nicer', he would be
impeccably, conservatively dressed,
with matching body language
and a butterfly bow tie.

The two of us appeared to be
exchanging pleasantries,
with faces from the film called
Misery Loves Company.

And in the end, when I could feel
a dozen newly-hatched gray hairs
make their appearance, laterally
I left the temple of this moneychanger
and sniffed the air for penthouse scents.

[...] Read more

poem by Herbert Nehrlich
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A Ballad Of Pikeville

Down in Southern Arizona where the Gila monster thrives,
And the 'Mescalero,' gifted with a hundred thousand lives,
Every hour renounces one of them by drinking liquid flame
The assassinating wassail that has given him his name;
Where the enterprising dealer in Caucasian hair is seen
To hold his harvest festival upon his village-green,
While the late lamented tenderfoot upon the plain is spread
With a sanguinary circle on the summit of his head;
Where the cactuses (or cacti) lift their lances in the sun,
And incautious jackass-rabbits come to sorrow as they run,
Lived a colony of settlers-old Missouri was the State
Where they formerly resided at a prehistoric date.

Now, the spot that had been chosen for this colonizing scheme
Was as waterless, believe me, as an Arizona stream.

The soil was naught but ashes, by the breezes driven free,
And an acre and a quarter were required to sprout a pea.
So agriculture languished, for the land would not produce,
And for lack of water, whisky was the beverage in use-

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poem by Ambrose Bierce
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God Bless Not Only America

(To enjoy the song for this poem, please see the poet's profile for the website.)

God bless the hungry, in Columbia or in Cambodia, in Europe or in Ethiopia.
God bless all farmers, growing potatoes or tomatoes, bananas or papayas.
God bless all bears, pandas in China, polar bears in Canada, or cola bears in Australia.
God bless the codes and the buttons of nuclear weapons, in Arizona or in Siberia.

God bless all children, drinking dirty water or Coca-Cola.
God bless the dreams, both in Bollywood's or Hollywood's cinema.
God bless all Gods or their wise friends, Laozi or Confucius, Muhammad or Buddha.
Oh, my God, oh, our God, could you please bless all of us, not only America?

-from GOD BLESS NOT ONLY AMERICA

poem by Gordon Tseng
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Gabrielle Giffords In Political 'Crosshairs

Palin’s Gabriel Giffords in political 'crosshairs'
was an act of terrorism or stupidity?
Fueled a massacre fueled reader gunman's rage?

Sarah Palin created a list of candidates to defeat
in next election used gun crosshairs to illustrate
her intention. What influence these images on any...

troubled, angry, mentally unstable young minds?
Who sows a 'hate-filled atmosphere of unbending
partisan politics in which opponents are demonized

to the point that violence becomes not merely
possible, but probable'. Answer power hungry minds.
Are power crazed minds best choice for world peace?

Copyright © Terence George Craddock
Quotation on the 'Arizona Shooting and Political Demonizing' January 9,2011 by Zach Dawes.

poem by Terence George Craddock
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Never Been To Spain

(words & music by hoyt axton)
Well Ive never been to spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They dont abuse it
Never gonna loose it
I cant refuse it
Well, Ive never been to england
But I kind of like the beatles
So I headed for las vegas
Only made it out to needles
Can you feel it
Must be weary
Oh so good... oh feel so good
Well Ive never been to heaven
But Ive been in oklahoma
Well, they tell me I was born there
But I really dont remember
In oklahoma or arizona

[...] Read more

song performed by Elvis Presley
Added by Lucian Velea
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Never Been To Spain

Well I've never been to Spain
But I kind of like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it
Well I've never been to England
But I kind of like the Beatles
Well I headed for Las Vegas
Only made it out to Needles
Can you feel it
Must be real
It feels so good
It feels so good
Well I never been to Heaven
But I've been to Oklahoma
Well they tell me I was born there
But I really don't remember
In Oklahoma not Arizona

[...] Read more

song performed by Cher
Added by Lucian Velea
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Mother Sky

Oh great mother of the sky
Hear your children’s cries
They have been taken away
By non tribal hands

To a place far from your eyes
Taken off of federal land
Your children now cry for you
Eighteen of your children missing

Their spirits grow weak
Has they are together trying to reach you
Wishing to be back home
Under your watchful eyes

Oh great mother of the sky
Hear your people’s cries
We wish to have our family
And our friends back home

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poem by Davina Vanessa Rivas
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Hotel Arizona

Hotel in Arizona made us all wanna feel like stars
Rental cars and tinted windows, leave another number for me
Even if I make it through
That's just something that I have to get used to
That's just something I have to get used to
I feel some connection between you and me
Well I guess there's some direction maybe you can't see
Even at the interview, that's not something thatI'm gonna get used to
That's not something I'm gonna get used to
Hello, can you hear?
Hello, that's all there is, that's all there is
I guess all this history is just a mystery to me
One more worried whisper right in my ear

song performed by Wilco
Added by Lucian Velea
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Today’s American

Growing up in today’s world,
You see the beauty in forgiveness,
In flowers of Arizona,
but do you rarely see it in a love letter,
or even someone's smile,
what is happening to us?
have we forgotten how to love?

You would believe that guilt and pain,
Is truly real when someone dies,
A part of you is killed within as well.

When you sleep and dreaming away,
The hand on your heart will,
Ignite the fire even in April to go to college,
Only if you clean up your act.

I belong to the land of the free,
Whose strive forward was made from,
Love, passion, pride, and being proud to be an American,

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poem by Mrs. Cynosure
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The Fairy Castle

There's a fairy castle, in my backyard,
It's spires reaching upward, towards the sky.
It's blue green spines pointy and hard,
One little stab will make you want to cry.

It stretches fifteen feet, into the air,
Majestic in the setting sun.
A king of the desert noble and fair,
An impenetrable fortress, to all but one.

Up in the topmost spires a thrush,
Has made her simple home.
In between the stems that squeeze and crush,
On her nest she's sitting all alone.

Without a worry in the world she rests,
And in her bed she sings and nestles.
While her mate dozes near the nest,
Happy within, their fairy castle.

[...] Read more

poem by Juan Olivarez
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As If a Treasure Being Threatened

Arizona is 'a-lonah'
And unfortunate it is!
To witness folks with ancient beliefs...
That they can live lives independently.
Regardless of who says what in a democracy.

How many 'illegals' own American property?
Or walk up and down Main Street USA...
Portraying anyone they wish.
And may not speak a word of English.
Melanin is the difference.

A difference that conflicts with interest!
And divides those who hide their racist afflictions.
With a protection of this ignorance...
As if a treasure being threatened to be taken away!
Instead of the reverse being their curse.

'Bless those of feeble mind and deed!
Bless those who believe...

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poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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What The World Has Come To Be(travon Martin)

This world is still segregated
Face the facts
We didn't get too far from when martin Luther king Jr. Was alive
Yes races are now working to gethar
But now there is not only still racism
There is now race on race crime
All these thoughts rush through my mind like a ton of brick
The old folks are telling us young folks what's wrong and right
And that we should not fight and kill one another
But it will not stick
And I'm sick of all this! ! !
Why do I always have to worry about getting shot?
If I'm just walking from the store caring a bag o skittles
And an Arizona drink
Why should I die because you think I look suspicious?
But you follow me and kill me because you feel threatened
What sense does that makes?
Can we just all love and look out for each other instead of killing one another?

poem by Alexis pelt
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You and Me

It was always you and me
to the woods of Michigan
through the desert of New Mexico
under the neon lights of Arizona
down past Tennesee
to the ocean of Florida
there wasn't much we didn't see

Through the mountains of West Virginia
to the border of California
hot summer days in Kansas
never ending miles in Texas
we roamed these roads alway's free
it was alway's you and me

Riding along side wild horses
somewhere in Oklahoma
with wind blowing in our hair
dreams only you and me would share
living life the way we choose

[...] Read more

poem by Spiritwind Wood
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Amazona

(ferry/manzanera)
Amazona
Is a zone where
There is no doubt
No more fall-out -
Why dont you step
Through the mirror and see?
From arizona
To eldorado
Sure is a mighty long way.
Hey little girl
Is something wrong?
I know its hard
For you to get along
The bell-tower rings
It tolls a hollow sound
But your castles in spain
Still may be realised
And longings more profound.
You see - every cloud

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song performed by Roxy Music
Added by Lucian Velea
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My Heart Cries For You

(words & music by sigman - faith)
If youre in arizona, Ill follow you
If youre in albuquerque, Ill be there too
Well have a little chance to start a-new
Because my love is endless for you
My heart cries for you
Sighs for you, dies for you
My arms long for you
Please come back to me
An unimportant quarrel
Is what we had
We have to learn to live with the good and bad
Come together da da da la dum....
This loneliness is driving me mad
My heart cries for you
Sighs for you, dies for you
My arms long for you
Please come back to me
My heart cries for you
Sighs for you, dies for you

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song performed by Elvis Presley
Added by Lucian Velea
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Rainy Night House

It was a rainy night
We took a taxi to your mothers home
She went to florida and left you
With your fathers gun, alone
Upon her small white bed
I fell into a dream
You sat up all the night and watched me
To see, who in the world I might be
I am from the sunday school
I sing soprano in the upstairs choir
You are a holy man
On the f.m. radio
I sat up all the night and watched thee
To see, who in the world you might be.
You called me beautiful
You called your mother-she was very tanned
So you packed your tent and you went
To live out in the arizona sand
You are a refugee
From a wealthy family

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song performed by Joni Mitchell
Added by Lucian Velea
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Get Back

JoJo was a man who thought he was a woman, but he knew it couldn't last
JoJo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California grass.
Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged
Get back JoJO, go home, get back, get back Joe
Sweet Loretta Molin thought she was a woman, but she was another man
All the other girls around here said she's got it coming
But she gets it while she can.
Oh, get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged
Get back Loretta, go home, get back to where you where you once belonged
Get back, your monny's waiting for you
Wearing her high heeled shoes and her low neck sweater, get back home Loretta

song performed by Grateful Dead
Added by Lucian Velea
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(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66

If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six
It winds from Chicago to LA
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six
Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mi-ighty pretty
You'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six
Won't you get hip to this ti-imely tip
When you make a-that California trip
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six

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song performed by Nat King Cole
Added by Lucian Velea
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Licking the Toad II

'Doctor: 'Are the tablets beginning to work now? ''
Miss Alma: 'Yes, I'm beginning to feel like a waterlily on a Chinese lagoon.''
-from Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams
The Aztec people had a closely related god of sacred psychoactive plants. Xochipilli, Prince of Flowers, was the divine patron of 'the flowery dream' as the Aztecs called the ritual hallucinatory trance.

See them there:
young naked hippies gamboling in the hot reeds
along the Clorado River
in southern Arizona
looking for toads
chasing the hopping delicate toads
whose only defense
is what makes them prized
their poison
their recreational high
Slough them off!
Dry the skins
let them renew their
poison
Paracelsus' dosage

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poem by Stan Petrovich
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