General Chat

I remember living near/ being at school with a girl called Lorelei and my father passing the remark at the time why would anyone call their daughter by that name. It is supposed to be the name of a siren who lured sailors towards the rock but now you have said that it is about a girl with golden hair perhaps thats what they had in mind. -jle

Coincidentally I watched the programme on bbc2 last evening about the Rhine and Julia B. showed where the Lorelei rock is and spoke about the story of the girl with the golden hair.
Fascinating programme, I once got a job on a Ship on the Rhine, about 1972/3, working as a waitress with a friend of mine but then we got letters saying the river level was low that year so our boat couldn't be used and we didn't have jobs after all! I was so disappointed, so it will be good to watch the series and see where I might have travelled. I did visit Germany on my first foreign holiday with a girlfriend when I was around 17. Still have happy memories of that time.

LIzx

. One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything. - George C. Lichtenberg

~

No question is so difficult to answer as that to which the answer is obvious. - George Bernard Shaw

GBS was in my opinion very observent when choosing his words, This is the only GCL quote that I know.

B

Kandj

I rather like that I can imagine it being in Cross stitch and framed as Present.

Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow Anon

We may not always understand why we were put on this earth
Nevertheless, there is a reason and answer for everything
As time flutters on
You will understand your reason
And your destiny on earth

Oh my Goodness I just looked on Izzys Thread and it was ME who posted it on there earlier today!!! Perhaps it is just as well that I have retired No rude answers please!!

anninglos, I did not know that this was on Izzys thread i must have a look, I used to go on there every day but more recently I have visited now and agin and send messages to Izzy instead, Thank you for teeling us ,
Piglets Pal How lovely these words are on Samplers which you have.Thank you for sharing them with us all.
Nigglynelli
I never managed to read Tom Brown's Schooldays but I do like the quote.
Bridget

'Tom and his younger brothers as they grew up, went
on playing with the village boys without the idea of
equality or inequality(except in wrestling, running and climbing)
ever entering their heads, as it doesn't till it's put there by
Jack Nastys or fine ladies maids.
(Tom Brown's Schooldays.)

That is a wonderful poem Bridget, I have just seen it on Izzy's thread but decided to comment on this one. Very apt for these times.

Oscar Wilde:

Life is too important to be taken seriously !

SpanishEyes, what a lovely poem and so VERY true, I am thoroughly enjoying this 'thread', your son is clearly in the Army, and will certainly be in my prayers for his safety and well being. God bless him, his companions and all they do to keep us safe and secure in this very troubled world.

WHAT YOU FIND

There is discipline in A Soldier
you can see it when he walks,
There is honor in A Soldier
you hear it when he talks.
There is courage in A Soldier
you can see it in his eyes,
There is loyalty in A Soldier
that he will not compromise.
There is something in A Soldier
that makes him stand apart,
There is strength in A Soldier
that beats from his heart.
A Soldier isn't a title any man
can be hired to do,
A Soldier is the soul of that man
buried deep inside of you.
A Soldier's job isn't finished after
an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,
A Soldier is always A Soldier
even while he sleeps.
A Soldier serves his country first
and his life is left behind,
A Soldier has to sacrifice what
comes first in a civilian's mind.
If you are civilian -
I am saying this to you.....
next time you see A Soldier
remember what they do.
A Soldier is the reason our land
is 'Home of the free',
A Soldier is the one that is brave
protecting you and me.
If you are A Soldier -
I am saying this to you.....
Thank God for EVERY SOLDIER
Thank God for what YOU do!


TY Bohls

The firdt time I read this I printed it and I carry it with me and when my son is "away" I take this out and read it again

Home Again

Home again, the place of free
Home again the joy of family
Home again the hope of bright futures
Home again, home again

I found this and thought it was very apt for me! as I am going home to Spain very soon. Oh is on his way already as he is driving over.I am so looking forward to seeing him again, I have to wait until next Tuesday afternoon as I have a meeting to go to.

Oh my Goodness, I realised as I trawled through all the entries that I had mis spelt an important word in i=one of my entries and was going to put it write and then i HIT the delete button by mistake!!! I am so cross because I cannot remember what the piece was!
That will teach me to take more care.....Hmmmm

This is a verse I learned when very young from a little book of verse, by R.L. Stephenson


A Birdie With a yellow bill
Hopped upon my window sill.
Cocked his shining eye and said
"Ain't you 'shamed you sleepy-head"

One my son learned at school always made me smile as we had three cats at the time:

Cats Sleep Anywhere

Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.
Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge.
Open draw, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.
Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks.
Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.

Eleanor Farjeon (1881 - 1965)




A quotation I like is:

Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things,

by Cicero


Another poem I enjoy is one that always reminds me of my German master at school:

Die Lorelei by Heinrich Heine, 1822 (1799-1856)

Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,
Daß ich so traurig bin,
Ein Märchen aus uralten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt,
Im Abendsonnenschein.
2. Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar,
Ihr gold'nes Geschmeide blitzet,
Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar,
Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme,
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame,
Gewalt'ge Melodei.

3. Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe,
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn,
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen,
Die Loreley getan.


The translation is:

I cannot determine the meaning
Of sorrow that fills my breast:
A fable of old, through it streaming,
Allows my mind no rest.
The air is cool in the gloaming
And gently flows the Rhine.
The crest of the mountain is gleaming
In fading rays of sunshine.
2. The loveliest maiden is sitting
Up there, so wondrously fair;
Her golden jewelry is glist'ning;
She combs her golden hair.
She combs with a gilded comb, preening,
And sings a song, passing time.
It has a most wondrous, appealing
And pow'rful melodic rhyme.

3. The boatman aboard his small skiff, -
Enraptured with a wild ache,
Has no eye for the jagged cliff, -
His thoughts on the heights fear forsake.
I think that the waves will devour
Both boat and man, by and by,
And that, with her dulcet-voiced power
Was done by the Lorelei.


I used to recite it to myself when sent outside for talking lol
It's etched on my mind now!

Lizx

sheilawestwilts and kandj and everyone else thank you for enjoying this thread and posting such great Poetry and I also see that we are having a few sayings as well.
I can write prose and enjoy doing so even though most of it is imaginary stories about my descendents when I know where they have lived and what they did,
I admire those who can write Prose,

Kandj I did not know that The life that I have , is all I have was used as a code in the second world war

Have a good evening every one.

Spanish Eyes: the poem is called Leisure and it is by William Henry Davies
Nigglynellie: Your poem relates to a WW2 Frenchwoman working for the Special Operations Executive in London. Her name was Odette Brailly and she married an Englishman by the name of Roy Sansom. She was known simply as Odette and she was captured, tortured and transported to the Nazi concentration camp in Ravensbruck where Anne Frank was also held, along with Violette Szabo (another Frenchwoman working for the SOE). The story of Violette Szabo was covered in a film called "Carve Her Name With Pride".

The life that I have, is all that I have..... was written by Leo Marks and used as a poem code in the Second World War.

What is this life but full of care, and written by W.H.Davies
I have this poem pinned on the corkboard in my kitchen......
I glance as it often when I am dashing by!! (true).

An interesting thread this.... keep them coming please.

A donde el corazon se inclina, el pie camina.

or

Home is where the heart is.

Just so that you know that I have a little Spanish.