Roses

Pierre Ronsard

I send you here a wreath of blossoms blown,
And woven flowers at sunset gathered.
Another dawn had seen them revived; ruined,
and shed loose leaves upon the grass, at random strewn.
By this, their sure example, be it known
That all your beauties, now in perfect flower,
Shall fade as these, and wither in an hour,
Flower-like and brief of days, as the flowers sown.
Ah, time is flying, lady - time is flying;
Nay, 'tis not time that flies but we that go,
Who in short space shall be in churchyard lying,
And of our loving parley none shall know,
Nor any man consider what we were:
Be therefore kind, my love, whilst thou art fair.

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Ode on Solitude

Alexander Pope

Happy the man whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air,
In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

Blest, who can unconcern'dly find
Hours, days, and years slide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
Together mix'd; sweet recreation;
And Innocence, which most does please
With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
Thus unlamented let me die,
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

Stars

Sara Teasdale

Alone in the night
On a dark hill
With pines around me
spicy and still,

And a heaven full of stars
Over my head,
White and topaz
and misty red;

Up the dome of heaven
Like a great hill,
I watch them marching
Stately and still,

And I know that I
Am honored to be
Witness
Of so much majesty.

"Brutus"

William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar"

Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause,
and be silent, that you may hear! believe me
for mine honour and have respect to mine honour,
that you may believe! censure me in your wisdom,
and awake your senses, that you may the better judge.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's,
to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his.
If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar,
this is my answer:
not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves,
than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen?
As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate,
I rejoiced at it; as he was valiant, I honour him;
but as he was ambitious, I slew him.
There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune;
honour for his valour; and death for his ambition.
Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any,
speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude
that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so vile that will not love his country?
If any, speak: for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

Diary 1980, España, Manila

A. Ferrer, 1980, España, Manila

"When my lips can't express my feelings,
let my actions do the speaking".

Oh, my Love

John Lennon

Oh, my love, for the first time in my life
My eyes are wide open.
Oh, my lover, for the first time in my life
My eyes can see.

I see the wind, oh, I see the trees,
Everything is clear in my heart.
I see the clouds, oh, I see the sky,
Everything is clear in our world.

Oh, my love, for the first time in my life
My mind is wide open.
Oh, my lover, for the first time in my life
My mind can feel.

I feel sorrow, oh, I feel dreams,
Everything is clear in my heart.
I feel life, oh, I feel love,
Everything is clear in our world.