Weekend Glory by Maya Angelou

Johanna Harmon Art

Weekend Glory
Maya Angelou

Some clichty folks
don't know the facts,
posin' and preenin'
and puttin' on acts,
stretchin' their backs.

They move into condos
up over the ranks,
pawn their souls
to the local banks.
Buying big cars
they can't afford,
ridin' around town
actin' bored.

If they want to learn how to live life right
they ought to study me on Saturday night.

My job at the plant
ain't the biggest bet,
but I pay my bills
and stay out of debt.
I get my hair done
for my own self's sake,
so I don't have to pick
and I don't have to rake.

Take the church money out
and head cross town
to my friend girl's house
where we plan our round.
We meet our men and go to a joint
where the music is blue
and to the point.

Folks write about me.
They just can't see
how I work all week
at the factory.
Then get spruced up
and laugh and dance
And turn away from worry
with sassy glance.

They accuse me of livin'
from day to day,
but who are they kiddin'?
So are they.

My life ain't heaven
but it sure ain't hell.
I'm not on top
but I call it swell
if I'm able to work
and get paid right
and have the luck to be Black
on a Saturday night.

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Close To You lyrics by Kate Wolf

Close To You lyrics
Kate Wolf

I like the way you smile.
It reminds me of a happy child
It makes me feel a little less alone
I miss you when you're gone
The hours, they stretch on and on
Like water dripping slowly on a stone

You're such a mystery
The way you look at me
With that light that shines from some place I can't go
It could take you by surprise
When you realized
That you loved me though you've never told me so
You know I want to say so many things to you today
But you've got me feeling like I'm flying blind

I think if you were here,
The words would ring crystal clear
From this heart that learning how to speak its mind
You fight for truth with love
You're an iron hand in a velvet glove
It's the kind of strength that makes a gentle man
But I'm a child of the wind
I've been blown away, but I'm back again
I just don't know if you really understand

Sunlight moves across the floor
There's a soft breeze through the open door
A sleepy cat laying on the window sill
On this lazy afternoon, like honey on a silver spoon,
The memory of your smile is with me still
Don't tell me that it's wrong to say
I love you with a song

When the words won't come, I've seen you do it too
This road winds along
One day, we'll be gone
But I'll have this song to bring me close to you
I'll have this song to bring me close to you

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Von der Liebe von Khalil Gibran

Musik:
Secret Garden-Adagio

Delphin Enjolras art

Von der Liebe.
Khalil Gibran

Wenn die Liebe dir winkt, folge ihr
sind ihre Wege auch schwer und steil.
Und wenn ihre Flügel dich umhüllen, gib dich ihr hin
auch wenn das unterm Gefieder versteckte Schwert dich verwunden kann.
Und wenn sie zu dir spricht, glaube an sie,
auch wenn ihre Stimme deine Träume zerschmettern kann
wie der Nordwind den Garten verwüstet.

Denn so, wie die Liebe dich krönt, kreuzigt sie dich.
So wie sie emporsteigt zu deinen Höhen und
die zartesten Zweige liebkost,die in der Sonne zittern,
steigt sie hinab zu deinen Wurzeln und
erschüttert sie in ihrer Erdgebundenheit.
Wie Korngarben sammelt sie dich um sich.
Sie drischt dich, um dich nackt zu machen.
Sie siebt dich, um dich von deiner Spreu zu befreien.
Sie mahlt dich, bis du geschmeidig bist;
und dann weiht sie dich ihrem heiligen Feuer,
damit du heiliges Brot wirst für Gottes heiliges Mahl.

All dies wird die Liebe mit dir machen,
damit du die Geheimnisse deines Herzens kennenlernst
und in diesem Wissen ein Teil vom Herzen des Lebens wirst.
Aber wenn du in deiner Angst nur die Ruhe und die Lust der Liebe suchst,
dann ist es besser für dich, deine Nacktheit zu bedecken
und vom Dreschboden der Liebe zu gehen
in die Welt ohne Jahreszeiten, wo du lachen wirst
aber nicht dein ganzes Lachen,
und weinen, aber nicht all deine Tränen.

Liebe gibt nichts als sich selbst und nimmt
nichts als von sich selbst.
Liebe besitzt nicht, noch läßt sie sich besitzen;
denn die Liebe genügt der Liebe.
Wenn du liebst, solltest du nicht sagen:
"Gott ist in meinem Herzen", sondern:
"Ich bin Gottes Herzen".

Und glaube nicht, du kannst den Lauf der Liebe lenken,
denn die Liebe, wenn sie dich für würdig hält,
lenkt deinen Lauf.
Liebe hat keinen anderen Wunsch, als sich zu erfüllen.

Aber wenn du liebst und Wünsche haben mußt,
sollst du dir dies wünschen:

zu schmelzen und wie ein plätschernder Bach zu sein;
und willig und freudig zu bluten.
Bei der Morgenröte mit beflügeltem Herzen zu erwachen
und für einen weiteren Tag des Liebens dankzusagen;
zur Mittagszeit zu ruhen und über die Verzückung
der Liebe nachzusinnen;am Abend mit Dankbarkeit heimzukehren;
und dann einzuschlafen mit einem Gebet für
den Geliebten im Herzen und einem Lobgesang auf den Lippen.

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A Man's Requirements by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Music:
BERNWARD KOCH - A Shimmer Of Leaves

Richard Johnson Art

A Man's Requirements
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Love me Sweet, with all thou art,
Feeling, thinking, seeing;
Love me in the lightest part,
Love me in full being.

Love me with thine open youth
In its frank surrender;
With the vowing of thy mouth,
With its silence tender.

Love me with thine azure eyes,
Made for earnest grantings;
Taking colour from the skies,
Can Heaven's truth be wanting?

Love me with their lids, that fall
Snow-like at first meeting;
Love me with thine heart, that all
Neighbours then see beating.

Love me with thine hand stretched out
Freely -- open-minded:
Love me with thy loitering foot, --
Hearing one behind it.

Love me with thy voice, that turns
Sudden faint above me;
Love me with thy blush that burns
When I murmur 'Love me!'

Love me with thy thinking soul,
Break it to love-sighing;
Love me with thy thoughts that roll
On through living -- dying.

Love me in thy gorgeous airs,
When the world has crowned thee;
Love me, kneeling at thy prayers,
With the angels round thee.
Love me pure, as muses do,
Up the woodlands shady:
Love me gaily, fast and true,
As a winsome lady.

Through all hopes that keep us brave,
Farther off or nigher,
Love me for the house and grave,
And for something higher.

Thus, if thou wilt prove me, Dear,
Woman's love no fable,
I will love thee -- half a year --
As a man is able.

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Love quotes by W. Somerset Maugham

Michael & Inessa Garmash Art

It [Love] is not a word, nor a single action.
In truth, it can never be wrong
Like the sunrise, perfect in every possible way.
It is many things and yet it must exist
In the small space of the heart.
Once found it can bloom endlessly, with no cease.
It can choke one's throat, bring one to tears...
But it never hides in shadows or in darkness
It never feeds itself on deception.
It grows with trust, honesty and compassion.
Nothing less, always more....
Unknown.

We are not the same persons this year as last;
nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we,
changing, continue to love a changed person....
W. Somerset Maugham.

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Spiritual quotes by Sharon Jaynes ; C. S. Lewis

Today, look for the moments. The writing in the sky.
The breeze upon your cheek.
The flower pushing its way through concrete.
Expect the unexpected.
Let yourself be romanced by a sudden glory moment
from God.
Sharon Jaynes

Don’t bother much about your feelings. When they are
humble, loving, brave, give thanks for them; when they
are conceited, selfish, cowardly, ask to have them altered.
In neither case are they you, but only a thing that
happens to you. What matters is your intentions and your
behaviour.
C. S. Lewis

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How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Excerpts from "How to Win Friends & Influence People" (1936)
Dale Carnegie.

Music:
FREDERIC DELARUE - Beauty of forgiveness

When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.

There is one all-important law of human conduct. If we obey
that law, we shall almost never get into trouble.
In fact, that law, if obeyed, will bring us countless friends
and constant happiness.But the very instant we break the law,
we shall get into endless trouble.
The law is this: Always make the other person feel important.

The unvarnished truth is that almost all the people you meet feel
themselves superior to you in some way, and a sure way to their
hearts is to let them realize in some subtle way that you
recognize their importance, and recognize it sincerely.

Three-fourths of the people you will ever meet are hungering and
thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be
appreciated and loved.

The difference between appreciation and flattery?
That is simple.
One is sincere and the other insincere. One comes from
the heart out; the other from the teeth out. One is
unselfish; the other selfish.
One is universally admired; the other universally condemned.

You can make more friends in two months by becoming
interested in other people than you can in two years
by trying to get other people interested in you.
If we want to make friends, let's put ourselves out
to do things for other people - things that require time,
energy, unselfishness and thoughtfulness.

Whenever Roosevelt expected a visitor, he sat up late the night
before, reading up on the subject in which he knew his guest
was particularly interested. For Roosevelt knew, as all
leaders know, that the royal road to a person's heart is
to talk about the things he or she treasures most.

Wouldn't you like to have a magic phrase that would stop
arguments, eliminate ill feeling,create good will, and make
the other person listen attentively? Yes? All right.
Here it is:
"I don't blame you one iota for feeling as you do. If I were you
I would undoubtedly feel just as you do."

You can tell people they are wrong by a look or an intonation or
a gesture just as eloquently as you can in words - and if you tell
them they are wrong, do you make them want to agree with you?

Never! For you have struck a direct blow at their intelligence,
judgment, pride and self-respect. That will make them want to
strike back. But it will never make them want
to change their minds.

You may then hurl at them all the logic of a Plato
or an Immanuel Kant,but you will not alter their opinions,
for you have hurt their feelings.

Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
When we are wrong, we may admit it to ourselves.
And if we are handled gently and tactfully, we may
admit it to others and even take pride in our
frankness and broad-mindedness. But not if someone
else is trying to ram the unpalatable fact down
our esophagus.

If you argue and rankle and contradict, you may achieve
a victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory
because you will never get your opponent's good will.

If you disagree with them you may be tempted to interrupt.
But don't. It is dangerous. They won't pay attention to you while
they still have a lot of ideas of their own crying for expression.
So listen patiently and with an open mind.

You will never get into trouble by admitting that you may
be wrong. That will stop all argument and inspire your
opponent to be just as fair and open and broad-minded as
you are. It will make him want to admit that he, too, may be
wrong.

There is a reason why the other man thinks and acts as he does.
Ferret out that reason - and you have the key to his actions,
perhaps to his personality. Try honestly to put yourself in his place.
Listen first. Give your opponents a chance to talk. Let them
finish. Do not resist, defend or debate. This only raises
barriers. Try to build bridges of understanding.
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain . But it takes
character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.

The world is full of people who are grabbing and self-seeking.
So the rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others
has an enormous advantage. He has little competition.

Do you know someone you would like to change and regulate
and improve? Good! That is fine. I am all in favor of it,
But why not begin on yourself?
From a purely selfish standpoint, that is a lot more
profitable than trying to improve others - yes, and a lot less dangerous.

Letting one save face!How important,how vitally important that is!
And how few of us ever stop to think of it! We ride roughshod
over the feelings of others, getting our own way, finding fault,
issuing threats, criticizing a child or an employee in front
of others,without even considering the hurt to the other person's
pride. Whereas a few minutes' thought, a considerate word or
two, a genuine understanding of the other person's attitude,
would go so far toward alleviating the sting!

Let us praise even the slightest improvement. That inspires
the other person to keep on improving.
It is always easier to listen to unpleasant things after we
have heard some praise of our good points.

The expression one wears on one’s face is far more important
than the clothes one wears on one’s back.
A smile says, “I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you.”

There is only one way under high heaven to get anybody to do
anything.Did you ever stop to think of that? Yes, just one
way. And that is by making the other person want to do it.
Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.

No one likes to feel that he or she is being sold some-thing
or told to do a thing. We much prefer to feel that we are
buying of our own accord or acting on our own ideas.
We like to be consulted about our wishes, our wants, our
thoughts.

Richard Johnson Art

Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown
of the head high, fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in
the sunshine;greet your friends with a smile, put soul into
every handclasp.

Do not fear being misunderstood; do not waste a minute
thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your
mind what you would like to do;then without veering off
direction, you will move straight to the goal.

Keep your mind on the great; splendid things you would like
to do, then,as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself
unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required
for the fulfillment of your desire, just as the coral insect
takes from the running tide the element it needs.

Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire
to be,the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into the particular individual… Thought is supreme.

Preserve a right mental attitude — the attitude of courage,
frankness,good cheer.
To think right is to create.

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