I never had the exposure to techniques and so forth that children have today with art workshops, but I always had crayons and pencils and still have work going right back to when I was five or six years old.
quote by Robert Indiana
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
The Future Is The Children's
The future is the children's and I am of the past
And I too had my young years but nothing ever last
On looking back the Seasons how quickly the years have gone
Old age is fast approaching and the clock ticks on and on.
The future is the children's the children of today
They have the gift of youth with them though youth with them won't stay
On looking back decades from now when time has left them slow
They will wonder as I do where did the years to go.
The years are catching up one me and time has left me gray
And the future is the children's that would be true to say
The people in their sixties are running out of time
And few of them will be living when today's children are in their prime.
The future is the children's and to them alone belong
And those who will tell you differently have somehow got it wrong
But the hands of time keep turning and time on none does wait
And all of us are branded with an invisible use by date.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Use of Your Techniques
Remember...
You invited me,
To rank and critique.
As if my ego,
Would find a boost...
By the use of your techniques.
You insisted that I needed this.
And even today I agree I do.
The exposure to such pettiness...
Has kept me feeling blessed,
That what I have to offer
Does not need to pass your tests!
Remember...
You invited me,
To share my abilities.
And not feed from the offerings,
Of a constant flow of mindless BS!
That you claim is among your very best!
Please.
I am not flattered easily,
By insults!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
For the Young Who Want To
Talent is what they say
you have after the novel
is published and favorably
reviewed. Beforehand what
you have is a tedious
delusion, a hobby like knitting.
Work is what you have done
after the play is produced
and the audience claps.
Before that friends keep asking
when you are planning to go
out and get a job.
Genius is what they know you
had after the third volume
of remarkable poems. Earlier
they accuse you of withdrawing,
ask why you don't have a baby,
call you a bum.
The reason people want M.F.A.'s,
take workshops with fancy names
when all you can really
learn is a few techniques,
typing instructions and some-
body else's mannerisms
is that every artist lacks
a license to hang on the wall
like your optician, your vet
proving you may be a clumsy sadist
whose fillings fall into the stew
but you're certified a dentist.
The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an invention like phlogiston
after the fact of fire.
Work is its own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.
poem by Marge Piercy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Girl Who Had Pele's Hair
For: Samantha
The beautiful young red head
moves in mysterious ways
as she pulled her lava orange stick of wax
from her box of crayons
She is not a girl
actually more of a woman
Yet something in her eyes
is where the secret lies
In the Hawaiian sunset her hair twists and turns
rips and burns
like rivers of burning lava
trust me when I say
'The Past is Today'
Part of Pele is in her
The red head sharpens her crayon
smiling to herself
'I used to have a box of crayons
like that when I was little, ' says the teacher next to her
His face is strained and stressed,
A perfect contrast to the girl
'I used to get upset when my crayons
wore down to nubs, ' says the teacher.
The girl with the lava hair smiles,
'You still do, ' she says softly.
The teacher looks at her,
his eyes far away.
Years later the teacher stops his car,
on a rural road, next to an old lady walking,
The old lady's formerly red hair replaced,
by Pele's grayish silver ash.
The teacher rolls down his window,
The old lady smiling through missing teeth.
'Do you need a ride? '
The Teacher asks the old lady.
The old lady looks down the open road.
She shakes her head.
The teacher smiles with tears in his eyes,
And a feeling that will not go away,
remembering the past today.
poem by Joseph DeMarco
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Today's recording techniques would have been regarded as science fiction forty years ago.
quote by Tony Visconti
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I had been coming to America very frequently for many, many years, so I had plenty of exposure - and maybe the best kind of exposure, because I think first impressions are very important. Maybe I notice stuff that is just subliminal to people who live here all the time.
If Not
If not for my Father, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Mother, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Teachers, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Brothers, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Sisters, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Spouse Dear, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Children, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Good Deeds, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Talents, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Hard Work, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Blessings, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Country, would I be what I am today?
If not for my Dear GOD, would I be what I am today?
Copyright by Dr John Celes 11-12-2004
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Negro Mother
Children, I come back today
To tell you a story of the long dark way
That I had to climb, that I had to know
In order that the race might live and grow.
Look at my face -- dark as the night --
Yet shining like the sun with love's true light.
I am the dark girl who crossed the red sea
Carrying in my body the seed of the free.
I am the woman who worked in the field
Bringing the cotton and the corn to yield.
I am the one who labored as a slave,
Beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave --
Children sold away from me, I'm husband sold, too.
No safety , no love, no respect was I due.
Three hundred years in the deepest South:
But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth .
God put a dream like steel in my soul.
Now, through my children, I'm reaching the goal.
Now, through my children, young and free,
I realized the blessing deed to me.
I couldn't read then. I couldn't write.
I had nothing, back there in the night.
Sometimes, the valley was filled with tears,
But I kept trudging on through the lonely years.
Sometimes, the road was hot with the sun,
But I had to keep on till my work was done:
I had to keep on! No stopping for me --
I was the seed of the coming Free.
I nourished the dream that nothing could smother
Deep in my breast -- the Negro mother.
I had only hope then , but now through you,
Dark ones of today, my dreams must come true:
All you dark children in the world out there,
Remember my sweat, my pain, my despair.
Remember my years, heavy with sorrow --
And make of those years a torch for tomorrow.
Make of my pass a road to the light
Out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night.
Lift high my banner out of the dust.
Stand like free men supporting my trust.
Believe in the right, let none push you back.
Remember the whip and the slaver's track.
Remember how the strong in struggle and strife
Still bar you the way, and deny you life --
But march ever forward, breaking down bars.
Look ever upward at the sun and the stars.
Oh, my dark children, may my dreams and my prayers
Impel you forever up the great stairs --
For I will be with you till no white brother
Dares keep down the children of the Negro Mother.
poem by Langston Hughes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Hum You Have to Get Up
You have to get up;
I don't want to get up.
Why don't you want to get up?
I'm very comfortable where I am, thank you.
You have to go to work;
I don't want to go to work.
Why don't you want to go to work?
Because there's too much work at work, that's why.
You have to go to work to pay the bills;
I don't want to go to work to pay the bills.
Why don't you want to go to work to pay the bills?
If I pay bills this month I shan't have any money to pay next month's bills.
You have to get up;
I know, I'm getting up.
Where are you going?
I'm going to see an astrologer.
You're back, what did the astrologer say?
He said:
Today don't get up;
Today don't go to work;
Today don't pay the bills;
Have a nice day,
Today is Sunday!
poem by Mill Field
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
What Shall I Do Today?
Today,
all the events shall be taken as God's wish.
Today,
I shall love everyone.
Today,
I shall speak only truth.
Today,
I shall have pure and clean thoughts.
Today,
I shall spend the whole day in pursuit of Happiness.
Today,
i shall be polite and nice to people.
Today,
I shall not curse to anyone.
Today,
Whatever work is assigned to me shall be completed.
Today,
I shall be courteous to people.
Today,
Who ever approaches me with a problem or request shall go back satisfied.
Today,
I shall try to reform myself as much as possible.
Today,
I shall repent for all my ill deeds.
poem by Ginni Aggarwal
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.
quote by Al Hirschfeld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Children are today.
Children are today, Too outspoken for their age,
Some of their attitude stinks, and they have too much rage;
When we as adults grew up years ago, learnt to behave,
We respected the older folk, and no drugs did we crave.
Some children today, through abuse, and neglect,
Are hurting inside them, what they need is hard to detect;
They need guidance, love, understanding and care,
They need to be shown that someone will be there.
Children today, are expected to grow up too quick,
Taught to much, far too early, so wrong things they'll pick;
And as they grow, let them grow slowly at their own pace,
Let them be children while they can, and give them space.
poem by Margaret Haig
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
What About The Children
Tears streaming down, her heart is broken
And because her heart is hurting, so am I
He wears a frown, his dreams are choking
And because he stands alone, his dreams will die
So, humbly I come to you and I say
As I sound aloud the warfare of today
Please hear me, I pray
CHORUS
What about the children
To ignore is so easy
So many innocent children will choose the wrong way
So what about the children
Remember when we were children
And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show us
Where would we be today
So, where is your son
and where lies his refuge
And if that young man can't come to you, then where can that young man run to
She's such a foolish foolish girl, yet still, she's your daughter
And if you will just reminisce on all the crazy things that you did when you were that young
You see, it's not where you've been, nor what you've done
Because I know a friend who specializes in great outcomes
See His love overcomes
CHORUS
What about the children
To ignore is so easy
So many innocent children will choose the wrong way
So what about the children
Remember when we were children
And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show us
Where would we be today..............
What about the children they need our help today
And what about the children they need us
more than ever more than ever more than ever
what about the childen where would we be today
where would we be today
what about the children
Where would we be today
Where would we be today
Where would we be today
What about the the children
song performed by by Yolanda Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
What About The Children
Tears streaming down, her heart is broken
And because her heart is hurting, so am I
He wears a frown, his dreams are choking
And because he stands alone, his dreams will die
So, humbly I come to you and I say
As I sound aloud the warfare of today
Please hear me, I pray
CHORUS
What about the children
To ignore is so easy
So many innocent children will choose the wrong way
So what about the children
Remember when we were children
And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show us
Where would we be today
So, where is your son
and where lies his refuge
And if that young man can't come to you, then where can that young man run to
She's such a foolish foolish girl, yet still, she's your daughter
And if you will just reminisce on all the crazy things that you did when you were that young
You see, it's not where you've been, nor what you've done
Because I know a friend who specializes in great outcomes
See His love overcomes
CHORUS
What about the children
To ignore is so easy
So many innocent children will choose the wrong way
So what about the children
Remember when we were children
And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show us
Where would we be today..............
What about the children they need our help today
And what about the children they need us
more than ever more than ever more than ever
what about the childen where would we be today
where would we be today
what about the children
Where would we be today
Where would we be today
Where would we be today
What about the the children
song performed by by Yolanda Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Halsted Street Car
Come you, cartoonists,
Hang on a strap with me here
At seven o’clock in the morning
On a Halsted street car.
Take your pencils
And draw these faces.
Try with your pencils for these crooked faces,
That pig-sticker in one corner—his mouth—
That overall factory girl—her loose cheeks.
Find for your pencils
A way to mark your memory
Of tired empty faces.
After their night’s sleep,
In the moist dawn
And cool daybreak,
Faces
Tired of wishes,
Empty of dreams.
poem by Carl Sandburg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Today; Tomorrow
Today
It’s been five years since I have heard your voice.
Today
It’s been five years since I have heard your laugh.
Today
It’s been five years since I have seen your smile.
Today
Is the saddest day for me.
Today
I still remember like it was yesterday.
Today
I feel numb just like how I felt five years ago.
Today
I can still remember how I ran and didn’t want to stop.
Today
I still feel the emptiness of knowing I won’t ever see you again.
Today
I try and smile for you knowing that you are watching over me.
Today
I let my tears roll down slowly down my cheeks.
Today
I remember how you were so happy to be home.
Today
I still know that you didn’t have to suffer no more.
Today
I still try hard not to blame myself why you left my world.
Today
I sit here and remember the memories I have of you.
But tomorrow
I will still smile for you.
poem by Kimberly Santistevan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Make Tomorrow
Put on the dress in which you were married
Pull down the veil til your eyes are hid
Can you remember where we both came from
Let us do as we did
Look at tomorrow today
Making tomorrow today
Making tomorrow today
Making tomorrow today
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow today
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow today
Put back the photo under your window
Put down the phone that you hold in your hand
Put away these things that stand in between us
Let us be what we can
When it seems
Hopeless
When it seems
Hopeless
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow today
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow today
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow today
What better measure of what you were doing here
Then what you can leave behind
All the children of your children's children
Do you ever think what they're going to find
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Where the sacred meet the scared
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
Where the dreamer's dream is dared
In each of us
A dream can burn like the sun
Let's try it all one more time
To get this lesson learned
Sitting up in a spaceship
Looking down at the earth
You wonder what they all stuggling for
What's it all really worth
Making tomorrow today
Making tomorrow today
Make tomorrow
Make tomorrow
song performed by by Peter Gabriel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
After All These Years I Today Do Not Know What To Do With Myself
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I TODAY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WIITH MYSELF
After all these years
I today do not know what to do with myself-
I have worked for such a long time
And now it feels as if I have no work-
I am a writer and I am writing now
So there is at least that -
But what must it be for so many retired people
Who after so many years
Find themselves with nothing to do?
How lost one is when one has so much time
And nothing to do with oneself
Except feel one's own uselessness
And inability to really do anything.
poem by Shalom Freedman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.
quote by Barack Obama
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Today I wanted
Today I wanted to smile all day
But something and everything stood in my way
Today I wanted to laugh and joke
But something stopped me and I gave up hope
Today I wanted to be the best at work
But something held me back and the feeling just hurt
Today I wanted to be happy and glad
But something held me back and made me feel sad
Today I wanted to be just plain simple me
But something would just let me be
Today I wanted to be myself
but sometime we don’t get what we want with or without help
poem by Stephanie Mcgrath
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!