In general, shorter is better. If you can encapsulate your idea into a single captivating sentence, you're halfway home.
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The Generals
Said General Clay to General Gore,
'Oh must we fight this silly war?
To kill and die is such a bore.'
'I quite agree,' said General Gore.
Said General Gore to General Clay,
'We could go to the beach today
And have some ice cream on the way.'
'A grand idea,' said General Clay.
Said General Gore to General Clay,
'But what if the sea is closed today?
And what if the sand's been blown away?'
'A dreadful thought,' said General Clay.
Said General Gore to General Clay,
'I've always feared the ocean's spray,
And we may drown!' 'It's true, we may.
It chills my blood,' said General Clay.
Said General Clay to General Gore,
'My bathing suit is slightly tore.
We'd better go on with our war.'
'I quite agree,' said General Gore.
Then General Clay charged General Gore
As bullets flew and cannons roared.
And now, alas! there is no more
Of General Clay or General Gore.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein

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Peace Proposal
Said General Clay to General Gore really must we fight this silly war
To kill and die in such a bore I quite agree said General Gore
Said General Gore to General Clay we could go to the beach today
And have some icecream on the way a grand idea said General Clay
Said General Clay to General Gore we'll build sand castles on the shore
Said General Gore we'll splash and play let's leave right now said General Clay
Said General Gore to General Clay but what if the sea's closed today
And what if the sand's been blown away the dreadful thought said General Clay
Said General Gore to General Clay I've always feared the ocean's spray
And we may drown it's true we may it chills my blood said General Clay
Said General Clay to General Gore my bathin' suit is slightly tore
We better go on with our war I quite agree said General Gore
The General Clay chanrged General Gore as bullets flew and cannons roared
And now at last there is no more of General Clay or General Gore
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein

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Halfway Home
words & music by jason mraz
I used to walk along the opposite side of the road and made others get out of my way
I used to think I could sit and wait for the times
but they wont come until I meet them halfway
I'm halfway home and I'm on my own
I'm halfway there and I don't care, I don't mind
I plan to leave here after supper time
that's when traffic is light, all I need is a sign
and I'll be alright. I'll be fine
I used to think that i could just sleep and then I'd dream
And everything it would come to me
Until I woke one day without anything to eat
Lying on the opposite side of the street
I'm halfway home and I'm still out on my own
I'm halfway there and I don't care, I don't mind
Because it ain't my time to stay or say
I'll never lay down.
I used to think that I could just sit and wait for the time
But I know I gotta meet them halfway
I'm halfway home I tried home running with the flow
I'm halfway there. Ain't it funny how everybody seems to care
I planned to get there around supper time their serving up bread and wine
All I needed was a sign and I'll be allright.
I'll be fine.
(It seems to be a running theme about being fine and allright but I don't mind.)
song performed by by Jason Mraz

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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18 Definitions Of A Short Poem
1) A short poem
Saves time,
2) A short poem
Saves time
For its reader, also.
3) A short poem is over
Before its read.
4) A short poem
Can be swiftly reread.
5) A short poem
Is a lightning flash.
6) A short poem
Is one metaphor only.
7) A short poem
Is less than nine words.
8) A short poem
Opens ones eyes
In the morning.
9) A short poem
May be a short prayer.
10) A short poem
May be a poem of a single word.
11) Poem.
12) A short poem
A small play on words.
13) A short poem
May be a single sentence.
14) A short poem is shorter
Than the definition of it.
15) It breaks up the icy sea within.
16) A chill down the spine.
17) There is no end
To making definitions of the short poem.
18) A short poem in Hebrew
Is shorter than than the same poem in English.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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General Grant had no fixed plan of campaign beyond the general idea to avoid the strong defensive line occupied by General Lee behind Mine Run, and find a way to draw him out to open battle.
quote by James Longstreet

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Captivating Madness
It's a captivating madness,
Experienced by one and all!
Captivating with excitement,
Cotton candied and popcorn balled!
There is amusements in the atmosphere.
A circus that delights!
Thrills and chills to goosebump with squeals.
'Free Admission' is the call!
There's nothing left to keep a calm breath...
Not today on this rollercoasting ride!
And the ringmaster confesses,
Those who witness are being blessed.
Since this mess adventured,
Churns to a frenzy...
And must not be stalled.
It's a captivating madness,
Experienced by one and all!
Captivating with excitement,
Cotton candied and popcorn balled!
For anyone in doubt,
Of this craziness coming to an end...
Hold on tight and close your eyes,
There's more attractions
Being prepare...
That have yet to begin!
It's a captivating madness,
Experienced by one and all!
Captivating conscious minds...
With no hint to slow,
Even to a crawl.
Who believed these actions,
Would heal and someday mend!
Not this captivating madness,
We've been addicted to defend!
It's a captivating madness,
Complete with somersaults.
Backflips with closed lips are seen...
And some knocked out by what is viewed,
Are administered smelling salts!
It's a captivating madness...
Deplete of accepting fault!
And those who foresee the future say,
This madness feeds massive assaults.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Lies About Tall Guys
Just seems like it’s that way to me
Taller guys seem to get executive jobs
Shorter guys work mostly as clerks
Taller guys never seem to be slobs
Shorter guys always seem to be jerks
Taller guys seem to get all of the action
Shorter guys seem to be quite invisible
Taller guys always seem to deserve satisfaction
Shorter guys are lonely and miserable
Just seems like it’s that way to me
Taller guys just seem born to play sports
Shorter guys kinda seem to like tennis
Taller guys certainly look better in shorts
Shorter guys look like Dennis the Menace
Taller guys are usually at the top of their class
Shorter guys seem to fail quite a lot
Taller guys always seem to kick ass
Shorter guys want to, but simply cannot
sure seems like it’s that way to me
Taller guys get better grades and such
Shorter guys seem to barely scrape by
Taller guys seem to do better, pretty much
Shorter guys always wonder why
Taller guys seem to have eyes like a hawk
Shorter guys seem to wear glasses a lot
Taller guys cover more ground when they walk
Shorter guys, to keep up, have to trot
Sure seems like it’s that way to me
Taller guys and their friends look like N.B.A players
Shorter guys look more like cheerleaders
Taller guys seem to look like dragon slayers
Shorter guys look a lot more like bleeders
Taller guys seem to have more gear to protect
Shorter guys wear more protective gear
Taller guys, more confidence seem to project
Shorter guys have less confidence, more fear
Really seems like it’s that way to me
Taller guys appeal to the female gender
Shorter guys always seem to choke
Taller guys carry a lot more legal tender
Shorter guys always seem to be broke
Taller guys seem to drive high dollar cars
Shorter guys drive toyotas
Taller guys seem to reach for the stars
Shorter guys reach for diet sodas
Taller guys are obnoxious, let’s neuter them all
Shorter guys are great people, always a delight
Taller guys are an abomination against mother nature’s law
If you think I’m a short guy….well, you’re right!
Really seems like the way it should be
poem by David Whalen

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Half Way Round The World
Lately I feel so small
Or maybe its just that my bed has grown
I never noticed it before but you were there
So how was I to know
That this single bed
Was always meant for two
Not just anyone
It was meant for me and you
And now your halfway round the world
And I'm just a day behind
Nothin' seems to fill the hole
That I have since you left my side
You'll always be my little girl
Though I cant hold you tonight
And now your halfway round the world
And I'm just a day behind
I wake up in the night
I turn around and find that you're not there
I just like to watch you sleep and lay by you
I love to feel you near
I think I'm going crazy
Everyday confusion starts to grow
I never noticed it before
But you were there so how was I to know
That this single bed
Was always meant for two
Not just anyone
It was meant for me and you
And now your halfway round the world
And I'm just a day behind
Nothin' seems to fill the hole
That I have since you left my side
You'll always be my little girl
Though I cant hold you tonight
And now your halfway round the world
And I'm just a day behind
Lately I feel so small
Or maybe its just that my bed has grown
I never noticed it before but you were there
So how was I to know
That this single bed
Was always meant for two
Not just anyone
It was meant for me and you
Now your halfway round the world
And I'm just a day behind
Nothin' seems to fill the hole
That I have since you left my side
You'll always be my little girl
Though I cant hold you tonight
And
song performed by by Bowling For Soup

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Girl On A Train
Waking on a train, dreaming
Charmed alone, they started speaking
Captured in his artist way
Before the memories fade away
To remember a face
Oooh, and youre home or want to
Certain they would meet soon
Paint a portrait of a family
To remember a face
Oooh, and youre home
Single light on
Single way
Single light away
To remember a face
Oooh, and youre home, the night fell
Saw a painting on the stairwell
To mourn the passing of a daughter dear
Her soul, upon the train, so far, so near
To remember a face
Oooh, and youre home
Single light on
Single way
Single light away
Single light on
Single way
And oooh, and youre home
Just close your eyes and youre home
Just give you time, and youre home
Oooh, and youre home
Oooh, and youre home
Oooh
song performed by by 10000 Maniacs

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Halfway To Heaven
Another day has come cant face it on my own
I almost let you walk away and I guess I should have known
Ill give it to you straight cause some things just cant wait
I ve got to make it up to you and Ill pray its not too late
cause when you look at me with those sad blue eyes
It stops me cold and I realize youre all I need tonight
Were halfway to heaven lyin beside you on a night so still
Were halway to heaven I ask you if youll stay and baby say you will
So whats a man to do to get it through to you
Another lost and lonely night would break this heart in two
So lets take a chance and itll be allright
Just put your trust in me toniht girl were almost there
Were halfway to heaven theres something magic bout the way you kiss
Were halfway to heaven runnin with you baby on a a night like this
Were halfway to heaven I never dreamed that I could get this high
Were halfway to heaven girl I couldnt leave you even if I tried
You got me captured in a crazy spin
You got me so I just cant tell the shape Im in
Were halfway to heaven theres something magic bout the way you kiss
Were halfway to heaven runnin with you baby on a a night like this
Were halfway to heaven I never dreamed that I could get this high
Were halfway to heaven girl I couldnt leave you even if I tried
song performed by by Europe

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Halfway round The World
(carly simon)
Thank you for informing me
That Ive been banned from canada
It comes as no suprise to me
Since last week it was africa
Since youve been ambassador
Theres trouble at the border
La la la la la la la halfway round the world
Its amusing still it makes me wince
Your face is like a scimitar
When accidentally eye to eye
You shoot a look of vinegar
What could I have done to you
To mkae you act the way you do
La la la la la la la halfway round the world
For whatever reason
You would keep me
Halfway round the world
I believe its like some kind of compliment
I must be quite a girl
Quite a girl
La la la la la la la halfway round the world
Once upon a time you swore youd love me
til the end of the world
Now, nowhere is far enough away for you
I must be quite a girl
Quite a girl...
La la la la la la la halfway round the world
song performed by by Carly Simon

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Poem I Wrote In My Mind This Morning Walking Home
The poem I wrote in my mind this morning walking home
Is gone-
I will try to recall it -
It was not finished,
A few lines around an idea-
What was the idea?
I don't remember-
Slowly slowly in old age
The mind works less well
First it is trouble with names
Other peoples names-
And then what?
I recently cared for a man
Who often did not know his own name
And could not speak one sentence clearly-
The poem I lost this morning was not about ‘remembrance'
And its loss -
But on the way home I was happy when I suddenly remembered a name
I was looking for-
‘Perhaps it will not happen to me' I said
Or perhaps it will happen so far from now
I do not need to think about it'
One day all the poems will not be remembered
And these lines too will go to oblivion-
My poem this morning was not even writ in water-
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Wonder Why We Ever Go Home
By: jimmy buffett
1977
Years grow shorter, not longer
The more youve been on your own
Feelins for movin grow stronger
So you wonder why you ever go home
Wonder why you ever go home
People are movin so quickly
Humors in need of repair
Same occupations and same obligations
Theyve really go nothing to share
Like drivin around with no spare
River gets deeper not shallow
The further you move down the stream
Wonderin if I can keep her
As I race to catch up with my dreams
How they shine and glitter and gleam
Years grow shorter, not longer
The more youve been on your own
Feelins for movin grow stronger
So you wonder why you ever go home
Wonder why you ever go home
You wonder why you ever go home
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What It Is You've Done
You have no idea what it is you've done.
Not a single thought of yours has come,
With an apology,
Or a 'forgive me please'...
Nothing at all since our fall begun!
You have no idea what it is you've done.
You have no idea what it is you've done.
Or maybe you do?
And I'm the one who is stunned...
Not realizing we were through!
While you were planning to 'retire' from me,
I ignored the hints dropped!
And didn't think your overnight trips were clues!
Not by calls you made from truck stops!
And all this time you knew?
You knew exactly what you were putting me through!
You have no idea what it is you've done.
Not a single thought of yours has come,
With an apology,
Or a 'forgive me please'...
Nothing at all since our fall begun!
You have no idea what it is you've done.
Or maybe you do!
And I was a fool not to first leave you!
And all this time you knew?
You knew exactly what you were putting me through!
And you know what you have done?
You just don't care that the 'donin' was done...
To the one who didn't see you doing the 'donin' come!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Single Is Fair
Single
I am single
Question of double
Does not arise.
I am single
Only single.
Single sun
Single moon
Single earth
Single air
Single sky
Sngle water
Single fire
Single soul
Single body
All are there
All are fair.
Single is single
Single is beautiful
Single is fair.
poem by Gajanan Mishra

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General John
The bravest names for fire and flames
And all that mortal durst,
Were GENERAL JOHN and PRIVATE JAMES,
Of the Sixty-seventy-first.
GENERAL JOHN was a soldier tried,
A chief of warlike dons;
A haughty stride and a withering pride
Were MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN'S.
A sneer would play on his martial phiz,
Superior birth to show;
"Pish!" was a favourite word of his,
And he often said "Ho! ho!"
FULL-PRIVATE JAMES described might be,
As a man of a mournful mind;
No characteristic trait had he
Of any distinctive kind.
From the ranks, one day, cried PRIVATE JAMES,
"Oh! MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN,
I've doubts of our respective names,
My mournful mind upon.
"A glimmering thought occurs to me
(Its source I can't unearth),
But I've a kind of a notion we
Were cruelly changed at birth.
"I've a strange idea that each other's names
We've each of us here got on.
Such things have been," said PRIVATE JAMES.
"They have!" sneered GENERAL JOHN.
"My GENERAL JOHN, I swear upon
My oath I think 'tis so - "
"Pish!" proudly sneered his GENERAL JOHN,
And he also said "Ho! ho!"
"My GENERAL JOHN! my GENERAL JOHN!
My GENERAL JOHN!" quoth he,
"This aristocratical sneer upon
Your face I blush to see!
"No truly great or generous cove
Deserving of them names,
Would sneer at a fixed idea that's drove
In the mind of a PRIVATE JAMES!"
Said GENERAL JOHN, "Upon your claims
No need your breath to waste;
If this is a joke, FULL-PRIVATE JAMES,
It's a joke of doubtful taste.
"But, being a man of doubtless worth,
If you feel certain quite
That we were probably changed at birth,
I'll venture to say you're right."
So GENERAL JOHN as PRIVATE JAMES
Fell in, parade upon;
And PRIVATE JAMES, by change of names,
Was MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN.
poem by William Schwenck Gilbert

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Meet Me Half Way
In a lifetime
Made of memories
I believe
In destiny
Every moment returns again in time
When Ive got the future on my mind
Know that youll be the only one
Meet me halfway
Across the sky
Out where the world belongs
To only you and i
Meet me halfway
Across the sky
Make this a new beginning of another life.
In a lifetime
There is only love
Reaching for the lonely one
We are stronger when we are given love
When we put emotions on the line
Know that we are the timeless ones
Meet me halfway
Across the sky
Out where the world belongs
To only you and i
Meet me halfway
Across the sky
Make this a new beginning of another life.
Meet me halfway
Across the sky
Out where the world belongs
To only you and i
Meet me halfway
Across the sky
Make this a new beginning of another life.
song performed by by Kenny Loggins

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Halfway to Heaven
Halfway to Heaven
I lost my love,
Passing away
So high up above.
Halfway to Heaven
I made my last call
As often we pray
To sweet stars that fall.
Yet halfway to Heaven
You said: 'Fare thee well',
'Fore making your way
O'er river and dell.
CBB Jun 12
poem by Colin Breck Boardman

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An Idea
An Idea can change the world, how many
things can be done from an idea, every piece
of object was an idea, sense the beginning of
time idea was the first thought created in the
mind, an idea is what surround’s every being.
But an idea is still only an idea and it can't be
felt, you cannot touch an idea or kiss it, or hold it,
ideas do not bleed or feel pain or love, an idea
cannot be seen or heard, its created in our thoughts,
but then again an idea can become real. An idea
can be what ever you which it to be, an idea can
be destructive, an idea can be brilliant, I've seen
people get killed in the name of ideas, ideas,
we walk around with a little
light bulb blinking in our thoughts, ideas.
poem by Elenushka Toledo

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Molten Grief
Give me back,
me back, my affections.
I had planted the kisses on
melting lamps.
The dark tunnel goes
to a lake for a rendezvous
with pink death on white lips
of cinders.
Such agony of wintering tree.
Not a single bird
on the branches to pump the green
blood for the wheels of time.
The speeding moon was in hurry,
to question the oppressed night.
Why the days were becoming
shorter and shorter?
poem by Satish Verma

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