Sidewalk Story
The afternoon had a flu-like quality, gray and threatening to burst into tears at any moment, but I held it together like a grown-up, taught my classes, smiled at the children. I was in love with one little boy who couldn't write, not one idea in his head despite my encouraging crouch near his desk so long my knees were stiff and rising I almost passed out.
The sky drained of color but plenty of gray light. The teachers nodded sympathetically and said That flu is horrible go home, get some rest.
On the sidewalk thronged the children like little commuters, with their plastic slickers and empty lunch boxes, waiting for their mothers to come pick them up in big shiny minivans. I tottered into poisonous air, head aching with flu, ears ringing with the fever of five hours teaching, saying 'Good! Good! That's great, that's wonderful,' in a high sincere voice.
The children are so smart, I can't take it sometimes.
The way some of them will turn and look straight through me
Then I noticed the girl on the sidewalk, face the color of skimmed milk, ginger hair limp and straight, cut hopelessly to the chin. A small sad storybook of a second-grader, trying to evade her oppressor who in this case was wearing a puffy pink ski jacket and tormenting grin. The bigger girl walked backward blocking the small one from wherever it was she wanted to go. The little victim tried to get around her,
couldn't; tried, couldn't, dodged,
head down, resigned,
the only object now being not to let anyone see me cry. It was myself of course. I stood rooted next to my foggy car, keys in hand, smelling the wet asphalt. Oh that tragically trembling chin! How did I get to be middle-aged, delirious from teaching these children for years, coaxing them to flower into the brutally onrushing future, into the mystery of their fates where poetry may or may not help them?
Then I remembered
and stepped forward.
Took her hand,
cool and fresh as milk,
trusting, in my own fevered paw,
and tall now, sidestepped the taunting girl.
But I wanted to talk to her!
the bully persisted, grinning, still grinning--
the awful, relentless, pasted-on grin--
As if I hadn't been on that side of it too.
As if I didn't know.
poem by Alison Luterman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Guitar Man(a duet)
Girl:
The notes carried by the wind,
Flew straight into my soul.
The 6 strings made of pure perfection.
Surrounded by a small crowd, but he was so alone.
I fell in love with the guitar man.
Fell heels over head, but he didn't turn around.
Accidentally in love, I should've turn around and ran.
But my feet few concrete and I couldn't move my ground.
Boy:
Her face kept coming around,
But I never caught her eye.
Tosses a quarter in the case.
Then she'd walk away.
But I knew I'd see her again.
I was the guitar man, I fell for a girl.
Saw her grin, with her eyes to the ground.
I wish she'd see me, smiling back at her.
I was speechless, so I'll sing her this song.
Girl: Everyday, he takes over my mind.
When the stars come out, he comes out into my dreams.
Boy: At night, she's a shooting star in the sky,
As I sit back on earth wondering if it will ever be.
Girl: I fell in love with the guitar man
Boy: (Oh I fell for her)
Girl: He didn't turn around
Boy: I saw her grin, but her eyes to the ground.
Girl: I'll never turn around and run
Boy: I wish she'd see my smiling.
(at the same time)
Girl: I sit back on earth, wondering if he'll think of me.
Boy: I sit back on earth, wondering if she'll think of me.
poem by Khloe Chace
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Are You Going To See Your Mom?
'Mom,
I come back again.'
I shouted
in my mind.
It is said that
Plane flies fast.
But my heart
flew to my Mom
before the plane landed.
I knew
that my sisters come here
in turn everyday.
Now this day
I would be on duty.
When I stepped into the nursing home,
I saw Mom in a wheel chair,
with more white hair,
and more wrinkles on face.
I gave her a hug,
'Hi, Mom.' I shouted near her ear.
Mom stared me with dull sight,
then held my hands,
'Sister' she called me,
She couldn't recognize me!
I couldn't hold my tears any more.
Mom didn't cry,
just wiped out my tears
using her hand.
When lunch was ready,
I fed her one spoon after another;
Mom nodded her head while she's chewing;
A little smile showed up at the edge of her lips.
I hated that It's time to leave,
I stood up, and said
'Good bye, Mom.'
She looked at me,
held my hands, and asked me:
'Are you going to see your Mom? '
* Mom had dementia two years before and moved into a nursing home.
Also, she has hearing problem.
Are You Going To See Your Mom? *
poem by Jade Huang
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The End Of The World
Go if you want to
I never tried to stop you
Know there's a reason
For all of this you're feeling
Low, it's not my call
You couldn't ever love me more
You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love...
Me - I don't show much
It's not that hard to hide you
See in a moment
I can't remember how to
Be all you wanted
I couldn't ever love you more
I couldn't love you more
I couldn't love...
You want me to cry and play my part
I want you to sigh and fall apart
We want this like everyone else
Stay if you want to
I always wait to hear you say
There's a last kiss
For all the times you run this way
It's not my fault
You couldn't ever love me more
You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love...
Love me more
Couldn't ever love me more
I couldn't love you more
I couldn't love
You want me to lie not break your heart
I want you to fly not stop and start
We want us like everything else
Maybe we didn't understand
Not just a boy and a girl
It's just the end of the
End of the world
Me - I don't say much
It's far too hard to make you
See in a moment
I still forget just how to
Be all you wanted
I couldn't ever love you more
I couldn't love you more
I couldn't love you more
I couldn't love you more
I couldn't love you more
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Couldn't Have Said It Better
And you said nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Just love me like you love nobody else
Little lady, I think there's something on your mind
I've known you long enough to know
The words are not that hard to find
And the harder you try and the longer you go
Well there's nothing but love in those eyes anymore
You know what to say but you never know how
You can keep your mouth shut because it doesn't really matter right now
I will guide you all the way
Because I know exactly what you're trying to say
You have the right to remain silent
I'll get the lights...you get that smile
And you say nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Just love me like you love nobody else
Meatloaf: I see the angels, they're standing right outside your door
Girl: They're watching over me, they're watching over us all
Meatloaf: You can send them home tonight, because you won't need them anymore
Girl: In your arms I think I've found the safest place to fall
Meatloaf & Girl:
When I step in the door and I stare at your face
There are so many things that I wish I could say
Well I struggle with words but they put up a fight
You can keep your mouth shut, because it doesn't really matter tonight
Meatloaf:
I will guide you all the way
Because I know exactly what you're trying to say
Girl:
You have the right to remain silent
I'll get the light...
Meatloaf & Girl: You get that smile
Meatloaf:
And you say nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Just love me like you love nobody else
And I know you feel the same
Meatloaf & Girl
You've been searching for the words
Now you know what to say
Meatloaf:
Just say nothing
Don't say a word
Silence is gold
Don't say a word...shh
Meatloaf & Girl: This is the moment we've been waiting for
Girl: If I exercise my right
Meatloaf: And I will take your body language
Meatloaf & Girl: And hold it against you tonight
Meatloaf: And I know you feel the same
Meatloaf & Girl: I've wondered all my life, if this moment comes would I know what to say
Meatloaf: Then you say nothing at all
Girl: So many time I've stumbled on the words that I've wanted to say
Meatloaf: Then you say nothing at all
Girl: So many thought I should have just let my heart explain
Meatloaf: Then you say nothing at all
Girl: So many ways we could turn the words around
Meatloaf: You said nothing at all
Girl: So many nights our hearts came crashing to the ground
Meatloaf: You say nothing at all
Girl: So many dreams that are finall coming true
Meatloaf: Well, I couldn't have said it better myself
Girl: Now you finish me off when you finish my thoughts the way you do
Meatloaf:
You say nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Girl: I love you
Meatloaf:Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Girl: Like nobody else
Meatloaf: Just love me like you love nobody else
You say nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Just love me like you love nobody else
Meatloaf & Girl: You say nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Just love me like you love nobody else
Meatloaf & Girl: You say nothing at all
Well I couldn't have said it better myself
Tonight the conversation takes the fall
Just love me like you love nobody else
song performed by by Meat Loaf
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Looking for Encouragement in ICU
He's gone
I never saw him go
Surprised that he fell
I thought he would get up
At first he looked like he'd be OK
He was upset that he'd slipped
Confused that the legs hadn't held
The strength that steadied
The foot and braced the legs
Held at the smoker in 1932
When three solid lefts
Couldn't take him down
Held when the Hammond trim saw kicked
Held on the wet rocks of Redwood Creek
When the salmon jumped and were on
Held splitting a second cord of wood
While after loading the first
I thought I needed a break
Now when he needed it most
They didn't hold they gave
Yet he somehow still held on
Over the ledge I could see him there
He was pulling himself up
Or at least I wanted him to
I tried to talk to him
I got his attention
He silently shook his head
The same as when we hunted
When I thought I had a clear shot
And he knew I didn't
He always challenged me
No matter what I did
To be a better shot
'We're not out here to wound
Chase down a revine then
Drag bloodshoot venison through the brush.
We're out here to put meat on the table.'
He also knew when to fish
And where the quail hid
He always encouraged me
To know what I was doing
Before I did it
'Its real important you learn
The difference between your ass
And a hole in the ground.'
Was his way
Of putting it
I knew what he meant
Shaking his head I recognized his signal
I still wanted to help even though
I couldn't have gotten to him anyway
Then he stopped trying
The strength and gruffness were gone
I was mad at him
For the tears in his eyes
For not trying
For knowing more than me
He knew there was no way up
The others calling to him
Were of no use
I knew then what he wanted
To push away from the side
To be over and done with it
He was caught tangled held back
He couldn't even let go
When he wanted to
I looked and he was there
I couldn't help
I didn't want to watch
I looked again
He was gone
I never saw him go
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I have a girl
I have a girl
~
I have a girl, a good one
a girl who looks after me
a girl with a winning smile
a girl who makes me laugh
a girl who is beautiful
a girl who is kind and strong
I have a girl who ticks boxes
a girl who is something special
a girl who is loving
a girl who has great patience
a girl I'm lucky to know
a girl you'd dream about
I have a girl I'd fight for
a girl who makes me think
a girl who feeds me
a girl I'd write poetry for
I have a girl, a good one
a girl I wouldn't swap for the world
poem by Matthew Holloway
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Song - A Girl With Hair Like Yours
A girl with hair like yours
Was standing on the bus
She hurled me back into
A sudden swirl of us
I couldn’t push straight through
I couldn’t turn away
We kissed down by the shore
In cold and salty spray
A girl with hair like yours
She turned on all the lights
She broke down all the doors
Invaded all my nights
She told me she was mine
then caught a flight to Spain
I danced around the gym
With you and Don McLean
A girl with hair like yours
Made everything less clear
I set sail for her shore
We walked down every street
She said she couldn’t stay
She said she couldn’t leave
then never said a word
Until we couldn’t breathe
A girl with hair like yours
She soothed me ‘til I bled
We’d walk that extra mile
Wherever darkness led
We crossed the oceans wide
And flew too near the sun
I thought we’d reach the light
When you were twenty one
A girl with hair like yours
was electricity
She lit some ancient fuse
With nails and chemistry
She broke into my veins
And left my heart in flames
We burned in darkness when
Our love was innocent
We danced across the bay
While Harry Nilsson played
(chorus)
It wasn’t so spectacular
Not blonde or black it’s true
And neither this or that colour
Just curly brown and hanging down
It got me wanting you
Head First
I was dancing down the sidewalk
Just some slam dunk
That you might jive
And I wondered then
About his old girlfriend
Was she still around - still alive
Its been years
Since my gears have been turning
Since I asked her same dice dance
How the flames of my poor heart been burning
If its hate then this must be romance
(chorus)
Head first, baby
How the good time feelin lingers
Oh, you can be alright
On the wrong side of the street
Im so hungry for love
Ive been lickin off all my fingers
Oh yeah, you got to learn to
Take the bitter with the sweet
Yeah, I feel just like getting in trouble
By the hair on her chinny-chin-chin
And I love to get down on the stubble
With my teeth it will taste like your grin
(repeat chorus)
song performed by by Aerosmith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Charlene-n-Booker 4ever
And the old men, supervising grown grandsons, nephews,
any man a boy given this chance of making
a new sidewalk outside the apartment building where
some of them live, three old men and their wives,
the aging unmarrying children, and the child
who is a cousin, whose mother has sent her here
because she doesn't know what to do with her,
she's out of control, she wants to be a gangsta, and
the old folks talk to her as if she minds them
and already has that respect for their years her mother
finally grew into. The girl who does not look
like them eats and eats and sleeps late, sneaks away
when they are busy, and tonight will write herself
all over the sidewalk while it is still wet but
the old have gone inside, and the grown gone home,
and her mother who is somewhere overseas thinks of
writing her that long long letter, but decides not to.
poem by Forrest Hamer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Way Back Home
(Vince Gill)
A little girl was cryin'
for her mama and her daddy
She couldn't understand why they were gone
She never knew the danger
Of talking to a stranger
Now the girl can't find her way back home
A little boy went walkin'
Down to the corner market
To buy a loaf of bread and an ince cream cone
He never knew the dnager
Of talkin' to a stranger
Now the boy can't find the way back home
Too many kids are missin'
Is anybody listening?
Won't you be the children's eyes
They're all alone
The hardest part's not knowing
Where they are or where they're going
Won't you help the children find
The way back home
The faces on milk cartons
Thrown away and soon forgotten
What if one of those sweet kids
Was your very own
Tonight those kids are weeping
While yours are safely sleeping
Won't you help the children find
The way back home
Too many kids are missin'
Is anybody listening?
Won't you be the children's eyes
They're all alone
The hardest part's not knowing
Where they are or where they're going
Won't you help the children find
The way back home
Won't you help the children find
The way back home
song performed by by Vince Gill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sonnet: Duty of Children
They slogged more than their frames could quite afford;
But lost their cool when aged and fear seized them;
With life thus spent, their future looked so bored;
Their will-pow’r gone, Life’s torn-cloth, they couldn’t hem!
The love they showed was equal and much more;
They loved their children but couldn’t keep them close;
Their children quarreled, turning their eye-sore!
The ‘shrub’ that grew had many thorns than rose!
The old couple had wept and cursed their fate;
No one was there to tend to them when aged;
So till the last, they cooked their food and ate;
Their happy home was sad: they were enraged!
This is what happens to some families;
So, children ought to maintain love and peace!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 6-9-2006
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Girl Who Is Me
Me
A simple word
Yet at the same time
Complicated
Describes a girl who was born
On the 25th of June in 1994
A girl who was two days early
Me
The girl who would
Walk down the street carrying Barney
And holding mommy’s hand
And as she walked in the store
The clerks would ask her
If she was ready for her daily m&m’s
Me
The girl who thought
She was betrothed at five
The girl who got into kindergarten early
Because she was “smart”
The girl who couldn’t tell at first
Whether her first best friend
Was a boy or a girl
Because her hair was so short
Me
The girl who always got good grades
The girl whose reading level
Was above average
The girl who was in love
With beanie babies
Me
The girl who felt trapped
By the arms of her father
The girl who had to
Change the weekends
So that she could stop the sickness
Me
The girl who went to seventh grade
Ready to have fun
And make new friends
The girl who went all through
Junior high with nothing less
Than A’s and B’s
Me
The girl who started high school
With fear of failure
The girl who soon found out
That it wasn’t all that bad
Me
The girl who got hurt
By someone else’s mistake
The girl who, for the longest time
Thought maybe she should
Just give up
But refused to anyway
Even though it was easy
Me
Three Weeks From Now, You
in keeping with this gray sky I walked
to the post office with a broken step and
tossed my letters on the counter and tried
to exit just as quickly as I had come in
'there's too much snow in Denver' I heard
the man behind the old wood desk say while
glancing at my letter's destinations, 'they
won't get there until at least three weeks from
this very day' and that's how it goes, I guess
snow everywhere, snow in Anchorage, snow in
Boston, but never any snow here to pale up
this gray that's etched itself so deep into this sky
what is it my father used to say, 'chin up boy
keep that stiff upper lip, can't let the world get
to you', so I look down, count my heel steps
and kick gravel along the sidewalk back to home
maybe never go back, maybe just keep walking
towards somewhere where the sky looks a bit less
like the dust that's fallen on your picture frame
like the emptiness that invented its own color
poem by Ben Paynter
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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All The Good Ones Are Taken (Part One)
(ian hunter)
Girl-things ain't been goin' too good for me
Girl-i'm living in the middle of a mystery
You're the only one that can turn me on
'n' now that you're gone i said
Girl-i'm livin' in the middle of your memory
Girl-you're still the figure in my favorite fantasy
I know you know
That's the way it goes
And still my love grows-i said
All o' the good, all o' the good ones are taken
All o' the good, all o' the good ones are taken
I'm hangin' around with my head in the air
Watchin' the lovers go by
I had a lover-but she never cared
All you could say was goodbye
Maybe i was mistaken
Maybe i got it wrong
But all of the good ones are taken from now on
'n' girl-i'm livin' in the middle of a broken dream
I said girl-all this fallin' in love ain't like it seems
Out in the rain-can't you feel my pain
Again 'n' again 'n' again 'n' again 'n' again
All of the good, all o' the good ones are taken
Maybe i was mistaken-maybe i got it wrong
But all of the good ones are taken in my song
song performed by by Ian Hunter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It Is Wonderful That There Are So Many Small Children In Israel
IT IS WONDERFUL THAT THERE ARE SO MANY SMALL CHILDREN IN ISRAEL
It is wonderful that there are so many small children in Israel
I see them everywhere and am happy when I see them.
Do they make up or compensate in some way for the million and one half Jewish children murdered a generation or two ago?
Nothing makes up for even one life lost
That we know.
But still seeing these children one invariably thinks of those other Jewish children-
I don't understand it at all-
It is wonderful that there are so many small children in Israel
Children are a great blessing and the hope of their parents and grandparents lives-
God Bless and protect these children
And let them never know the hatred the suffering the cruelty
Children no less innocent than them knew
A generation or two ago.
poem by Shalom Freedman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sorrow
I walked into the park and saw a young man sitting by a flower bed
I asked him why he looked so miserable and this is what he said,
“Sixty years ago I fell in love with a beautiful girl and now she has to die
I knew her time would come one day, but the years have just flashed by.
I knew that it was wrong to love her, but my heart ruled over my head.
I was there when she was born at home and I stood by her mother’s bed.
As the years passed I watched over her, and proposed when she was sixteen.
She was so young and beautiful then, and everyday we lived a dream.
She didn’t know that I was different and I just couldn’t bear to tell her so,
but she had suspicions as her hair greyed, and my age didn’t show.
And now my heart is breaking because I want to die and be with my wife,
without her my life isn’t worth living, and I no longer want this life.
For sixty years life has been wonderful for me and my only true love,
but soon I must take her up and leave her in the heavens above.
I don’t know how I’m going to take the woman I adore from my side.
I’m sorry for sharing my sorrow with you, ” and as he left he cried.
poem by Orlando Belo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Once We Were Child
Once we were children
everything was supper
We could fly
if we hadn't trusted our mothers
Once there was no difference between boys and girls
Once it wasn't important, having wealth
How many times we fell on the ground?
We just wanted playing around
We always made a big noise
We didn't have to be poised
When we laughed in each case
But we didn't laugh in someone's face
Everything we had we did share
Which color? we didn't care
Once we were children
The sky was blue
The world wasn't so wild
That was the issue
When we loved it was real
Of dying, we didn't have any fear
Did we know what discrimination is?
Did we know how to tease?
Did we have lust? Could we tell a lie?
Now we have to tell to our childhood goodbye
Once we were children
The life was so funny
We were just called honey
And our world was summed up to our tiny
Homes.
Here is a feeling in my gut
That once we were child
How close we were to God
Spite of having no attention to God.
poem by Nader Baheri
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Caught Up In You
I never knew there'd come a day
When I'd be sayin' to you
"Don't let this good love slip away
Now that we know that it's true."
Don't, don't you know the kind of man I am
No, said I'd never fall in love again
But it's real and the feeling comes shining through.
So caught up in you, little girl
And I never did suspect a thing
So caught up in you, little girl
That I never want to get myself free
And baby it's true
You're the one
Who caught me baby you taught me
How good it could be
It took so long to change my mind
I thought that love was a game
I played around enough to find
No two are ever the same
You made me realized the love I missed
So hot! Love I couldn't quite resist
When it's right the light just comes shining through.
So caught up in you, little girl
You're the one that's got me down on my knees
So caught up in you, little girl
That I never want to get myself free
And baby it's true
You're the one
Who caught me, baby you taught me
How good it could be
Fill your days and your nights
No need to ever ask me twice oh no
Whenever you want me
And if ever comes a day
When you should turn and walk away oh no
I can't live without you
So caught up in you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
And if ever comes a day
When you should turn and walk away oh no
I can't live without you
So caught up in you, little girl
You're the one that's got me down on my knees
So caught up in you , little girl
That I never want to get myself free
And baby it's true
You're the one
Who caught me baby you taught me
How good it could be, little girl
You're the one that's got me down on my knees
So caught up in you, little girl
That I never want to get myself free
And baby it's true
You're the one
Who caught me and taught me
You got me so caught up in you
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lil Girl
Remember that lil girl?
She was so pretty
Remember that lil girl?
She was so smart
Remember that lil girl?
You constantly said you loved her
cherised her, never wanted 2 see her go
Remember that lil girl?
She had dreams and a head a curls
But one day that lil girl, she straightened her hair, grew up and disappeared
Well...you thought she was gone
You said she lost her values
Her morals and herself
You said she tried to love everyone but herself
That lil girl was dismayed, betrayed and potrayed as no one special
You used to tell that lil girl she could be anything she wanted to be
I only wish I could tell you that the lil girl you remember was me
poem by Stephanie Hallada
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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One Moment in Time
A single orange daisy.
Blooming from the sidewalk crack.
In the early morning.
Dew dripping off its delicate petals.
The sun is rising.
The flower struggles to survive.
Rising up from the concert it blossoms with new hope.
I’m going to live.
A small girl.
Pink dress and shiny black shoes.
She sees the flower.
The flower.
Wet petals, bursting with new light and hope.
She waddles over.
And picks it.
The flower.
It’s life.
Gone.
In just one moment in time.
-Madelyn
poem by Madelyn Burnham
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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