The Christmas Gift From Papa She Didn't Like
Slipping in on bare calloused feet-
though my little ears had heard
that friction sound many times before-
placing the doll in the stocking where
a peppermint stick, fruits-
[One of each] an apple, orange,
and Satsuma dangerously,
hang over the dry mantle –just a bit
above the cracking and popping
fiery oak log-without waking anybody
Nothing seems to silence the
Night after nights memories
Of the Incestuous bed
that even sheets couldn't
cover up...
Mama where were you?
Will you'll ever know
How my life turned out?
I can remember seeing mama sitting
at the kitchen table [that was bare of cloth]
burden with the weight of silence, as
she nursed the baby in her arm, while
another stood knee-high
pulling up on her leg,
as the other two girls[six 1/4 and seven]
played in a room nearby
Hopelessly and helplessly
She glances at her little girls
then sorrow fills her heart…
O lord, redeem my soul!
Decades later…
I visited her in the nursing home
Silence had weighed heavily on her head;
Her silver hair wilted on her shoulders; and
Tears commenced to flow Images of hell,
She contemplates heaven at last!
I asked, again, why you couldn’t…
Or wouldn’t catch that thief?
“ Only the grim reaper could catch him”
Almedia S. Knight or ASK { revision 12/19/ 09)
04/24/07
poem by Almedia Knight Oliver
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Present From A Thief
Papa always picked the smallest doll,
Movable legs and arms loosely
Held together by rubber bands.
Sneaking through the door
In bare feet-not waking all
And placing it in a box beside
Little candies and fruits
The firewood snapped and popped
Lighting up the house like firework
On the Fourth of July…they slept.
Was that terrible act
Perfectly covered up?
For years, I called the action into question:
Whose eyes the wool was pulled over?
How could he in his drunken stupor
Slip in and out unnoticed to
Steal her innocence?
I remember mama sitting
At the kitchen table, with
A baby in arm,
Another on her knee, and
Starring down
At the butcher knife.
Eyes dripping blood as
She looked at her little girls.
Then regret and silence
Slit her heart.
Years later…
I visited her in the nursing home.
She was seated in an old rocking chair with
Head bowed; her silver hair wilted on shoulders;
Each day's images and thoughts were
Trying to dig a passageway out of her mind…
I asked, ' why you couldn't -or
wouldn’t catch that thief'
“ I had to wait for the grim reaper to catch him”
Almedia S. Knight or ASK,
04/24/07
poem by Almedia Knight Oliver
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya?
I might as well bin blind
Thought I owned this world and all its time
Made up my mind not to love again
Live my life a single man
Lady luck she came my way
Turned my night into day
She went huff and blew my little house down
She went puff ya she spun me around
She played rough ya she took me to town
All I did was fool around
And my whole world came tumblin' down
Is your mama gonna miss ya now you're gone?
Is your mama gonna miss her little rollin' stone?
Is mama gonna cry now she's alone?
Cause mama's little girl ain't goin' home!
Ya-she's goin' with me
I couldn't be found - couldn't be heard
You couldn't trap this free bird
I loved to fly shoulda heard me sing
You came along and flapped your wings
Had my eyes on the road foot on the floor
Tell me "hey who's that knockin' at my door?"
She went huff and blew my little house down
She went puff ya she spun me around
She played rough ya she took me to town
All I did was fool around
And my whole world came crumblin' down
Is your mama gonna miss ya now you're gone?
Is your mama gonna miss her little rollin' stone?
Is mama gonna cry now she's alone?
Cause mama's little girl ain't goin' home!
I said stop and she said go
Looks so good I can't say no
Now we've gone and lost control.
song performed by by Bryan Adams from Waking Up The Neighbours
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Silence Is...
Silence is an absence
Silence is profound
Silence is a conversation
Being had without sound
Silence is an expression
One that cannot be heard
Silence cannot be spoken
Although it is a word
Silence is a presence
Of great nothingness
Silence can be something
And yet cease to exist
Silence can fill a room
And have no mass at all
Silence cannot be dropped, yet it can fall
Silence is a mystery
That will forever go unsolved
Silence is how every sound can swiftly be dissolved
Silence is the sound of rest
The only sound that can sound best
While other sounds can cause great pain
Silence is not the sound to blame
For Silence is what silence is
Something that is nothing
Nothing that exists
poem by Kyle.J Carruthers
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Remembering 'Joyce
Your joyful smile; your joyful laughter, and your caring for others permeated the community in which you lived and worked.
My eyes never grew weary of your glowing smile,
But now, these eyes of mine are swimming in a river of tears, and
my heart bounded by pain and grief. Yet,
I’m certain your soul is delighting the heavens.
My Joy, you awed me with the love you had for your family and others.
To observe that radiant phenomenon was akin to watching stars fall among
Daffodils in your garden. You are with God every where-in heaven and on earth:
I can see you in the field of stars, the sun is your smile, the moon your glow,
in the flowers that grows.
Shh…I hear a breeze- is it the breath of God whispering
in my ears saying: death is a mystery of all mysteries
You inspired others to believe that God’s love would be
Their comforter in times of pain and sorrow…
Away from home or at home.When I despaired, you would say
“Meta” you got to have faith!
I’ll never hear those words flow from your warm lips again,
But my heart will always brim these pleasing memories:
I remember those days we shopped until we dropped-
your shopping cart flowing- over with things for the girls-
even something for “Joe” -you could always find the bargains!
I remember the Fridays we sat at either my table or yours enjoying
fried fish and laughing as the grease ran down the corner of our mouths…
yet we never gained a pound!
I remember those late nights we spent in the boardroom
Ensuring the solvency of BEFCU-
Written minutes were no match for your photographic memory.
Now, I hold these memories close to my heart to use as pillows for my weary head.
Joy you had a way of helping others rise above the fray,
You’ll always be my “Joy”
I’ll always be “Meta”
Good Bye my friend and my Joy!
Almedia S. Knight (ASK)
poem by Almedia Knight Oliver
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Silence
Last time we met
I spoke my heart out
I laid my soul bare
My eyes searching
My ears intent to hear
I knew icould swear
I asked for nothing more
Only, faith for faith
Loyalty fof loyalty
And respect for respect
But i could only perceive silence
I thought sound can wound
But silence can be peircing
Silence can be excruciating
Silence can hound
Wounds do heal with time
But the scars remain
The pain is gone
But the numbness still bothers
And the silence still prevails
poem by Maitreyee Joshi
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Every Little Girls Dream
I remember when I was a little girl
Growin up livin in my own little world
So it seemed
I had my dolls and dreams
Mama was always there to comfort me
And her love
Wasnt nothin quite like it
In the world that I knew of
Before I knew it, I was standing in my teens
Sweet little boy with his strong young arm holdin me
I remember the first time I felt his kiss
Oh, it like to drove me crazy
And I remember sayin I never felt nothin like this
So I went and asked mama
Can you tell me what it means
And she said, youre in love
And thats every little girls dream
Baby, what youve found
Is every little girls dream
So I said, mama does love ever last
She says, where by now let the future come to pass
Just understand and enjoy what youve found
And listen to it just as long as your heart is sound
And love, there aint nothin quite like it
In the world anybody knows of
There are worlds all through my teens
Same little boy with his strong young arm lovin me
I remember the first time I felt his kiss
Oh, it like to drove me crazy
And I remember sayin I never felt nothin like this
I remember sayin to mama
I know just what you mean
Im in love, and thats every little girls dream
Woah, what I found
Is every little girls dream
And I found mine, and mama says, me too baby
Once upon a time
It lifts you up, but it lets you down
Therell be another dream to bring it back around
Theres something about the first time
That keeps you rememberin
When youve found every little girls dream
Every little girls dream
I found
Every little girls dream
(I remember the first time I felt his kiss)
Every little girls dream
(I remember sayin I never felt nothin like this)
Every little girls dream
(I found someone and I fell in love)
Every little girls dream
(I remember sayin I never felt nothin like this)
song performed by by Jo Dee Messina
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Got To Know The Woman
I just met a woman on my way home
She just blew my mind
My heart was a-pumpin
I mean all the way home
Got to know the woman
Whoa I got to know the woman
I love the way you move
You make-a make me feel like a man
(you know you make me make me feel like a man)
Love the way youre lookin
You look like you like it, too
(you know you look like you like it, too)
Got to know the woman
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
Got to know the woman
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
Ooooooooooo
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to got to got to got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to got to got to got to know the woman
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
If you feel the feel I feel
Haha you dig the feel of me
(you know you look like you dig feelin me)
Love the way you feel dear
Ah, you make a make a man out of me
(you make you make a man out of me)
Come on
Come on come on and do the chicken
I mean ah ha ha ha ha ha
Baby, Im gonna tell you somethin right now
You got so much soul you blow my mind
Oh baby
Theres just one thing I want to say
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
Ooooooooooo
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to got to got to got to know the woman
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to got to got to got to know the woman
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(got to know the woman)
(mama mama mama mama oom mow mow)
(oh yeah! yeah!)
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mama I'm Strange
What's this little lie
They keep on telling me
It's just another high
They keep on selling me
I was only five
They fed me so much jive
They said just have a ball Just be a Barbie doll
They churned and burned me out
Until they turned me out
Over and over again
Mama I'm strange
The thoughts and the wants are the locks
On the back of my brain
I'm descending pretending I'm blending
I'm going insane
And they want me to change
Mama I'm strange
I'm on a shaky wall
I'm tripping down the hall
And all the king's men can't
Can't sew me up again
I've got a leaky head
Don't know the full extent
I'm drowning in my bed
I'm just an accident
They chewed and blew me out
Until they threw me out
Over and over again
If I could tranquilize
I might just vaporize
They couldn't supervise
They couldn't criticize
I have no evidence
I have no reverence
It makes no difference
I have no innocence
Help me mama help me now
song performed by by Melissa Etheridge
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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From Small Things
At 16 she quit high school
To make a fortune in the promise land
Got a job behind the counter
Of an all-night hamburger stand
She wrote faithfully home to mama:
"now mama, don't you worry none"
From small things, mama, big things one day come
It was late one friday
As he pulled in out of the dark.
He was tall and handsome;
First she took his order; then she took his heart.
They bought a house up on a hillside
Where little feet once had run
From small things, mama, big things one day come.
Good love is fleeting,
It's sad but it's true
But when your heart is bleeding,
You don't wanna hear the news
She packed her bags; went to wyoming with a real estate man
They drove down to tampa in an el dorado grande
She writes home "dear mama, life is heaven in the sun"
From small things, mama, big things one day come
She shot him dead
On a sunny florida road,
But when they caught her asll she said was
She couldn't stand the way he drove.
Back home, lonesome johnny
Waits for his baby's parole;
He sits high up on a hillside,
Where the wyoming river flows.
At his feet, and almost grown now,
Sits a daughter and a handsome son.
From small things, mama, big things one day come
song performed by by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Eternal Silence
Silence
Silence when we are walking,
Silence when we think,
Silence is what fills us all,
With a binding eternal link.
Silence in the little children,
Silence in the adults,
Silence wrapping around us all,
Silence pulsing in the walls.
Silence fills this hollow world,
Silence is the choice we make,
Silence is the death of this all,
Silence is our fate.
poem by Okami Kamikaze
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Waking Edge
As I wake up in a room somewhere...
Dawn light not yet showing.
Theres just a thin horizon between me and her...
The edge of a half-dream glowing.
Well, you know, I felt her in my dream last night.
Strange how the sheets are warm beside me.
Now, how do I catch the waking edge?
As it slips to the far and wide of me.
Didnt I try to hold it down?
Freeze on the picture, hang sharp on the sound.
Catch the waking edge
Another time.
Familiar shadows in my hotel room
Are still here for the taking.
They seem to linger on as the street lights fade
And the empty dawn is breaking.
Private movie showing in my head...
Which button do I press for re-run?
And how do I catch the waking edge?
The edge of a dream about someone.
Well, you know, I felt her in my dream last night...
Now the sheets are cold beside me.
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mama, Mama You Can't Catch Me
Running wild across the sand
holding sea glass in her hand
yelling 'Mama see what I have found.'
She approaches yet I make no sound.
I'm lost with memories in my head
Times of laughter, times of dread.
She lays the sea glass by my side.
Still my thoughts are occupied
with happier times when we were three,
my husband and myself and she.
She has no memory of these things.
She runs in the sand and happily sings
'Mama, mama you can't catch me.'
I hide my tears so she won't see.
At the sound of her voice my heart skips a beat.
I rise up and feel the sand on my feet.
I run and chase her. I see his face,
mostly his features, mine just a trace.
I hear his voice.'Love her my dear.
love her for me like I was here.'
Together we run across the sand
holding her treasures in my hand.
In time to come I'll tell her of him.
But for now I let the memories swim
inside my head for she's too young.
It's her time for running with songs to be sung.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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I Heard
i heard that to stop your mama
from wasting her life
and all the lives of those who also love her
like you
and your brother and sisters
and even your papa
you decided to choose
silence
extreme, determined, strong, authoritative silence
in the house
for you were once such a lively little girl
dancing in the yard and so sweet with ribbons in your hair
and smiling and laughing at the top of your innocent voice
and then
all of a sudden you embraced silence
and your mama
was stunned, stoned to your quick numbness and afraid about what
people say
that you have become crazy, a product of a broken home
your mama
finally opens her eyes
and for the first time in her life
sees you
a woman who wants to bloom but obstructed by her choking hands
she is so afraid finally
she lets you grow she sets you free she now calls you
your name.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Silence Part III
Silence is the only thing I hear
Silence is what I fear
Silence tells me that nothing remains
Silence tells ne that its the end of your game
As silence fills the air
I begin to wish he was there
I wish I didn't let him walk out that door
And I hate that there's nothing I can do anymore
To make him mine again
I love him more than anything but I didn't know it then
And now silence is all that's left
Silence because of an unnecessary bereft
The silence rings in my ears
Because I let go of what I should have kept near
The tears pour out of my eyes
As I lay there in silence - but that's no surprise
Because You Asked Me To
Watch in silence, stunned silence
As I build a box, a wooden box, exact to size
Watch me lay, a solid fit and help
Me to snap shut the lid
Continue in silence to strike the
Match that burns bright and hot and
Is gone faster that you imagined.
Cry is silence, stunned silence
As you gather the gray, the white, and the black
Immaculately collect all the ash
Daring to not leave any of me behind
With whatever you have left of who I
Used to be, you head back to your room
Your head drooping, sullen and in defeat.
Move in silence, stunned silence
As you retrieve the silver box, with the ancient
Lock, disregard the tears that
Drip onto the rusted key, seconds later
Youre depositing the rest of me
Next to the violet heart, you
Had stolen some time before.
Wake in silence, a guilty silence
As your head pounds and you frantically
Look around.
My laughter still rings in your ears, my
Eyes are imprinted within your own
My tears still wet your finger tips
And my taste refuses to leave the residence
Of your mouth.
All of who I was continues to live in you.
Live in regret, hollow regret,
As your daily life reminds you of the
Cause of my death.
No one really knows, another couldnt help.
For knowing that the only person
That came close to knowing you,
Caring for you, loving you
Now lives in a silver box, with a
Tarnished violet heart, and simply
Because you asked me to.
poem by Tanya Sanes
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In Silence
In silence, you can hear
the scratching of a pen across paper.
In silence, you can hear
the rhythmic sound
of your heart beating
telling you you are alive.
In silence, you can hear
the screech of a demon call.
In silence, you can hear
the murmur of a baby
just moments before
they begin to awake.
In silence, you can hear
your memories calling.
In silence, you are transported
back in your life
into days long gone by
under sun-drenched skies.
In silence, you can hear
your voice of loneliness.
In silence, you are there
within the confines
of your inner self
and forever alone in silence.
11 May 2012
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Room For The Life
Hey there, you lady in tears,
Do you think that they care if theyre real, woman?
They just take it as part of the deal.
Lost in your men and the games you play.
Trying to prove that youre better, woman.
But you neednt get heavy with them.
Like it or not, we were built tough,
Because were woman.
No, we never die for long,
While weve got that little life
To live for, where its hid inside.
No, we never die for long,
Oh! woman, two in one,
Theres room for a life in your womb, woman,
Inside of you can be two, woman,
Theres room for a life in your womb, woman,
Mama woman, aha!
Night after night in the quiet house,
Plaiting her hair by the fire, woman,
With no lover to free her desire,
How long do you think she can stick it out?
How long do you think before shell go out, woman?
Hey! get up on your feet and go get it, now.
Like it or not, we keep bouncing back,
Because were woman.
No, we never die for long,
While weve got that little life
To live for, where its hid inside.
Oh! woman, two in one,
Theres room for a life in your womb, woman,
Inside of you can be two, woman,
Theres room for a life in your womb, woman,
Mama woman, aha!
A-mama-woma-mama-woman-aha!
A-mama-woma-mama-woman-aha!
Oh, mama-woman, two-in-a-one, aha!
Oh, two in one, aha!
Oh, woman! woman! woman! woman!
Theres room for a life in your womb!
Theres room for a life in your womb!
Two in one, aha!
Two in one! two in one! two in one!
Room for a life in your womb.
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You're The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised
Well I heard mama late last night
She was talking to my father
Now it's time that boy was shipping out
And I mean come hell or high water
Smokes and spits and drinks and fights
And his friends all look like trouble
Oh he sleeps all day and gone all night
Where's that boy I used to cuddle
Ten good years and then
He must ahve gone insane
CHORUS
You're the only hell
You'r mama ever raised
She tried ot tell you
But you got to do things your own way
Says you're a good boy and
That you must be going thorugh some phase
You're the only hell your mama ever raised
Mama ever raised
Mama ever, Mama ever raised
Susie sneaks out every night
Say's its only fair, yeah
Mama won't let me have no fun
Sometimes I think sh'es Linda Blair, yeah
Sixteen years of bristine tears
Then susie changed her ways
You're the only hell your mama ever raised
She tried ot tell you
but you got to do things your own way
Should know, know better and
that you must be goin through some phase
You're the only hell your mama ever raised
mama ever raised
mama ever raised
Oh yeah!
Ohhh mama, little boy may be leavin' today
I don't care what you say
Woman I've got to go
And fly away
song performed by by Warrant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You're The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised
Well I heard mama late last night
She was talking to my father
Now it's time that boy was shipping out
And I mean come hell or high water
Smokes and spits and drinks and fights
And his friends all look like trouble
Oh he sleeps all day and gone all night
Where's that boy I used to cuddle
Ten good years and then
He must ahve gone insane
CHORUS
You're the only hell
You'r mama ever raised
She tried ot tell you
But you got to do things your own way
Says you're a good boy and
That you must be going thorugh some phase
You're the only hell your mama ever raised
Mama ever raised
Mama ever, Mama ever raised
Susie sneaks out every night
Say's its only fair, yeah
Mama won't let me have no fun
Sometimes I think sh'es Linda Blair, yeah
Sixteen years of bristine tears
Then susie changed her ways
You're the only hell your mama ever raised
She tried ot tell you
but you got to do things your own way
Should know, know better and
that you must be goin through some phase
You're the only hell your mama ever raised
mama ever raised
mama ever raised
Oh yeah!
Ohhh mama, little boy may be leavin' today
I don't care what you say
Woman I've got to go
And fly away
song performed by by Warrant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Psycho
Can mary fry some fish, mama
Im as hungry as can be
Oh lord, how I wish, mama
You could stop the baby cryin
cause my head is killing me
I saw my ex again last night mama
She was at the dance at millers store
She was with that jackie white mama
I killed them both
And theyre buried under jacobs sycamore
You think Im psycho dont you mama
I didnt mean to break your cup
You think Im psycho dont you mama
You better let em lock me up
Oh, dont hand me johnnys pup mama
As I might squeeze him too tight
Im havin crazy dreams again mama
So let me tell you bout last night
I woke up in johnnys room mama
Standing right there by his bed
With my hands around his throat mama
Wishing both of us were dead
You think Im psycho dont you mama
I just killed johnnys pup
You think Im psycho dont you mama
Youd better let em lock me up
Oh you recall that little girl mama
I believe her name was betty clark
Oh dont tell me that shes dead mama
cause I just saw her in the park
We were sitting on a bench mama
Thinking of a game to play
Seems I was holding a wrench mama
Then my mind just walked away
You think Im psycho dont you mama
I didnt mean to break your cup
You think Im psycho dont you mama
Mama why dont you get up?
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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