The Lottery
The Lottery
Through their mind’s eye, patiently they stood gazing to the sky,
peering through the floating cloud, hoping to spot the pot
of gold at the end of the rainbow.
From a shorter distance, a day in the month of May,
and in the solitude of self, I studied the long line of
Mona Lisa faces against expectations and probabilities.
Some leaned on canes; others rode in wheelchairs;
still others held up under their own weight.
As the single column shrunk, it grew with young mothers
and their laughing children ducking under their
grasping hands, and using them as Maypoles.
My mind got a glimpse of a young mother with a cute little
house etched on her face for she and the baby
on her hip, and the toddler tugging at her skirt.
In the stillness of self, I was able to see beyond my likeness
into the mind of a round- woman silently, moaning as she
leaned on inflamed knees that ached for a knee replacement.
I even eavesdropped into the thoughts of an adult male,
weighed down under jobless, moneyless, and homeless.
The gold at the end of the arc is certain to replace
“less” for “more”, he thought!
I could not help over hearing the long conversation of two men
standing side by side, in the single line, making loud talk:
''I'm behind in child support payments and can’t see my child, said one.”
'Are you saying, you sat quietly in the courtroom waiting for
a judge to evaluate your family's needs, the other asked sharply? '
MAN, we got to do better!
We can’t keep letting others adjudicate our worth and that of our families!
Let’s take back our dignity, and with pride,
place it in custody of our sons and daughters.”
As the front of the line was dwindling, I plainly saw a silver haired woman, time lined her forehead; her eye lids drooping like weeping willow branches. Yet she held tightly onto the plastic holder bulging with blessed lotto cards. She fixed her eyes and mind to the heavens, silently praying that God would not forsake she and her three small grand children…though, she had fruitless results before.
The procession moved closer. I stood in awe at the speed and accuracy of the cashier’s fingers pecking the keys; as the machine violently spat out handfuls of lottery tickets. And like a robot, taking customers money- at the same time- placing the tickets in their hands. I patiently shuffled along not thinking myself as part of the aggregate in the shopping mall.
Nearing the front of the line, I pulled my cell phone from my pocket,
(Unknowingly) a ten spot fell to the floor. “Hello Boo. I’m good. No.
I’m waiting to buy my lottery tickets. Son, hopefully the cashier has that
“BIG CHECK” we have been waiting for. Okay, bye”
I leaned forward; handing the cashier my number list, then reached into my pocket and pulling out an empty hand. I wondered if gamblers count the times they lose or win.
poem by Almedia Knight Oliver
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Adventure upon all the tickets in the lottery, and you lose for certain; and the greater the number of your tickets the nearer your approach to this certainty.
quote by Adam Smith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Front Line
I am a veteran of the war
I up and joined the army back in 1964
At sixteen I just had to be a man at any cost
I volunteered for Vietnam where I got my leg shot off
I recall a quote from a movie that said "who's more a man
Than a man with a reason that's worth dyin' for"
They had me standing on the front line
They had me standing on the front line
They had me standing on the front line
But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead
They gave me a uniform and a tiny salty pill
To stop the big urge I might have for the wrong kind of thrill
They put a gun in my hand and said, "shoot until he's dead"
But it's hard to kill when 'please your friend' echoes through your head
Brought up in church taught no man should take another's life
But then put in a jungle where life has no price
They had me standing on the front line
They had me standing on the front line
They had me standing on the front line
But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead
Back in the world the paper reads today
Another war is in the brewing
But what about the lives of yesterday
And the many happy families that have been ruined
My niece is a hooker and my nephew's a junkie too
But they say I have no right to tell them how they should do
They laugh and say "quit bragging" 'bout the war you should never have been in
But my mind is so brain-washed I'd prob'bly go back and do it again
I walk the neighborhood parading my purple heart
With a fear of agent orange that no one will stop
They had me standing on the front line
They had me standing on the front line
They had me standing on the front line
But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead
[Repeat 2 times...fade out]
song performed by by Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That Man
I saw him
the other day
In the shopping area
He was
leaned up
against a tree
I looked at
my own hands
I had
a shopping bag,
I had my dad's hand
to hold,
I had keys
in my pocket
not that man
All he had
were his clothes
with holes
as people
walked by
he shook this can
I wondered why
As I passed
I peered
inside the cup
there were a few coins
thats all
Then I went away
I asked my dad
who he was
he is homeless
that man
my daddy said
I closed my eyes
and went to my car
and that was that
I never saw
that man
again
poem by Ammie Sparks
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Small Talk & Pride
(john farrar)
We never really had the chance to let each other know
We never really had the time to let our feelings show
Small talk kept us going
When the only words to say
Were how I long to hold you
Pride locked the words away
I never had the confidence to think that you could care
I never looked into your eyes to see if love was there
I talked it over with myself and silently agreed
Your heart was in a high place unreachable to me
I waited too long for a sign from you
Reached for a line that you never threw
Small talk and pride kept us from getting together
Now theres never a day youre not on my mind
Saying the words we could never find
Small talk and pride took you from my life forever
Ill never hold the cards again
To win a love so real
I know Id gamble everything
But mistress fate wont deal
I just have to be content to learn by my mistakes
Our hearts were just a breath away
Now theyre far enough to break
I waited too long for a sign from you
Reached for a line that you never threw
Small talk and pride kept us from getting together
Now theres never a day youre not on my mind
Saying the words we could never find
Small talk and pride took you from my life forever
song performed by by Olivia Newton-John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Starman
Didnt know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin down some rock n roll lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That werent no dj, that was hazy cosmic jive
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hed like to come and meet us
But he thinks hed blow our minds
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hes told us not to blow it
Cause he knows its all worthwhile
He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, thats far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the tv we may pick him up on channel two
Look out your window I can see the light
If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Dont tell your papa or hell get us locked up in fright
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hed like to come and meet us
But he thinks hed blow our minds
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hes told us not to blow it
Cause he knows its all worthwhile
He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
Starman waiting in the sky
Hed like to come and meet us
But he thinks hed blow our minds
Theres a starman waiting in the sky
Hes told us not to blow it
Cause he knows its all worthwhile
He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la-la (repeat until end)
Culture club faithfully covered this david bowie hit (it reached no.10 in the uk and no.65 in the us in july 1972) on their 98 re-wind tour so well that it has become a fixture at culture club concerts, got a joint a-side single with cold shoulder and also features on the new album, dont mind if I do.
song performed by by Culture Club
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Velvet Atmosphere
Sunday morning 5 September 2008
Ah, the velvet atmosphere of
our own local shop, cosy and
small, finding everything easily
While the big, new supermarket
is garish and cold, a shopping
trip becomes a marathon walk
Buying a specific product becomes
a mind-boggling exercise, the check-
out till a hostile place without goodwill
While our local shop stocks fairies and
writing material at the pay-point - I can
feast my eyes and delight my mind
Waiting in line to pay; soft lighting, a
smiling cashier, a warm atmosphere...
poem by Margaret Alice
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Hands Are Tied
(jesse valenzuela)
Ive been waiting around all night
Your warm kiss is on my mind
A piece of you is all Ive got
But the whole damn thing is what I want
Ive been waiting around here all night long
Holding on to these memories until they come undone
My hands are tied...
Telephones ringing by my bed
I pick it on up and the line goes dead
I splash summer water on my face
Clears my mind Im out of this place
Ive been waiting around here all night long
Holding on to these memories until they come undone
My hands are tied...
My nerves are frayed and Ive had enough
Im a lot afraid that itll hurt too much
Im cant seem to stop at all
Im plain wore through waiting for your call
Ive been waiting around here all night long
Holding on to these memories until they come undone
My hands are tied...
Want you round here all the time
Just cant seem to shake you off my mind
My hands are tied...
song performed by by Gin Blossoms
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When Time Stood Still
Far beyond the things you see
Time rolls on eternally
Got a thing about it
Just cant live without it
Sitting there inside your mind
Just waiting for the clock to chime
On a lonely line
Stood a lonely man
No pictures on an empty wall
No body there no one at all
Just echoes in the ivory halls
When time stood still
Days line up outside the door
Thought time had stopped there was no more
Been a lonely world
Such a lonely world
No pictures on an empty wall
No toulouse, vincent, or pablo
Just echoes in the ivory halls
When time stood still
No big machine or april showers
No submarines no plastic flowers
Just echoes in the ivory towers
When time stood still
When time stood still
When time stood still
When time stood still
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Im In Line
(d. peterson/v. peterson/s. hoffs)
Debbi
I dont want to wait in line for you
Darling, youll know thats what Ill do
The girls are pretty
The girls are many
Ah, but your heart is empty
No ones filling up for you
Im in line for you, my darling
Yeah, yeah
In the morning when I rise I see
Another girl in line ahead of me
Oh, what advantage with the way you do me
When you walk by abd when you get round to me
Yeah, take a look at me
Im in line for you, my darling
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah, Im in line
I dont want to waste my time
Waiting for some guy to change his mind
You dont ever notice
Standing in the shadows
And I cant tell you why
Im in line for you, my darling
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah, Im in line
Im in line, Im in line
Im in line, Im in line
Im in line, Im in line
Im in line, Im in line
song performed by by Bangles
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A life of standing and waiting
Standing in the bus queue
it's twenty minutes late again
when you get on the bus is full
public transport what a pain.
Standing in the post office
fifteen minutes just for a stamp
stood in a long line of people
now my back hurts it must be cramp.
Standing at the railway station
waiting for a train that's been delayed
and when it finally bothers to arrive
we're told there's an engine fault I'm afraid.
Standing in a queue outside the cinema
been looking forward to this film all day
but after waiting patiently for half an hour
I'm told it's now full so I have to go away.
Standing about and queueing is what we do
I wonder if it's like this in Heaven when you pass away?
knowing my luck I'll be in a long line of people
only to be told your in the wrong place so go away!
poem by Kevin Halls
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Mr. Telephone Man
Mr. telephone man
There's something wrong with my line,
When i dial my baby's number
I get a click everytime
Mr. telephone man
There's something wrong with my line
When i dial my baby's number
I get a click every time
When i dial 611 computer service
She said "hello may i help you
Please?"
I told her something must be wrong
With my phone
Cause my baby wouldn't hang up
On me
Mr. telephone man
There something wrong with my line
When i dial my baby's number i get a
Click every time
Mr. telephone man
There something wrong with my line
When i dial my baby's number i get a
Click every time
She let the phone ring 20 times
Before she answered
Let me tell you what happened then
A minute later i got the operator
Saying please hang up and place
Your call agian
Mr. telephone man
There's something wrong with
My line
When i dial my baby's number
I get a click everytime
Mr. telephone man,
Soemthing's wrong with my line
I try to dial her number
I get a click everytime
Soem strange man is on the
Telephone
He keeps telling me my baby
Aint home
She got no party line
Situation blowing my mind
Oh, i just can't take this anymore
Please operator
See what you can do,
I dialed the right number
But i still couldn't get through
Could you just check the line
Just one more time if you can
I'm pretty sure her phone
Wouldn't be answered by no man
Mr. telephone man
There's something wrong with
My line
When i dial my baby's number
I get a click everytime
Mr. telephone man,
Soemthing's wrong with my line
I try to dial her number
I get a click everytime
Must be a bad connection
I give her my love and affection
I just can't take this no more
This situation blowing my mind
Blowing my mind
Can't get my baby on the line
I tried dialing information (mr. telephone man)
I can't get no coperation (mr. telephone man)
Her sister's on the phone telling me my baby
Aint at home
Come on baby i just can't take it no more
Help me out
Please mr. telephone man
Help me out
Please mr. telephone man
song performed by by New Edition
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Line
I got my discharge from fort irwin
Took a place on the san diego county line
Felt funny bein a civilian again
Itd be some time
My wife had died a year ago
I was still tryin to find my way back whole
Went to work for the ins on the line
With the california border patrol
Bobby ramirez was a ten year veteran
We became friends
His family was from
Guanajuato
So the job it was different for him
He said they risk death in the deserts and mountains
Pay all they got to the smugglers rings
We send em home and they come right back again
Carl hunger is a powerful thing.
Well I was good at doin what I was to
Ld kept my uniform pressed and clean
At night I chased their shadows
Thru the arroyos and ravines
Drug runners farmers with their families
Young women with little children by their sides
Come night wed wait out in the canyons
And try to keep em from crossin the line
Well the first time that I saw her
She was in the holdin pen
Our eyes met and she looked away
Then she looked back again
Her hair was black as coal
Her eyes reminded me of what Id lost
She had a young child cryin in her arms
I asked senora is there anything I can do?
Theres a bar in tijuana
Where me and bobby drink alongside
The same people wed sent back the day before
She said her name was louisa
She was from sonora and had just come north
We danced and I held her in my arms
And I knew what I would do
She said she had some family in madera county
If she her child and younger brother could just get thru
At night they come across the levee
In the searchlights dusty glow
Wed rush em in our broncos
Force em back down into the river below
She climbed into my truck
She leaned toward me and we kissed
As we drove her brothers shirt slipped open
And I saw the tape across his chest
We were just about on the highway
When bobbys jeep come up in the dust on my right
I pulled over and let my engine run
And stepped out into his lights
I felt myself movin
My gun restin neath my hand
We stood there starin at each other
As off thru the arroyo she ran
Bobby ramirez he never said nothin
6 months later I left the line
I drifted to the central valley
And took what work I could find
At night I searched the local bars
And the migrant towns
Lookin for my louisa
With the black hair fallin down
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Day Jane Fainted
Jane fainted in the town
by the coach
on Saturday morning
and her mother
and other women
were around her
and you stood
a little way away
wondering what
had happened to her
I think it must be
that time of the month
you heard one woman say
maybe
her mother said
but she's not usually
like this
she added
will she be all right?
you asked
bending down
next to one
of the women
who had gathered
her mother looked at you
and said
yes it happens
at certain times
of the month
oh right
you said
none the wiser
gazing at Jane
at her dark hair
her eyes closed
her features
white and sweaty
best give her some air
her mother said
and you all stood up
and her mother
fanned her
with her hat
then after a minute or so
Jane opened her eyes
and said
what happened?
I went all funny
and everything went white
you fainted
her mother said
waving the hat
in front of Jane's face
I want to get up
Jane said
and so you
and her mother
helped her
to her feet
and she leaned
against the wall
of the bank
and looked around
she'll be all right now
a woman said
it happens
another said
after a few minutes
they went off
to the shops
leaving you
and your mother
and Jane
and her mother
standing by the coach
I'll be all right now
Jane said
ok
her mother said
and you all walked
along the street
to the shops
Jane walking behind
with you
her hand stealthily
reaching down
for yours and giving it
a little squeeze
then releasing it again
looking up at the sky
which had become dark
threatening rain.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Single Woman
Single bars and single women
With a single thought in mind
Just to make it till the morning
Looking for what they can find
For a man they won't remember
For a night they can't forget
Do you come to this place often?
May i light your cigarette?
Drinkin' beer in amarillo
Passing time and swaping jokes
Hoping for a new beginning
But beginning to lose hope
And you're waiting for that moment
When a glance becomes a stare
Mmm, what's that perfume that you're wearing?
Haven't i met you somewhere?
Find a matchbook in the morning
With a name and number scrawled
When you phone, a woman answers
And you wish you'd never called
Oh, they're friendly when they meet you
But they're strangers when they go
Ahh, do you mind if i come join you?
Would you like to dance one more?
And it's gettin' near to closing
And the seconds pass like years
Lots of friends to share the laughter
Not a one to share the tears
Oh and you wish they'd change that juke box
Cause you know every song it plays
Can i drop you off at my place?
Oh, what's the matter, are you gay?
You gotta twenty in your pocket
Got your toothbrush in your purse
Life could get a whole lot better
But it better not get worse
Single bars and single women
With a single thought in mind
Just to make it till the morning
Looking for what they can find
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Whose God (Do We Worship Now)
your God preaches success,
and individual achievement.
lives in sanctuaries of gold
with windows of colored glass.
doesnt get His hands dirty
on the down side of town...
turns His head from the ugly,
from the smell and the stink...
walks on the other side of the street.
demands sterile cleaness,
prefers people of stature!
no touching, no feelings...
out of control!
our God walks the tracks
leading the lost home...
slept with us under the bridge,
and shared our pot.
sat with the addict,
spent time with the prisoner...
held the little girl's hand
who was afraid of the dark.
washed clothes with us
in borrowed bathroom sinks.
wiped the tears from the old woman's face
when the old man shuddered, moved on....
picked up the young whore's clothes,
and led her from the room.
took the gun from the hand
of the man whose family
was just put out on the street...
stood in line with the jobless,
wearing worn out boots!
so tell me now,
and tell me true...
whose God do we worship now?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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O My Soul...
where have you gone,
o my soul...
where have you gone?
are you lost in the tears
of a thousand faces
blackened by hunger?
in the cries of the dying?
of the homeless?
in the defiant feet
of those standing in line?
the unemployment line?
the soup line?
the line just outside
the prison walls?
in the lover left desperate,
who takes his own life?
in the students beaten,
who stood up for freedom?
in the young man hated,
for the color of his skin?
in the young woman sold
on the lonesome street corner?
in the windowless offices
where lives and deaths are decided?
in the hole behind the gun,
eyes hard as steel?
in the bare apartment,
where the children are cold and hungry?
on the corner, 'neath the bridge,
in the back of the car?
where have you gone,
o my soul...
where have you gone?
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Winter Dusk
Dark frost was in the air without,
The dusk was still with cold and gloom,
When less than even a shadow came
And stood within the room.
But the three around the fire,
None turned a questioning head to look,
Still read a clear voice, on and on,
Still stooped they o'er their book.
The children watched their mother's eyes
Moving on softly line to line;
It seemed to listen too -- that shade,
Yet made no outward sign.
The fire-flames crooned a tiny song,
No cold wind moved the wintry tree;
The children both in Faerie dreamed
Beside their mother's knee.
And nearer yet that spirit drew
Above that heedless one, intent
Only on what the simple words
Of her small story meant.
No voiceless sorrow grieved her mind,
No memory her bosom stirred,
Nor dreamed she, as she read to two,
'Twas surely three who heard.
Yet when, the story done, she smiled
From face to face, serene and clear,
A love, half dead, sprang up, as she
Leaned close and drew them near.
poem by Walter de la Mare
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Choices, 2012
children standing quietly
in a long line, expressionless,
maybe a tear, just waiting...
waiting to be euthanized!
a sign hung over the desk
in front of the door,
that said simply:
'Choices,2012! '
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Saw God
i saw god...
in the small child shunned,
playing alone.
in the pregnant girl scared,
still a baby herself.
in the young man going off to war,
chest stuck out, and knees gone weak.
in the angry young man,
who learns to read in prison.
in the old woman in the empty house,
every wrinkle a chapter of love.
in the stray cat curled
against my leg.
in two young men in love,
kissing on the steps of a church.
in the family living on food stamps,
day work, and faith.
in the addict with the guts
to go into rehab.
in the body in the funeral home
that no one came to see.
in the couple married for twenty five years,
survivors of struggle, passion, and despair.
in the jobless shuffle of the heads down line.
in the old man fishing with his grandson,
in the mother teaching her daughter to pray.
in the poet, the carpenter, the farmer,
the doctor, the garbage man, and the cashier.
in the bride and the groom,
even the murderer and the victim!
in the anger of the protesters,
in the sin, and forgiveness.
in the black, the white, and every color between.
in moonlight pouring through poverty's window....
yes, i saw god...
never entered a church, a temple, or a mosque...
i merely entered the heart
of the living... and touched!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Helen and You and the Bombed Out Factory
Ought we to go in there?
Helen asked
as you both stood outside
the bombed out factory
off Rockingham Street
sure we should
you said
but it's got
STAY OUT signs
on the big doors
she said
you looked at her
with her thick lens glasses
and her hair tied in plaits
nibbling her finger in anxiety
come on in
you said
nothing will happen to you
while you're with me
she didn't look convinced
what if someone sees us?
she asked
no one cares around here
kids are always going
on bombsites
you said
she looked around
her eyes seemingly larger
than they were
are you sure?
she said
yes now come on
and you took
her small hand
and pulled her through
a small opening
in the side
where other kids
had made an entrance
she a pulled face
on the other side
of the gate
and rubbed her arm
where a line of blood showed
look
she said
I've scratched myself
you dabbed at it
with a grey handkerchief
and spittle and she watched
as you cleared up
the line of blood
will it be all right?
yes
you said
it'll be fine
and you walked on
across the yard
and into the bombed out factory by
a door hanging
on its hinges
and into the dark interior
she stood by the entrance inside
and took in the semi darkness
it's frightening
she said
no one is here
you said
how do you know?
she asked
it's too quiet
you said
she leaned closer to you
and grabbed your arm
what was that?
she whispered
a rat probably
what? she said
a rat
you said
let's go out
she said
nothing will hurt you
while I'm here
and you patted
the toy gun
in the belt
of your jeans
she looked at you
then out
into the semi darkness
you walked in
and up the stone stairs
by a wall
and she followed
her breathing
becoming louder
as you walked up
once at the top
and along a landing
you came to a small office
where the door was missing
and there was a hole
in the roof where a bomb
had blown it off
as well as other parts
of the building
you stood
looking around
the room
where rain had rotted
what furniture remained
and on the floor
were books soaked
and rotting
Helen said
can we go now?
you looked up
through the hole
in the roof
and there
was the afternoon sun
and a white cloud
moving slowly across
a blue sky
and she moved
next to you
and kissed your cheek
but you didn't know why.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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