Days of 1908
That was the year when he stayed
Without work, for a living played
Cards, or backgammon; or borrowed and never paid.
He was offered a place at a small
Stationer’s, three pounds a month. It didn’t suit him.
It was not decent pay at all.
He refused it without hesitation;
He was twenty-five, and of good education.
Two or three shillings he made, more or less.
From cards and backgammon what could a boy skim;
At the common places, the cafés of his grade,
Although he played sharply, and picked stupid players.
As for borrowing, that didn’t always come off.
He seldom struck a dollar, oftener he’d fall
To half, and sometimes as low as a shilling.
Sometimes, when he got away from the grim
Night-sitting, for a week at a time or more,
He would cool himself at the baths, with a morning swim.
The shabbiness of his clothes was tragical.
He always wore the same suit, always displayed
A suit of cinnamon brown discoloured and frayed.
O summer days of nineteen hundred and eight, I recall
The picture of you, and out of it seems to fade,
Harmoniously, that cinnamon suit discoloured and frayed.
The picture of you has preserved him
Just as he would take off, would fling down
The unworthy clothes, the mended under clothes,
And remain all naked; faultlessly beautiful; a wonder.
Uncombed and lifted up his hair was;
His limbs a little sunburnt
From the morning nakedness at the baths and on the beach.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
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Related quotes
Leisure Suit Serenade
Wearin old t-shirts and grubby jeans
People say I look kinda odd
Well, Im never accepted in the social set
cause they say that Im a clod
But once in a while, I go to my closet
And I put on something mod
And when I step out in my leisure suit
People stand up and applaud
Leisure suit serenade
Slip one on and you got it made
You better hope and pray that the colors dont fade
Thats the leisure suit serenade
Now, it dont matter if the collars bent
If its got nylon twenty percent
Now Im as cool as the asb president
Leisure suit serenade
Leisure suit serenade
Slip one on and you got it made
You better hope and pray that the colors dont fade
Thats the leisure suit serenade, oh yeah
Thats the leisure suit serenade
song performed by by Weird Al Yankovic
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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SWIM SUIT GIRL...by Talile Ali
I WANNA TAKE A WHIRL
WITH MY RED HEADED
FUNKY WALKIN
SWIM SUIT GIRL
RUN AROUND THE BASES
AS SHE GIVES ME A WHIRL
MAKE IT WITH
MY SWIM SUIT GIRL
DANCE AND ROMANCE
IN HER PANTS
IN A TRANCE LOVIN
MY SWIM SUIT GIRL
OH I CAN'T HELP BUT WANNA
GO FOR A WHIRL
DANCIN WITH
MY SWIM SUIT GIRL
SHE LIKES TO BOOGIE
AND LIKES TO ROCK
SHE'A A BAD ASS ROMANTIC
WITH THE SWEETEST LEG LOCK
AND I LIKE
TO TAKE HER FAR AS I CAN
AND I LIKE
TO DO HER BECAUSE I'M HER MAN
SO I CAN'T WAIT
CAUSE I GOT A DATE
WITH MY SWIM SUIT GIRL
DANCIN AND ROMANCIN
AS SHE GIVE'S ME A TWIRL
SPINNING WITH MY SWIM SUIT GIRL
poem by Talile Ali
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Please youreslf
I think that ladies should ignore
The dictates of the fashion trade
The doubtful claims of haute couture
by so called experts often made.
A wise lady will choose her clothes
to show her assets at their best.
Not as the expert all suppose
to look exactly like the rest.
Dress to suit your face and figure
There is no need to buy in haste
clothes which make your rivals snigger.
Have faith in your own good taste.
Women come in many shades
different shapes and different sizes.
Mature matrons and slim young maids.
Every one that some man prizes.
A well dressed women who stands out.
Knows full well what she’s about.
She won’t let the experts tell her
how to dress to please her feller.
Some women have good fashion sense
but many lack the confidence
to tell the experts to get lost.
They can dress well at half the cost.
Fashion labels may sell clothes
but only silly girls suppose.
Only the latest style will do.
When obviously it is not true.
Suit yourself in the way you dress.
Choose the clothes that will suit you
If you do you will impress
in the way you ought to do.
Let all the fashion gurus prate
But don’t believe a word they say.
You know that you will look great
when you dress in your own way
Fashions come and fashions go.
You know when you’re looking good
What do the so called experts know? .
Ignore them as you know you should.
8-Feb-08
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Brides
Brides.
Silk worms spewed me a suit fit for a king
Wore it at a wedding where I coveted
Another man’s bride
The worms came, ate my fine suit, they
Had found me unworthy; naked walked
through the park of autumnal leaves.
By daybreak I sat on a stone by the sea
And didn’t hear the cockerel crew, a mermaid
Beckoned for me to join her.
We swam to an island not marked by maps
In the bay I saw my old schooner called May,
De-rigged now and unable to sail
Cured of my vanity, worms spewed me
Another fine suit; by not looking back I walked
On water to a wedding in Paris.
poem by Jan Oskar Hansen
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Surprise in Japan - New Suit
bad laundry work
the fashion store gives me
a new suit
Quite a surprise. The laundrette I sent the suit to for dry cleaning did a bad job. The suit became like a three year old piece of junk. I showed it to the fashion store in Kinshicho where I bought and strangely the manager gave me a new suit.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Sand Of Time
Sand of Time
I was on my way to the doss house near the railway station,
it was quarter to eight -had to be in by eight or lose my bed-,
when I saw her in the restaurant talking to her brother, they
shared a bottle of wine. My god, she was as beautiful as ever.
And since it was dark outside I reckoned she didn’t see me,
her brother looked out; perhaps he recognized me because
he bent towards her and whispered something, but before
she could look up I had disappeared into shadows. It was now
ten to eight I ran to the doss house run by The Salvation Army.
I could only have a shower once a week and had been wearing
the same suit for a long time. It was a grey worn suit, but it gave
me a sense that I had some dignity left. However deep a person
falls, he can get up again and in time buy a new suit. This evening
remembering my time of wretchedness, and it struck me I can no
longer remember her face.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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The Suit
The Suit
After the surgery my son come visiting
he had brought a dark suit along, hung
it in my wardrobe, said he had brought
it along in case we went to a party.
A fortnight later he flew back home but
left the suit behind so he didn’t have
to bring one next time he came visiting.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Skinny Sweaty Man
Flashin' lots of cash and spendin' lots-o-loot
he's sitting at the bar - then he's sittin' at the booth
across the dance floor he does scoot
he's the skinny sweaty man in the green suit
The caboose that could he goes toot toot
been known to gag and sometimes puke
a very good friend of granny goose
he's the skinny sweaty man in the green suit
Skinny sweaty man in the green suit
He's half man and half cartoon
but good buddy don't be confused
he's full blooded looney tune
he's the skinny sweaty man in the green suit
Face to face with the man in the moon
his family doctor is doctor seuss
if you catch him in your soup please don't shoot
he's the skinny sweaty man in the green suit
Skinny sweaty man in the green suit
He was new in town
a free wheelin' clown
a funny young duke
hangin' under the roof
of a place in time
united sound
he'll play a little guitar sing a few blues
he's the kind-a-guy that you can't refuse
despite the fact that he's no brute
he's the skinny sweaty man in the green suit
Strike the magic groove make him jerk and move
like an eight legged freak in snake skin boots
coming soon to a theatre near you
he's the skinny sweaty man in the green suit
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wedding dress
The wedding dress had a royal elegance,
it beamed next to the morning suit,
shone with pride in the afternoon sun,
while the morning suit felt unsteady,
a little light headed and dizzy
at the sight of this magnificent robe.
Other suits and dresses
were dumb struck too, in its presence.
The little black number sulked,
the lounge suit sniggered
but the wedding dress just flowed across the room.
The shrug, of course, took the whole thing casually
as shrugs are prone to do, all nonchalant,
and je ne sais quoi,
as were the bride and groom.
poem by Ruth Walters
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Ask Questions Realize Answers
some ask about clothes cosmetics?
perfumes lipsticks eyeliner girls?
some ask about work the weather?
common place questions whatever?
some ask more personal questions?
who differentiates personal questions?
what is moving emotional touching?
what is distressing sad affecting?
what is heartrending heartbreaking?
what is upsetting tender agonizing?
did you find your place in the world?
can you define your space in the world?
what a poignant question to begin with?
what is the best question to begin with?
what is the only question worth asking?
what interactive discourse is worth taking?
hi time dimension passes how have you been?
hi wishing u well so many scripts written unseen?
i am still looking for myself mine place in the world?
is a common youth answer what is question defined?
what have you learned do you now know yourself?
what defines qualities personality stock in yourself?
same we must remake our world to suit ourselves?
same we must remake an image to suit ourselves?
some must remake the world in their need own image?
some must see many images move through the image?
it felt good to finally get an education a degree at last?
do you like your work freedom to spend time money at last?
does it gives you the creativity knowledge you think you need?
or too far from what you thought you would be doing years ago seed?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Mauve Trouser Suit
Yesterday while driving home
I saw a woman wearing
a mauve trouser suit.
Instantly my memories kicked in
taking me back forty year or more
when I was in love with a girl
who always wore a mauve trouser suit.
I could see her standing there
her blonde hair rippling over her shoulders
and her big blue eyes looking passed me
at someone who wasn’t there.
She was never mine to be,
but for a few moments while driving home,
she was there in her mauve trouser suit
standing in front of me.
17 April 2009
poem by David Harris
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He asked why and I said, 'Because Gwyneth has a fat suit, my wife has a fat suit - I don't get a fat suit?' He looked at me and said, 'You mean you don't have one on?'
quote by Joe Viterelli
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Remember, I Remember
I remember, I remember
The house where I was born;
The rent was thirty-two a month,
Which made my father mourn.
He said he could remember when
His father paid the rent;
And when a man's expenses did
Not take his every cent.
I remember, I remember--
My mother telling my cousin
That eggs had gone to twenty-six
Or seven cents a dozen;
And how she told my father that
She didn't like to speak
Of things like that, but Bridget now
Demanded four a week.
I remember, I remember--
And with a mirthless laugh--
My weekly board at college took
A jump to three and a half.
I bought an eighteen-dollar suit,
And father told me, "Sonny,
I'll pay the bill this time, but, Oh,
I am not made out of money!"
I remember, I remember,
When I was young and brave
And I declared, "Well, Birdie, we
Shall now begin to save."
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from wealth
Than when I was a boy.
poem by Franklin P. Adams
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Little Green Buttons
The honeymoon ended a decade ago,
If he still loves her he don't say so,
So she's taking her blues to the House af Tattoos,
Getting little green buttons on her birthday suit.
Little green buttons all in a row
From her face to the place they ain't never gonna slow.
Might sound crazy but they sure look cute,
Those little green buttons on her birthday suit.
She had supper in the oven when he came home,
Now he's snoring on the sofa to the Late, Late Show.
It was ten days later before he knew
'Bout those little green buttons on her birthday suit.
But now she's living in a house of love,
She's got his attention, he can't get enough
He spends every evening trying to undo
The little green buttons on her birthday suit.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
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The Bespoke Suit
That bespoke suit it looked grand so beaut
It adorned this guy drinking alone at the bar,
Would he sell it, that smashing suit
Indeed if only, I'd feel like a rising star,
Such a fine cut of pure merino wool
With a blue hanky peeping from his top pocket.
I turned my head an' he was gone leaving my mind to mull,
I ran to the door his car took off like a rocket,
Looking at my poor excuse of a suit so so raggy,
A week fly's by bespoke in my dreams never ending,
Love will never come with my trousers so baggy.
I see a girl stroking that bespoke suit...dreams keep sending,
Well blow me down with a feather there he stands again at the bar,
'Hello there my names John I think your suit is so bespoke,
Would you sell it to me to shine my star, '
'Gimme' double what I paid then it's yours no joke'
A sum agreed an' I put the cash in his hand quick smart,
Within an hour adorned with that bespoke my soul begins to soften,
My life anew dressed so fine lady luck about to start.
Standing at THAT bar a Marilyn Monroe type strokes my suit and says
'Do you come here often? '
poem by Ken e Hall
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Bad Santa
Stuck in a chimney
high above ground
A burglar called out
He couldn't go up nor down.
He'd stolen some money
and pilfered some clothes.
then, by way of egress,
up the chimney he rose.
But that move only works
with a suit of red Clothes
on one night a year
if you finger your nose.
He got stuck half way up
and he couldn't get down.
The fire Department
had to rescue this clown.
He'd broken in through a window
and jumped down to the floor
If only he'd thought
to go out the side door.
He was covered in soot
from his cap to his feet.
He's our Darwin Award
winner for this week!
I heard him exclaim
as they booked him that night
I sure am a dumb-ass
(That at least he got right)
A burglar in Atlanta had to be rescued by the fire department after an ill fated attempt to mimic Santa Claus
poem by John F. McCullagh
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Three Button Hand Me Down
(rod stewart, ian mclagen)
I dont need no ones opinion
On the matter concerning my dress.
I was raised in a clinic down in oklahoma,
There were many things I did not possess.
Well I never complained, because my father said,
Son you get your chance before youre my age.
Then he took me upstairs and gave me this suit
(? ) written all over his face
He said, others may come and others may go,
But that suit will be around wherever youre goin
Three button hand me down
Three button hand me down
Hold on a minute
Now I had my fair share of neat women,
But they came between me and my suit.
That was a filly from boston, a barmaid from houston,
Not forgetting the one in detroit.
They said, we like you boy and we think youre sweet,
But cant you lose your suit?
I said, nononono, you cant do that to me
I remember what my father said:
He said, others may come and others may go,
But that suit will be around wherever youre goin
Three button hand me down, ha ha,
Three button hand me down
Ive never been a tidy dresser
And the fold in my trousers it aint straight.
Still I know a good cloth when I see one.
Thats why Im clad in this gray flannel suit.
Sometimes I wonder if I should visit a tailor
And get myself a smooth outfit.
Then I remember what my father said to me.
I make it from the open road, you all know this
He said, others may come and others may go,
But that suit will be around wherever you go
Three button hand me down,
Three button hand me down, ha ha
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Want A Little Girl
By murray mencher & billy moll
I want a little girl, call my own.
She must be someone whos all alone now.
Say, I want a little girl to fall in love with me, oh yeah.
I want a little girl, but she may not look
Just like a picture in a story book.
If she can cook chicken, yeah, shell suit me to a t.
And she dont have to wave her hair
Or even wear fancy clothes, I wouldnt even care.
She dont wear nylon hose, oh.
I want a little girl to love a lot.
You know that Id give her everything I got.
I want a little girl to fall in love with me.
song performed by by Eric Clapton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Talk Show Circuit
A blue suit with short hair
Speaking empty speech
To a tanned girl
With long legs and a beautiful mouth
A gray suit with gray hair
Speaking empty speech
To a fair skinned girl
With sexy hips and cherry red lips
A black suit with a pink tie
Speaking empty speech
To a Latin girl
In a green dress with lovely breasts
A pinstriped suit with a silver tie
Speaking empty speech
To an Asian girl
With rosy cheeks and perfect knees
…Too much television
© J. James Martinez
poem by J. James Martinez
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No Clothes On Biker’s Back
When I was the age seventeen,
I was in a girl’s home
because my mom was really mean.
I got out for a little break,
went to girlfriend biker’s place,
and partied till very late.
We played strip poker
with a table of four,
everyone almost dropped
all their drawers.
Then I had to get back to my parent’s place,
biker drives me home naked
with no clothes on,
not a trace.
Luckily he stopped at all the stops,
we never did get pulled over by the cops.
This was right around 2 o’clock.
Next day went back to Anderson’s home,
I had to call my girlfriend’s phone,
to tell her clothes were all gone.
Yes, one of the girls ran away the night before,
girl went into my room,
stole them out of my drawer.
Runaway girl crosses the bridge to the Wisc. side,
hoping she can run from cops and hide.
Luckily my friend’s clothes did come back,
friend couldn’t wear them anyway for she was
pregnant and that was that.
Now if the runaway girl
had just wore the biker clothes the night before
I wouldn’t have to explain to my friend
why her clothes went out the door.
The moral of the story is;
While one is out getting naked,
someone is stealing your clothes that are forsaken.
Written by Christina Sunrise on Feb.19,2011
poem by Christina Sunrise
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