
Fletcher McGee
She took my strength by minutes,
She took my life by hours,
She drained me like a fevered moon
That saps the spinning world.
The days went by like shadows,
The minutes wheeled like stars.
She took pity from my heart,
And made it into smiles.
She was a hunk of sculptor's clay,
My secret thoughts were fingers:
They flew behind her pensive brow
And lined it deep with pain.
They set the lips, and sagged the cheeks,
And drooped the eyes with sorrow.
My soul had entered in the clay,
Fighting like seven devils.
It was not mine, it was not hers;
She held it, but its struggles
Modeled a face she hated,
And a face I feared to see.
I beat the windows, shook the bolts.
I hid me in a corner--
And then she died and haunted me,
And hunted me for life.
poem by Edgar Lee Masters

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Lies
You took my strength by minutes...
you took my life by hours.
The days went by like shadows;
the minutes wheeled like stars.
You gave me life by seconds...
you gave me death by lies.
The rain went by like rivers;
the rivers flowed like tears.
You gave me happiness for a moment...
and pain for the rest of my life.
The clouds sailed by like oceans...
the oceans strolled like skies.
And life went by like sad songs...
the songs went by like cries.
If only you had shot me dead
than stripping me naked with lies!
poem by Jessel Jane Tevar

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Stone
The days have passed, nights are gone,
I'm still in love with a stone,
The seasons changed, the clay too came,
I still hold it with no moan,
The clay comes to me in so many shapes,
Wants me to hold it, whatever it may take,
But clay can hurt me, clay may fake,
Even if it's clay, I have a heart it can break,
The season may change,
The clay may go,
Slowing my heart beat,
All time low,
Stone is hard,
Stone is black,
Stone is emotionless,
Doesn't stab at back,
The clay, the stone, both make me die,
But if a stone does, even the clay may cry...
and I'll never ask why...
It's better to live with a stone,
not clay,
Clay is soft, but it hurts,
which is not the stone's way.....
poem by Apurva Jain

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Deep Down Inside
Deep down inside hidden within
hides the pain of my soul, dark memories from back then
so fresh in my heart they seem never to leave me alone
and just when i think happiness is mine, pain reminds me its not gone
in the windows of my soul, pain sits near
leaking out every now and then in the form of a innocent tear
the pain behind the tear is far greater than the little water that slides down my face
its the origin that holds the pain, reality that fills the space
for my tears never reveal the pain in my cry
and happiness is all thats seen to the naked eye
never letting anyone truly understand the reason behind tears rain
for they always hear the story, not once seeing the pain
as if it could be understood, the reason for hearts cry
for my mind has already concluded reality as being the reason why
in all my pain and struggles ive never been able to stop time
ive only allowed pain to pile giving it permission to forever be mine
but the windows of my pain tell a truth, that even i sometimes cant see
all the pain and struggles that ive swallowed through the years has made a warrior out of me
for i am a ball of strength, only revealing a smile
and wisdom has led me to believe throughout the years its strength and not pain that has continued to pile
sometimes my wisdom and heart just dont agree
my soul has to be reminded that this is my reality
that all this pain was built from way back then
and behind hearts door, and souls window my true pain hides within
poem by Wanda Askew Scott

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Sun
The sun is a woman made of clay.
She stands above the mountain- tops
Against a red velvet sky at dawn.
Her skin tone, earthy-hued, radiates from afar.
Though chipped around the edges, she is still my friend.
Nothing or no one can be flawless;
Her smile is crooked, but sweet,
And her eyes, when wide open, are always filled with awe, wonder and surprise,
A woman molded from clay
Has skin tone- mahogany hued.
Chipped around the edges,
She is rugged, forever fighting through dense fog at dawn.
When days and nights are dreary,
I cast my eyes about the sky
I search for the sun, that awesome woman, made of clay
Her warm earth tones are calming
And the joy that she exudes is always comforting.
It is when the full moon rises that I lose my grounds,
And hear spoken words that others do not hear.
Sometimes- I see horrific sights that others do not see.
While the white of the moon is stark,
The sun’s earth tones are not garish.
I wander outward, daily,
And search for this clay-toned woman
Who is called “The Sun”
She smiles her crooked smile at me,
In thanks that I am her worshipper.
Forever, my friend, the sun will not be as fickle as the moon,
Waxing and waning past midnight
Bringing out in me thoughts that are not truly real.
In the darkness, I run from all.
I live in fear.
I live in fear,
But when the sun looks down upon me with her loving eyes,
And when that same crooked smile appears upon her face-
I am so enticed with her pulchritude-
Those disturbing thoughts are just whisked away
Within the early April morning’s breeze.
poem by Claudia Krizay

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Corner Of The Earth
Little darlin dont you see the sun is shining
Just for you, only today
If you hurry you can get a ray on you, come with me, just to play
Like every humming bird and bumblebee
Every sunflower, cloud and every tree
I feel so much a part of this
Natures got me high and its beautiful
Im with this deep eternal universe
From death until rebirth
This corner of the earth is like me in many ways
I can sit for hours here and watch the emerald feathers play
On the face of it Im blessed
When the sunlight comes for free
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
So inspired of that theres nothing left to do or say
Think Ill dream, til the stars shine
The wind it whispers and the clouds dont seem to care
And I know inside, that its all mine
Its the chorus of the breakin dawn
The mist that comes before the sun is born
To a hazy afternoon in may
Natures got me high and its so beautiful
Im with this deep eternal universe from death until rebirth
You know that this corner of the earth is like me in many ways
I can sit for hours here and watch the emerald feathers play
On the face of it Im blessed
When the sunlight comes for free
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
This corner of the earth, is like me in many ways
I can sit for hours here and watch the emerald feathers play
On the face of it Im blessed
When the sunlight comes for free
I know this corner of the earth it smiles at me
song performed by by Jamiroquai

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

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

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This Love Has Drained My Strength
This love has drained my strength
It has left me among the dead
Lying like a corpse in a grave
With no one to care for me.
This love has drained my strength
My heart is full of pain
There is no hope of saving it
And I am fading like a shadow at dusk.
This love has drained my strength
I am surrounded by accusing people
They swarm me like bees
They blaze against me like a crackling fire.
This love has drained my strength
Tears blur my eyes
My body and soul are withering away
This wound is too deep to heal
This love has drained my strength...
poem by Raquel Rebecca

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She Will Tell Me Mine
i walked a thousand miles
before this journey began...
i carried a hundred crosses,
said prayers you cant imagine.
i died death after death,
behind bars and in windows...
before i burned my shoes,
and took off my clothes.
i've seen beauty i cant express,
felt sorrow so deep i drowned.
been both hungry and desperate,
gave away my heart to perfect strangers....
i've named tears and set stars free,
to follow their own desire...
i've held universes in my hands,
and broke the cup countless times.
i looked the devil face to face,
and recognized myself.
i've been to Gethsemene,
Golgatha, and hell....
i've grown flowers on pavement,
wiped the asses of those that groaned.
i've fought windmills and shadows,
and lit the torch a million times.
i've fathered children and given birth,
i've made love in empty churches.
i've been buried in countless libraries,
and beneath infinite trees.
i've been both semen and holy water,
not as much difference as you think!
i've seen the face of god,
and heard her secret name...
and perhaps if i die just one more time,
she will tell me mine!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Few Minutes in the Dark
A few minutes in the dark.
What kind of dark?
No light shining?
Depression?
A reality check?
A few minutes in the dark can change you.
Change you how?
Change your outlook of life?
Change your personality?
Cause you to sin?
A few minutes in the dark is dangerous.
How is it dangerous?
Swallow you up in fear.
Never feel happiness.
No more friends.
No more family.
No more love.
No more life.
No more light.
A few minutes in the dark is scary.
You see the evil in the world with no light.
You lose your light for a few minutes and soul dies.
You lose a person, a loved one, every single second.
You lose sight of them and they're gone forever.
A few minutes in the dark and you cant see anything.
No more things that coused you joy or filled with love.
A few minutes in the dark.
It takes only 30 seconds for a child to be kidnapped.
Then after that, they fall to the darkness.
Soul burned out, and love gone.
Another life fallen to the darkness.
A few minutes in the dark.
When you left the light, there is no turning back.
A few minutes in the dark, and you lose sight.
Lose sight of the light.
See what happens in the dark?
A few minutes in the dark.
Causes death.
A breakup between lovers and one points a gun to their head.
A few minutes in the dark and you die.
The light will be sealed from you along memories.
Memories of light and love.
The two things the dark can never have.
Light and love.
A few minutes in the dark.
And you cant remember your friends.
Did you even have friends?
A few minutes in the dark can change your way of thinking.
Reminding you of death at every corner.
You wander forever not ever finding the light.
A few minutes in the dark will change you forever.
Happiness always has its sadness.
Sadness always has its happiness.
Where there is life, there is death waiting around the corner.
Where there is death, there is life some where waiting.
Death is darkness.
You cant find your light if you cant handle a few minutes in the dark.
And maybe people are still stuck in the dark and we dont notice.
Reach your hand out and show them the light.
Everyone around us may look happy but they dont see the light.
A few minutes in the dark is a very sad place to be in.
Your blinded and confused.
you dont feel love and people all around us will always be in the dark,
waiting for a friend to pull them out.
There will be better days
poem by Natalie Vail

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The Broken Tryst
That day a fire was in my blood;
I could have sung: joy wrapt me round;
The men I met seemed all so good,
I scarcely knew I trod the ground.
How easy seemed all toil! I laughed
To think that once I hated it.
The sunlight thrilled like wine, I quaffed
Delight, divine and infinite.
The very day was not too long;
I felt so patient; I could wait,
Being certain. So, the hours in song
Chimed out the minutes of my fate.
For she was coming, she, at last,
I knew: I knew that bolts and bars
Could stay her not; my heart throbbed fast,
I was not more certain of the stars.
The twilight came, grew deeper; now
The hour struck, minutes passed, and still
The passionate fervour of her vow
Ran in my heart's ear audible.
I had no doubt at all: I knew
That she would come, and I was then
Most certain, while the minutes flew:
Ah, how I scorned all other men!
Next moment! Ah! it was--was not!
I heard the stillness of the street.
Night came. The stars had not forgot.
The moonlight fell about my feet.
So I rebuked my heart, and said:
"Be still, for she is coming, see,
Next moment--coming. Ah, her tread,
I hear her coming--it is she!"
And then a woman passed. The hour
Rang heavily along the air.
I had no hope, I had no power
To think--for thought was but despair.
A thing had happened. What? My brain
Dared not so much as guess the thing.
And yet the sun would rise again
Next morning! I stood marvelling.
poem by Arthur Symons

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25 Minutes To Go
They're buildin' the gallows outside my cell.
I got 25 minutes to go.
And in 25 minutes I'll be in Hell.
I got 24 minutes to go.
Well, they give me some beans for my last meal.
23 minutes to go.
And you know... nobody asked me how I feel.
I got 22 minutes to go.
So, I wrote to the Gov'nor... the whole damned bunch.
Ahhh... 21 minutes to go.
And I call up the Mayor, and he's out to lunch.
I got 20 more minutes to go.
Well, the Sheriff says, 'Boy, I wanna watch you die'.
19 minutes to go.
I laugh in his face... and I spit in his eye.
I got 18 minutes to go.
Well...I call out to the Warden to hear my plea.
17 minute to go.
He says, 'Call me back in a week or three.
You've got 16 minutes to go.'
Well, my lawyer says he's sorry he missed my case.
Mmmm....15 minutes to go.
Yeah, well if you're so sorry, come up and take my place.
I got 14 minutes to go.
Well, now here comes the padre to save my soul
With 13 minutes to go.
And he's talkin' about burnin', but I'm so damned cold.
I got 12 more minutes to go.
Now they're testin' the trap. It chills my spine.
I got 11 minutes to go.
'Cuz the goddamned thing it works just fine.
I got 10 more minutes to go.
I'm waitin' for the pardon... gonna set me free
With 9 more minutes to go.
But this ain't the movies, so to hell with me.
I got 8 more minutes to go.
And now I'm climbin up the ladder with a scaffold peg
With 7 more minutes to go.
I've betta' watch my step or else I'll break my leg.
I got 6 more minutes to go.
Yeah... with my feet on the trap and my head in the noose...
5 more minutes to go.
Well, c'mon somethin' and cut me loose.
I got 4 more minutes to go.
I can see the mountains. I see the sky.
3 more minutes to go.
And it's too damned pretty for a man to die.
i got 2 more minutes to go
I can hear the buzzards... hear the crows.
1 more minute to go.
And now I'm swingin' and here I gooooooooo....
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein

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Time of My Life
Come back to those days
of tomorrowland
I had the time of my life
When you haunted me through
You took over my soul
I had the time of my life
With you
I got that feeling
Nothing can stop us now
Fighting for my life,
I had the time of my life
Cause I was with you
Wish you had noticed
before the dragons swarmed in
Separating us
forever and ever
The window closed, I'm haunted
By you, by the days of September
When I was haunted by a life
that no one remembers
A life, a dream, a memory
I lay and think at night
A life, a scream, a heart
that no one remembers
He died with me, the window
Closed on everything we had
And I wouldn't share
You have a way of forgetting
everything we had
All those people, happy people
without a care in the world
I had the time of my life
Screaming for your life
Buried in the sand that day,
I can't go back, I had the best time
With you
The window closed, I'm haunted
Sorrow Plays Through Me
An instrument of sorrow
Sorrow doth strum
The strings of my soul
And beat mine heart her drum
Sorrow weeps through me
And in me she seek
Love, enchantment and expression
So mine eyes leek
Thine tears, thou tears, mine tears
To water the joyous earth
With the sorrow of truth
And to new sorrow give birth
Sorrow, sweet, melancholic
Which adorn mine face with rain falls
Of power, of strength, filled with beauty
Surpassing human walls.
Pouring out of me,
For mine eyes to see
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy

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Anticipation
'Coming events cast their shadow before.'
I had a vision in the summer light—
Sorrow was in it, and my inward sight
Ached with sad images. The touch of tears
Gushed down my cheeks:—the figured woes of years
Casting their shadows across sunny hours.
Oh, there was nothing sorrowful in flowers
Wooing the glances of an April sun,
Or apple blossoms opening one by one
Their crimson bosoms—or the twittered words
And warbled sentences of merry birds;—
Or the small glitter and the humming wings
Of golden flies and many colored things—
Oh, these were nothing sad—nor to see Her,
Sitting beneath the comfortable stir
Of early leaves—casting the playful grace
Of moving shadows in so fair a face—
Nor in her brow serene—nor in the love
Of her mild eyes drinking the light above
With a long thirst—nor in her gentle smile—
Nor in her hand that shone blood-red the while
She raised it in the sun. All these were dear
To heart and eye—but an invisible fear
Shook in the trees and chilled upon the air,
And if one spot was laughing brightest—there
My soul most sank and darkened in despair!—
As if the shadows of a curtained room
Haunted me in the sun—as if the bloom
Of early flow'rets had no sweets for me,
Nor apple blossoms any blush to see—
As if the hour had brought too bright a day—
And little birds were all too gay!—too gay!—
As if the beauty of that Lovely One
Were all a fable.—Full before the sun
Stood Death and cast a shadow long before,
Like a dark pall enshrouding her all o'er,
Till eyes, and lips, and smiles, were all no more!
poem by Thomas Hood

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Elizabeth Childers
Dust of my dust,
And dust with my dust,
O, child who died as you entered the world,
Dead with my death!
Not knowing Breath, though you tried so hard,
With a heart that beat when you lived with me,
And stopped when you left me for Life.
It is well, my child. For you never traveled
The long, long way that begins with school days,
When little fingers blur under the tears
That fall on the crooked letters.
And the earliest wound, when a little mate
Leaves you alone for another;
And sickness, and the face of Fear by the bed;
The death of a father or mother;
Or shame for them, or poverty;
The maiden sorrow of school days ended;
And eyeless Nature that makes you drink
From the cup of Love, though you know it’s poisoned;
To whom would your flower-face have been lifted?
Botanist, weakling? Cry of what blood to yours?—
Pure or foul, for it makes no matter,
It’s blood that calls to our blood.
And then your children—oh, what might they be?
And what your sorrow? Child! Child!
Death is better than Life!
poem by Edgar Lee Masters from Spoon River Anthology

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Sad eyes (Angel incarnate)
Sad eyes cry many tears
Many unseen by those around
These eyes are mine
For I'm alone in a world of sorrow
I tried hiding but it found me
I tried running but it captured me
I soon realized you can't escape
Not from pain, sorrow, fear or death
They all catch up with us eventually.
I was put here not to suffer
But to learn
To learn what makes sorrow, pain, fear, and death.
To learn, to understand and find a way to ease people's fears of death and to take away their sorrow
Sad eyes cry many tears
Many unseen by those around
These eyes are mine
For I'm alone in a world of sorrow
I know I look youthful but really I'm ancient
I was here a little after the beginning my soul reincarnate always knowing and seeing what I've seen
Never being deceived herself but seeing the deceitful people around her
My eyes are sad because I'm supposed to be innocent but I'm not
They're sad because I can never just be who I am
Because if I do I'll be feared and harmed even though I myself am essentially harmless
I pity those around me but find no pity towards me in others eyes
I'm the angel incarnate
I lost my wings because my tears washed them away
poem by Jenna Camilla

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Timely Matters
I count my days
By the breaths I take
For in those breaths
Come a hope of better tomorrow
For secounds turn to minutes
Minutes into hours
Hours into to days
They will go on after
I am gone
So with each breath I am blessed
To see all the Lords provided
This miracle called life
Which time is only a play thing
poem by David Kush

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Face To Face
Key:-
A - anita
R - ray
A: face to face and eye to eye
Face to face and eye to eye
Face to face and eye to eye
Face to face and eye to eye
R: leaves from the tree, fall down on the floor
Life comes and goes, you cant ignore
Touch your soul when you finally realize
Youve heard it all before all the lies
Youre on a mission, no time for wishing
It can be magic, like a magician
Face to face and eye to eye
This is your last and final try
A: face to face and eye to eye
We look the world right in the eye
Face to face and eye to eye
Youve one last chance and baby, so will i
R: will we all succeed or is it over soon?
Nobody around just stars and the moon
A race against the clock, is there some time?
Just wait for the light, wait for the sign
You made the same mistakes that you made in the past
Didnt help you out, didnt make you last
Face to face and eye to eye
This was your last and final try
A: face to face and eye to eye
We look the world right in the eye
Face to face and eye to eye
Youve one last chance and baby, so have i
R: face to face and eye to eye
This is you last and final try
A: face to face and eye to eye
We look the world right in the eye
Face to face and eye to eye
Youve one last chance and baby, so will i
A: face to face and eye to eye
We look the world right in the eye
Face to face and eye to eye
Youve one last chance and baby, so have i
song performed by by 2 Unlimited

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In A Space
In a space allocated to me by the human race
Inhabiting this area until I die this space is occupied
Im in a space leased by kind permission of the human race
Close up I am big but far away Im small and hardly here at all
cause in a space out in space
We disappear without a trace
Now Im out in inner space
And lookin at the people. standing face to face
And filling up the space
Men and women boys and girls
There are so many people in the world
Thinkin about the world
And all the people in it
And Im staring at the stars
And into the infinite
In a world within a world
On a planet thats
Driftin in a space
Seconds into minutes and minutes
Into hours and hours into days
And days into months and months into years
And years into decade tens into thousands
Thousands into millions, millions into billions
Billions into zillions and forever and forever
In a space allocated by the human race
Somewhere in outer space its far away and I like it that way
Now Im out in inner space
And lookin at the people, standing face to face
And filling up the space
Men and women boys and girls
There are so many people in the world
Thinkin about the world
And all the people in it
And Im staring at the stars
And into the infinite
In a world within a world
On a planet thats
Driftin in a space
In a space, in a space, in a space
Now Im out in inner space
And lookin at the people standing face to face
And filling up the space
On a planet thats
Driftin in a space
song performed by by Kinks

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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