Related quotes: that old man... wakes up...

That Old Man...

that old man...
wakes up every morning,
greets death with a scowl.
shuffles barefoot to the bathroom,
pees in defiance of the day.

writes a letter to the President,
or one to the editor.
drinks a pot of black coffee,
puts on his hat and his coat.

tipping his hat to god,
takes his dog for a walk.
speaks little, never asks,
for nothing from no one.

sweeps the floor, washes his dishes,
then sits in his chair.
sometimes eats, often not,
and tries not to remember.

watching the hands on the clock,
and a sparrow out the window.
waits for night to come again,
he waits for the knock!

poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes

And Death Washes Only Bones

And death washes only bones;
The mouth of death speaks oft of every tounge
Never his patience once lost is found in all your nature;
Death washes a bone and the astrologer hands two back,
So the moon when lined up, shines down on Venus asleep.
Time smiles on the heart beating and long of face therein,
death puts it back on the middle shelf prearanged.

And death washes only bones;
Deep valleys are filled with man's rich oil,
And covered over memories by death too often dredged.
Lined up end to end exposed again to harvest the tears of wait;
And death washes only bones and man who drinks so bold,
There being no truth and lies sown shut death eyes all bottoms.

d.t.

poem by Is It Poetry
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Her Hands Are Stronger Now

she greets you by the door. She knows you are coming.
Her heart pounds for you.
She shows the room. It looks for you for many years.
Now she brags the room is alive.
she opens the window and lets the air
and the trees know that you are here finally.
they all talk about you know.
they nod, you are no longer a dog.
Or a parakeet.
The chair opens its arms for you.
You take your seat.She asks you if you miss coffee.
Black coffee, without sugar.
You look around. There is nothing changed here.
20 years ago, all the structures are faithful
to their positions.
They miss you and like to embrace you.
She is restrained like a dam.
No tears this time.
Not even some tears of joy.
She knows why you are here.
The room, the tree and the window,
the floors are blind.

She knows that this will be the last time
of your compromise.
She is dead 20 years back
when you told her
about the truth.

How can she feel like the room, the floor,
the tree and the window
How can she be as foolish as air and cloud?

Her hands are strong now.
They write her name, her signature to sorrow.
Her heart notes the final statement.

Life is over.
Game is over.

poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Apart

He waits for her to understand
But she won't understand at all
She waits all night for him to call
But he won't call anymore
He waits to hear her say
Forgive
But she just drops her pearl-black eyes
And prays to hear him say
I love you
But he tells no more lies
He waits for her to sympathize
But she won't sympathize at all
She waits all night to feel his kiss
But always wakes alone
He waits to hear her say
Forget
But she just hangs her head in pain
And prays to hear him say
No more
I'll never leave again
How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together
How did we get this far apart?
I thought this love would last forever
He waits for her to understand
But she won't understand at all
She waits all night for him to call
But we won't call
He waits to hear her say
Forgive
But she just drops her pearl-black eyes
And prays to hear him say
I love you
But he tells no more lies
How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together
How did we get this far apart?
I thought this love would last forever

song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ballad Of Cleo & Joe

Every morning the clock kicks off the beat.
Little Joe struggles just to get up on his feet.
Waits in his platforms for the right train to come.
Sipping his coffee another day has begun

Little Joe got work for minimum wage
Tries to get through another dead beat day
At five a clock he comes home to change
takes him many hours just to rearrange

And he works his body just to be somebody
There's a woman in the mirror looking like a dream
And he works his body and he feels somebody
and the working boy becomes a dancing queen

And he works his body just to be somebody.
There's a woman in the mirror looking like a dream.
And he works his body just to feel somebody
and the working boy becomes a dancing queen.

Every night the DJ kicks off the beat.
Little Cleo's jumping just to get up on her feet.
Waits in her platforms for the right song to come.
Sipping her cocktail another night has begun.

And he works his body just to be somebody.
There's a woman in the mirror looking like a dream.
And he works his body and he feels somebody
and the working boy became a dancing queen.

Every morning the clock kicks off the beat
Little Joe struggles just to get up on his feet.
Waits in his platforms for the right train to come...

song performed by by Cyndi Lauper from Sisters Of Avalon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Someone Waits For You

Oh, my heart knows more with each passing day,
And I know I'll change if you leave or stay.
But when our world turns where it's turning to,
You'll see some hearts fade, while mine shine's on through,
I will still be there some day for you.
You see, somewhere, someone waits for you,
Who hopes you will come through,
Who'll wait until you do.
You'll see a line at some familiar door,
And when you reach the shore,
Life won't hurt any more.
Remember, night may trouble you, with endless dreams,
But blue skies wait for you beyond the sunrise.
I'm here, so walk into your fate,
It never is too late.
There's someone smiling through,
Who'll do all they can do, for you.
Remember, somewhere, someone waits for you.
-Instrumental-
There's someone smiling through,
Who'll do all they can do, for you.
Remember, somewhere, someone waits for you.

song performed by by Carly Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Matte Kudasai

Still, by the window pane...
Pain, like the rain that's falling...
She waits in the air Matte Kudasai
She sleeps in a chair in her sad America
When, when was the night so long?
Long, like the notes I'm sending...
She waits in the air Matte Kudasai
She sleeps in a chair in her sad America
She waits in the air Matte Kudasai...
She sleeps in a chair in her sad America

song performed by by King Crimson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Love and I

My love and I live by the sea
Where the sea breeze flows in your face
Where the the fish dance
In there mind with thee
And the crabs go flamenco with there clicks
I know somtimes my love waits for me
I know that she waits for me by the sea

My love somtimes goes cold on me
but i warm her up with a bit of sauce
I know my love waits for me
I know that she waits for me by the sea

My love and I often sit
Comfortably in are seats
In the front room
watching TV
Documentries gulore
And game shows in
I know that my love waits for me
I know that she waits for me by the sea

My love who waits for me by the sea
She is Fish and Chips
YOU SEE! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

poem by Joe Sissens
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Cremation - Ashes To Ashes

Well the coal-black sea waits for me-me-me
The coal-black sea waits forever
The waves hit the shore, crying more-more-more
But the coal-black sea waits forever
The tornados come up the coast they run
Hurricanes rip the sky forever
Through the weathers change, the sea remains the same
The coal-black sea waits forever
There are ashes split through collective guilt
People rest at sea forever
Since they burnt you up, collect you in a cup
For you the coal-black sea has no terror
Will your ashes float like some foreign boat
Or will they sink absorbed forever
Will the atlantic coast, have its final boast
Nothing else contained you ever
Now the coal-black sea waits for me-me-me
The coal-black sea waits forever
When I leave this joint at some further point
The same coal-black sea will it be waiting

song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cremation

Well the coal black sea waits for me me me
The coal black sea waits forever
The waves hit the shore
Crying more more more
But the coal black sea waits forever
The tornados come up the coast they run
Hurricanes rip the sky forever
Through the weathers change
the sea remains the same
The coal black sea waits forever
There are ashes split through collective guilt
People rest at sea forever
Since they burnt you up
Collect you in a cup
For you the coal black sea has no terror
Will your ashes float like some foreign boat
or will they sink absorbed forever
Will the Atlantic Coast
have its final boast
Nothing else contained you ever
Now the coal black sea waits for me me me
The coal black sea waits forever
When I leave this joint
at some further point
The same coal black sea will it be waiting

song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My cat

Written for a friend who has a cat called Midnight Ninja

My cat jumped out of a window
Three storey building tall, out of curiosity
If he had spoken to me about the city
I would have taken him there by car
Don't know how my cat survived
Guess that is why he had nine lives

My cat is dark black and slim
Midnight Ninja I call him
We work together well as a team
I have taught him a few tricks
Sometimes he does not know
Which of the tricks to pick

He can stand on two legs
And he knows how to beg
For food when I am in a good mood

But he never knows when to stop
Tries to drink out of my tea cups
And whenever I get cross
And meow to him that I am boss
He just jumps up, right to the very top

I took my cat to a pretty vet
Whom we had just met
And all he did was get wet
Around her legs and hands
I had to pay her to understand

Sometimes he marks his territory with shit
I think he does that when on the heat
Or maybe because he eats and eats

Every morning
He waits silently on the floor
Waiting for me to open my door
Same old trick, he can be such a bore
I always give him a morning pat
Even though he is lazy and fat
Yes Midnight Ninja is my cat
Without the rat and the mat

poem by Sylvia Chidi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Little Dancer Girl

She wakes in the morning, opens her eyes to the world
Just another dreamer, just another little girl.
School waits for her but she doesn’t really care for it
They give her homework but she just can’t finish it
But when the night comes and she hits the floor
No one’s going to tell her what to do anymore

She comes home in the evening, ready for the night
Looking out of her window at the burning street light
She’s got one last chance to make the grade
To hit the stage with plans she’s so carefully laid
And when the night time comes and she hits the floor
She isn’t going to worry about work anymore

Let the music play all night as around the room you twirl
Hold that dream in your heart forever, little dancer girl.

poem by Anthony Lund
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A View From Here (Part 2)

two days after
the sparrow has a nest
upon a twig
covered by leaves

the other sparrow
waits by the sill of my
window
looking over
a windless view

poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Knock On Any Door

Knock on any door
Look through any window
Baby knock on any door
Knock on any door
Is there any place you want to go
Baby who you lookin for
Yeah, yeah, baby now you know
Its a cold world like they told you so
Knock on any door
Save your tears for some occasion
Keep your heartache to yourself
Knock on any door
Its a simple operation
Just trade your memory for your health
Knock on any door
Look through any window
Walk on
Knock on any door
Look through any window
Walk on
Its insane girl, you cant run away
Its the same world it was yesterday
Knock on any door
Look through any window
Walk on
Knock on any door
Look through any window
Walk on
Now, now, now how do you survive
With a pain so real, in a world so jive
Knock on any door
Look through any window
Peek through any shade
Knock on any door
Look through any window
Walk on

song performed by by Jackson Browne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Two Cats Warm

A cat, tabby and tomcat charming
Reclines watchfully on the left
On a desk that once was my daughters but nows
Hides my books and holds
My fan, and frames the window
Black cat crowds me back in my chair
Curving C that never minds
The taby after a spit and spat
In the middle is Artificial Means
By Christine Lavin tapped out
On Second Monitor waits
And the taby washes himself
As I begin my Sensitive New Age Guys
As one taby foot rests on the arm of my chair
Yellow eyes
Pink tongue
Content, now that Black Cat left
And jumps back, shifting back to the top of my
Novel to be
Printer

Forgiveness.

poem by Charlotte Ballard
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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An Old Man Waits For a Poem To Come

AN OLD MAN WAITS FOR A POEM TO COME

An old man waits for a poem to come
How many poems will come
Before he’s done?

An old man writes and writes and writes
He will write
To the end of his life.

poem by Shalom Freedman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Waiting's Worse.

Waiting's worse. She knows it.
That old feeling known since
childhood. Then it was the parent,
the heavy hand, the punishment.

This is like it, but not like it. She
waits for him to come home. His
footfalls in the hall, his voice along
the passage. To gauge the tone,

the loud or softness. She sits, waits.
Be prepared, the mother said,
years back. The clock in the hall
sounds loud with its tick tock. Puts

hands between the thighs, anxiety
bites. For better for worse, the
vows said. Bruises like medals,
black eyes as reminders, a colour

ranging from black and blue to green
to brown or whatever it is. She cocks
an ear. Him? Maybe. The last time
it was she'd been seen with some

feller. She'd not of course. But it suited
as an excuse. She'd lost the baby by
the fall down stairs. What was that
all about? Was that the time she had

been late with his dinner? Or was that
some other? Baby'd be walking now.
Missed the first steps, the first word,
the live birth. Is that him? She bites a

finger nail. Feelings seem to run along
the nerves. What to say? What words?
The door opens along the hall, his voice
echoes mildly, we shall wait, we shall see.

poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Krishna's Meal

Kanha eats in Yasoda's lap.
some he eats, some he drops,
as the ladies of Nandgaon watch,
some he eats and some he puts
in Nanda's mouth,
this joy is beyound recount.
some he eats, some gives to gopas,
butter in his hands, curd in doniyas.
The joy of Yasoda
the three worlds cannot account.
the meal is over, Kanha washes,
for Sur the left-overs count.

poem by Sant Surdas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Family Drama

A couple, in their fifties, is coming out of the supermarket,
he sits in wheelchair she pushes him along. He is grumpy,
swears at her for a reason I don’t know, perhaps he thought
she had spent too much money on groceries. She loses her
temper; parks him on the pavement, puts the shopping in
the car and drives off. He just sits there smoking a cigarette
and waits. Five minutes later she returns, helps him into
the car, folds up the wheel chair puts it in the boot and
drives off. On his lips a smile quivers, is it of triumph or love?

DIRE

Le mariage est plein
De grandes espérances
Irréalisées.

poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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No-Name The Cat

The cat and I stare at the room
No-name the cat, the cat and I,
She stares at me, I at the gloom
The house lies still as a vaulted tomb.

She sits and waits, No-name the cat,
Sits and waits for a sign from me
But I in the corner chair am sat
And make no sign for No-name the cat.

We’re all alone, alone are we
No-name the cat, the cat and I
Only the two, No-name and me
Yet once in the past we numbered three.

Now on the floor, between us two
No-name the cat, and me, lies you.
Your eyes are staring, your cheek is slack,
Your tongue’s thrust out and your face is blue.

The cat and I stare at the room
No-name the cat, the cat and I,
She stares at me, I at the gloom
The house lies still as a vaulted tomb.

30 June 1999

poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Ashes, Dirt, and Wicker

dead bird lying
in a wicker cage.
hands on the old clock...
...... stopped!

train tracks that tremor,
and nothing comes.
you cant build a fire
in ashes....

look back. the fields
behind you are brown,
and barren...
the memory of rows
gone back to dirt...

just dirt!

the stranger at the door
never speaks, never asks,
never waits for you
to gather yourself...

words lose their form
and fall like raindrops
that disappear into thirst...

thirst, that creates anew,
and never remembers falling!

ashes to ashes... remember,
you cant build a fire
in ashes...

dead bird lying
in a wicker cage...
hands on the old clock...
....... stopped!