At Joan's
It is almost three
I sit at the marble top
sorting poems, miserable
the little lamp glows feebly
I don't glow at all
I have another cognac
and stare at two little paintings
of Jean-Paul's, so great
I must do so much
or did they just happen
the breeze is cool
barely a sound filters up
through my confused eyes
I am lonely for myself
I can't find a real poem
if it won't happen to me
what shall I do
poem by Frank O'Hara

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I Wanted My Poem To Be A Real Poem
I WANTED MY POEM TO BE A REAL POEM
I wanted my poem to be a real poem-
I have read and studied and memorized
So many real poems-
I wanted my poem to be one of them
Which others would read and feel and memorize
And make their own –
We want and we want and we want
And who are we with all our wanting?
Who am I with all my wanting?
One more dreamer
One more ambitious person
One more lover of poems
One more writer of poems
One more wanter of real poems
Who writes this poem
For others
who dream like me
of writing real poems.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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I Will Not Paint Those Paintings
I used to see paintings in my mind's eyes
I used to dream scenes amazing paintings
I used to dream paintings in sleep sight
paintings in details I had never seen before
paintings which stopped heart in sight shock
I knew canvases were awkward hard to carry
to travel with poems is only paper and pen
paint your paintings inspiring I write poems
I will not soul carry paint those paintings
poem by Terence George Craddock

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In A Breath
Life is only one breath after another,
We are the ones who control our breaths, not oneanother.
A breath is all it takes,
To make a breath.
In a breath you could stop,
In a breath you could drop,
In a breath anything could happen,
In a breath anything could happen.
Life is the journey down a pathway,
Of which stones are breaths that show you the way.
A path to eternity, to forever.
Where you shall stay forever and ever.
In a breath you could die,
In a breath you could fly,
In a breath anything could happen,
In a breath anything could happen.
Tomorrow is yet a turn,
A turn you may not reach, but only a breath can determine,
You don't know when your final turn comes.
You do not know what you will become.
In a breath you could win,
In a breath you could sin.
In a breath anything could happen,
anything could happen.
Life is but a breath,
Air is but a breath,
In life you will find the truth,
And find air is the proof.
In a breath you could find nothing,
In a breath you could find everything,
In a breath anything could happen,
In a breath anything could happen.
You travel down a river,
Where bubbles are breaths and you are the giver.
The giver of ripples, of currents,
Of which for endurence.
In a breath you could loose,
In a breath you could choose.
In a breath anything could happen
In a breath anything could happen.
Follow the river of dreams to the sea.
This is eternity you will see.
Breath avery breath,
As if it were your last breath.
In a breath you could sail.
In a breath you could fail.
In a breath anything could happen,
anything could happen.
poem by Bethany Maxwell

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It Can Happen
Now that it has been approved...
You have been declared the keeper,
With power to independently think.
You have shown you can.
And allowed to express an opinion...
Without feeling you should shrink.
Into a corner and sink!
Your own mind will you now command!
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it!
You 'assume' you and I,
Have something in common now?
Perhaps from your limited point of view...
That 'common-ness' you believe is true.
And shared between me and you.
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it!
Remember you had asked,
Why there is a breeze when you hear me speak?
And why I seemed to be near,
Whenever you dared to peek?
You are still blossoming...
And yet to fly,
Like I have flown!
Many times have I watched you from afar...
To explore adventures I have known.
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it!
You will develop your wings as well.
Your consciousness will expand...
To broaden thoughts and excell.
And 'your' breeze will release,
Into winds to expel debris!
You will learn to clear your path of obstacles.
Like I had to learn!
This you will see.
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it!
I had doubts and hid in years now past.
You have just to keep faith...
Those fears you embrace will pass.
You are not destined for them to last!
With each flight you attempt and challenge...
Stretch your wings and struggle to soar.
Witness your blessings being revealed...
And your insight will enlighten,
With a strength exciting and inviting,
You with such appeal!
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it!
Even if you should stumble to a fall...
You now have the power,
To stand and walk tall!
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it!
And then you will wish to fly above this!
It can happen! If you want it!
It can happen! And it will!
If you let it...
You will soar,
To heights that will thrill!
If you let it...
It will happen!
If you want it,
You will!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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I Went Out This Morning/ To Find A Poem
I WENT OUT THIS MORNING/TO FIND A POEM
I went out this morning
To find a poem-
But the heat was too great
The sun too strong
I had to find the shade instead
And finding it
I sat down on a green metal bench
And waited for
The line which
Might mean a poem
Has been written.
Instead a cool breeze
And a sense of rest and happiness
Came to me.
Life as it is now is a poem for me-
I don't know how long it will last
But here now
How happy I am
As this small poem is being written now.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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It Can Happen
You can fool yourself
You can cheat until youre blind
You can cut your heart
It can happen
You can mend the wires
You can feed the soul apart
You reach
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
Its a constant fight
A constant fight
Youre pushing the needle to the red
Black and white
Who knows whos right
No substitute youre born youre dead
Fly by night
Created out of fantasy
Our destinations call
Look up - look down
Look out - look around
Look up - look down
Theres a crazy world outside
Were not about to lose our pride
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
This world I like
We architects of life
A song a sigh
Developing words that linger
Through fields of green through open eyes
This for us to see
Look up - look down
Look out - look around
So look up - look down
Theres a crazy world outside
Were not about to lose our pride
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
As you happen to see
It will happen to be
Nothing happens to nowhere and nowhere
Solo
Look up - look down
Theres a crazy world outside
Were not about to lose our pride
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to see
It will happen to be
Nothing happens to nowhere and nowhere
You can fool yourself
You can cheat until youre blind
You can cut your heart
You can fool yourself
It can happen to you
You can cheat until youre blind
It can happen to me
You can cut your heart
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
You can mend the wires
You can feed the soul apart
You can touch your life
You can bring your soul alive
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
song performed by by Yes

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It Can Happen
You can fool yourself
You can cheat until youre blind
You can cut your heart
It can happen
You can mend the wires
You can feed the soul apart
You reach
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
Its a constant fight
A constant fight
Youre pushing the needle to the red
Black and white
Who knows whos right
No substitute youre born youre dead
Fly by night
Created out of fantasy
Our destinations call
Look up - look down
Look out - look around
Look up - look down
Theres a crazy world outside
Were not about to lose our pride
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
This world I like
We architects of life
A song a sigh
Developing words that linger
Through fields of green through open eyes
This for us to see
Look up - look down
Look out - look around
So look up - look down
Theres a crazy world outside
Were not about to lose our pride
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
As you happen to see
It will happen to be
Nothing happens to nowhere and nowhere
Solo
Look up - look down
Theres a crazy world outside
Were not about to lose our pride
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to see
It will happen to be
Nothing happens to nowhere and nowhere
You can fool yourself
You can cheat until youre blind
You can cut your heart
You can fool yourself
It can happen to you
You can cheat until youre blind
It can happen to me
You can cut your heart
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
You can mend the wires
You can feed the soul apart
You can touch your life
You can bring your soul alive
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually
As you happen to say
It can happen today
As it happens
It happens in every way
song performed by by Yes

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cant Happen Here
Contaminated fish and micro chips
Huge supertankers on arabian trips
Oily propaganda from the leaders lips
All about the future
Theres people over here, people over there
Everybodys looking for a little more air
Crossing all the borders just to take their share
Planning for the future
And were so abused, and were so confused
Its easy to believe that someones gonna light the fuse
Cant happen here, cant happen here
All that you fear theyre telling you, cant happen here
Supersonic planes for a holiday boom
Rio de janeiro in an afternoon
People out of work but theres people on the moon
Looking for the future
Concrete racktracks nationwide
Juggernauts carving up the countryside
Cars by the million on a one way ride
Using up the future
And were so abused, and were so confused
Its easy to believe that someones gonna light the fuse
Cant happen here, cant happen here
All that you fear theyre telling you, cant happen here
Satellites spying for the cia
The kgb and the men in grey
Wonder if Im gonna see another day
Somewhere in the future
We got everything we need for a peaceful time
Take what you want but you cant take mine
Everybodys living on the siegfried line
Worried bout the future
And were so abused, and were so confused
Its so easy to believe that someones gonna light it
Easy to believe someones gonna light the fuse
Cant happen here, cant happen here
All that you fear theyre telling you, cant happen here can it?
song performed by by Rainbow

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Zero As A Limit
Take the lovebird
Kiss the stranger
Leave the trailer
Take the car
Feel the sound rushing over you
Qed
See my finger
The way it points you
Follow blindly
Into the road
Feel the sound rushing over you
Qed
See the stranger
Getting nearer
Iron teardrop
Collision course
Feel the sound rushing over you
Qed
See the blood now
Overflowing
No more compression
Compression done
Feel the sound rushing over you
Qed
I saw it happen
You saw it happen
We saw it happen
It can't be true
The stranger crashing into you
I saw it happen
You saw it happen
We saw it happen
It can't be true
(repeat four times) the stranger crashing into you
(repeat ten times) into you
song performed by by Human League

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Poem As Conversations
a poem for ramona
and a poem for jean and a poem for candice
and a poem too for yuri
and a poem too for emma and another poem for hannah
and another poem for allan
and the rest of the clan
they are but
conversations sticking to my mind
and through these poems
i replay them
and you think these are not poems at all
precisely, these are conversations of the living
the living word
the word that still cohabits with us
we let them out from our mouths
but you do not wish to recover them
did you mean them all to be said
with the terms and conditions of truth?
i am recording them
and i am replaying them through these lines
i look where truth
lies
i find some and keep them
and these are these
on these lines
a poem for you a poem for the world that we all make
what we say is what we get
poem by Ric S. Bastasa

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Prime Mover
Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson
Basic elemental
Instinct to survive
Stirs the higher passions
Thrill to be alive
Alternating currents
In a tidewater surge
Rational resistance
To an unwise urge
Anything can happen
From the point of conception
To the moment of truth
At the point of surrender
To the burden of proof
From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of the journey
Is not to arrive
Anything can happen
Basic temperamental
Filters on our eyes
Alter our perceptions
Lenses polarize
Alternating currents
Force a show of hands
Rational responses
Force a change of plans
Anything can happen
From a point on the compass
To magnetic north
The point of the needle
Moving back and forth
From the point of entry --
Until the candle is burned
The point of departure
Is not to return
Anything can happen
I set the wheels in motion
Turn up all the machines
Activate the programs
And run behind the scene
I set the clouds in motion
Turn up light and sound
Activate the window
And watch the world go round --
Anything can happen
song performed by by Rush

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Blank Stare
Daydreaming can happen
just about anywhere.
You sit down for a few moments,
and suddenly your mind just drifts away.
You start dreaming of things
that happened in your yesterdays.
One minute you are in real time,
next you’re gone to imaginary.
No one can tell when these dreams
are going to happen.
If anyone sees you,
for their money they get
just a blank stare.
22 February 2008
poem by David Harris

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I Am Tired Of The Word 'Poem
I AM TIRED OF THE WORD ‘POEM’
I am tired of the word ‘poem’
‘Poem’ ‘poem’ ‘poem’ ‘poem and ‘poem’ again
Weren’t there stars before there were poems?
And won’t there be light somewhere else
when no one has words to say?
And in all the great Silence before and ever after
won’t there be the being of something real however unsaid and unknown?
And won’t ‘Poem’ and ‘poems’ too like all of us
Cease one day to be and never again know that they are?
All the immortals are mortal and their poems too
Silence before and Silence after
And no words forevermore.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Why Should I Have A Poem?
WHY SHOULD I HAVE A POEM?
Why should I have a poem?
Who am I to have a poem?
Who is anyone to have a poem?
But then again
Aren’t we all poems?
Many poems
And each one of us many voices
And who knows how deep feelings
We ourselves cannot understand
And lingerings of beauty
We can ourselves barely decipher?
Who knows what a poem is
And what life means
And why we write and read
And what words move us
In the middle of the night
Or at the end of the day
When even our dreams are asleep?
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Are You & Me Gonna Happen
Are you and me gonna happen
Are you and me gonna happen soon
The gods smiled hard down upon
The love thats shared
Heavens awaiting those who dare
Are you and me gonna happen
Are you and me gonna happen soon
A sweeter feeling I cant guess will ever be
A truer union I cant see
I dont know how much more I can take
I will run through th streets
Ill howl at the moon
If you and me can not be happening soon
Are you and me gonna happen soon
Are you and me gonna happen soon
song performed by by Eels

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Confused
I am confused with love and fear.
I am confused with the taste of my tear.
I am confused of where I'll go.
I am confused of what I'll know.
I am confused of whos my family.
I am confused of what makes me happy.
I am confused by what I do.
I am confused of what's true.
I am confused by your touch.
I am confused oh so much.
poem by Jean Pullman

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Not Every Poem Knows How To Say Its Own Name Properly
NOT EVERY POEM KNOWS HOW TO SAY ITS OWN NAME PROPERLY
Not every poem knows how to say its own name properly-
There are poems that have no name
And poems that are named by others who have not written them-
There are poems whose names make them what they are
And poems whose names contradict and belie them-
Many poems have their first lines as their names
And these poems often are as memorable as one line only-
Great poems and good poems can be nameless
Or can have unforgettable names.
Not every poem knows how to say its own name properly -
Poems are poems are poems
And names are names are names
And sometimes they meet and are one
And live happily ever after-
But there are times when perhaps
They never should have met each other at all.
Poems have their names
And names have their poems
But sometimes they love each other
And truly are one.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?
I was watching my TV one night when they broke in with a special report
About some devastating earthquake in Peru
There were thirty thousand crushed to death, even more were buried alive
On the Richter scale it measured 8.2
And I said, "God, please answer me one question...
Why'd they have to interrupt The Simpsons just for this?"
What a drag, 'cause I was taping it and everything
And now I'll have to wait for the rerun to see the part of the show I missed
Why does this always happen...
Why does this always happen to me?
Why does this always happen...
Why does this always happen to me?
I was driving down the highway when all the traffic slowed to a crawl
There was a 12-car pile-up, everybody dead
And I saw brains and guts and vital organs splattered everywhere
As well as my friend Robert's disembodied head
And I thought - Poor Rob, I just had lunch with him
Hey, wait a minute, he still owes me money . what a jerk
Well, there's five bucks that I'm never gonna see again
Plus now, on top of everything else, it looks like I'm gonna be late to work
Oh, why does this always happen...
Why does this always happen to me?
Why does this always happen...
Why does this always happen to me?
Oh, the other day my boss said we were running low on toner
And he told me I should buy another case
Well, I told him I was busy, but he still just kept on asking
So I turned around and stabbed him in the face
Oh, and wouldn't you know it?
My knife got stuck
I guess that's probably bound to happen now and then
But I'm afraid I may have bent the tip a little
And I know the blade will never ever be quite as sharp again
Oh tell me, why does this always happen...
Why does this always happen to me?
Why does this always happen...
Why does this always happen to me?
Why does this always happen to me?
Why does this always happen to me?
song performed by by Weird Al Yankovic

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Poem I Wrote In My Mind This Morning Walking Home
The poem I wrote in my mind this morning walking home
Is gone-
I will try to recall it -
It was not finished,
A few lines around an idea-
What was the idea?
I don't remember-
Slowly slowly in old age
The mind works less well
First it is trouble with names
Other peoples names-
And then what?
I recently cared for a man
Who often did not know his own name
And could not speak one sentence clearly-
The poem I lost this morning was not about ‘remembrance'
And its loss -
But on the way home I was happy when I suddenly remembered a name
I was looking for-
‘Perhaps it will not happen to me' I said
Or perhaps it will happen so far from now
I do not need to think about it'
One day all the poems will not be remembered
And these lines too will go to oblivion-
My poem this morning was not even writ in water-
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Golden Rain
There is no Golden rain in real life
But in our dreams you and I see it clear
It falls from the sky
It paints our face golden like the sun
It doesn’t matter in the dream
Because it is only in the dream that can happen
The trees and the flowers and the grass are golden also
Nothing like that would had happen in real life
Because in real life the rain is silver
And our face doesn’t change color with the rain
It only happens in our dream
Weird things happen when we are dreaming
The are no birds to see
What a strange land this is
No house
No cars
No bus
No other people
But you and me
That Golden rain keeps falling non stop
And keep raining down that creek
That Golden rain doesn’t look nice at all
Not even in our dreams
What about the weather
It is cold and miserable
It makes us even more tired
And we want to sleep more
It is happening now in our dreams
And that Golden rain in our dream is not going to hurt us
There is no acid in that Golden rain
And that land in our dream is not polluted like the land in real life
poem by Aldo Kraas

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