Asymmetry
Nothing torments
like a traffic jam on a freeway
with all lanes coming jam-packed
to a sudden halt,
big trucks grinding down gears
with swaying wagons as they brake,
the idiot on crack cocaine
that tries to overtake being trapped
by oncoming traffic
and then tries to swerve in
where there is no space
and out of the blue
very important persons arrive
and are being escorted in a convoy
which manages to past
with flashing police lights
while you are stuck.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Traffic Jam
Carbon monoxide
Making me choke
No a.c.
And the radios broke
Cars backed up
Far as you can see
Seems like Ive been waiting here for all eternity
Oh, and just in case youre wondering
Ill tell you where I am
Im right here (right here) right here (right here)
Stuck right here in the middle of this...
Traffic jam
I havent moved one inch from this here spot
Traffic jam
The freeways one big parking lot
Traffic jam
My radiators boiling hot
And Im stuck right here in the middle (right here in the middle)
Right here in the middle of a traffic jam
Trapped inside
My automobile
Cobwebs gowin
On the steerin wheel
Now, Im no genius
But one thing I know
I shouldnt have had that bag of bran muffins
An hour and a half ago
Yeah, and if you need to find me
Ill tell you where I am
Im right here (right here) right here (right here)
Stuck smack dab in the middle of this...
Traffic jam
I havent moved one inch from this here spot
Traffic jam
The freeways one big parking lot
Traffic jam
Well, I thought we were movin but I guess were not
cause Im stuck right here in the middle (right here in the middle)
Right here in the middle of a traffic jam
Stuck in the middle of a traffic jam
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Bumper to bumper to bumper to bumper to
Bumper to bumper to bumper to bumper to
Bumper to bumper to bumper to bumper...
Yay-hey!
Theres a yuppie on a cellular phone
Im gonna puke if I here any more
Theres a motorcycle zoomin by me
Watch what happens when I open my door
Now were all goin nowhere fast
Well, I guess thats perfectly clear
I left home five hours ago
And I can still see my house from here
So if anybodys tryin to find me
Well, Ill tell you where I am
Right here (right here) right here (right here)
Stuck right here in the middle of this...
Traffic jam
I havent moved one inch from this here spot
Traffic jam
The freeways one big parking lot
Traffic jam
Now my back teeth are floatin and my nerves are shot
And Im stuck right here in the middle (right here in the middle)
Stuck right here in the middle of a traffic jam
Traffic jam... traffic jam... traffic jam... woo!
song performed by by Weird Al Yankovic
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Crosstown Traffic
You jump in front of my car
When you know all the time
That 90 miles an hour Girl Is the speed I drive
You tell me it's all right
You don't mind a little pain
You say you just want me to take you for a drive
You're just like CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
So hard to get through you CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
I don't need to run over you CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
All you do is slow me down
But I'm tryin' to get on the other side of town
I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back I can see you've had your fun
But a-darling
Can't you see my signal's turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic jam straight ahead
You're just like CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
So hard to get through you CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
I don't need to run over you CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
All you do is slow me down
But I got better things on the other side of town
Yeah Yeah Crosstown traffic
Look out LOOK OUT Look out Baby
Coming through CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
Yeah Yeah Look out CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
Yeah Yeah LOOK OUT Look out Look out Baby
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC LOOK OUT YEAH
song performed by by Hanson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Grinding Halt
No light
No people
No speak
No people
No cars
No people
No food
No people
Stopped
Short
Grinding halt
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
No sound
No people
No clocks
No people
No fine
No people
No me
No people
Stopped
Short
Grinding halt
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
Slow down
Slow down
No people
Slow down
Everything's coming to a
Everything's coming to a
Everything's coming to a
Everything's coming to a
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On the highway
I who have traded
open spaces, fields
and the azure sky
for crowded pavements
and neon lights
find my place
to meet the Lord
on the dangerous road.
I have found the sapphire sky,
the breath of wind,
the white-hot sun
on lanes packed with cars,
busses and trucks
of every shape and size.
Every thing flashes by
as my motorbike catches speed
and accelerates
and men in cars sit irritated
stuck in rows of traffic
and I bob and weave by
while life throbs everywhere
and death grasp at my heels,
l’Envoi
I feel raw power
throbbing below me
and experience the majesty
of wind, sun, sky
and the countryside
that rush by
and life is great
and in silence
I pray to the Creator
and when it rains
it humbles me
and I slow down
and am cold and wet
and know that I am
just mere man.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Night was coming
Night was coming
with a piercing huge orange sun
breaking through
white and black clouds
in the west.
It found a gap
and the sun was hanging
like a orange ball
above the street
and it was blinding.
Cars passed barely visible
above the orange glare
and some had already
turned their lights on.
The sun dipped down
below some trees
and for a time
it glowed behind them
and soon it would be dark
and the first stars
were already appearing
and a full yellow moon
was rising,
but below bright lights
was already burning
right across the city
in colours of amber
streetlights
green, yellow and red
traffic lights,
blue lights flashing
on police cars
and almost every bright colour
caught on neon signs
while people came and went
to different destinations
some smiling and relaxed,
others in a hurry
and some others
locked in a world of their own.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Church Street, Pretoria
Right down the street the traffic lights are green
and a couple of homeless men stand around a fire
in a half drum and ambulances and police cars scream
while they past rows and rows of flats for hire
and a couple of kids stand smoking at the stream
and this is reality, the heart of the city.
On the sidewalk pedestrians walk in crowds of men,
women and some children, some booted up to the knee
others with mini skirts short enough to condemn them
and my city stays lovely to me.
People queue for fried chicken, fish
and chips at shops and cafés and the smells fill my nose
and tomatoes and onions, lamb and steak are fried with a hiss
and in the traffic an angry speed-cop tries to retain his pose
when a minibus taxi almost runs him over, gives him a fright
at a flickering traffic light
and cars stream by into the coming night.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Crosstown Traffic
You jump in front of my car when you,
You know all the time that
Ninty miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive
You tell me it's alright, you don't mind a little pain
You say you just want me to take you for a ride
You're just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I don't need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I'm tryin' to get on the other side of town
I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back
I can see you had your fun
But darlin' can't you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead
You're just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I don't need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I got better things on the other side of town
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tailback
In a traffic jam and I can see
Daffodils bedeck the ditches,
Benches in a people’s park.
Sideways there is a swamp
Where in the water preening
Stands a swan unperturbed.
A proud heron flies up above:
Once a tall and lordly one
Upheld its native landing rights,
Strutting around the grass
Within a nearby roundabout,
Reclaiming its own wetland.
As my patience in the tailback
Further ticks away from me
A brazen ambulance overtakes
This queue of cars and breaks
With flashing lights of blue
The traffic rules to save a life
By Limerick’s Shannon side
Across The Whistling Bridge.
poem by Matt Mooney
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I have a friend that rides a Vespa
I have a friend that rides a Vespa
and at traffic lights
he quickly flashes past several cars.
Under the saddle of his motorbike
his gun is loaded
and on the back
there’s a notice
greeting people in Aramaic.
Just where he comes
he first unsaddles
drawing out his gun.
One day he was standing
with his weapon
in his hand
and I heard a traffic cop say
to his mate:
“ stop swearing
a messenger of God is near.”
poem by Gert Strydom
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Crosstown Traffic
You jump in front of my car when you,
You know all the time that
Ninty miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive
You tell me its alright, you dont mind a little pain
You say you just want me to take you for a ride
Youre just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I dont need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And Im tryin to get on the other side of town
Im not the only soul whos accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back
I can see you had your fun
But darlin cant you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead
Youre just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I dont need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I got better things on the other side of town
song performed by by Jimi Hendrix
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Attempted suicide
You were like a nuclear reactor
that was overheating
and mere heavy water
would not be enough
to cool down
your plutonium core.
Depression more than fury
had driven you past
all danger signs
and both kids
were already as if radiated,
the one by heroine
and the other past caring.
I had to brake the locked
bedroom open
where I found
rows of empty bottles
on the dressing-table
next to you.
Freed, you were unconscious
and I had to carry you
by myself to the car
while vapours
came out of your mouth
before you’re retched
right over me.
The trip was a nightmare ride,
where I skipped traffic lights
and stopped at casualties
of the state hospital,
followed by the Police.
You were less than a step
from paradise
and I had to force doctors
to immediately treat you.
When you resurfaced
you were crying
and cursed me,
for saving you
and said thanked me
and in a way
you were happy
to still be alive.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Cocaine Blues
Everytime my baby and me go up town
police come and they knock me down
Cocaine all around my brain
Hey baby, better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Yonder comes by baby, she's dressed in red
She's got a shot-gun, says she's gonna kill me dead.
Cocaine all around my brain
Hey baby, better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Early one morning, half past four
cocaine came knockin' on my door.
Cocaine all around my brain
Hey baby, you better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Cocaine's for horses and it's not for men
Doctor said it kill you, but he don't say when.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Hey baby, you better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Day Sounds
Silence in the city appears to be hard to find
The sounds we hear are often raw and unkind
There is noisy traffic that is violent and demanding
And the cries of the engines are loudly expanding
Hot mufflers expose of evaporating dark fumes
Rising up as smog like the towering stones of tombs
Traffic lights are humming to a buzzing steady tune
While street vendors offer goods in the afternoon
The sewers are hissing when releasing warm steam
Surrounded by laughing tourists eating ice cream
The cooing of pigeons is heard wherever you go
People in line are conversing while waiting for a show
Water is pounding against the concrete bank of the river
The brakes of trucks are grinding as they revolt and quiver
Then the whistle from a train echoes in the far distance
And the sirens of ambulances deliver firm persistence
The noise and motions communicate with us in the city
Leaving imprints in our minds of a life that is rather gritty
poem by Kristina Louisa Carr
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Desperate Journalist
Hey mister a review
A word for salad
Is written by my friend
In penman
He uses long words
Like semiotics and semolina
But i counted
With
Enigma and metropolis
The lads go rampant on insignificant symbolism
And compound this with rude soulless obliqueness
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
I use such long words
It's all clever stuff
All this charming childish fiddling about aims for the anti-image
But it naturally creates the perfectly malleable image
Tantalizing enigma
Of the cure
They try to take
Everything
But the cure really
They're just trying to sell us something
Their product is more artificial than most
This is perhaps part of their
Masterplan
But it seems more like their naivity
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
Everything's coming to a grinding halt
Note how really songs what are made of (?)
Murk and marshes
Tawdry images
Inane realisations
Dull dull dull epigrams
Sometimes they sound like an avant-garde john otway
Or an ugly spirit
Toy drumming
Sprightly bass
Limited guitar riff
Check the sheet out of my favorite book
People don't forget the penman
It's just that in 1979 people shouldn't be allowed to get away with things like this
I say.
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bridge
Staring out over the bridge
A million photo flashes from the water down below
Dawn light bouncing through the mist
Roar of traffic and the crack of police radios
When they ask her name
Would she please explain
She simply chooses to say........ nothing
song performed by by Marillion
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cul de sac
At the parking
of the Ok-bazaar / Shoprite in Springs
a one-way street runs out
straight into a traffic light
that cuts a T
into two directions.
This morning the traffic light
is blocked
by a crowd of rioters
that comes from the right side,
from where I want to go.
The police block the road
to the left with a car
and some policemen walk along
with the uprising.
There’s a foreman, instigator
or head man
walking in front
and he hops up and down
and shouts something to me
and he comes straight in my direction
and it looks as if the devil is in him
with a crowd
of revolting barbarians following him.
Nobody is going to drill me
with bags of rubbish
and tree branches
or throw pieces of glass
in front of my tyres
and the light is red
and the rioters are half mad
and my motorbike has a lot of power
and its boss cannot wait.
The policeman says stop
but can hardly
look out for himself
and what about me?
I drive past
going straight for the leader
and give a lot of gas,
my motorbike
can cut fine corners,
although it’s past the back
of a police car.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Solidarity In Lines
unemployment lines
lines of books
Lines of cocaine
Food stamp lines
Theater lines
Grocery store
car wash
school children
Soup kitchen
club
abortion clinic
Delicatessen
traffic lines
crosswalks
Traffic Jam
Lines on a map
Jules gets home and un-loads his rucksack
Gods laziness
Because of the machines and computers we will all end up lonely human beings
poem by Jerome Moore
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Cocaine
If you want to go out
You've got to take her out, cocaine
And if you want to get down
Down on the ground, cocaine
She don't lie
She don't lie
She don't lie, cocaine
Well if you've had bad news
You want to kick your blues, cocaine
And if your day is done
But you just got to run on, cocaine
She don't lie
She don't lie
She don't lie, cocaine
Feeling is gone but you just
Got to ride on, cocaine
But don't forget this fact
You just can't get it back, cocaine
She don't lie
She don't lie
She don't lie, cocaine
She don't lie
She don't lie
She don't lie, cocaine
(cale)
(copyright 1979 skyhill publishing company inc.)
song performed by by Nazareth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Study In Scarlet and Black #32
I know you;
You are the reoccurring dream I have had
since childhood.
The one that leaves me exhausted all day the next day,
because I dream I have been hiding all the bodies
of random people I have murdered.
Then I awake in white knuckle panic and realize...
I haven't killed anyone.
I know you;
The night terrors
that leave vague impressions of dread and horror stuck in my matted hair with the cold sweat I wake up drenched in.
I know you:
You are the sound of car tires screeching
without the satisfying sound of metal and glass
colliding
like lovers
driven to absolute violence
by their own lust.
I know you;
You are that strange black cloud in the distance,
the one that smells like tornado weather....
but you never arrive.
I know you;
You creep between the cracks of necessary self delusion.
'If I write about it, it puts a lens between me and life'
Writing is a way of living in second person narrative...
but you find the cracks and seep through
like a broken sewage main.
You are the sudden,
almost uncontrollable urge I sometimes get
to swerve,
while going VERY fast,
in to on coming traffic
at 3: 45 AM.
I know you;
Unnameable, unknowable,
but as familiar to me as my own scarred and ravaged body,
and my psyche that has teams of shrinks working on it...
in shifts,
around the clock.
Make no mistake;
I KNOW you.
--30---
poem by Brevet Wilson
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Traffic Jam
(chorus)
Damn this traffic jam
How I hate to be late
It hurts my motor to go so slow
Damn this traffic jam
Time I get home my supperll be cold
Damn this traffic jam
Well I left my job about 5 oclock
It took fifteen minutes go three blocks
Just in time to stand in line
With a freeway looking like a parking lot
- chorus -
Now I almost had a heart attack
Looking in my rear view mirror
I saw myself the next car back
Looking in the rear view mirror
bout to have a heart attack
I said
- chorus -
Now when I die I dont want no coffin
I thought about it all too often
Just strap me in behind the wheel
And bury me with my automobile
- chorus -
Damn...
Now I used to think that I was cool
Running around on fossil fuel
Until I saw what I was doing
Was driving down the road to ruin
song performed by by James Taylor
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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