The shattered town
While on military patrol
I saw a broken town, bombed, rocketed,
shot to ruins,
with the few white walls
that was still standing
full of pock marks
where bullets slammed
the remains of where houses once were
lurching, shattered with a few
rusting corrugated plates
and the place was totally deserted
as if ghost are living there
with stark trees standing stripped stark naked,
when suddenly some people appeared
from shelters further to the back
with big white smiles in their black faces.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Lake Marie
Chorus:
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Many years ago along the illinois-wisconsin border
There was this indian tribe
They found two babies in the woods
White babies
One of them was named elizabeth
She was the fairer of the two
While the smaller and more fragile one was named marie
Having never seen white girls before
And living on the two lakes known as the twin lakes
They named the larger and more beautiful lake, lake elizabeth
And thus the smaller lake that was hidden from the highway
Became known forever as lake marie
Repeat chorus:
Many years later I found myself talking to this girl
Who was standing there with her back turned to lake marie
The wind was blowing especially through her hair
There was four italian sausages cooking on the outdoor grill
And man, they was ssssssssizzlin
Many years later we found ourselves in canada
Trying to save our marriage and perhaps catch a few fish
Whatever seemed easier
That night she fell asleep in my arms
Humming the tune to louie louie
Aah baby, we gotta go now.
Repeat chorus:
The dogs were barking as the cars were parking
The loan sharks were sharking the narcs were narcing
Practically everyone was there
In the parking lot by the forest preserve
The police had found two bodies
Nay, naked bodies
Their faces had been horribly disfigured by some sharp object
Saw it on the news on the tv news in a black and white video
You know what blood looks like in a black and white video?
Shadows, shadows thats exactly what it looks like
All the love we shared between her and me was slammed
Slammed up against the banks of old lake marie, marie
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Standing by peaceful waters
Peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Peaceful waters
Aah baby, we gotta go now
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stark
All matter and existence
build from the concept of quark
Stark
Everything you need for life
Fits on one Arc
Stark
A misty graveyard with just
the song of the Lark
Stark
The raving madness that takes hold
and makes you bark
Stark
The cutting bluntness
of a succinct remark
Stark
Barren, the searing desert.
I fight the urge to disembark
Stark
A broken mind, in the shade
of depression, so dark
Stark
A winters morn alone
on a bench in an empty park
Stark
poem by Stevie Taite
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Stark (5,3,1 structure for Gulsher: -)
All matter that existence here
constructed of quark?
Stark
Everything you need for life
Fits one arc?
Stark
A misty graveyard with only
Song of Lark
Stark
Raving madness that takes hold
Makes you bark
Stark
Cutting bluntness of succinct remark
Stalks like shark
Stark
Barron, the searing hot desert
Must not disembark
Stark
Broken mind, shades
under depression
So very dark
Stark
Winters morn sitting on bench
In empty park
Stark
poem by Stevie Taite
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That Afternoon
i was there again
standing by the side of the old
glass windows
hazy because of the dust
it is hazy, hazy
the sea is linen white
the coconut trees as tall as they are very old
planted perhaps before the war
before the Japanese came
and ravished the spirits of our innocent people
i was there again
standing on a moment
always seeing
that rusty van parked
without its front wheel
nobody from there is asking
what is happening
it is hazy, as hazy as dusts
on that old glass window
then a black bird flies through
it breaking the thin old glass
into shattered pieces
the afternoon ended
on that sudden noise
i am telling you
i am not shocked because
i am not new to this
how can i be? i am as old and as
tall as that coconut tree
i am from this place
and i know each grain of sand
on the shore
of that white linen sea.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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The Ghost Train
A straw headed woman, and a barrel chested man,
A pocket full of posies with a hat brim full of sand,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
A dog chasing the tumbleweeds, across the sandy floor,
That drift along the platform, through the ticket office door,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
But don't tell me there's nothing coming, you don't fool me,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And i hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
The station master's writing with a piece of orange chalk,
A hundred cancellations, still no one wants to walk,
Keep the hungry children from the skeletons in the back,
Paid to keep an eye out for the gipsy caravan,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And i hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
And i hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide...
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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(Waiting For) The Ghost Train
A straw headed woman, and a barrel chested man,
A pocket full of posies with a hat brim full of sand,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
A dog chasing the tumbleweeds, across the sandy floor,
That drift along the platform, through the ticket office door,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
But don't tell me there's nothing coming, you don't fool me,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And I hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
The station master's writing with a piece of orange chalk,
A hundred cancellations, still no one wants to walk,
Keep the hungry children from the skeletons in the back,
Paid to keep an eye out for the gipsy caravan,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And I hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
And I hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black and White (Stream XV)
I have black thoughts,
It is a black day,
A day when the black dog
Coal black, hovers at my shoulder.
I shoulder the burden.
Deep in the black hole.
Black as a black hearted night.
Negative.
Stark.
Black and white.
I do not call my good days white days.
Why?
Or have white thoughts
On a white day,
When the white dog
Pure white sits upon my shoulder.
Which is unburdened.
Out of the pit,
Luxuriating in the bright white light;
White as the purest snow.
Positive.
For we live in a too white world
Maybe we should have grey days,
And light days.
Why should Black be negative and White poitive?
For me then, today is a grey day.
Maybe tomorrow will be a light day.
Copyright P H Brookes 2012
poem by Paul Brookes
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Bombarded!
Our town
Full of laughter
Full of joy
Full of happiness
Full of life, it was.
In a flash of seconds,
Our town
Full of cries
Full of misery
Full of sympathy
And as silent as glass, now.
No one to be seen walkin'
No houses or trees standin'
Except the miraculous, little church
Standing tall, proud and lonely.
poem by Arsiema Berhane
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Apocalypse
Maybe it was in a dream
that I saw them come past thundering,
heard their hoofs beating, resounding
one horse after another
white, red, black and grey
and their riders had great power to display
went out to conquer, to overwhelming declare war,
to measure off, to kill
and to annihilate
and these horses are not metaphors
but come as stark naked reality,
displaying the illness in all of humanity
where reason, passion and imagination
cannot come to the rescue,
where man takes what he wants by force,
gathering in huge numbers, to rob to maim,
to claim the land back
as if it has belonged to some long dead relative
declares war on one another, conquering,
robbing mineral wealth
and man lives without any bonds, fornicating
with whomever he wishes
and AIDS spreads and claims its toll,
man is totally out of control,
bend on destroying
and standing at the very abyss.
[Reference: Apocalypse by Charles Madge.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Parking Team
This is where I want to be
Standing in the coldness of winter
Standing in the hotness of summer
Directing traffic
Seeing smiles
Hearing the laughter of children
Seeing the golf cart come by
Full of laughing kids
Seeing the smiles on their faces when the cart comes
That’s what I love about the parking team!
The way I’m able to help everyone brings a smile to my face
I see familiar faces when I drive the golf cart
Those faces, those smiles, those people is what keeps me going
I enjoy every moment on the team
From putting on my vest to calling it a night
I live for those moments
During those times, that’s when I shine
I never let my glow leave
I have fun with parking
Even standing in the rain… it’s fun
This is something that I long to do every week
It’s just for less than four hours
But it’s the best part of my week
I find parking a challenge
You never know what is on its way
It could be a new spot or it could be a new route
Whatever the challenge, I will take it
I will take it and be the best
Nothing and no one will stand in my way
poem by Laura Carie Dalton
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Black Boys In The Corner
Black Boys On The Corner (Lynott)
------------------------
One of the black boys said
"I need none of your pity"
It's your mama that don't
Like you loose in the city
But stick about, take note
Take a tip, take no back lip
Come come a little closer
Let me see you snap your fingertip
Because standing on the corner
Just might suit you or maybe baby
There's something else you wanna do
Like rolling dice, nice
Like shooting pool, hey that's cool
I'm a little black boy and I don't know my place
I'm just a little black boy, I just threw my ace
I'm a little black boy, recognize my face
One of the black boys said
"I'm a giving a warning"
"People been putting me down"
"I'm so tired I'm yawning"
A new suit, pretty boots to boot
And I'm feeling slick
Gonna go to town, look around
And pull a chick
Of course standing on the corner
Might suit you or maybe baby
There's something else that you wanna do
Like playing poker, joker
Like to back a race, ace
I'm a little black boy and I don't know my proper place
I'm a little black boy, get my head in its space
I'm a little black boy, I just play my bass
I'm a little black boy, it's no disgrace
song performed by by Thin Lizzy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ghost Dance
Long ago a prophet appeared,
A Piute Medicine Chief known as Wovoka.
He spoke to the Lakota people and others,
Of how to banish the white man.
They knew not they faced such great numbers.
This Messiah taught the Ghost Dance,
And promised come next spring,
New soil would smother all white men,
Sweet grass would cover the land,
Wild horses & buffalo would return,
All who danced the Ghost Dance,
Would be taken up into the air,
Suspended while new earth was laid down.
Kicking Bear assured Sitting Bull that,
If their people wore Ghost Dance shirts,
White mans bullets could not strike them so,
They painted their shirts with sacred symbols.
Indian agents grew nervous, moved quickly,
Telegraphing Washington for more troops.
Soldiers surrounded Sitting Bulls camp,
A fight ensued and many were killed.
Ghost Dance was thwarted,
before magic could fulfill...
'The Second Coming” prophecy belonged to the white man,
For they worshiped 'A Most Jealous god”
poem by Ray Lucero
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Two Different People
Two different people
Black people, white people
Black world, White world
A black person thinks different from the white people
White people thinks highly of himself
White people works very hard for his living
Black's are lazy
They don't want to work, they just want the money
You have to work for the money, they just don't get it
White people knows that there are no free ride in life
Black's want a free ride, there are no free ride in life
Nothing is free in life except for the air that you breathe
The white people have to be careful of what they say to the black People
Whatever you say to the black people if they don't like it they will say it Is discrimination
We can't understand them
They have a mind of their own
The white people are loving and caring
What about the black people?
Not a hope in hell
I don't want any part of the black world
The black world is not safe for me
So I rather stay in my white world where I feel safe
We can't trust them
The reason why there is violence in this world is because the black People cause it
Now they don't like it because they have to live with it
We want a safe world for our people
The black people don't care about it because the only thing they know And seen is violence
There is too much violence on TV
They like it
They like the feeling of danger
We white don't like the feeling of danger
The blacks hate the white people and the white people don't like them Either
The white people knows when to shut up
The black people never knows when to shut up
There is why there are always problem with them
They make life miserable for us
The white people will always be a good friend
The black people can never be your friend
They will take everything they can get from you for free
poem by Aldo Kraas
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Resurrection Mary
(ian hunter)
(studio version)
(transcribed by justin purington)
In 1935 I was living in paradise, I had a friend up in cicero.
We used to go out to the track, wed knock a few whiskeys back.
Id lose my shirt and then I would lose my way home
I was driving my stutz black hawk through justice in the dark,
When suddenly the blood froze in my veins.
She was standing by the road in an incandescent glow,
My heart stood still, my foot slammed on the brakes.
She said please, please would you dignify my wish?
Im trying to get to heaven, could you tell me where that is?
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white,
I caught my first sign of resurrection mary.
I was trembling like a leaf, I was scared beyond belief,
After all my conscience aint that clear.
I used to work for mickey finn, I did the numbers for big jim
Perhaps my day of reckoning lies here?
I said please, please, I would dignify your wish.
But when it comes to heaven, Im just a little bit amateurish.
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white
I cheated time with resurrection mary.
And I felt tears form in my eyes,
For the first time I felt something deep inside,
And the first time I saw angels high in the air,
For the first time in my life,
And I said mary, go to the light, its gonna be alright.
I got down on my knees, I said sweet mary, please,
Dignify these wishes before you run.
Will you tell him Ive reformed, will you tell him Im reborn?
She closed her eyes and then she spoke in tongues
I said please, please, tell me what he said.
She said you must die
The day before the devil knows youre dead.
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white
I waved goodbye.
On a wild chicago night, oh with a wind howling white
I lost sight
Of resurrection mary
Of resurrection mary
Of resurrection mary
Of resurrection mary
With the naked eye
With the naked eye
With the naked eye
With the naked eye
There are a number of differences to the lyrics in the live version as performed at the mick ronson memorial concert at londons hammersmith apollo, 29th april 1994.
(live version, transcribed by wim woittiez)
In 1935 I was living in paradise, I had a friend up in cicero.
We used to go out to the track and knock a few whiskeys back.
Id lose my shirt and then Id lose my way home
I was driving my stutz back home through justice in the dark,
When suddenly the blood froze in my veins.
She was standing by the road in an incandescent glow.
My heart said run but my foot slammed on the brakes.
She said please, please would you justify my wish?
Im trying to get to heaven, will you tell me where that is?
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white,
I caught my first sign of resurrection mary, rm, rm, rm.
I was trembling like a leaf, I was scared beyond belief,
After all my conscience is not clear.
I used to work with mickey finn, I did the numbers for big jim
Perhaps my day of reckoning was here?
I said please, please, Id love to dignify your wish.
But when it comes to heaven, Im just a little bit amateurish.
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white
I cheated time with resurrection mary, rm, rm, rm.
Yeah the tears were forming in my eyes,
For the first time, I felt something deep inside,
And for the first time I saw angels high in the air,
For the first time in my life.
I said mary, go to the light, its gonna be alright.
I got down on my knees and I said sweet mary, please,
Justify the wishes before you run.
Will you tell him Ive reformed, will you tell him Im reborn?
She closed her eyes and then she spoke in tongues
I said please, please, will you tell me what he said?
She said you must die
The day before the devil knows youre dead.
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white
Well I waved goodbye to ressurection mary, rm, rm, rm.
On a wild chicago night, with a wind howling white
I lost sight
Of resurrection mary
Of resurrection mary
Of resurrection mary
Of resurrection mary
With the naked eye
With the naked eye
With the naked eye
With the naked eye.
song performed by by Ian Hunter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black & White People
One more day down
Everybody has those days
Where one soft sweet song's
Just enough to clear my head
Fall on real life
Is anybody left there sane?
If we slide on over and accept fate
Then it's bound to be a powerful thing
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
One boy head strong
Thinks that living here's just plain
He's pushed down so hard
You can hear him start to sink
And it's one last round of petty conversation
You hold on boy 'cuz
You won't go down like this?
Just roll over
Lay down till it's more than you can take
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
So one more day down
And everybody's changin'
One soft sweet sound
Is just enough to clear my head
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
Yeah if you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
song performed by by Matchbox Twenty
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black & White People
One more day down
Everybody has those days
Where one soft sweet song's
Just enough to clear my head
Fall on real life
Is anybody left there sane?
If we slide on over and accept fate
Then it's bound to be a powerful thing
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
One boy head strong
Thinks that living here's just plain
He's pushed down so hard
You can hear him start to sink
And it's one last round of petty conversation
You hold on boy 'cuz
You won't go down like this?
Just roll over
Lay down till it's more than you can take
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
So one more day down
And everybody's changin'
One soft sweet sound
Is just enough to clear my head
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
Yeah if you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
song performed by by Matchbox 20
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black Boys On The Corner
One of the black boys said
I need none of your pity
Its your mama that dont
Like you loose in the city
But stick about, take note
Take a tip, take no back lip
Come come a little closer
Let me see you snap your fingertip
Because standing on the corner
Just might suit you or maybe baby
Theres something else you wanna do
Like rolling dice, nice
Like shooting pool, hey thats cool
Im a little black boy and I dont know my place
Im just a little black boy, I just threw my ace
Im a little black boy, recognize my face
One of the black boys said
Im a giving a warning
People been putting me down
Im so tired Im yawning
A new suit, pretty boots to boot
And Im feeling slick
Gonna go to town, look around
And pull a chick
Of course standing on the corner
Might suit you or maybe baby
Theres something else that you wanna do
Like playing poker, joker
Like to back a race, ace
Im a little black boy and I dont know my proper place
Im a little black boy, get my head in its space
Im a little black boy, I just play my bass
Im a little black boy, its no disgrace
song performed by by Thin Lizzy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Standing In For Joe
Im standing, standing in for joe
Joe called round to ask me, would I do a favor?
While hes gonna be out of town
He says his girl needs company, she gets so restless
Would I keep her safe and sound?
Softly, softly in the night
Why, you can guess the rest...
Now these shoes fit all too well
Standing in for joe
Standing in for joe
Im standing - in for joe
Joe said weve been friends so long
That I would be the one he would trust with his life
And now those words roll round my brain
As darkness falls, as I turn out his bedroom light
Who could resist her tender charms?
So the story goes...
This actor he plays all the parts
Standing in for joe
Standing in for joe
Im standing - in for joe
Love is like a river,
You cannot stop its flow... mmm hmm
Joe called round to ask me, would I do a favor?
While hes gonna be out of town
He says his girl needs company, she gets so restless
Would I check that shes safe and sound?
Softly, softly in the night
Why, you can guess the rest...
Now these shoes fit all too well
Standing in for joe
Im standing in for joe - oh yeah
Im standing in for joe - keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for joe - just standing in for joe, yeah
Standing in for joe - until he gets back home, yeah
Standing in for joe - gonna keep her insane, yeah
Standing in for joe - gonna keep her safe and sound, yeah
Standing in for joe - keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for joe - almost full time, which is nice, yeah
Standing in for joe - because she gets so restless
Standing in for joe - always so restless
Standing in for joe - keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for joe - gonna keep her safe and sound, yeah
Standing in for joe - Im standing in for joe, yeah...
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Standing In For Joe
Im standing, standing in for joe
Joe called round to ask me, would I do a favor?
While hes gonna be out of town
He says his girl needs company, she gets so restless
Would I keep her safe and sound?
Softly, softly in the night
Why, you can guess the rest...
Now these shoes fit all too well
Standing in for joe
Standing in for joe
Im standing - in for joe
Joe said weve been friends so long
That I would be the one he would trust with his life
And now those words roll round my brain
As darkness falls, as I turn out his bedroom light
Who could resist her tender charms?
So the story goes...
This actor he plays all the parts
Standing in for joe
Standing in for joe
Im standing - in for joe
Love is like a river,
You cannot stop its flow... mmm hmm
Joe called round to ask me, would I do a favor?
While hes gonna be out of town
He says his girl needs company, she gets so restless
Would I check that shes safe and sound?
Softly, softly in the night
Why, you can guess the rest...
Now these shoes fit all too well
Standing in for joe
Im standing in for joe - oh yeah
Im standing in for joe - keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for joe - just standing in for joe, yeah
Standing in for joe - until he gets back home, yeah
Standing in for joe - gonna keep her insane, yeah
Standing in for joe - gonna keep her safe and sound, yeah
Standing in for joe - keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for joe - almost full time, which is nice, yeah
Standing in for joe - because she gets so restless
Standing in for joe - always so restless
Standing in for joe - keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for joe - gonna keep her safe and sound, yeah
Standing in for joe - Im standing in for joe, yeah...
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There are very few really stark black and white stories.
quote by Jim Lehrer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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