The Vacuum
The house is so quiet now
The vacuum cleaner sulks in the corner closet,
Its bag limp as a stopped lung, its mouth
Grinning into the floor, maybe at my
Slovenly life, my dog-dead youth.
I’ve lived this way long enough,
But when my old woman died her soul
Went into that vacuum cleaner, and I can’t bear
To see the bag swell like a belly, eating the dust
And the woolen mice, and begin to howl
Because there is old filth everywhere
She used to crawl, in the corner and under the stair.
I know now how life is cheap as dirt,
And still the hungry, angry heart
Hangs on and howls, biting at air.
poem by Howard Nemerov
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Vacuum Cleaner And The Cotton
what is it that the vacuum cleaner
takes from you? dust and dirt and scattered pieces
on the floor
in your room and in your kitchen
from the carpets
and what is that the cotton takes too?
or the sponge? or the rags?
they will take in water, moisture,
and stains
from the walls
and your ears
and what does my heart take from you?
it will take your gaze
your smiles
your breaths and your whispers and your kisses
and your warm memories
it will take even your rivers
your sea
your world your universe
the stars and the moon
even your suns
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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327
what is it that the vacuum cleaner
takes from you? dust and dirt and scattered pieces
on the floor
in your room and in your kitchen
from the carpets
and what is that the cotton takes too?
or the sponge? or the rags?
they will take in water, moisture,
and stains
from the walls
and your ears
and what does my heart take from you?
it will take your gaze
your smiles
your breaths and your whispers and your kisses
and your warm memories
it will take even your rivers
your sea
your world your universe
the stars and the moon
even your suns
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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331
what is it that the vacuum cleaner
takes from you?
dust and dirt and scattered pieces
on the floor
in your room and in your kitchen
from the carpets
and what is that the cotton takes too?
or the sponge? or the rags?
they will take in water, moisture,
and stains
from the walls
and your ears
and what does my heart take from you?
it will take your gaze
your smiles
your breaths and your whispers and your kisses
and your warm memories
it will take even your rivers
your sea
your world your universe
the stars and the moon
even your suns
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dolly and the Salesman
There's a salesperson at the door
someone said
and so you went to the door
and there was the young salesman
with a book in his hand
and in a sharp grey suit
and hair neat and short cut
yes?
you said
I represent Carson's stores
and it has been brought
to my notice
that you are behind
with your payments
is that so?
you said
yes
the young guy said
three months behind
and if you don't pay today
the item you have chosen to buy
will be removed
is that so?
you said
the young guy looked
into his book of figures
and script
so you called out
Dolly there's a young guy here
who says we owe him money
you both waited
while Dolly came to the door
what do we owe?
she asked
money
the young guy said
what for?
Dolly said
a vacuum cleaner
the young guy said
you are three months behind
now if you do not pay up today
it will be removed
Dolly raised her eyebrows
and put on her
don't mess with me face
and went off
the young guy
and you looked
at each other in silence
after a few minutes
Dolly returned
carrying the vacuum cleaner
here
she said
here's your darn Hoover
take the thing
and go stick it
where the sun
don't shine
and so the young man
held up the vacuum cleaner
and looked at you
and Dolly
and said
right don't come back
to the store
because you won't
be served again
and off he went
out along the road
in the falling black rain.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Brunt Of The Storm
the old woman
sits on the floor,
talking to the vacuum cleaner,
and laughing with the broom.
and the pictures of children,
like leaves turning seasons,
stare silently from a distance,
both chosen and not!
the dog bows her eyes,
with worry and love.
and the drone of the tv,
bores holes in the wall.
long grey hair glistening,
as sun sifts dirty blinds.
and the smell of passion,
has turned to old feet.
and no one gives a cold damn,
or understands why...
she has no need of people,
no need for chatter.
she feeds the dog and stops,
staring at the urn on the mantle...
and curses softly,
then breaks down and cries.
only the dog, and the spider in the corner,
hear the whimper,
and feel the brunt of the storm!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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There are days when any electrical appliance in the house, including the vacuum cleaner, offers more entertainment than the TV set.
quote by Harriet Van Horne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There are days when any electrical appliance in the house, including the vacuum cleaner, seems to offer more entertainment possibilities than the television set.
quote by Harriet Van Horne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Silly; Old Age; Marriage: Who Put The Vacuum Cleaner Away?
I biked to Radio Road yesterday while my wife vacuumed house.
When I got back she was at computer, .....quiet as a mouse.
I did a little chore or two outside before starting late day routine.
I read to my wife as she fixed the evening meal. I'm sure the house was clean.
Sometimes when she vacuums, I find the vacuum left in my way.
Then, if she's finished, I help..... by putting it in its place. Hey!
Yesterday I found no vacuum left about. My wife is getting better.
The progress of my feet (through our house) no vacuum cord did fetter.
So it was a minor shock to me what my wife said this morning.
[ It wasn't a world-shaking statement, but I had no real warning.]
She said 'thank you for putting vacuum cleaner away.' Something like that at least.
It was nothing I expected to hear from her....at our late morning feast.
[Our conversation then went something like this; I will paraphrase.]
He: 'no I didn't put it away sweetheart. Are you in a daze? '
She: 'no I'm not in a daze my dear. I'd not store it that way.'
He: 'wife, I'm not kidding you. If I'd done it I would say.'
She: 'I don't put it under the seat that way. I'd have left it neater.'
He: 'I'll challenge you to a senility test.' [I think that I could beat her.]
She: 'I'm really worried about you Bri. Who will care for you? '
Don't you remember putting it away? Please Bri, tell me true.
He: I'm telling you the truth dear wife. Why would I lie to you? '
Ok, sometimes I'm forgetful, but at times you are too.'
She: I did not put it away. I would not leave the lace on the seat askew.'
He: 'I love you dear wife. Maybe I did do it....., but I think you did....I do.'
poem by Bri Edwards
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Love-letting
'Woman places corpse of husband in closet.
Linah B-,64, said her husband died
In October 31 in either 1977 or 1978 and she
Put him in a closet because she
Couldn't pay for a proper burial...'
Might've been a good case
For Perry Mason if foul play
Had been suspected, but
The authorities got to the bottom
Of the matter when they
Got the call from the workmen
Painting the house.
Seems there was a little more than
Plaster-of-Paris on a closet floor
Than the woman let on.
One might wonder at the woman's stead
To bear the dead crime,
'No, J- is not home today, '
No one the wiser what lay
In the closet's keep.
It'll probably be the 'in' thing now-
Home Burial.
Little women will squirrel
Their loved ones away-
Where the dead never leave the house.
poem by Edward Steinhardt
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My dogs
bark at the neighbors,
bark at the UPS man,
bark at cars
and kids on bicycles.
they bark at the television,
the radio
and the stereo.
they bark at
the vacuum cleaner,
the dust mop
and the broom.
they bark at
anyone
who enters the house
uninvited.
and
when they’re not barking,
they’re sitting there
waiting
for something
to bark at.
good dogs.
poem by John Yamrus
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Spaghetti can be eaten most successfully if you inhale it like a vacuum cleaner.
quote by Sophia Loren
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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If it isn't the sheriff, it's the finance company; I've got more attachments on me than a vacuum cleaner.
quote by John Barrymore
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A bore is a vacuum cleaner of society, sucking up everything and giving nothing. Bores are always eager to be seen talking to you.
quote by Elsa Maxwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life's dirty. Life's unclean you know. It's birth, it's sex, it's the intestinal tract. One big squishy, unsanitary mess. It never gets any cleaner either. You know, dust to dust, worms crawl in, worms crawl out, right Even though we know that, we still walk the walk, we still live the life. We're like a bunch of little kids. Little kids, you know, we jump in this big old pond of mud and we're slapping it all over our face, rubbing our hair all down our backs and we're making these glorious, gooey, mud pies. That's us.
quote by Andrew Schneider
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Black House On The Corner
I passed by that house everday,
wondering what lurked inside of it,
was their some kind of ancient evil inside,
or a normal family that we never saw,
a house of macarbe,
it was painted black like the devil's sin,
it was surrouned by devilish-looking,
figures that stood outside on the line,
was also surrounded by a black pointed fence,
rumors of the devil himself living there,
the devil in the flesh,
satan living on my street corner,
The black house on the corner,
can't you see it,
you must walk past it everyday to,
dosen't your mind wander,
when you walk by The black house,
don't you to know what lays inside of the house,
maybe a ton of dead bodies under the floor boards,
a madman butcherd up his family,
could that be true,
or are our young minds racing again,
with impure and insane thoughts about,
who or what lives in the black house on the corner,
the black house,
painted with the devil's sin,
We were told to stay away from the black house,
that so many evils lived inside of it,
but us being kids we didn't want to live,
we wanted to see what was inside of the black house on the corner,
But we are to afraid to go forward,
we are to afraid to step through the gate,
and walk up the beaten path to the door bell,
it looks so old and so evil,
The black house on the corner,
we shall never know what evilness,
or what macabre force resides within,
the black house on the corner,
whatever you do,
don't go into the black house on the corner,
stay away from,
the black house on the corner,
it holds so many evils,
the black house on the corner,
poem by Robert Rumery
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A New Light
if you call it
death
no one, no one
likes to grab
it.
pretend that
it is a
beginning
only to float
and
still not accept
that you
have ended
there is no
choice
actually
a strong ray
of light
absorbs you
sucks you
like a vacuum cleaner
and
poooo! you're out
you're in.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Demon Cleaner Performed Live
I've got the demons within
I've got to brush them all away
I feel the demon's rage
I must clean them all away
Yeah, yeah...
Excite to scream them away
Cobwebs in the way
That magic cleaner oh
Shine his smile on me
Yeah, yeah...
I am the demon
Cleaner who saves the day
I get the backwall
And important they'll always stay
Yeah, yeah...
If only one thing that you know
Imposters from the show
They'll try to trick you into
Normal treatment
Oh don't you listen to them say
Shush them all away
I am the demon cleaner
Madman so
I am the freedom cleaner
Standing naked here to say
I'm the only way...
song performed by by Tool
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Here Lie's The truth
“Here Lies the truth”,
On Her tombstone this will be wrote.
It was never spoke when She was living,
So also in death, it will be unspoke.
By Her it was never said
it was as though pulling out Her soul,
So here lies the truth and herself dead
Both has died in sadness and woe.
Here lies the truth,
Not once by her was it cried,
Not in the days that she was living,
Not even in the day that She had died.
She must of believed that it was a sin
To open Her heart and listen to the word
So She closed her heart and locked it shut,
And She never believed in no one but Her.
Here lies the truth,
It lived but a very short life,
Though the Woman died of years of age
The truth though, never had a chance to try.
Everyone She knew had learned Her lie
They never believed a word that she said
So when She finally tried to speak the truth,
Her heart stopped; and She laid dead.
Here lies the truth
It lived but a very short life,
It was loved by neither Child or Man,
For they believe its living was but a lie.
So here in the grave it will lay dead
As it had lived in this woman's soul,
Never again will it be uttered or thought of,
Never till the end of time will it be thought of or known.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
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Cleaning House
I have this relationship
with cleaning my house
meticulously
everyday;
work
that is never done.
I have this relationship
with cleaning my house
which is poorly
understood.
All around seem oblivious
to the work
involved
in this home environment
and like despoilers-
clothes get strewn
and dishes left-
for the cleaner of the house;
because I,
unlike them,
can't bear to see my self esteem
cluttered like that
every day
with dirt and dust.
I then take the cloth
and clean what is precious to me.
.
I have this relationship with my house
which even in this,
my family
is poorly understood.
poem by Lonnie Hicks
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Oh Man
Oh man
What are you but flowing rivers
And record players
Slowly gathering dust
In the corner of my
quiet room?
What are you but moans,
Visions of a life
Not yet lived
But foredoomed?
And man,
When will the angelic chorus’ play?
I shall moan tonight
Like no other,
With suitcase in hand,
Heavy with the burdens
Of yesteryear’s
Indifference.
Oh man,
You stand in rain,
You howl
I howl
For the solitude and prayers,
Ten tributes of orchestral glory
Go to the fortuitous fool
Who stuck out his hand
And felt the damp
Within his palm.
The angels wait for me,
They say
Wake up
Wake up
You’re dead,
I play my numbers two a piece
And rest my decaying soul,
I stand and watch the Thames a- flowing
And I wait
For your epitaph.
poem by Nadia Khomami
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