Photograph and Memory
In my hands I hold a photograph
That, for years, I hadn't seen-
It's the only one I've left now
from when we were seventeen.
You head cocked slightly to the right,
You strike a playful pose.
Your blue eyes fairly sparkle
above a button nose.
Your skin is fair and freckled
No makeup, none required.
Peasant blouse and chinos
are your casual attire.
Here too, is the letter that you wrote
The week my father died-
Some years had passed since seventeen-
You were no longer by my side.
You said he'd taught me how to love-
a consequential gift.
I'd had such a good teacher
That, in me, his spirit lived.
The ink is faint and faded-
the fault of light and time.
Or is it tears and fading vision
that makes it hard to read this time?
It's strange the things a man retains
as time starts to expire.
The memory of your kisses
in some neuron's random fire.
As this world counts beauty
You'd rank pretty, I suppose
But if I was the little prince
I'd choose you for my rose.
poem by John F. McCullagh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Seventeen
Late last night
I get a call from a so-called friend
He wouldnt give his name
Says he saw you with another man
Feels like seventeen years
Its only seventeen days
Since I saw the real you
And I let you walk away
You left me broken
You left me stranded
The way you play this game of love
Its just plain underhanded
I spent a lot of time
And I spent all my money
Dont want no other fool
To put his hands on you
Who you been talkin to?
Yeah who you been walkin with?
Seventeen, youre just seventeen
Seventeen
They said I was playin with fire
I knew I had to take a chance
I had to take you higher
To a new experience
But little did I know
Id never get that far
Girl, you know you put on quite a show
Youre gonna be a star
When you grow older, girl
Youll remember I told you, girl
Seventeen, youre just seventeen
Seventeen, seventeen
Seventeen, youre just seventeen
Seventeen, seventeen
Seventeen, youre only seventeen
Seventeen, seventeen
song performed by by Foreigner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Day Old Shep Died
it's been thirty years,
that he's been gone,
the day he died, brought tears,
all day, i played his song.
for nine long years,
i loved him and he loved me,
the day he died, broght tears,
toward the end, he could barely see.
when he died, i was seventeen years,
my child hood died that day,
the day he died, brought tears,
during his youth, we were always at play.
him and i was, so close in years,
when i got shep he was five and i eight,
the day he died brought tears,
he always ate his meals, off our plate.
he died at eighty-four in human years,
he lived to a ripe old age,
the day he died brought tears,
for this poem, he set the stage.
i can't believe, its been so many years,
i think about him, all the time,
the day he died, brought tears,
but old shep, was all mind.
of all these many years,
no dog has taken the place of old shep,
the day he died, brought tears,
i'll always remember, that dog with pep
in memory of old shep 1946-1960 written june 21,1990
My First Love
For no reason at all she came into my thoughts and dreams
I don’t know why, I haven’t seen her since she was seventeen.
She brought with her forgotten memories I thought had gone,
but they’re still there to think about and to touch upon.
The happy and sad times that we both lived through
as teenage lovers with passions so strong and true.
We lived and breathed for each other every moment of the day,
and our hearts would break if we had to spend time away.
So strong was our love, we would have died for each other,
we experienced every emotion that was possible together.
My insane jealous nature eventually forced us to part
it left us with sadness and our first broken heart.
At the time there was nothing else worth living for,
but time heals and I found another love to adore.
Looking back, my first true love is still special to me,
we discovered what love was and how it should be.
And whenever she comes to mind I think back and smile,
and thank her for the memories that are so worthwhile.
The postman put a letter through the letterbox today
it said that my first love had recently passed away.
Even though she’s left this world she lives on in my memory
and as long as I shall live she’ll be with me.
In my thoughts and dreams I see her as she was so long ago,
and it’s over fifty years since we said our first hello.
poem by Orlando Belo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Seventeen
(track 2 - time 3:18)
(aimee mayo/bill luther/chris lindsey)
Backseat of her daddys car
I was trying not to go too far
Kept thinking about the words the preacherman said
Lightnin flashed across the sky
I saw love in a young girls eyes
And thats a look you never forget
Seventeen only comes once in a lifetime
Dont it just fly by wild and free
Goin any way the wind blew baby
Seventeen livin on crazy dreams
Rock and roll and faded blue jeans
And standing on the edge of everything
Seventeen
Legs hangin off the bayou bridge
Feedin fish potato chips
And talkin about the mysteries of the universe
Yeah the world was somewhere else
We had the summer all to ourselves
And the stars went off like fireworks
Seventeen only comes once in a lifetime
Dont it just fly by wild and free
Goin any way the wind blew baby
Seventeen livin on crazy dreams
Rock and roll and faded blue jeans
And standing on the edge of everything
Seventeen
Seventeen only comes once in a lifetime
Dont it just fly by wild and free
Goin any way the wind blew baby
Seventeen livin on crazy dreams
Rock and roll and faded blue jeans
And standing on the edge of everything
Seventeen
Yeah seventeen
Sweet seventeen
song performed by by Tim McGraw
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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She Wrote About Our Mother.
She wrote about our mother and it took me far away
And many, many years in time back home to Claraghatlea
And as I read her letter I fought to choke the tears
For Millstreet, Cork and Ireland and happy childhood years.
She wrote about our mother long under Tanyard soil
And memories flooded back to me of one with ready smile
Of woman who worked hard for us for no reward or pay
The heroine of our childhood years of happy by gone day.
She wrote about our mother with sense of love and pride
And memories flooded back to me and tears welled up inside
For one who done her best for us her very best she tried
And I still feel she is with us her spirit never died.
A letter from my sister in east Rockaway in New York
Reminding me of childhood years in Millstreet County Cork
She wrote about our mother whose passing left a void
And memories flooded back to me and tears welled up inside.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Eating A Bullet
Speaking to ghosts
Sitting next to the soldiers of the past.
Where did we go so wrong?
Why is it taking so long?
A new discovery.
A new dream.
Building something not as dull as it seems.
I wrote it all down in a letter.
Sent it in a red envelope.
That has been stained by these hands.
To quick to the conclusion.
Where did the time go.
Speaking to the ones I love most.
Telling them I did the best I could.
Knowing that it no longer even matters.
I'm of the wrong time and age.
A hippie at heart.
Loving the world as its being torn apart
Divide and conquer.
That is what I see today.
Playing all their silly games.
I will not par take.
I wrote it all down in a letter.
Sent it in a red envelope.
That has been stained by these hands.
To quick to the conclusion.
Where did the time go.
I want to take in all your pain.
I want to take in all your hate.
I want to take in all your anger.
Just let me eat all this suffering in one gulp.
Swallow it all down.
Hold it deep inside.
And just maybe I can make it to the other side.
A place where I can rest my head
Without worrying about all of you.
And what you must be going through.
I wrote it all down in a letter.
Sent it in a red envelope.
That has been stained by these hands.
To quick to the conclusion.
Where did the time go.
The after life must be nice.
But at what price.
Will my helping hand ever suffice.
Everybody wants something and nobody is willing to give up anything.
So take it from me.
Give me the lashings.
Make me wear the crown of thorns.
Inflict every evil known to man.
Just leave them alone.
Let me be the victim of your ignorance.
Hate me because I want you to.
I wrote it all down in a letter.
Sent it in a red envelope.
That has been stained by these hands.
To quick to the conclusion.
Where did the time go.
I will never stand for it.
I will jump in the middle every time.
Not to pick sides.
But to lye defenseless for someone else.
Me before the child.
Me before the mother.
Me before the father.
A savior of none, but a victim from it all.
My daily life will not be measured by thing I did for myself.
But instead what I did for you.
Not because you asked.
I don't care if its what you wanted.
A forced sacrifice.
Solid as a block of ice.
I wrote it all down in a letter.
Sent it in a red envelope.
That has been stained by these hands.
To quick to the conclusion.
Where did the time go.
I'm sorry just run.
I take the brunt of it.
Its not my fault but I don't even care.
Sometimes you have to do things out of love.
Even if it means I will die.
It's not even my fight.
That's why I will just be another punching bag.
As the lights dim.
I know soon my life will end.
I wrote it all down in a letter.
Sent it in a red envelope.
That has been stained by these hands.
To quick to the conclusion.
Where did the time go.
song, lyrics by Ace Of Black Hearts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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White Hot Day
Instrumental version called bass line
In time, only time, speak for time, in time
Time calls, time cries, sweet friend of mine
Time could be a place, a spirit and a face
Teardrops through time
While away below, the whirlwinds will blow
A pretty nation speaks in time
The beauty of it is, to waken up to
Shake the hand of time
In time, only time, well speak for time
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Whisper the things that will come our way
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Hold back the years, hold back the years
Time calls, time cries, sounds like a friend of mine
Time will run to meet, the slick and shiny beat
That creeps to me through time
While away below, the whirlwinds will blow
A pretty nation sleeps in time
The beauty of it is
Well wake up to, shake the hand of time
In time, only time, in time, only time
In time
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Whisper the things that will come our way
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Hold back the tears, hold back the tears
In time, only time, well speak for time
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Whisper the things that will come our way
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Hold back the tears, hold back the tears
In time, only time
Quiet night of a white hot day
Whisper the things that will come our way
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Roll back the years, roll back the years
In time, only time, well speak for time
On a quiet night
Hold back the tears to another day
Quiet night of a white hot day
Hold back the tears, hold back the tears
Time, only time, speak for time
Quiet night of a white hot day
Whisper the things that will come our way
On a quiet night of a white hot day
Roll back the years, roll back the years
In time, only time, speak for time
Quiet night of a white hot day
Hold back the tears to another day
Quiet night of a white hot day
Words & music : james kerr, charlie burchill, mel gaynor, derek forbes, michael macneil (c) emi publishing ltd reproduced without permission
song performed by by Simple Minds
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Can’t Hold Back The Years
I sit here reading the letter
as my tears smudge the ink.
I can’t hold them back
no more than I could
hold back the years.
The words say you have left me
that you’ve moved out today.
That you won’t be coming back
no matter what I say.
I sit with my head bowed
remembering good time we had.
Remembering the sorrow and sadness
that followed in the good times wake.
Remembering those precious moments,
we wanted to last forever,
but disappeared at the blink of an eye.
I can’t hold back the years
nor the tears I cry.
Tomorrow heralds a brand new day,
a brand new start some would say.
When we should erase yesterdays
and start a new life,
but it isn’t that easy,
as we need our yesterdays
to build that new day.
If we haven’t got them,
what will happen is hard to say.
As I sit here and read your letter
my tears still fall,
and I can’t hold back the years
no more than I can hold back the tears
for our lost yesterdays.
4 April 2008
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Father's Garden
I remember my father as being a warm person-
A strong man in many ways always working hard so that
My mother and I could have the very best-
He passed so many years ago but
I can still hear his laughter, and recall his gentleness-
As he was always there for me-
I still can see him working in his garden
At the time we lived close to the shores of Carmel –
I can still hear the leaves upon the trees rustling in the wind,
And the peaceful rocking of the ocean waves
Soothing me as they were lapping upon the shore close by-
I will never forget the joy the flowers he had planted
Brought to him, my mother and I,
As he seemed to be lost inside a world of his own,
Transforming a yard where at one time only high grasses grew
Into a kingdom of color and beauty for everyone to perceive-
I shall never forget the rose bushes-
Yellow, pink and red blossoms in their colorful hues
Enlightening to everyone’s eyes, as they were, and fragrant as well,
In all of their delicacy;
My father passed years ago- - a terminal illness snatched away
This wonderful being – tears still come to my eyes in past memories- as
I cannot comprehend that if a god exists-
How could he have snatched life away so quickly from
A person who had such a zest for life?
I shall never forget the moment he died, how my uncle
Sat upon a chair in the bathroom with his head in his hands weeping
When my father fell to the floor at his death-
Although he has parted from this world forever, fond memories continue-
People always die but flowers keep growing and live on.
Yesterday I cut a pink rose from a bush in the yard and
Placed it in a small vase upon the end table by my bed side and
As I drifted off to sleep this delicate and lovely flower carried me
Into the world of my fantasies- where my father is still with me always, and
I still feel his loving arms embracing me; I can still hear the rustling of
Leaves upon the trees outside, and I still hear the waves lapping upon the shore
And even though in flesh he is gone-
Departed from this world, he has left valuable reminiscences for me to treasure;
Whenever I stand in his garden I can still feel his presence, as in my
Heart and spirit, he shall always be very much alive….
poem by Claudia Krizay
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Photograph
Hands old and poor, her back bent and sore,
She lifts from the drawer, the photograph
Though tattered and torn, through years it has worn,
But still bears the form of the man she knew
Her eyes are weak, spilling tears on her cheek
Her lips start to speak to the photograph
She tells him with pride, she still loves him inside
Though years ago died, la da da da
La, la da, la da, la da da, la da, la da da,
La la la da da,
La, la da, la da, la da da, la da, la da da,
La la la da da
And all of the people she knew, who she knows no more
Who dont know the score say,
We wonder why, she never married, such a
Pretty girl she was, such a lovely face she had,
Such a pretty thing she was, once
She turns to her right, to put out the light,
And wishes goodnight to the photograph
Her love, though its strong and lasted this long,
And goes on and on, shes still in love
La, la da, la da, la da da, la da, la da da,
La la la da da,
La, la da, la da, la da da, la da, la da da,
La la la da da
song performed by by Rick Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What They Will Say
Some times, I wonder if I write for the future.
That may seem like a strange statement to make.
Forty-three years ago, I wrote a poem
that at the time no one wanted to know.
Now it is my best-loved poem
read by countless people around the world.
Thirty years ago, I wrote two poems
and each one won me an award,
but at the time I wrote them,
no one wanted to know.
All of which makes me wonder
if what I wrote in my yesteryears
that then none wanted to know.
Could they all be popular now?
Today I started collecting and retyping
short stories I wrote twenty years ago.
At the time, publishers and agents
didn’t want to know.
Now twenty year on
I am wondering what they will say.
24 January 2009
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Bought You A Rose
the problem is
the grandfather clock
in the adjacent room
it chimes
on the hour
every hour
through the night
it keeps me awake
through the night
the night in which
i think of you
because
i hold the rose
in my hand
through the night
the rose that i bought you
in the afternoon
the rose that you did not want
in the evening
the evening when i took you out
and you said
you did not want the rose
you wanted it to be over between us
you said it was no use
a rose was no use
a rose could not
bring us together
a rose could not
keep us together
a rose by any other name
is still just a rose
you said
i should keep my rose
you said
you said it when i offered you the rose
you said it again
when the evening was over
when we left each other
and so i took it home
the rose that i bought you
i thought of you
on my way home
with the rose
i thought of how it had been
between us
i thought of how it might have been
between us
i tried to forget
how it had been
between us
i tried to forget
how it might have been
between us
but the rose reminded me
how it was
between us
i took the rose with me
when i got into bed
when i tried to sleep
it had been deep red
but it seemed to me
now it was not so deep red
as it had been before
each time i woke
i looked at the rose
each time it seemed
not so deep red
as it had been before
each time it seemed
a little more faded
a little more dry
a little less red
a little less fresh
each time
its scent also
had been beautiful
like you were beautiful
its scent also seemed to me
a little more faded
a little less fresh
a little less beautiful
a little less able
to evoke you
a little less able
to keep you
to keep your memory
alive
alive in the night
even when i turned on the light
to look again
at the rose
to inhale again
the perfume of the rose
i saw it fading
i saw you fading
i saw your beauty fading
through the night
and i saw that you were right
about the rose
that a rose is just a rose
that a rose could not
bring us together
that a rose could not
keep us together
that a rose by any other name
is still just a rose
that you by any other name
are still just a rose
fading through the night
i cannot keep you
for i cannot keep you
from fading through the night
like this rose i bought you
like any rose
like anything i ever bought you
the problem is
the grandfather clock
in the adjacent room
it chimes
on the hour
every hour
through the night
poem by Rory Hudson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Ultraviolence
Who saw those dark eyes
Who saw those dark eyes
These years gone by
Deep within
Burn my skin
All those years gone by
In the heat of the night
All those years gone by
Who felt those cold hands
Who felt those cold hands
Touch my skin
Deep within
Burn my soul
Fell to the ground
Where I was found
All those years ago
All those tears ago
All those years ago
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody makes mistakes
Even me
Just be free
This is a place
Where in the end
It happens in
Our world within
Time to go
Time to go
song performed by by New Order
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Faded Memories
I saw you in only a dream
you were there next to me
shining bright through the night
like rays of sunshine in the morning light
and on your lips a taste of paradise
as if heaven was all around me
You had a sparkle in your eyes
like diamonds glittering in the sun
and a smile on your face
you were always such a beautiful one
But as I held my head low
I could only watch you slowly go
said it just had to be
now you must set me free
walk away from this forgotten place
there's nothing left to save anymore
And like faded memories torn and frayed
love was forever lost it would seem
as I walked on alone
felt I been here once before
with these faded memories we once made
tears turned my heart into stone
when I knew you were never coming home
Was a time I needed you as I watched you leave
through those years that passed on by
thought I could never forget you
and all that we been through
still I find it hard to believe
how this love for you will never die
(spiritwind-2010)
poem by Spiritwind Wood
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Young Turks
(rod stewart / carmine appice, kevin savigar, duane hitchings)
Billy left his home with a dollar in his pocket and a head full of dreams.
He said somehow, some way, its gotta get better than this.
Patti packed her bags, left a note for her momma, she was just seventeen,
There were tears in her eyes when she kissed her little sister goodbye.
They held each other tight as they drove on through the night they were so exited.
We got just one shot of life, lets take it while were still not afraid.
Because life is so brief and time is a thief when youre undecided.
And like a fistful of sand, it can slip right through your hands.
Young hearts be free tonight. time is on your side,
Dont let them put you down, dont let em push you around,
Dont let em ever change your point of view.
Paradise was closed so they headed for the coast in a blissful manner.
They took a tworoom apartment that was jumping evry night of the week.
Happiness was found in each others arms as expected, yeah
Billy pierced his ears, drove a pickup like a lunatic, ooh!
Young hearts be free tonight.time is on your side,
Dont let them put you down, dont let em push you around,
Dont let em ever change your point of view.
[instrumental verse]
Young hearts be free tonight.time is on your side.
Billy wrote a letter back home to pattis parents tryin to explain.
He said were both real sorry that it had to turn out this way.
But there aint no point in talking when theres nobody listning so we just ran away
Patti gave birth to a ten pound baby boy, yeah!
Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side.
Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side.
Young hearts be free tonight, time in on your side.
Young hearts gotta run free, be free, live free
Time is on, time is on your side
Time, time, time, time is on your side
Is on your side
Is on your side
Is on your side
Young heart be free tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, yeah
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Childhood Faded Away
Childhood Faded away,
to a far away land,
simple, so simple were we,
Days of Play,
Going our Way,
Having fun, no care,
for another day,
time for us stood still,
playing king of the hill
Childhood Faded away
thinking of another day,
summer time was fine,
when friends were kind,
swiming holes were filled,
our hearts were thrilled
Childhood Faded Away
to a time that makes me sway
many years have passed away,
since childhood faded to another day,
Childhood Faded to places,
UNKNOWN TO US
floating somewhere in time.
wrote 1-15-07
Lonely Lady #17
Lonely lady one, she run away.
And number two, she do the same.
Lady number three walk out on me
Like number four.
Whos keeping score?
Lady five, oh how she lied.
She made me pay some dues.
Six and seven, eight, nine, ten,
They really were bad news.
Oh no, theyd only break my heart.
Thats how it seems.
And then I finally came upon
A lady seventeen.
Lonely lady number seventeen,
She stayed a while.
She had the style.
Lonely lady number seventeen,
She got to be with lonely me.
Lonely, lonely lady number seventeen, yeah.
Lonely lady!
Ladies eleven, twelve and thirteen,
They came and went.
Baby, I still can hear them sayin
Its time to repent.
I turned around,
And there she was
With such a sweet surprise:
A lovin face,
Lovin smile,
And love lights in her eyes.
Lonely lady number seventeen,
You stayed a while.
You had the style.
Lonely lady number seventeen,
Come on and be
With lonely me
Oh no, when lady fourteen walked out,
Thats when I screamed.
No luck with lady fifteen
Or sweet sixteen.
But lonely lady number seventeen,
You stayed a while.
You had the style.
Lonely lady number seventeen,
Come on an be
With lonely me.
Lonely, lonely lady
Number seventeen, yeah!
Lonely lady!
She makes me feel so sociable
song performed by by Neil Diamond
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last Moment
i remember the look in your eyes
it was something i just now realize.
the way it look like fear
like you really cared
afraid of what you were leaving behind
made you fight for more time.
only if i could of did more
but instead you went out the door
last time i saw you
and only memory that makes me blue.
nothing could of change that.
but, i wished i could have you back
nothing is what it seems
sometimes i feel i just got me
you were everything to me
now it feels i like i'm just empty.
nothing is the same after you left
but, there are things i wish i could of kept.
now i just have to accept
that you not by my side
being my guide
i guess there a time we got to let go
of all of the good things we want to hold,
to remember all of the good times
and the time we both cry.
that what is so great about life.
it seem to end when there're gone.
but they didn't go too far,
as everybody may think.
11-25-08
poem by Mona Martinez
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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And Where Is She Now
How often do you wonder
what happened to your first love.
Sometimes I do it all the time.
I wonder what she is doing,
what kind of life she’s lead,
has she had any children and how many.
Did she ever marry the man of her dream,
or is she still waiting
for him to come along?
The questions are without answers,
as I really don’t know.
My first love was Gillian Reid.
I met her at a dance hall
where she worked.
I caught a glimpse of her
the first night I went there
from the corner of my eye.
It was enough for me
to fall madly in love with her.
I slowly got to know as time passed by.
We never went out together though I did try.
However, I had fallen madly in love with her.
Sadly, that love was never returned.
She did however become
a source of inspiration
for many years to come.
I wrote songs by the score,
even my first novel
was written for her.
As the years passed,
she still did inspire me
with short stories and a radio play
and of course
a poem or two.
The last I heard about her
was way back in the late sixties
when someone had told me
she went all hippie.
Still I never saw her again
and I often wonder
would I recognise her
if by chance we passed on the street.
One thing I do remember well.
I wrote her a letter,
the longest letter that I’ve ever written.
It took five envelops to sent it,
so I must have been smitten.
And where is she now
your guess is as good as mine.
All I can tell you is this,
somewhere in this heart of mine
a small fire for her still burns
for the first love of mine.
Time has never dampened
all the embers in there.
However, my wife
has nothing to worry about.
The past is the past
and that is just where it is staying.
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Getting Out, Getting Anywhere
He's placed between her widespread legs
a final cut into his back
She claims he was her second best
and she's got so much that he detests
Breaking up isn't harder than
to decide what is best for her
He's had her since she was seventeen
Do you really know exactly what I mean?
His baby is so mean
Teenage lust is so hard on her
she'll do anything to keep him pleased
Its been the same thing with them all
in just a week or two if not before
Things get worse as morning breaks
a live show for the ones next door
He liked her better at seventeen
Do you really know exactly what I mean?
Her baby is so mean
Split up... wasting time
theyre talking about one another now
What follows is another deal
and I think you know exactly how they feel
They're so mean
song performed by by Yvonne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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