Aren't You All Neighbors?
If I consume more than my neighbor,
And squander my feeding at their expense...
To then expect for them to remain silent,
As they pay more for the construction of my fence.
Or the fixing of cracks on pavements I travel,
Without my offering a single cent.
Why should I be disturbed by their nonsense?
Yet I am the first to advocate the raising of rents,
To keep certain 'elements' away from me and distanced.
Should I get upset the request I pay higher taxes,
On my property that has been re-assessed?
Since I am more accustomed to live high on the hog,
While others around me find it difficult to live on less?
'But...
Aren't you all neighbors?
And aren't you all sharing the same amenities offered? '
I am a conservative.
I am not one of those 'liberals' seeking a hand-out.
I am entitled to be served.
'But...
Aren't you all neighbors?
And aren't you all sharing the same amenities offered? '
I am a conservative.
I am not one of those 'liberals' seeking a hand-out.
I am entitled to be served.
If I consume more than my neighbor,
And squander my feeding at their expense...
To then expect for them to remain silent,
As they pay more for the construction of my fence.
Why should I be disturbed by their nonsense?
'But...
Aren't you all neighbors? '
Why should I be disturbed by their nonsense?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Related quotes
These Are Our Neighbors
Offered are no alternatives.
But complaints are voiced and heard.
Suggestions they have none.
But they come with venom,
On their tongues.
Exposing the teeth of wolves...
Seeking tender meat,
To consume and run!
These are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
These are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
Knockingdownwhatcanbefoundtogetnothin gdone.
Takingoutofcontextwithawishfailurecomes!
And these are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
Yes these are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
And these are our neighbors...
Every one.
Pickinguptheirtelephonestogossipwithm orelies.
Hopingwhatissaidwillkeepthetruthindis guise.
To keep deceit and defeat on the rise!
And...
These are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
Yes...
These are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
Offered are no alternatives.
But complaints are voiced and heard.
Suggestions they have none.
But they come with venom,
On their tongues.
Exposing the teeth of wolves...
Seeking tender meat,
To consume and run!
Pickinguptheirtelephonestogossipwithmorel ies.
Hopingwhatissaidwillkeepthetruthindisguis e.
To keep deceit and defeat on the rise!
And these are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
Yes these are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
And these are our neighbors...
Every one.
These are my neighbors.
These are your neighbors.
These are our neighbors...
Every one.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Accustomed To Critique And Darkness
Emotional vampires,
Accustomed to critique and darkness...
I can't afford to have feeding on my consciousness.
The extensive draining done they do,
I wont allow with me to pursue.
And they will do it too!
Emotional vampires,
Limited with negativity.
Upset with themselves.
And surrounded by insecurities.
Despise they do,
Those who choose not to self abuse.
And refuse to listen...
But expect others to.
They are happiest when sharing,
Their blightest insights.
And delight when someone argues,
Against thoughts they have...
Others feel for them aren't right.
And pained by youthful injustices to them done,
These emotional vampires...
Solicit to undo,
The peace of mind of someone.
Emotional vampires,
Accustomed to critique and darkness...
I can't afford to have feeding on my consciousness.
The extensive draining done they do,
I wont allow with me to pursue.
And they will do it too!
If given one's time.
And...
Empathy.
'I'm a Scorpio.
What are you? '
I'm a-Leaving!
Note:
The 'theme' is similar to my other poem,
Entitled: 'Emotional Vampires'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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The Valentine’s Day
Today is Valentine’s Day.
I love you; I want to say why.
You’re a woman.
You aren’t old.
You’re in my vicinity.
You aren’t my property.
You’re in form.
You aren’t a storm.
You’re shy.
You aren’t sly.
You’re friendly.
You aren’t deadly.
Today is Valentine’s Day
I want to say my love to you.
13.02.2005
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Whose Issues Are These?
The fact that I can change my mind,
Anytime I want to and be committed
To proving I can be unstable,
Should prove to anyone else
I have faced my issues.
And.
I am entitled to be just as aloof,
As the next person.
So don't hand me that nonsense,
About me being unaccountable.
When did accountability,
Ever become a priority?
And
Who is to judge to what degree,
My known issues
That are my right to have,
Aren't done with the best of my ability?
Whose issues are these?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Aren't You The Friend You Promised Me That You Were?
I'm dragging my feet
I don't understand
Why when i'm down
You wont take my hand
Aren't you friend you promised me that you were?
You've built up my trust
You've taken it all
Please don't break my heart
Please don't let me fall
Aren't you the friend you promised me that you were?
I'm treading on
And i'm getting by
Even though i just feel the need to cry
Just answer this one question that i ask
Aren't i at least worth that?
Aren't you the friend you promised me that you were?
poem by Lucy Vernezze

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The revelations of great men
If you do something good in return,
You aren’t good; you settled a due.
If you do something good intently,
You aren’t good; you simply invested.
If you ask pardon for a fevour,
You aren’t great; it’s a strategy.
If you give pardon to one mightier,
You aren’t great with no alternatives.
If you speak truth when comfortable
And be honest when convenient
You cannot boast of yourself as great
As any mean one could do them at ease.
You aren’t great being just in matters
Where being otherwise of no advantage.
You aren’t great with the veil you’ve made
Of good deeds to hide the ill gotten.
You aren’t great with philanthropy
From the undue or unfair wealth got.
But for few, all great men may forgive me
For the revelations made of them.
19.10.2008
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Just A Fence
I say this in truth and not in pretense
All else I wish to own is just a fence
A fence that is made out of steel or wood
Placed around my property as it should
Around my home to protect like a guard
So my dogs won't escape from their yard
I want them to be free without a restraint
To run and play without a neighbors complaint
A fence also to be a barrier from the street
So the many dangers or hazards they will not meet
But sadly I am poor and I have no extra expense
So all that I wish for, is just a fence.
poem by Randy McClave

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To have more friends
Aren’t you bold but timid?
Aren’t you strong but soft?
Aren’t you shrewd but nave?
You will attract more friends.
04.07.2011
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Seeking a Balance
Why aren't you here,
To participate in my anger?
Why aren't you loathing in self pity?
And sitting in self inflicting bitterness.
I love it when my self centeredness is comforted.
Don't you?
And nothing else matters,
Except the catering of my needs!
'You 'must' live alone? '
Of course I do!
But I like to use various introductions,
Just to make sure I eventually meet someone...
Who is not nearly as crazed as I am.
I am seeking a balance.
'Wouldn't it be more cost effective,
If you sought a psychiatrist first? '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Regardless If Being Assessed
I have never been curious of those,
Who have a lot to say about others.
But keep themselves hidden behind masks,
As if afraid to show their own faces.
Or have I been interested at all in those,
Who introduce what they do...
As if to do this puts them high on a judgement list.
I can tell in a minute who is ambitious.
And who lives to experience life without it being a task.
But those who live just to be pretentious,
Aren't as interesting as the ones...
Who seem to be unafraid to walk upon an unchartered path.
To be who they are and say whatever they like.
Regardless if being assessed by others addressing it.
'Did you hear what was said about you? '
~Of course I did.
They are not the only ones here assessing too.
Feeding imaginations I find exciting to do.
I've grown accustomed to being stripped naked,
Without being asked!
Or being in the presence of those disrespecting!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Who Creates These Images?
Greed and excess,
Has produced less profits...
And success.
So those responsible,
For feeding this nonsense...
Seek to do their business,
On foreign shores.
So through exits...
Those feeding selfish needs,
With a seeking to stay afloat...
Had to go!
Leaving those excessively greedy,
Protesting about their rights...
To receive without limits.
And spoiled with the notion they are entitled.
And born to do as they wish and as they like...
For the rest of their lives.
'THAT's NOT TRUE! '
Yells the voice of reason and reality!
'WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO ME? '
When the last of the pennies are taken from the piggy bank...
Why do people then get upset about pigs?
Who creates these images?
Maybe that is the reason for the lack of accountability!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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A Fool? Or In Cahoots?
If I convinced my neighbors I had been invited to protect...
Another neighbor's backyard from enemies and thieves.
And this had gone on for years,
As I collected donations with a squeezing of everything...
Left from the pockets of those who volunteered their money,
To continue this deception I led others to believe.
And that neighbor one day was seen,
Giving away all that was prized in that backyard...
To their...'enemies? ' as all perceived.
What should I expect those surrounding neighbors to think of me?
A fool? Or in cahoots? Maybe both.
Or...believing I was going to secretly get what was given?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Bred to Attack
It was simple then,
To have made it known...
We were being seduce,
To live high and mighty...
In an approaching economic,
Danger zone.
But distractions hid all that.
As we were fed racism and credit traps.
Feeding upon attractions,
That would bleed from us more tax.
As we kept our eyes on our neighbors lives...
While deceivers were planting our minds with lies!
It was simple then,
To have made it known...
We were seduce to live high and mighty,
In an approaching economic danger zone.
We could have prevented hunger and homelessness.
We could have inspired ourselves and our children,
To be respectful and expect the best.
We could have rejected every hint of decadence.
But we chose with a blinded consciousness...
To greed and feed our gluttony!
With a mindlessness...
That has digested us into a mess!
And now we daily experience,
The effects of conflict, chaos and unrest!
It was simple then,
To have made it known...
We were being seduce,
To live high and mighty...
In an approaching economic,
Danger zone.
But distractions hid all that.
As we were fed racism and credit traps.
Feeding upon attractions,
That would bleed from us more tax.
As we kept our eyes on our neighbors lives...
While deceivers were planting our minds with lies!
Suspecting both friend and foe...
To come and stab us in the back.
With a packing of guns to prepare for that.
Now awaiting we do,
For a civil disturbance...
To give us reason to become entrapped.
Like wild rabid dogs bred to attack!
And left to roam with our wounds.
Howling in wails at a cloud clustered moon,
Doomed...and gloomed to foam in fumes.
As an end result of settled scores.
'WHY was this necessary? '
Those who had a purpose and survived aren't sure!
'This isn't as future I wish to endure.
This is not a future i wish to knock on my door.'
Then don't invite it or welcome it in!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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You aren’t silent.
Your silence tells me
That you aren’t silent.
Your reticence tells me
That you aren’t reluctant.
The beauty of seeing you
Is more beautiful than you.
Desires add value
When things are hard to come.
06.11.2006
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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A Poem Is A Metaphor/ Isn't It?
A POEM IS A METAPHOR/ ISN’T IT?
A poem is a metaphor
Isn’t it?
Aren’t we all poems?
Aren’t we all metaphors?
Aren’t we all what we are not?
And what we know we have been and not been?
And what we will be and not be?
Aren’t we all metaphors?
And aren’t we all poems?
And aren’t we all words, just words,
And not?
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Kept Just As It Is
Revealing who sits in pits with demons,
Is currently being exposed to those...
Who have accepted being ignored and opposed,
And this has not pleased...
The deceiving teasing done by demons.
With hopes their tactics used attract,
The ones who have chosen not to play tit for tat.
Knowing those who sit with demons...
Would love to do exactly that.
From shadows where they creep with a seeking to attack.
However...
Those who show they know the ones,
Sitting in demon pits to glow...
Aren't disturbed by them one bit.
with a preferring their distance kept just as it is...
Left effective and less reflective of images protected.
Regardless if deeds done they do are not respected.
Since those ignored have accepted and expect...
Those sitting with demons in their nests object.
And will always do their very best to test...
The ones ignoring them from wherever they may emerge.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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The tenderness has a place
Grapes aren’t defiant as cacti.
Sparrows aren’t as wild as eagles.
So are rabbits, not clever like foxes.
Weaklings, too, have a place to live in.
27.08.2000, Madras.
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Kin of great men
Great men are known but their wives aren’t.
Great women are known but their husbands aren’t.
Great men’s parents and children too aren’t known.
Great men don’t bother but their kin would.
31.08.2010
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Cloaked As Someone's Philanthropist
'Where are your 'things'? '
My 'things'?
I didn't need them.
I gave them away!
'WHHHHAAAATTT! ?
Are you crazed?
What are my friends and neighbors going to say?
What lives are we going to live without those 'things'?
You've ruined my pretentions.
And succeeded in my defeat.
I can no longer flaunt my superficiality!
Why did you do this?
Aren't you feeling just a wee bit dazed? '
Not at all!
From now on I am going to be 'me'!
'AND...
Where will that leave me to be? '
Exposed as the leech you are.
Once cloaked as someone's 'philanthropist'.
To no benefit to the masquerading,
That now has to cease to exist!
'WHHHHAAAATTT! ?
Are you crazed?
What are my friends and neighbors going to say? '
I have no idea.
Why don't you ask?
Most of them I passed...
Standing in line at the soup kitchen!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Every year, I am reminded of the kids who aren't in the freshman class and aren't graduating. I remember every single one of them. That is the worst of times for me, to see the future snuffed out.
quote by Donna Shalala

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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