From Another Neighborhood
No one should kick a dog,
Once it has been found...
Laying on the ground.
'But those people over there,
Have confessed they weren't aware.'
That is difficult to believe.
'The only thing they do admit to seeing,
Is the dog being dragged behind a truck.
Then strung up in a tree.
To then be cut down to lay upon the ground.
But no one saw it being kicked.'
But why didn't anyone rush to the dog's aid?
'Most of them have said,
They have a preference more for poodles.
And that dog appeared to be a mutt.
From another neighborhood.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Too Far From Auntie's Gaze
Auntie said
don't go
too far away
with the mutt
I need to know
where you are
and so you
and the mutt
went down
the metal stairway
and off
into the barrack grounds
at Aldershot
keeping close
to the places
that your aunt
could see you from
and you could hear
soldiers marching
on the parade ground
and the sergeants
bellowing their orders
to the marching troops
and you sensed
the cold air
and frost
on the ground
as you walked
and the mutt sniffed
the earth
and you said
come on mutt
let's go for a run
and off you went
and the mutt followed
and overtook you
its tail wagging
its eyes large
and brown
like pools of chocolate
and lucid like mud
and you raced him
as far as you could
then you had to stop
for breath
and the mutt
stopped too
and looked back at you
its tongue hanging
from the corner
of its mouth
and you looked over
to where your aunt lived
and realised
she wouldn't
be able to see you
from where you were
and the dog didn't care
and the air
was chilling
your lungs
and your tongue hung
in the corner
of your little boy mouth
and the soldiers marched
and marched
and you stood watching
bent over
with your hands
on your knees
and big black birds
called out from the trees.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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On Tree
Just a plain old TREE. I Ignored the weather
satisfied with me. I Looked at TREE.
What if anything do I knoe about TREE.
It used to be a thing made out of wood, always tall,
with branches near the ground. Roots fingering the ground.
Life comes up somehow to TREE. Water cascades down to ground, seeping slowly into ROOT. ROOT transmogrifies
the water into inner sanctum stuff known only to the Lord.
People still tell me, Tree just cannot live.
There is no real feeling in TREE.
There is knowledge in TREE or it would be a blade of grass.
People say the life is in the seed or sapiling.
I think the knowledge is in the MAN, the ONE who can.
He Makes all the TREE begin, upon a distant planet,
Creates the thing again, in the courtyard of his KING.
And every meadow of his earth.
The ONE who gave me birthe the second time around.
The ONE who gave me TREE.
And Time to write this down.
poem by Charles Hice
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Is There A Legal Ground
Is there a legal ground?
One can stand on to feel safe and sound.
Is there a legal ground?
One that can be found that's not shaking around.
Is there a legal ground?
One that is near,
Not to be feared...
And if one should fall,
A solidness is clear!
Is there a legal ground?
Anywhere.
One understood.
One that is shared.
Is there a legal ground?
One that is cemented...
Making feelings of it different,
With a jumping up and down...
Packing heavy weighted pounds.
Is there a legal ground?
Around...
To be found!
Is there a legal ground?
Around...
To be found.
Is there a legal ground?
Around...
To be found.
Is there a legal ground?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Oh unchanging tree
Such a beautiful thing Is a tree.
In summer, in winter, in spring, in fall
the beauty of a tree, doesn't change at all
The leaves fall to the ground
all the richest beautiful color
can be found
The snow falls
but it doesn't hurt the tree,
it just lays on it's branches
like frosting on a cake
Then it gets warm, the snow melts.
Say goodbye to to winter, say hello to sping.
New life is such a beautiful thing
But so is the tree, the beautiful mighty tree.
That stands alone as the seasons pass
as when you were old or just a lass.
A tree must have a heart, because when it falls to the ground.
No Joy can be found..
So when you see a tree say hello, they can get lonely you know.
Tell them a story, tell them a poem, they will listen.
This I know
poem by Summer Song
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Chastising Of Renegade
There was this kid in our neighborhood
His Pop had named him Renegade
He lived up to his name
With all the trouble that he made
One day ol' Renegade
Snuck into the Park Theater downtown
For a laugh he set fire to the screen
Burnt the whole damn place to the ground
He thought that no one would mind
He did that sort of thing all the time
But his Pop was waitin' for him
At age fifteen Renegade
Stole a tow truck from Arnie's Shell
Drove it through the front of a hardware store
Spent the night in a county jail
He didn't seem to mind a bit
He liked the attention he would get
song performed by by Primus
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Turn Around
I was working all night in my office
When a man I had recently killed
Called me up from a phone near my building
So I looked out the window at him
He had the same obsequious manner
That was the reason I had him killed
So to calm my nerves I sang this song
To him, over the phone
Turn around, turn around
Theres a thing there that can be found
Turn around, turn around
Its a human skull on the ground
Human skull on the ground
Turn around
I was out by myself in the graveyard
I was doing an interpretive dance
When I felt something heavy and pointed
Strike me in the back of the neck
And then the ghost of my dance instructor
Pushed me down into an open grave
And as dirt rained down she played a xylophone
And sang me this song
Turn around, turn around
Theres a thing there that can be found
Turn around, turn around
Its a human skull on the ground
Human skull on the ground
Turn around
We were waving our arms out the window
Of a fast moving passenger train
Acting in an irresponsible fashion
Until the engineer whose back had been turned
And who we thought would find us highly amusing
Quickly swiveled his head around
And his face which was a paper-white mask of evil
Sang us this song
Turn around, (round) turn around (round)
Theres a thing there that can be found (theres a thing there that can be)
Turn around, (found) turn around (round)
Its a human skull on the ground (its a human skull on the)
Human skull (ground) on the ground (round)
Turn around (turn around, turn around)
Turn around, (round) turn around (round)
Theres a thing there that can be found (theres a thing there that can be)
Turn around, (found) turn around (round)
Its a human skull on the ground (its a human skull on the)
Human skull (ground) on the ground (round)
Turn around (turn around, turn around)
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stand Up
I got to know right now
It's got to be this time
I wanna show you how
Gonna make you change your mind
There's an empty chair at my table
There's an empty look in your eyes
Ooh, that's right
I just happen to be a man
And you happen to be a woman
And we happen to be together
Try to stop this thing comin'
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take a little love and shake it all around, stand up
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take me in your arms and throw me to the ground
Down to the ground, baby come on
Stand up, stand up for love
I'm gonna play your game
I wanna play with fire
I want to breathe your air
Baby, gonna take you there
If you lay your cards on the table
I'll lay my love on the line
Till you're mine
I just happen to be a man
And you happen to be a woman
And we happen to be together
Try to stop this thing comin'
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take a little love and shake it all around, stand up
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take me in your arms and throw me to the ground
Down to the ground, baby come on
Stand up, stand up for love
You couldn't get it much better
You never had it so good
Stand up together
And when you're ready to
You're gonna get what you should
Little by little
Like a fine wine
My love is like a motor
Runnin' all the time
Step by step
Easy and slow
On the stairway to heaven
What a way to go
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take a little love and shake it all around, stand up
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take me in your arms and throw me to the ground, stand up
Stand up, kick love into motion
Take me in your arms and show me what you found, stand up
Stand up, kick love into motion
My love is like a motor runnin' all the time, stand up
Stand up, yeah, kick love into motion
I said step by step
Go easy, go slow, stand up
Stand up, kick love into motion
Yeah, on a stairway to heaven
What a way to go, stand up
song performed by by Def Leppard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Made Okay To Do It Your Way
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
Why did you choose to pick a ball,
Knowing picking it...
Wasn't cool to do.
You complained,
That you couldn't take the weight.
And a waiting too late makes it okay.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You made okay to do it your way,
To...
Pick then kick a ball.
To,
Pick then kick a ball.
You made okay to do it your way,
To...
Pick then kick a ball.
To,
Pick then kick a ball.
Why did you choose to pick a ball,
Knowing picking it...
Wasn't cool to do.
You made okay to do it your way,
To...
Pick then kick a ball.
To,
Pick then kick a ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
You pick up then you kicked the ball.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Auntie and Mutt.
Auntie cut the rind
off the bacon
and offered it
to the dog
but before the dog
could put his lips to it
you made off with it
down the cast iron stairs
beside the barrack block
and the dog followed you
barking as it did so
and once you reached the ground
you went off
onto the grass
and the dog
chased you
and jumped up at you
trying to reach
the bacon rind
you held between fingers
and Auntie called over
the metal rail
let the mutt have it
don't tease him
and so you bit
the rind in half
and gave the mutt one half
and ate the other yourself
but sometimes after Auntie
put the bacon rind
in the dog's bowl
you picked it up
and tossed it
over the balcony rail
onto the ground below
and the dog raced down
the stairs after it
but now and then
you pretended
to toss it over
and after the dog
raced off
you would hold it
over the side of the rail
and called to the mutt
and said
I still got it mutt
and the dog raced back
up the stairs
and you sat there
on the metal landing
and the dog came
and licked and nuzzled you
and you gave the dog
the bacon rind
and he licked you
and wagged its tail
and Auntie called out
what are you up to?
what are you doing now?
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Kick
Sometimes you kick
Sometimes you get kicked
Sometimes you kick
Come on come on come on come
I look around unsatisfied
At what theyre giving me
Then I think to myself
Is there someone else
Who feels the same as me
Do you feel the same baby
When my back is broken
When the mountain moves away
All the dreams and promises
That we give
We give away
Sometimes you kick
Sometimes you get kicked
Sometimes you kick
Sometimes you get kicked
Look ahead
But dont mix it up
Baby look ahead
To better days and better ways
Make peace with flesh and blood
Make peace with your love
Nothing more I could ask of you
In the end this is the truth
song performed by by INXS
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Off The Ground
There must have been a lot of heartache
For you to sink so low.
You must have had a ton of pressure.
Only answer if the answers no.
I need loving, you need loving too.
Doesnt take a lot to get off the ground.
There must have been a lot of magic
When the world was born.
Let me be the one you wish for,
One you call for, when youre all alone.
I need loving, you need loving too.
Wouldnt take a lot to get off the ground.
Off the ground, off the ground.
Fly around, fly around.
Hear the sound, hear the sound.
Off the ground, off the ground.
Though it takes a lot of power
To make a bog tree grow.
It doesnt need a pot of knowledge.
For a seed knows what a seed must know.
You need loving, I need loving too.
Doesnt take a lot to get off the ground.
Off the ground, off the ground.
Fly around, fly around.
Hear the sounnd, hear the sound.
Off the ground, off the ground.
Hear the sound, hear the sound.
Off the groound, off the ground.
Yeah yeah, off the ground.
song performed by by Paul McCartney
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Stamping Ground
The stamping ground,
The stamping ground.
All your old gang
Still hang around.
Coming in with the same blokes,
Going home with the same jokes,
If you ever go missing
I know where youll be found :
The stamping ground.
The big fella on the front door knows your face.
The barman pretends that hes saved you a place,
But when your back is turned
They say shes older than she tells.
I could stand the main attraction,
But not the clientelle.
The stamping ground,
The stamping ground.
All your old gang
Still hang around.
Coming in with the same blokes,
Going home with the same jokes,
If you ever go missing
I know where youll be found :
The stamping ground.
Everybody knows
Evrybodys trouble,
Who comes in alone,
Who leaves as a couple.
When they seen you coming, babe,
They act like theyre pleased to meet you.
Say its very nice to know you,
But I wouldnt want to be you.
The stamping ground,
The stamping ground.
All your old gang
Still hang around.
Going home with the same blokes,
Going home with the same jokes,
If you ever go missing
I know where youll be found :
The stamping ground.
You talk like you dont have a brain in your head.
You act like you dont have a care in your bed.
Th lights are on,
Theres no one home,
It scares you to death.
You stamp on anyone who stops to take a breath.
The stamping ground,
The stamping ground.
All your old gang
Still hang around.
Going home with the same blokes,
Going home with the same jokes,
If you ever go missing
I know where youll be found :
The stamping ground.
The stamping ground.
The stamping ground.
The stamping ground.
The stamping ground.
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Enemy Tracks (Quatern)
There are many tracks on the ground,
enemies could be anywhere,
the spoor does the tracker astound,
he looks carefully here and there.
To me the tracks look all the same,
there are many tracks on the ground,
I do not know from where they came,
how enemies are to be found.
To the tracker it is renowned,
the way that it is set, its line
there are many tracks on the ground,
to me looking almost as mine.
We drink water under a tree
find a booby trap tightly bound
that almost is disposing me,
there are many tracks on the ground.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Headstrong
He walked down the road
and never turned around.
He just kept on going
and stood his ground.
The ground shook
underneath his feet.
But still he proceeded.
He would not accept defeat.
For if he stopped
and people asked him why?
He'd have to admit failure
and eat humble pie.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Poodles
So many love to spoil their pets.
Especially those poodles.
With pedicures and silk worn vests.
Especially those poodles.
Some can be seen,
Adorning precious gems as necklaces.
Especially those poodles.
And people 'ahh' and 'ooo' too...
Whenever they see a pampered moving poodle.
Why,
Oh why...
Few are heard to brag about their cockatoos?
Those noisy Australasian crested parrots.
And,
Why oh why...
Do some prefer cats?
Even appearing to nap those cats will scratch back.
Love people do their poodles.
No matter what those poodles do.
And finicky are those poodles too.
Whining to be carried in their owner's arms...
As they choose to coo like a lovebird.
So many love to spoil their pets.
Especially those poodles.
With pedicures and silk worn vests.
Especially those poodles.
Why,
Oh why...
Few are heard to brag about their cockatoos?
Those noisy Australasian crested parrots.
And,
Why oh why...
Do some prefer cats?
Even appearing to nap those cats will scratch back.
Why do people choose to brag about their poodles.
Some can be seen,
Adorning precious gems as necklaces.
Especially those poodles.
And people 'ahh' and 'ooo' too...
Whenever they see a pampered moving poodle,
Flaunt and strut while cruising.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Self Portrait
The willow tree stands alone.
It grows alone, relying only on the Sun and the Rain.
This willow tree offers shade.
It only shades during the day, casting a monster
of a shadow in the mornings and evenings,
its size shrinking in between. Its shadow
is solid in some places, but has empty
places of sunlight dotting the ground beneath
it, allowing room for purity among the darkness.
This willow tree is immune to the Wind.
It bends whichever way it needs to survive,
sacrificing its tiny leaves to be carried away.
This willow tree is a home.
Small birds build nests on its branches,
laying eggs that will bring new Life to the World.
The nest is supported. Some things of little
weight can be supported, but anything that drags
the branches too close to the ground
will be dropped so the tree can be saved.
This willow tree is weak.
As it grows, its branches come closer and closer
to the ground, for it cannot support the weight
of itself anymore. It cannot help its own soul.
With one swing of an ax, the tree will be felled.
It will be finished, left there to be eaten
and burrowed in and rotted away by the Earth.
poem by Zoe Guillory
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The Drunkards (Story-Bullying)
There was three of them in an old pickup truck
After drinking all night at the GOLDEN DUCK.
As the sun was coming up they was screamin and cussin
As to what to do next - they was fussin.
When seeing this sixteen year old riding her bike to school
They started acting like the drunken fools.
They started screaming and howling and giving wolf cries
As the girl rode on by.
They wasn't just satisfied with their howls and cries
They wanted her by their sides.
They turned the truck around and cut her off
They was going to show her ' who was boss'.
They tried to grab her from the back
But she was prepared for any sneak attacks.
She had her guardian angel with her from heaven
And she had been learning KUNG -FU since the age of seven.
When the first one reached out to grab her
She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand straight up and back
Till she heard his wrist crack.
As the second one came running up
A round house kick in his face
Sent him flying into space.
The third one came at her with a tire iron in his hand
As she crotched down and took her stand
When he was about two feet away and open wide
In his crotch her kick did fly.
All three men lay on the ground
as she picked up her bike without a sound
Put her bike on their pick up truck
With this girl they was s- out of luck.
Then drove the truck into town
and told the sheriff where they could be found.
They was charged with 'drunk and disorderly manner'
And on the high school there flies a banner.
'Protect yourself and don't give in
Being a bully you will never win'
poem by Louis Rams
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4. Grow Well
The knowledge tree will need to grow
While we still have the need to know
Its roots secure to help it growing
Food it seeks our need for knowing
Thick stout trunk a brain or store
With many wonders to explore
Branches go at every angle
Many problems to untangle
A tree as this of many years
Survives by feeding from our tears
Sometimes joy at knowledge found
They fall like raindrops on the ground
Remember in the world out there
Try to learn and be aware
And if you’re able, go to college
To fertilize this tree of knowledge
poem by David Threadgold (2008)
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Father Boy
Oh Father Boy, Oh Father Boy
You didn’t see the signs
You didn’t hear a thing did you
Oh Father Boy, my dear
You didn’t see, you didn’t look, you didn’t listen either
You didn’t try to understand
You didn’t take the time
You weren’t a Father, Father Boy, you weren’t a Father, Father.
Oh Father Boy, Father Boy
When a Father has a Boy
To be a Father, Father see
You have to see the Boy
The Boy inside the Father
And the Father in the Boy
But Father Boy, Oh Father Boy
You just didn’t pay attention
For a Boy to be a Father, Father
He cannot be a Father Boy.
(Previously published in Megaera, #4, Fall 2000)
poem by Laurence Overmire
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From A Limited Perspective
I don't see where justice has been served.
'That's because you choose to see it,
From a limited perspective.'
How is that?
'Well...
Even though one has been charged,
With breaching the national defense of the country...
By emailing secrets to his mistress.
You have to admit...
Good he looks in uniform.
Especially with those 'stars' on his shoulders.'
Okay.
I agree with that.
However...
What about the other guy,
Who was seen smoking a joint...
Near church property?
And the smoking of weed has already been legalized.
'That's because you choose to see it,
From a limited perspective.
What has been dilberately done,
Is an intolerable action considered blasphemous...
Against those standards that are valued,
By the ones who are above reproach.
Which are?
'Now...
Had he been in uniform AND cruising the neighborhood,
Chugging a bottle of vodka...
He would not have been brutalized so severely by the police.
This was judged as an unforgivable sin.
That's why they dragged and kicked him repeatedly.'
Smoking weed?
That's ridiculous.
'No, no, no!
He chose to stand within one hundred feet,
'Outside' of the church
But...
Didn't they recently have a sex scandal?
'That was 'inside' the church.
There is a difference.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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