So Easy It Has Been made
I am not a terrorist!
At least I wasn't when I last checked.
I am, however, a divorced veteran of the Vietnam War,
Living alone on a fixed income.
I am a man who decided early in life,
To take a stand...
With a doing of things I believed were right.
As I kept my identity and pride and integrity in tact.
I did not seek to backbite or make excuses.
There is not a woman who can say or make claims,
I fathered any of her six children.
Or laid up in her face all day to nibble or chew,
On seven hundred dollars or more of food stamps.
OR was there to sleep with her,
And her other fatherless kids in subsidized housing...
Just to have a place to live as I complained,
About my circumstances.
I am a dedicated Black man!
Whether that is significant or not.
I am also patriotic.
And reminded on a daily basis,
I am amongst the very few...
Who choose to stand on my own two feet.
Although so easy it has been made,
For many to degrade themselves to live a lazy existence.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
From Which They Receive No Substance
How do I feel,
About the escalating disrespect...
Shown to me?
And the pride I have taken,
In priding my identity?
That is a very good question.
And I am glad you asked it of me.
First and foremost...
I am not the one to be traumatized,
By an awakening...
To realize my entire existence,
Has been a hoax!
And that is why I stride with a dignity.
Everything about me that 'appears'?
Is what it is!
And my consciousness,
Has never been sold to be stripped away from it.
Everything about me that 'appears'?
Is what it is!
Others may be here to make excuses for themselves.
And...
Out of mind and feeling out of place to escape from fates.
So unfortunate are the ones who have been 'hoaxed' to live...
Their lives they do not value.
And support themselves...
On a faith that is replaced on a daily basis,
From which they receive no substance.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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It Is Time To Leave Them Alone
The moment it has been noticed,
That a people have accepted their conditioning...
To remain confined and limited in mind,
With excuses to make to stay that way...
Down to Earth to express pretentions,
In insecure and hypocritical ways obeyed.
It is time to leave them alone.
A process to awaken poses a threat to them.
And anyone suggesting,
They should stretch their consciousness...
By experiencong something different and fresh,
Is whispered and gossiped about trying to do their best...
Of being better than everyone else.
It is easy to observe,
People defiant and what they approve.
The proof is in what they accept!
And what they choose with their time to do.
'I can't stand them.'
~Why? ~
'Listen to the way they talk and walk.
How they dress and express themselves.
And the things that they do...
That are separated from us and the rest.'
~You mean speaking with clarity?
As if they are proud and have identity?
And they seek to know more about their surroundings,
To increase their minds and can not be defined as ignorant?
With a moving forward to discover truth and reality?
And being criticized doesn't seem to bother their integrity,
Since unity means to them being freed from stupidity? ~
'I can't stand them! '
~And I can see why,
They have decided to leave you alone.~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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My Mama Did Not Raise No Fools
Why do I daily,
Make it my business...
To seek and hug a tree?
And ignore those who snicker about this,
With a laughter I can hear..
But choose to dismiss their activities?
Well...
A tree is rooted,
To all that I am.
Without trees with leaves,
We wouldn't be able to breathe.
Or...
Be able to roam greedily leeching,
Believing God has gifted us to be...
Selfish just to exist!
Trees,
Are solid and grounded...
To 'this' Earth we stand upon.
If it wasn't for the dirt from Earth,
Nothing grown from it...
Would be eaten or found.
And IF it wasn't for the assistance,
From the Sun or clouds above...
Not a dropp of rain,
That produces drinking water...
Would for any of us be allowed,
To love.
Have you ever witnessed a fish,
Crawl or limp aided with a walking stick...
Upon dry sand?
Or a man, woman or child...
Live without eating out of Mother Nature's hand?
Have you?
LIES!
No you haven't.
Why do I daily,
Make it my business...
To seek and hug a tree?
And ignore those who snicker about this,
With a laughter I can hear..
But choose to dismiss their activities?
I am connected!
That's correct.
And respect that which assists my existence.
With a feeling that is blessed,
To have within my head this perspective.
Cause my mama did not raise no fools!
Although there have been times,
I will admit I have been foolish.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Fixed Income
'You are a spendthrift and should budget.
Economize your lifestyle.
And not seek reasons to fuss.
Limit your wants and provide first your needs.
Decrease your appetite,
And this activity will eventually please! '
You don't have a fixed income.
Or live alone.
Do you?
'What does that have to do with me?
All of us in my household,
Eat less meat and dine out infrequently.
And we are able to save an exorbitant amount of money.
Proving we can reduce 'our' excessiveness.
And this I am sure you have not tried.'
You don't have a fixed income.
Or live alone.
Do you?
'There you go!
Trying to compare anchovies with caviar.
And there is quite a difference.'
You don't have a fixed income.
Or live alone.
Do you?
'No I do not!
But if I did,
I certainly would be able to do it better than you.
With far fewer complaints.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Where to Bathe and What to Eat!
Some choose to mask their insecurities,
By use of excuses and insults...
To reduce feelings of insignificance.
As if this shallowness exposed,
Replaces the obvious imposed.
Those of strength are labelled arrogant.
Those of identity are often tagged nonconformists.
And on the other hand those living their lives,
On a daily basis...
Doing what they can to survive.
Could care less whose ego thrives,
Seeking to be massaged...
By another round of bravura.
Pampered in the approval of lies!
There are folks living on our streets,
Trying to figure out how to shelter themselves.
Where to bathe and what to eat!
Those of strength are labelled arrogant.
Those of identity are often tagged nonconformists.
There are folks living on our streets,
Trying to figure out how to shelter themselves.
Where to bathe and what to eat!
And on the other hand those living their lives,
On a daily basis...
Doing what they can to survive.
Could care less whose ego thrives,
Seeking to be massaged by another round of bravura.
Pampered in the approval of lies!
Just to nibble on sweetened pretentions.
To share from a vacuous hollowness!
And at someone else's expense.
There are folks living on our streets,
Trying to figure out how to shelter themselves.
Where to bathe and what to eat!
While those who scurry about with their lifted up noses...
Seek a place to close a door anywhere.
With anyone who agrees...
They are still able to indentify their sanity!
It may not be the accepted 'sanity'!
But at least they are supportive of one another!
There are folks living on our streets,
Trying to figure out how to shelter themselves.
Where to bathe and what to eat!
And people who are marketing decadence,
Stuff their diseased guts...
With delusions of grandeur.
OR something they hold,
To make them feel better than someone lese.
There are folks living on our streets,
Trying to figure out how to shelter themselves.
Where to bathe and what to eat!
Caring less about their bad credit.
Or who refused them a loan,
Based upon nothing in collateral shown.
Since once valued pretentions have lost their asset.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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I Choose To Heal
I've decided not to be reminded of my griefs.
I've learned that carrying a baggage of sorrows,
Only weighs on my back...
Unhappiness to be left to be repeatedly monitored.
Tears cried as others measured my pain,
On a scale from one to ten...
Are days I've chosen not to live.
Again!
And again.
AND...again without end.
Why should I celebrate my agony,
On a regular basis?
What does doing this for me achieve?
A hatred and bitterness I pray from me will leave?
Or a constant search to seek validation,
How miserable my life lived can be?
NO!
For others that may be so,
To acknowledge without a letting go.
But for me...
My happiness comes with the knowing,
I can forgive.
Not forgot!
My mind wont let me do it.
But make attempts to forgive I can do.
I've decided not to be reminded of my griefs.
I've learned that carrying a baggage of sorrows,
Only weighs on my back...
Unhappiness to be left to be repeatedly monitored.
I choose not to keep my healing wounds,
Left to pick to bleed repeatedly in anger.
I choose with faith,
That God will handle my business.
I choose with faith,
God has my back.
And will correct all that has gone wrong,
To make right for my life.
I choose with faith,
That God will handle my business.
I choose to heal,
Not to relive moments of my agonies.
I already know what it takes to moan.
I already know that process.
I've renewed my commitment to living.
And give my deepest respect,
To those who had experienced...
Untimely deaths.
I've decided not to be reminded of my griefs.
I've learned that carrying a baggage of sorrows,
Only weighs on my back...
Unhappiness to be left to be repeatedly monitored.
I choose not to keep my healing wounds,
Left to pick to bleed repeatedly in anger.
I choose to heal.
Not to be left,
For the rest of my life dropping tears wept.
To spend in the process of mourning.
Riding high on the shoulders of grief.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Stand By My Woman
There were times I wasnt kind
And there were times I wasnt even around
And there were times I made you cry
So many times I had to say goodbye
When you want to talk
Im on the phone
But now baby I am here for you alone
Im gonna stand by my woman now
Im gonna stand by my woman now
cause I cant live my life alone
Without a home
There were times I didnt understand
And there were times I waouldnt hold your hand
But now baby now Im here for you
cause baby I am so in love with you
Im gonna stand by my woman now
Im gonna stand by my woman now
cause I cant live my life alone
Without a home
Im gonna stand by my woman now
Im gonna stand by my woman now
cause I cant live my life alone
Without a home
Im gonna stand by my woman now
Im gonna stand by my woman now
cause I cant live my life alone
Without a home
Stand by my woman now
Im gonna stand by my woman now
cause I cant live my life alone
Without a home
Without a home
song performed by by Lenny Kravitz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Live I Did and Still Do
Wrong I may have been,
When decisions then were made.
From a past I believed to live right,
As I perceived my life to be.
As was lived cautiously,
With a thoughtful insight...
Kept protectively within me.
But I will not fight against,
Those who hold...
Old and fixed defenses.
With an irreplaceable stubbornness.
As if mistakes I've made,
I have not learned from and still exist.
Wrong I may have been,
When decidions then were made.
But back then when I made them,
Living my life...
Whether others felt I was wrong or right,
Live I did.
And still do to improve.
Excuses made for what I've done...
Will not change a thing for anyone.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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I Chose to Like My Own Life
I chose to like my own life.
It wasn't easy then to do it.
Since many then pretended,
With no identifiable dignity.
Or a pride that had reality.
I chose to live my life right.
Free of masquerades,
And...
Those days I spent charading.
With dim light to pass.
I chose to greet the morning Sun.
Feeling a freedom at last.
Like never before I felt could be done.
I opened the door inside of me once closed.
And released my own mind...
To find a truth I could believe,
See and daily breathe.
And wanting more of 'me' exposed.
And I chose to like my own life.
Not finding fault or wrong with it.
Or defending what for me felt right.
What for me I knew existed.
I chose to like my own life to live,
As I do...
To prove,
It is mine to live it as I choose.
And this day I choose to live my life!
And so peaceful do I sleep at night.
Free of masquerades,
And...
Those days I spent charading,
Behind an assortment of masks.
With no direction on my path,
Cemented and paved.
I chose to like my own life.
It wasn't easy then.
Since many then pretended.
As if that was their task.
And pretending for me,
Has ended.
As clear as unstained glass,
Allows light to pass through it brighter...
With no intention to leave a blemish.
Coming as it does,
To radiate that which lives.
And this day I choose to live my life!
For me...and you too.
To get those deeds we need to do,
Done.
Knowing now we have identified,
And overcomed the fear...
Of liking one another like we like ourselves.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Not Determined By Group Effort
There is one important aspect,
I have learned in the living of my life.
And that is to live it to its fullest.
Regardless of who says what,
With comments to make...
As if my steps made seeks their approval.
Or critical judgements passed to hear,
If I do not impress with them first to address it.
I have learned to live my life,
With the telling of those of what they can do.
AND...
If they do not like those choices I have made.
It took me a long time to learn this in perspective...
The living of my life is not determined by group effort.
With the hopes that my doings...
Are only suitable and aimed towards them to please.
It's not them I thank...I thank God on daily basis,
For opening my eyes to finally awaken.
With the distinct smelling of coffee...
With cream and sugar in a cup and enjoying it.
To sip at my leisure for as long as I choose.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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We've Cut Back
Why is it always those 'with' the money,
Attempting to convince the ones living...
On a fixed and unchanging income,
Without a dime left to spare...
They could save 'more' money?
'IF'...They decided to put their minds to it.
Well, my mind has been decided for many years now.
But somehow my rent, utility bills and food expenses,
Seem to care less where my mind happens to be...
When the time comes around and they need to get paid.
And my thoughts seem to be confined with the picking of lint,
Straight out of my empty pockets on a monthly basis.
'If 'we' can do that...
You should be able to do that too.
In fact...
We've cut back from taking those yearly cruises,
To the Caribbean.
And redecorating our home every other year?
We recently decided made no sense to 'us' at all.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Have You Ever Done That Before?
Your 'things' do not make you a better human being.
You may believe they establish you a status.
But there is something that can be said about pretense...
That leaves those hungering to spend their time,
With people who express a common sense...
From thought producing minds.
It is a rarity to find folks,
Who have not been tainted or provoked...
By teased materialistic dreams.
Or the kind of people who become identified...
By where they live and what they drive.
Living a quality of life that seems delightfully contrived.
Yet inside of them there is a frightful hollowness...
That is silently screamed,
And quietly demeaning them.
Your 'things' do not make you a better human being.
And their absence,
Also has not revealed you possess an integrity.
With your identity gone packed away with your 'things'...
And no integrity left you can display or bring,
What is it that you claim you can give to offer?
Superficiality?
Okay...
And,
What else do you have besides that?
Do you have anything we can chew on that's concrete?
How about a conversation we all can contribute.
Have you ever done that before?
Had you considered comprehending after listening,
To complete sentences...
Delivered to your assuming ears.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Wake Up And Live
Wake up and live
Wake up and live your life see what there is to see
I won't sit around all day cause life means more to me
wake up and live
so many kids content to sleep their lives away
but I'm gona try to make themost out of this day
wake up and live
it takes some motivation It takes some love for life
why just sit complacent and let life pass you by
boredom is a choice I choose not to make
unlock that door, strive for more
there's a better path to take
WAKE UP AND LIVEbreath every breath
WAKE UP AND LIVE until my death
WAKE UP AND LIVE so much to do
WAKE UP AND LIVE all of you
c'mon, open your eyes
song performed by by Youth Of Today
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In Your Face
In your face.
And scrutinized on a daily basis,
That should not take place with such curiosity.
But it does with the getting of attention.
I am an American man.
And labelled black to be made aware of that.
To offend many when my proudness is expressed.
I have always had ambitions to be my best.
With a dignity I wear my identity to expose.
I have never had a wish to be depicted as a stereotype,
To appease those who are white to please appetites.
Not me I am happy to be who I am.
And then there are those who wish to be viewed,
As 'good' Negroes.
With obedience and subservience,
Served to those they'd rather not upset.
I am an American man.
And labelled black to be made aware of that.
To offend many when my proudness is expressed.
I have always had ambitions to be my best.
Does this confession make me 'less' patriotic?
Or am I 'more' American because I have beliefs...
To be the best human being that I can be.
Regardless of any images that provide others with relief.
How you depict with descriptions to abuse and define?
Is a problem you have to overcome in your limited mind.
With time given to dread or not.
And 'that' will never be a question you will hear me ask!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Overnight They Want The 'Info
Overnight they want the 'secret',
From one they have seen has achieved.
Overnight they want the 'info'...
As if what has been done,
Will make it easy for them to succeed.
Isn't that always the case?
Someone labors years alone,
Dedicated and toiling through heartaches.
Applies devotion when jokes are thrown.
Then 'suddenly' the one that is mocked,
Establishes a name...
And becomes well known.
Overnight they want the 'secret',
From one they have seen has achieved.
Overnight they want the 'info'...
As if what has been done,
Will make it easy for them to succeed.
Isn't that always the case?
People will sit back and procrastinate.
Exaggerating what it is they 'wish' to do.
But doing 'nothing' on a daily basis...
Yet spend time critiquing with attitude.
Then time slips from them through their hands,
And when this is realized...
They then want to take a stand.
Wishing from someone,
To show them how things are done.
But absent of patience to listen to anyone!
Overnight they want the 'secret',
From one they have seen has achieved.
Overnight they want the 'info'...
As if what has been done,
Will make it easy for them to succeed.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Get On Your Feet
You say I know its a waste of time
Theres no use trying
So scared that lifes gonna pass you by
Your spirit dying
Not long ago
I could feel your strength and your devotion
What was so clear, is now overcast
With mixed emotions
Deep in your heart is the answer
Find it, I know it will pull you through
Get on your feet
Get up and make it happen
Get on your feet
Stand up and take some action
I think its true that weve all been through
Some nasty weather
Lets understand that were here
To handle things together
You gotta keep looking onto tomorrow
Theres so much in life
Thats meant for you
Get on your feet
Get up and make it happen
Get on your feet
Stand up and take some action
Get on your feet
Dont stop before its over
Get on your feet
The weight is off your shoulder
Get up and make it happen
Stand up, stand up, stand up and take some action
Gotta get on your feet, yeah, yeah
Dont stop before its over
Get on your feet
The weight is off your shoulder
Get on your feet
Get up, get up, get up and make it happen
Get on your feet
Stand up , stand up and take some action
Get on your feet
song performed by by Gloria Estefan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We Live So Fast
Please dont ask me to stay
Im leaving this town
Dont worry now
Believe me as I believe that
Luck is on my side
The future is mine
If I can find
A way through these strange days of my life
We live so fast
Motion, motion
No time to waste
Use it, use it
We live so fast
Motion, motion
Make the first step and reach out for tomorrow
We live so fast
Motion, motion
We cant stand still
Move it, move it
We live so fast
Motion, motion
Move out of my way its time to make it happen
The streets deserted and cold
Theyre not paved with gold
But I dont care
For those who think young will still survive
Making their move
Hoping to prove
That they can face
This big city, small world, big time
We live so fast
Motion, motion
No time to waste
Use it, use it
We live so fast
Motion, motion
Make the first step and reach out for tomorrow
We live so fast
Motion, motion
We cant stand still
Move it, move it
We live so fast
Motion, motion
Move out of my way its time to make it happen
But now I know their ways
I found my place
Saw their true face
Theres nothing to stay for so Ill go
Ill pick up the phone
Still searching for home
We life so fast
Alone but not lonely I move on
We live so fast
Motion, motion
No time to waste
Use it, use it
We live so fast
Motion, motion
Make the first step and reach out for tomorrow
We live so fast
Motion, motion
We cant stand still
Move it, move it
We live so fast
Motion, motion
Move out of my way its time to make it happen
song performed by by Heaven 17
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What If Life Were But A Dream?
What difference would it make............if life were but a dream
As if we owned th' magic wand, to wake up 'n smell th' coffee
Colorless houses stand tilting.......'neath loud-orange sunsets
And your confusion asks: Is this a dream.....or my life within it
We exercise, motion and thought..........with great redundance
Patterns that jog the rapid eye.................when sleep befalls us
Seems, th' closer we get to th' answers...we supposedly seek
We're pulled further away, 'til illusion takes us to another place
And, if our lives be no more or less....than a continuous dream
What be then th' next dimension, when th' dream so concludes
Will it place us all in a limbo of re-runs of Nightline with Koppel
Or find ourselves in th' world...we already believe to be living in
Existence......is merely interpretation of accepted surroundings
We sleep with belief that to dream...is to live our subconscious
Image and illusion fabricated by th'stem of our mercurial minds
Yet, what if our subconscious is in fact our conscious existence
What then, my God, be the next plateau.............after internment
poem by Frank James Ryan Jr.
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Caravan Of Love
Ooh...ooh...ooh..
Ooh...ooh...ooh..
Are you ready for the time of your life
It's time to stand up and fight
(It's alright) It's alright (It's alright, it's alright)
Hand in hand we'll take a caravan
To the motherland
One by one we're gonna stand with the pride
One that can't be denied
(Stand up, stand up, stand up, stand up)
From the highest mountain, and valley low
We'll join together, with hearts of gold
Now the children of the world can see
There's a better way for us to be
The place where mankind was born
Is so neglected and torn... torn apart
Every woman, every man
Join the caravan of love (Stand up, stand up, stand up)
Everybody take a stand
Join the caravan of love
I'm your brother
I'm your brother, don't you know
I'm your brother
I'm your brother, don't you know
We'll be living in a world of peace
In a day when everyone is free
We'll bring the young and the old
Won't you let your love flow from your heart
Every woman, every man
Join the caravan of love (Stand up, stand up, stand up)
Everybody take a stand
Join the caravan of love
I'm your brother
I'm your brother, don't you know
I'm your brother
I'm your brother, don't you know
Now the children of the world can see
There's a better for us to be
The place where mankind was born
Is so neglected and torn... torn apart
Every woman, every man
Join the caravan of love (Stand up, stand up, stand up)
Everybody take a stand
Join the caravan of love
Are you ready for the time of your life
(Are you re
song performed by by Isley Brothers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Why Can't A Man Stand Alone? (live)
Why can't a man stand alone?
Must he be burdened by all that he's taught to consider his own?
His skin and his station, his kin and his crown, his flag and his nation
They just weigh him down
You know pride is a sin that we tend to forgive
But it gets hard to live
When you don't have the love in her heart to begin with
Why can't a man stand alone?
Why can't a woman be just what she seems?
Must she be tarnished by men who can only be men in their dreams?
When beauty meets ignorance they shout in the street
Repeating their offer to each girl they meet
The respect that she needs, it isn't a gift
But it gets hard to lift yourself up
When you don't have the strength to begin with
Why can't a woman stand alone?
Why can't a baby sleep at night and dream of the time to come
And never fear the world outside the touch of someone very near
Why can't a man stand up?
Why can't a man stand up?
Why can't a man stand alone?
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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