teenager seen from Above
The teenager around the house,
confronted with the suggestion that
God smiles on him, would be
rabbit-stunned beyond reaction;
but, inspect him thoroughly from toe
to top (leaving aside his as yet
creditable carbon footprint; cash-strapped
is carbon-friendly) :
the trainers, sweat-made in the Third World,
now look as if they’re back there; they’ve been known
to walk out of the room from under the bed
in sheer self-disgust;
the forever jeans, customised with
a designer rip just above the knee,
are of that subtle shade
where worn meets dirty;
the ‘top’ – at least there’s some hint there
of choice; sending out coded messages
which groan-ups cannot read; could be
footie with the boys; or could even be
let’s sleep together, no big deal..
we’ll just have to wait and see, or guess;
the face, now: that gets little attention
first thing in the morning; but in the evening
it’s a different ball-game; Mum’s facial things
have even been known to be employed
when rumblings of an imminent socio-visual
eruption threaten;
but, the hair… thirty, twenty years ago
if someone his age took this long at the mirror,
we’d either be considering counselling,
or buying him Judy Garland records…
eventually, he’s out from there; the immaculately
tousled gleaming wildness is a sennight’s
tribute to the week’s Top Ten…
angels, passing over, smile to themselves
at the view from above; murmur at
what a well-groomed lot the
humans are these days.
Maybe it’s time to haul out
Great-Granma’s hand-stitched
sampler from the loft, and put it back
in the downstairs loo, where
we used to think it such a joke
in our first-house years –
‘God Sees All'...
poem by Michael Shepherd

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Carbon Sinks
I think that I shall never see
a better Carbon Sink than M.I.T.’s
It helps keep green house gas at bay
By sequestering it away
The Carbon Sink works like a tree
but does it more efficiently
When trees in wintertime are bare
The Carbon Sink still cleans the air
And trees can yield up carbon once again
When Forest fires make them burn
Poems are made by fools like me
But Carbon Sinks are made by M.I.T
poem by John F. McCullagh

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Twenty Years Ago
It's been a long time since I walked
Through this old town
But oh how the memories start to flow
And there's the old movie house
They finally closed it down
You could find me there every Friday night
Twenty years ago.
I worked the counter at the drugstore down the street
But nobody's left there I would know
On Saturday mornings that's where
All my friends would meet
You'd be surprised to know what a dime would buy
Twenty years ago.
All my memories from those days come gather round me
What I'd give if they could take me back in time
It almost seems like yesterday
Where do the good times go?
Life was so much easier twenty years ago.
I guess I should stop by Mr. Johnson's hardware store
His only son was my friend Joe
But he joined the army back in 1964
How could we know he would never come back
Twenty years ago...
song performed by by Kenny Rogers

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Carbon, carbon, carbon.
Diamond is nothing but carbon
All organs are made of carbon.
Organisms’ food is carbon.
Carbon burns to give out carbon
15.04.2010
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Ten Grey hairs and a silver one
I discovered my first grey hair
when I was Seventeen years old
It had to do with broken up my first relationship
I discovered my second grey hair
when I was Twenty years old
It had to do with the quarrels at home
I discovered my third grey hair
when I was Twenty-one years old
It had to do with searching for work
I discovered my fourth grey hair
when I was Twenty-three years old
It had to do with loosing my job
I discovered my fifth grey hair
when I was Twenty-five years old
It had to do with giving up my unborn child
I discovered my sixth grey hair
When I was Twenty-eight years old
It had to do with opening my pub
I discovered my seventh grey hair
When I was thirty years old
It had to do with giving birth to my daughter
I discovered my eight grey hair
When I was thirty –two years old
It had to do with the first day at the kinder garden school
I discovered my ninth grey hair
When I was thirty-four years old
It had to do with to find out that some thing was missing
I discovered my tenth grey hair
When I was thirty-five years old
It had to do with the fights between my sisters and mum
My one Silver hair I discovered lately
Has to do with you
Because I miss you so hard …
poem by Pascale Ost

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I gave up on new poetry myself thirty years ago, when most of it began to read like coded messages passing between lonely aliens on a hostile world.
quote by Russell Baker

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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0004 Oxymoron
You know the type - the word's just perfect for him:
built like an ox, brain like a moron.
shaved head, one ear-ring, bull neck,
gold chain, tattoos,
black gym-pumped T shirt
(strange to think that thirty years ago
that would mark him a, er, Judy Garland fan..)
or football shirt on match days,
jeans, trainers
for a quick getaway between the blood and the pig-van,
and sharp eyes in an impassive face
as if one eye's always on the lookout for his mates
and the other for the other lot
so don't catch his eye, OK?
a 'football supporter';
now that's a real
oxymoron.
poem by Michael Shepherd

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He'll Be Back
I know better than anybody how it feels to want somebody so bad after you break up
Still
(Looking for that phone call)
Still
(Even when they don't)
Still ain't ready to walk away and call it all over
Act like you wasn't listening when they told ya
They don't wanna be with you anymore
Stuck in your ways, you choose to ignore
'Cause in your mind, you're still together
Thought it would last but there's no forever
Walked out on you with no call, no letter
When he realize it don't get no better
Chorus:
He'll be back
To make up for the lonely days
He'll be back
When things ain't working out his way
He'll be back
When he sees that it's not the same
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back
He knows he's gonna need his lady
He'll be back
When his boys say he must be crazy
He'll be back
He'll know he made a big mistake
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back
You don't want to believe it but you see it happening
Wakes you up out of your sleep, out of the dreams you're having
Still
(Looking for his return)
Still
(Hoping that he's gonna learn)
Wake up and realize the truth, make some time for you
What's he trying to do to you
Miss him more as days go by
Try your hardest not to cry and keep hope alive
'Cause in your mind, you're still together
Thought it would last but there's no forever
Walked out on you with no call, no letter
When he realize it don't get no better
He'll be back
To make up for the lonely days
He'll be back
When things ain't working out his way
He'll be back
When he sees that it's not the same
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back (he'll be back)
(He'll be back)
He knows he's gonna need his lady
He'll be back
When his boys say he must be crazy
He'll be back
He'll know he made a big mistake
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back (he'll be back)
(He'll be back)
(Thinking)
(Every)
(Wanting)
(Haunting)
(Thinking)
(Every)
(Wanting)
(Haunting)
He'll be back
(Thinking)
(Every)
(Wanting)
(Haunting)
(Thinking)
(Every)
(Wanting)
(Haunting)
He'll be back
To make up for the lonely days
He'll be back
When things ain't working out his way
He'll be back
When he sees that it's not the same
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back (he'll be back)
(He'll be back)
He knows he's gonna need his lady
He'll be back
When his boys say he must be crazy
He'll be back
He'll know he made a big mistake
He'll be back (he'll be back)
He'll be back (he'll be back)
(He'll be back)
song performed by by Jennifer Lopez

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Like A Stone
On a cold wet
Afternoon
No room for love and emptiness
By a freeway
I confess I was lost in the pages
Of a book
Full of death
Reading how well die alone
And if a God will lay to rest
Anywhere we want to go
In your house
I long to be
Room by room
Patiently
Ill wait for you there
Like a stone
Ill wait for you there
Alone
And on my death bed
I will prey
To the gods and the angels
Like a pagan
To anyone who will take me to heaven
To a place
I would recall
I was there so long ago
The sky was bruised
The world was black
And there you led me on
In your house
I long to be
Room by room
Patiently
Ill wait for you there
Liek a stone
Ill wait for you there
Alone
In all I read
Till the day was gone
And I sat in regret
In all the things Ive done
For all that Ive blessed
And all that Ive wronged
In dreams till my death
I will wonder on
In your house
I long to be
Room by room
Patiently
Ill wait for you there
Like a stone
Ill wait for you there
Alone
Alone
song performed by by Audioslave

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I Grow Up
When i grow up to be a man
Will i dig the same things that turn me on as a kid?
Will i look back and say that i wish i hadn't done what i did?
Will i joke around and still dig those sounds
When i grow up to be a man?
Will i look for the same things in a woman that i dig in a girl?
(fourteen fifteen)
Will i settle down fast or will i first wanna travel the world?
(sixteen seventeen)
Now i'm young and free, but how will it be
When i grow up to be a man?
Oooooo ooooooo oooooooo
Will my kids be proud or think their old man is really a square?
(eighteen nineteen)
When they're out having fun yeah, will i still wanna have my share?
(twenty twenty-one)
Will i love my wife for the rest of my life
When i grow up to be a man?
What will i be when i grow up to be a man?
(twenty-two twenty-three)
Won't last forever
(twenty-four twenty-five)
It's kind of sad
(twenty-six twenty-seven)
Won't last forever
(twenty-eight twenty-nine)
It's kind of sad
(thirty thirty-one)
Won't last forever
(thirty-two...)
song performed by by Beach Boys

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tearing This House Down (A Song)
Me and this here dozer
Were gonna tear this house down
To many years of memories
Have all let me down
This house is coming down
I'm tearing this house down
To many years of memories
Where love was never found
I'm gonna start with the bed room
Where there's never been no love
And tear right through that living room
Where livings been so rough
You won it in divorce decree
So what is your is yours to keep
You can have whats left of this debree
But this house is coming down
This house is coming down
I've slaved for thirty years
This is the way you repay my love
The blood sweat and tears
So while your out with your honey do
Take your time I have a gift for you
Some modifications all brand new
This house is coming down.
poem by Bill Simmons

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stitched Up.
‘STITCHED UP'
IT WAS AN EMPHATIC REJECTION,
ALL SITES MADE THE SELECTION.
MORE THAN 98% OF UNION VOTED NO,
OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH WE SHOW.
FROM COLLECTIVE BARGAINING,
THE‘BALL'IS BACK TO THEM.
A‘MESSAGE'WE WERE SENDING,
INDUSTRIAL ACTION PENDING.
HOLIDAY, TWO WEEKS AWAY,
GOT BACK, IT'S ALL GONE ASTRAY.!
COMPANY PROPOSAL AMMENDED.!
UNION COMPRIMISED AND SURRENDED.!
SIMILAR‘DEAL'AT A PRICE,
THERE WAS AN EXTRA SACRIFICE.! !
A SECTION HAVE‘NO VOTE'SUDDENLY,
SO MUCH FOR YEARS OF LOYALTY.
NO MORE SAY ON THE‘DEAL',
UTTER TRAVESTY WE FEEL.
NO MORE PART TO BE PLAYED,
FEELING BITTER AND BETRAYED.
‘SOLD'DOWN THE RIVER,
STITCHED UP LIKE A KIPPER.
16/08/11
poem by Guy Lipmore

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When I Grew Up
When I grow up to be a man
Will I dig the same things that turn me on as a kid?
Will I look back and say that I wish I hadnt done what I did?
Will I joke around and still dig those sounds
When I grow up to be a man?
Will I look for the same things in a woman that I dig in a girl?
(fourteen fifteen)
Will I settle down fast or will I first wanna travel the world?
(sixteen seventeen)
Now Im young and free, but how will it be
When I grow up to be a man?
Oooooo ooooooo oooooooo
Will my kids be proud or think their old man is really a square?
(eighteen nineteen)
When theyre out having fun yeah, will I still wanna have my share?
(twenty twenty-one)
Will I love my wife for the rest of my life
When I grow up to be a man?
What will I be when I grow up to be a man?
(twenty-two twenty-three)
Wont last forever
(twenty-four twenty-five)
Its kind of sad
(twenty-six twenty-seven)
Wont last forever
(twenty-eight twenty-nine)
Its kind of sad
(thirty thirty-one)
Wont last forever
(thirty-two...)
song performed by by Beach Boys

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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They Are Tearing Down My Grandfather's House
(An NLP Editor's Choice Award Winner in Verdant Lands of Spring) They are tearing down my Grandfather's house,
it's made of wood and brick and stone.
The windows they've removed. To them it's real
estate, to me it's my heart being ripped in two.
The realtors, the bankers, the moneymen don't understand.
A house is more than made of wood, a house is made of man. My Grandfather's house is a memory that will
endure after it's torn down.
He's been gone for near thirty years, but his
house had lived on.
I know the world is made of change, and change
is all that's real. But one thing I cannot change,
that is the way I feel. I wipe a tear in the falling rain,
because they are tearing down my Grandfather's
house, and it gives me pain.
I love him as if it were yesteryear,
his wit and smile as warm as the sun.
The house once stood to remind me, but that too
is gone. They are tearing down my Grandfather's house,
it's made of wood and brick and stone.
Yet a house if more than made of wood,
a house is made of love.
poem by David A. Webb

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Land Of Hope And Glory
Urrrrh
What's the time?
I was trying to get some sleep
Attention, urrraaah, bridges
Sharkey, Nutley, Jackson, Thompson,Master
Well, as you can see we've got a new recruit to this land of hope and glory
Hands behind backs and legs apart and tell us all of your unfortunate story.
Who me sir?
Yes, you ssssir!
I was an innocent man till someone grassed me of a plan
Of earning some big a money
If I hadn't mouthed it about, I am sure without doubt
I'd 'ave missed this land of hope and glory
Well you poor poor sod, here you're up sharp at six thirty
Cold shower down to breakfast, can't have you looking dirty
I suggest you eat what's given you even if it doesn't agree with you
Cos It's all you're be getting up until twelve thirty
In between this time stay up in your room, you can dream of life
good things
Two years of my teen age life given to this stand to attention life
Of land of hope and glory
I get so bored as time goes by, I think I'll do something dirty
I pick at the floor for juicy butts and I'll make myself a smoke
A bog roll and envelope stick it, all this helps to pass my time
As the evening drags on, you can watch a little telly
Hot Gossip pans people with a little bit of belly
A hot drink served cold with the heat of yesterday's
Don't complain learn the game and I'll get through another day
I watch the second hand on the clock at long last is nine thirty
Off to bed straight to sleep as I leave this land of hope and glory
But only for a few seconds I'm in n ecstasy
Before the bell rings to let me know, sharp at six thirty
A the, a two, a six, a ta
Quiet, come on you lot, come on, lights out
song performed by by Madness

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Twenty Years And Two Husbands Ago
Lookin' in the bathroom mirror puttin' my makeup on
Maybelline can't hide the lines of time that's gone
I weighed 105 soakin' wet, I'd knock 'em dead in that sun dress
Had it all just too young to know,
That was twenty years and, two husbands ago
I remember when he took my hand and said "I do"
And the kitchen I was standing in, when he said "I'm through"
And I swore I'd never fall back in, put my heart through that again
Never let somebody get that close
But that was twenty years and, two husbands ago
Water under the bridge
I guess that's all life really is, that's just the way it is
Driving the kids to school today, it occurred to me
With all the wrong turns I've made,
I'm where I should be
But I go back there from time to time
Lookin' for that peace of mind,
And find it's always just a dead-end road
Yeah that was twenty years and, two husbands ago
Water under the bridge
I guess that's all life really is, that's just the way it is
Lookin' in the bathroom mirror puttin' my makeup on
song performed by by Lee Ann Womack

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Twenty Years
There are twenty years to go
Twenty ways to know
Who'll wear
Who'll wear the hat
There are twenty years to go
The best of all I hope
Enjoy the ride
The medicine show
Thems the breaks
For we designer fakes
We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye
There are twenty years to go
The faithful and the low
The best of starts, the broken heart, the stone
There are twenty years to go
The punch-drunk and the blow
The worst of starts, the mercy part, the foam
Thems the breaks
Before we designer fakes
We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye
Thems the breaks
Before we designer fakes
But it's you I take cos you're the truth, not I
There are twenty years to go
A golden age I know
But all will pass and end too fast you know
There are twenty years to go
And many friends I hope
Though some may hold the rose
Some hold the rope
That's the end - and that's the start of it
That's the whole - and that's the part of it
That's the high - and that's the heart of it
That's the long - and that's the short of it
That's the best - and that's the test in it
That's the doubt - the doubt, the trust in it
That's the sight - and that's the sound of it
That's the gift - and that's the trick in it
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I
song performed by by Placebo

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Got The Deal
I lived my life one way too long.
Deal me straight, I can't go wrong.
A gambler's fate's in the cards he takes,
And now I know it's just a mistake.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
You got the . . .
Left our dreams on a lonely road.
Come back here with a heavy load.
Fight our best when the chips are down.
You go your way, and I'll win this round.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
LEAD BREAK
You live your life for the dollar sign.
And all that you've made,
You're just buying time.
But time takes it toll,
It don't care who you are
You know you're marked for life
With your empty heart.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
I don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
Don't know the game,
But you got the deal.
song performed by by 38 Special

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There Is Something About 'Him
We are at a loss to explain how this could happen.
He had been an average child.
Who hasn't skipped school.
Maybe just every once in a while?
I didn't like school at all.
Only once did he burn down the house.
And like other boys,
He microwaved a few cats.
He only commited armed robbery twice.
And he did beat the minister,
For giving him poor advice.
The minister should have known that.
Needless to say,
We haven't advised him to go back.
So he pushed his teacher down the steps.
That teacher only broke two legs,
An arm...
But not her neck.
I didn't like that teacher myself.
She spoke to me with much disrespect.
And the neighbors next door,
Claimed he pistol whipped them.
Have you seen inside their house?
They are lucky that's all he did.
He is really a good kid.
He never meant to threaten us.
What will the sending him away eventually prove?
He is only going to learn what the other prisoners do.
We are good parents.
We'll make sure he improves!
'What are you going to do this time?
That the last twenty years didn't do.'
We all have sought counseling.
And so excited we are.
The counselor and our son...
Are now in a relationship too.
And...
There is something about 'him',
That seems to connect with our son!
So far...
We approve.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Boys Are Back In Town
Guess who just got back today
Them wildout boys, that'd been away
Haven't changed, had much to say
But man I still think them cats are great
They were asking if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were living downtown
Driving all the old men crazy
The Boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
(I Said) The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
You know that chic who used to dance a lot?
Every night she'd be on the floor, shaken what she got
Man when I tell you she was cool she was red hot
I mean she was steamin'
And that time over at Johnny's place
When this chic got up and slapped Johnny's face
Man we just fell about the place
What that chic don't wanna know forget 'er
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
(I said) The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
Spread the word around
Guess who's back in town
You spread the word around
Friday night they'll be dressed to kill
Down at Dino's bar and grill
The drinks will flow and blood would spill
If the boys wanna fight you better let 'em
That kid rocks down at the corner blasting out my favourite song
The nights are getting warmer and won't be long
Wont be long till the summer comes
Now that the boys are here again
The boys are back in town (the boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (the boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (the boys are back in town)
(Spread the word around)
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
(The boys are back, the boys are back)
The boys are back in town again
They're hanging out at Dino's
The boys are back in town again
song performed by by Thin Lizzy

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Days Go By
Sit down, sit back and watch the days go by
Are you ever gonna live before you die
And when things fall apart
The world has come undone
Leave it all behind
Leave the loneliness alone
You wait forever blind
So come on and leave the years
When you watched the days go by
Come on and leave the fears
That you were afraid to find
'Cause while you wait inside
The days go by
So all the memories fade
And the days go by
Forget the lonely yesterdays in mind
I know it's never gonna be the way you like
I know you don't wanna think about the endlessness you find
You wait forever blind
So come on and leave the years
When you watched the days go by
Come on and leave the fears
That you were afraid to find
You're waiting for your time (waiting for your time)
All these days gone wrong
Who broke your fall
What a way to learn
So come on and leave the years
When you watched the days go by
Come on and leave the fears
That you were afraid to find
Time is passing by (time is passing by)
So come on and leave the years
When you watched the days go by
Come on and leave the fears
That you were afraid to find
'Cause while you wait inside
The days go by
song performed by by Lifehouse

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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