The Woman at the Crossroad Who Laughed
As I walked up the pavement, up the slight hill
to the traffic lights at the crossroads outside the station,
I saw her waiting to cross.
Or rather, I saw first, her laugh..
She held the hand of her son
as she exchanged words with a passing friend
and laughed..
and what I saw in her eyes, her whole face,
as she laughed, was that as she laughed -
(did she know this? How could I tell her, a stranger?
Lady, lady, at the crossroad of our lives,
I’m writing this poem for you now…)
as she laughed, while she laughed,
I saw that she was in touch, the whole of her,
with her deepest self – just that… all that…
and as I saw that self, which was
(Lady, are you reading this?)
the perfection of perfection, all that’s perfect…
it was as if – no, it was just so –
her self looked at me, and so
the perfect looked at the perfect;
herself and mine together laughed,
laughed at imperfection
and as the perfect looked, it saw perfection
spreading through my eyes from our shared self
so that her son was perfect; and her friend was perfect;
and all around us, every they and it were perfect..
(Lady, Lady, at the Cross’s foot,
was it like this for You?)
the light turned green. And we were free
to cross the road; and
free to live; and
free to laugh away illusion; and
free to be ourselves; forever,
in that time which is forever.
Lady, by my faith, this by my hand;
and with my life I do yet swear
upon my life, this to be true;
Lady, hear, in this my orison,
there are no sins
to be remembered.
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
To Go Or Not To Go.
There's a fun fair
on the bombsite
off Meadow Row
you told Fay
that Friday
on the way home
from school
and she said
I can only come
if my daddy's out
he thinks
all such things
are sinful
and if he
caught me there
he'd beat me for sure
Ok
you said
and let it dropp
and walked on
beside her
the afternoon heat
making you sweat
and then she said
I will try
to come if I can
and she looked sad
and her pale features
seemed even paler
and her eyes searched you
and you said
I hope you can
but if not another time
when the fair returns
and you both paused
at the kerb
as traffic rushed by
and her thin hand
reached out
and held yours
her fingers
touched yours
her thumb rubbing
against your thumb
and when the traffic stopped
because of the change of lights
you walked across the road
still hand in hand
she just a few steps behind
a case of
(as her father
often said)
the blind
leading the blind.
poem by Terry Collett
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Waiting For Changes
Office blocks, corner shops, traffic jams on every street, the same old rush around
Obsolete, Im a freak, in a show on brighton beach, as the snow comes down
Realitys kicking me, knocking me right off my feet, as the sky spins round
Were waiting for changes
Rejected and dented
Were waiting for changes
The lights green but todays red
Laundry stops, by the lock, on a sunday afternoon, with all that fuss
Cantelowes skateboard shows, tennants extra by a row of recycle bins
Were waiting for changes
Different perspectives
Were waiting for changes
The lights green but todays red
Take a ride to charing cross, join the masses as they shop, their lives away
29s the northern line, heading back to lose our minds, to break the chain
Were waiting for changes
Rejected and dented
Were waiting for changes
The lights green but todays red
Were waiting for changes
Different perspectives
Were waiting for changes
The lights green but todays red
Im waiting for changes
Im waiting for changes
Im waiting for changes.
song performed by by Feeder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Heartbreak Hill
(emmylou harris/paul kennerley)
Long long time ago when we were young
You swore to me I would be the one
I would be the one you loved
But we had to part
You asked me to wait for you
To keep you in my heart
To keep you in my heart
Night after lonely night Im waiting for you still
High above the lights of town here on heartbreak hill
Now maybe I am the foolish kind to think of you so long
Have you found another love
Am I still the one
Am I still the one for you
But youre far away
Do you ever dream of coming back to me someday
Back to me someday
Night after lonely night Im waiting for you still
High above the lights of town here on heartbreak hill
On heartbreak hill alone at night
I think of how you held me tight
And wonder if I ever will see you again
On heartbreak hill
Oh lord if I only could go back in time enough
Id hold you in my arms again
Never let you go
Never let you go my love
And leave me far behind
High upon this lonely hill were you swore to be mine
You swore to be mine
Night after lonely night Im waiting for you still
High above the lights of town here on heartbreak hill
Night after lonely night Im waiting for you still
High above the lights of town here on heartbreak hill
Here on heartbreak hill
Here on heartbreak hill
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sometimes There's Three
There’s two sides to every story
And sometimes there’s three
You can take a trip around the world
To simply cross the street
I know, ‘cause that's what happened to me
Laugh, laugh
Even the jester has to laugh
When everything turns upside down
It sometimes helps to laugh
There's two paths on every journey
And sometimes there's three
You can meet your fate on the same road
You took to avoid it
I know, 'cause that's what happened to me
Laugh, laugh
Even the jester has to laugh
When everything turns upside down
It sometimes helps to laugh
And at the crossroads, don't turn and look away
Let it kiss you on the face
And then have a laugh
There’s two women in your life
And sometimes there’s three
You can make a wish upon a star
Only to find it land in your street
I know, ‘cause that's what happened to me
Laugh, laugh
Even the jester has to laugh
When everything turns upside down
It sometimes helps to laugh
There’s two people fighting for your mind
And sometimes there’s three
Each mask you wear at different times
Till one fits comfortably
I know, ‘cause that's what happened to me
Laugh, laugh
Even the jester has to laugh
When everything turns upside down
It sometimes helps to laugh
And at the crossroads, don' turn and look away
Let it kiss you on the face
And then have a laugh
Copyright Colin Coplin 2010
poem by Colin Coplin
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We Walked Together In The Night
We walked together in the night
Hand in hand, intertwined
It was like a magical dream
I just couldn't believe
We walked together in the night
My heart raced on as if I might die
You calmed me down and told me everything would be alright
We walked together in the night
Just you and I
You held my hand, you held me close
You protected me, and kept me safe
We walked together in the night
That night was the best time of my life
Time I spent with you
We walked together in the night
We're just best friends....
But does this date mean anything?
We walked together in the night
We laughed, We played
We were nervous, We were afraid
What might happen after this night?
We walked together in the night
You took me out to the movies
You took me back to my house
Everything was perfect then
Until I ruined it...
I walked away with tears in my eyes.....I ruined it
I walked back home alone that night...because we weren't ready to date just yet
poem by Starrbox Munoz
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Learn To Smile
Slow and easy is a dimension
Gonna laugh it up
Laugh it up
They say you make no fool of you
And its new for you to gaze
Up and down inside your yourself
Inside yourself
Its good in here
Its pretty far out
Yes were all just learning how to smile
Were looking out to you
Were looking out to you
Show your love
Bite me now
Put a hand in and take it out
You can try to make me mad
Or change my mind
Be careful
So you want me there now
So you want me there now
Barely moving I stagger
Some interpretation
Theres a buzzing in the station
Spinning station unravel me
Cross platforms with rehearsed travel
Rehearsed travel
song performed by by INXS
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Learning To Smile
Slow and easy is a dimension
Gonna laugh it up, laugh it up
They say you make no fool of you
An' it's new for you to gaze
Up and down inside yourself
Inside yourself
It's good in here
It's pretty far out
Yes, we're all just learning how to smile
We're looking out to you
We're looking out to you
Show your love, bite me now
Put a hand in and take it out
You can try to make me mad
Or change my mind, be careful
So you want me there now
So you want me there now
Barely moving I stagger - ha
Some interpretation
There's a buzzing in the station
Spinning station unravel me
Cross platforms with rehearsed travel
Rehearsed travel
Looking out to you
An were learning how to smile
song performed by by INXS
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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See The Light
Well I came down here from manhattan
to see the lights on the mall
but when I got here early this morning
well I couldn't see any at all
so I walked a little further
and much to my surprise
there was a hot cool woman
in a chevy staring into my eyes
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
Alright
She said now don't walk any further
Just jump into my car
And we can head on down the highway
But you'd better not go too far
'Cos my daddy he's big business
So we've gotta be back by tonight
But we can still have some fun now
If we head on downtown to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
Well, we ended up in this cafe
'Bout twenty-five minutes to one
See, she took me to this nightclub
And the music went on and on
Well we were set down to get coffee
When in walked her old man
No matter how we tried to explain it well
We couldn't make him understand
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
I've just got to see the lights
song performed by by Def Leppard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Helen and You and The ABC Cinema
In the evening after tea
of bread and jam
and a glass of milk
you went out
and met Helen
under the railway bridge
in Rockingham Street
next to the Duke
of Wellington pub
and she was waiting
there looking up
and down the street
and when she saw you
she waved and walked
towards you
where's your doll
Battered Betty?
you asked
mum's washing her clothes
and I didn't want
to bring her out
with nothing on
she said
no that wouldn't be decent
you said
where are we going?
she asked
I want to show you
the passages behind
the ABC cinema
you said
it's like a cavern
of dark passages
and once I saw a rat
running along by a wall
oh god
she said
putting a hand
to her mouth
not a rat
yes it run along
one of the walls
not sure
I want to go there
she said softly
one little rat
isn't going to hurt you
you said
besides I'll chase it away
if it comes
will you?
she said
yes of course I will
nothing is going to harm you
while I am here
you said
you showed her
the toy gun
tucked in
the inside pocket
of your jacket
she nodded
and she took
your hand
and you walked her
along and up behind
the Trocodero cinema
and onto
the New Kent Road
and you crossed quickly
before the traffic lights changed
and once you got
to the other side
you took her
to the ABC cinema
and went down beside
the cinema walls
along the dark passages
that went on beside
and behind the cinema
all the time
she gripped your hand
and now and then
her grip tightened
when she thought
she saw something
out of the corner
of her eye
what was that?
she said
stopping still
clutching your hand tight
just a piece of paper
blown by the wind
are you sure?
yes just paper
she untightened
her grip
and you both
walked on
with the sound
of traffic and voices
in the distance
and at the back
of the cinema
you came to an entrance
where two doors where
and you said
sometimes the doors are open
and you can sneak in free
she looked at you
her eyes behind
her thick lens glasses
large and innocent
is that allowed?
she asked
no
you replied
if they catch you
you get into trouble
but if you're lucky
you can get in
no trouble
you said
oh
she said
my mum wouldn't like it
if I got into trouble
we won't get in tonight
anyway
you said
the doors are locked
another time maybe
and she gripped
your hand
and her face looked shocked.
poem by Terry Collett
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The Whale
in the night-rain
driven from the river
'cross the railway-tracks
at traffic-lights
came face to face
with the ghost of a whale
searching for his jaw-bone
one-time strapped to the ceiling of a pub
and in the time it takes
the lights from red to green
in his eyes
thought I'd seen much more
as down the hill to the sea
at the dock-wall
saw his tail-light dip and fade
as he dived
tarmac deep
into the dark streets
and the gutters overflowed
with the wake and wash he made
poem by STEPHEN BRIAN Brady
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Meet Me At The Station
(brother williams memphis sanctified singers)
Well if I get to heaven before you do
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Ill be watching and waiting, mother dear, for you
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Father, when the train
Father, when the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
Father, when the train comes along
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Well if my eyes see the glory, before yours do
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Ill be watching and waiting, father, for you
I will meet you at the station whe your train comes along
Father, when the train
Father, when the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Father, when the train
Father, when the train comes along
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Now if my feet touch the homeline before yours do
I will meet you at the station when the train comes along
Ill be watching and waiting, my brother, for you
I will meet you at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Now if you see gods country before I do
Will you meet me at the station when my train comes along
Will you be there watching, sister, for me
Will you meet me at the station when my train comes along
When my train
When my train
Meet me at the station when my train comes along
When my train
Sister, when my train comes along
Will you meet me at the station when my train comes along
When the train
When the train
Meet me at the station when my train comes along
When the train
Oh, when the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dodging Bullets
Dodging bullets
gathering speed
get over or rid of
the things that I need
Sliding down the
pavement of
one-way streets
From the ashes
From the cross
Against traffic
Against all odds
It feeds
It breathes
No longer needs
YOU
poem by Carsten Thomsen
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Something Better Beginning
They said this was the last dance
The lights went dim as I looked round the floor
Then I saw you standing there
Then I walked up to you and I asked for this dance
The band had started to play
I held you hand and I sighed
Is this the start of another heart breaker
Or something better beginning
Something better beginning
Something better beginning
I never thought Id love like this until I met you
I found something I thought Id never had
The only time I feel all right is when Im with you
I wonder how long it will last
I walked you home in the night
The moon shone bright as we walked hand in hand
Ive known this joy once before
But it came to an end just as it had began
Each step that I took with you
Brought one thing closer to my mind
Is this the start of another heart breaker
Or something better beginning
Something better beginning
Something better beginning
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Love In Vain
(Robert Johnson)
I followed her to the station with a suitcase in my hand
And I followed her to the station with a suitcase in my hand
Well it's hard to tell it's hard to tell, when all your love's in vain
All my love's in vain
When the train rolled up to the station, I looked her in the eye
When the train rolled up to the station, and I looked her in the eye
Well I was lonesome I felt so lonesome, and I could not help but cry
All my love's in vain
When the train it left the station, 't was two lights on behind
When the train it left the station, 't was two lights on behind
Well the blue light was my blues and the red light was my mind
All my love's in vain
Ooh... [vocalized verse]
All my love's in vain
song performed by by Eric Clapton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Touch Of Your Hand
On the day that you were born
I touched your hand so chubby and warm.
I touched your hand when you were one
and helped you walk my beautiful son.
I held your hand when you were two.
We ran, your favorite thing to do.
I held your hand when you were three
as you climbed on my lap and smiled at me.
I touched your hand when you were four
as the ocean touched our toes at the shore.
I touched your hand when you were five
walking you to school but when we'd arrive
I felt the tug of your hand from mine
and I knew that we had crossed a line.
I looked at you and released your hand
and said'it's okay I understand.'
As I walked back home I cried some tears
thinking of all our hand holding years.
Holding your hand became sporadic now,
when you were feverish or I felt your brow.
I held your hand a few times as a teen
but always alone so it wouldn't be seen.
I held your hand after you said, 'I do.'
We danced together just me and you.
After some years went by my son
you held the hand of your little one.
And so the times of your life turn around
and now that my hand is old I've found
you take my hand and help me walk
and as you do we intimately talk.
And it takes me back to that bright early morn
when I held your hand so chubby and warm.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Together On The Sand
Together on the sand,
We walked hand in hand
On the beachfront, she smiled at me
As she tightly held my hand
I had my finger up her...
Country music played on the radio
So I turned it off and we walked down
To the water, as she grabbed on to my honker
A wave swept us away
song performed by by NOFX
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Downtown
When youre alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go downtown
When you got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know, downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalks where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown
Thingsll be great when youre downtown
No finer place for sure, downtown
Everythings waiting for you
Dont hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows, downtown
Or maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close, downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of the music that theyre playin
Making conversation while youre on the dance floor swayin
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown
Where all the lights are bright, downtown
Waiting for you tonight, downtown
Youre gonna be alright now
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along
So maybe Ill see you there
You can forget all your troubles
Just forget all your cares
And go downtown
Thingsll be great when youre downtown
Dont wait a minute more, downtown
Everythings waiting for you
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, youre going to be alright now
Get on, get on, get on downtown
Fade:
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, youre going to be alright now
Get on, get on, get on downtown
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Red Ambulance
so that ambulance just went by
and if you were high
the flashing lights would be a show
red as the blood she spilled
red enough to let her go
she filled in the outlines with her nails
just as red as she
then there was a red circus, for sale
as she red as she would be
and the fire was just so
that the red blazes burned her eyes
i think it was the red that let her go
like the red from her eyes after a person cries
so red, so real, from wrist to lights
so red, everytime, even in the night
shes like the savior
or the sacrafice
her nails, or the nails of the cross?
was it it the cross on the red ambulance
with the red lights?
or was it the cross of the savior, the sacrifice
was it all red every night?
is this a remake or the living
from the wrists
on the nails
where the lights
on the ambulance
with the cross
of the savior
with the nails
on the wrists
in the ambulance
with the cross
of the savior
red from the nails
on the wrists
that lay in the ambulance
the flashing red lights
near the cross
of the savior?
the sacrifice?
in the wrists
red with nails
on the cross
of savior or the saved?
ambulance
or cross
the wrists
the nails
the lights
the ambulance
the cross
the savior
with all the red
poem by Kathryn Garner
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A man sits in his car at the traffic lights, waiting for them to go green.
quote by Michael Frayn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Winter Musing
And the December weather
was upon you and the winter
evenings were drawing in and
she wanted to hold your hand
as you walked home after getting
off the school bus and the cold
air bit into flesh and you held her
hand and sensed the pulse in her
and the life there and the skin
on skin thing and some kind of
electrical buzz through your veins
and into your heart and head and
the traffic went by fast pushing up
wet from the road and you remember
the black tarmac then and her years
later by cruel cancer dragged dead.
poem by Terry Collett
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