0201 Two skins, one thick, one thin
No, don’t open that door. Don’t try.
It’s locked anyway. Or should be. Some people say
it’s worse than seeing their first dead body
half dead half alive, they never quite forget it.
Me I’m used to them. Them? Well OK,
I shan’t let you look but I’ll tell you.
It’s my two body suits.
Thin skin, thick skin.
When I go out in the thin skin
life’s more exciting but god it’s tiring.
A trip on public transport and I come back finished.
I see things, feel things rather, that are scary.
I see people’s next lives they’re creating for themselves.
There’s this blind school round the corner;
I saw them all on the station platform once and I could see
those who were going to see properly, next time,
those who were making themselves blinder…
then next day I saw an ordinary ‘seeing’ man talking to a friend
without using his eyes, just dead ahead…how could I tell him?
Another time, I sat next to a man
who looked as if he’d slept rough
but the scary thing was, he was giving off such intense heat
that I knew sure as sure, he’d just murdered somebody…
I never knew that was a clue…
I see everybody’s perfection and their present self
simultaneously. You might think it’s wonderful.
Yes and no. Not when you’re wearing your thin skin.
Yes, of course it’s great for poetry…that’s why
I bought it, why I wear it.
The thick skin’s for business, interviews, being fired,
the Editor’s office, the dentist, the doctor,
the mother-in-law, the footfall
in the dark alley, all the times you just
want to be tough, insensitive, eff the lot of them,
guess I don’t need to list all that?
And yes, sometimes you can go out in the wrong one.
A friend tells you of some awful family disaster
and you think, thick-skinned, well that’s their problem,
let them sort it out… and hate yourself for even thinking it.
Or someone looks at you on the wrong day
like you’re looking at me now,
sorta disbelieving, disgusted and pitying..
gotta go. Seeyerlater.
poem by Michael Shepherd

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Related quotes
In This Skin
They see me in a magazine
I'm the one they want to be
Still don't feel I'm good enough
Still don't feel I'm thin enough
I stand up and I'm pushed back down
And every opinion now
It makes me feel inhuman
Giving in and giving up
To be worthy
To feel beautiful in this skin
Be beautiful in this skin[love the skin I'm in]
Love me for me
Have confidence in this skin
Be confident in this skin[in the skin I'm in]
So tell me what is wrong with me
I'm the girl with everything
So why am I not strong enough
I want to be strong enough
To tell you how I really feel
I know my talent is real
So don't tell me, don't tell me
I have to be 102
I don't have nothing to prove
So don't tell me, don't tell me
Cause I am worthy...
To feel beautiful in this skin
Be beautiful in this skin[love the skin I'm in]
Love me for me
Have confidence in this skin
Be confident in this skin[in the skin I'm in]
Be real, be real
See the beauty inside this skin
I don't have to hide this skin[love the skin I'm in]
I feel, I feel
An awakening in this skin
Stop forsaking me in this skin
I am, I am,
[Beatiful in this skin
'beatiful' lies within
Beatiful in this skin
I am]
To be worthy
Be beautiful
Love me for me
'Cuz I am beautiful
To feel beautiful in this skin
Be beautiful in this skin[love the skin I'm in]
Love me for me
Have confidence in this skin
Be confident in this skin[in the skin I'm in]
Be real, be real
See the beautiful in this skin
'Cuz I don't want to have to hide it
I feel, I feel
I'm beautiful in this skin
Beautiful in this skin
I'm beautiful
And your beautiful
Beautiful in this skin
I'm beautiful
And you are beautiful
Beautiful in this skin
song performed by by Jessica Simpson

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Would You Follow Me
(john kongos)
Would you follow me if I search for another life
Would you walk with me through the dark and the hungry times
If I said, Im gonna leave today
What would you do
Would you pack some things and come away too
Lose or win, thick or thin
Where would you like to be
Lose or win, thick or thin
Would you follow me
Would you follow me
Even though my dreams seem too far away today
Take a chance and
Stand by my side and
Lose or win, thick or thin
Where would you like to be
Lose or win, thick or thin
Would you follow me
Would you follow me
If I said Im goin away to join some revolution
Could you ever give up what they call the good life
Would you care to know what Im lookin for
And if I find it
Would you take note of the time, would you mind it
Lose or win, thick or thin
Where would you like to be
Lose or win, thick or thin
Would you follow me
Would you follow me
song performed by by Olivia Newton-John

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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All Different, But Still The Same
Some people have short hair, some have long.
Some people have thick hair; some people’s hair is all gone.
Some people have black hair, some have gray.
Some people have brown hair, some blonde, some red.
Some people’s hair a color unsaid.
Some people are short, some people are tall.
Some people will love you; some won’t like you at all.
Some people like hot weather, some like cold.
Some people are timid, some people are bold.
Some people have dark skin, some people have light.
Some people have black skin, some people have white.
Some people eat meat; some won’t touch it at all.
Some people have a good memory, some can’t recall.
Some people accept Christ, some never will.
Some people are stingy, some people give.
Some people like school, some people don’t.
Some people will excel, some people won’t.
Some people smoke cigarettes, some never will.
Some people are honest, some people steal.
Some people have book knowledge;
But don’t know the Holy Book.
Some people burn food, some people can cook.
Some people are old, some people are young.
Some people do smart things, some people do dumb.
Some people just have a diploma
Some people have degrees.
Some people do things slow, some with a breeze.
Some people are complainers, some easy to please.
Some people hate shopping, some stay in the mall.
Some people hate God, but God loves us all.
We are all different, but still the same.
When I get cut, I bleed red;
You get cut, red blood you’ll shed.
Some people are plump, some people are thin.
But we are all the same, we’re all human being.
Copyright © 2010-Phyllis Strong
poem by Phyllis Strong

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Dead Or Alive
There in the shadows, looks like a hand
Without its owner, to give it a command
Its got a purpose but I dont know what it is
Im in trouble
There in the streets, looks like a man
But something wrong that I dont understand
His eyes are open but he dont see a thing
His skin is peeling off, his bones are sticking out
Im getting scared
Oh my God (is it dead? )
Is it living? (is it dead? )
Is it dead or alive?
(is it dead? ), is it dead? (is it dead? )
Is it dead? (is it dead? )
Is it dead or alive?
Hiding in the cupboards, like little mice
Hiding in the frigerator, that isnt nice
Its not an animal, it dont have legs
No one else can see it
It moves so fast, corner of my eye
Look again its gone, its hiding
Wont somebody help me, doesnt anybody care?
It waits so patiently, for me to lose my guard
Im getting scared
Is it dead, is it
(is it dead)
Is it dead
(is it dead)
Is it dead or alive
(is it dead)
Is it dead
(is it dead)
Is it dead, is it
I remember there was a time
When dead and buried meant just that
Underneath the cold dark ground
Things stay put!
Oh them bones they make them bodies walk
Them bones, them bones
If they could only talk!
Is it dead (fade)
song performed by by Oingo Boingo

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Scrawled In Sap
O the sky grey orange
An the walls stained blue
An I laid right down on the golden satin with you
Into sween dark circles of beautiful eyes
I go round
O lord
I go round
Will you tell me once again
Cream white skin
You are my friend
I seen you walkin and your white hips sway
O girl I will have you no more
To the moan in your voice
Not a charm do you lack
Your skin to touch as a black ravens back
But I cannot go far with these words as they rhyme
As to tell, of the pleasure, your hand in mine
An I pray as I say this song in this way
That your eyes they would close an your head begin to sway
An youll feel how he heals with his blood on our skin
I am yours lady scrawled an thin
Will you tell me once again
Cream white skin
You are my friend
I seen you walkin in your husbands way
Girl I will have you more
song performed by by 16 Horsepower

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I have pretty thick skin, and I think if you're going to be in this business, if you're going to be an actor or a writer, you better have a thick skin.
quote by John Irving

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hate is Such a Strong Word
I hate my life.
I hate that we have to eat whatever my parents want
Everyday
Even though I usually don't like it
They don't care
I hate that I don't live up to the standards set by my brother
And parents
I hate that I'm the stupidest one in my family
And they tell me
I hate that I'm not pretty.
I hate that I am fat.
I hate that people try to tell me that I am pretty
And that I'm thin
I'm not
They won't get over it
I hate that I can't get over little things.
I hate that boys never like me.
None have
I think they're really sweet sometimes
But they all just like my friends.
I hate that all of my friends are pretty,
And nice,
And smart.
And it makes me feel really subpar.
Even though they have no idea how much it hurts.
I hate that my friends get all the attention.
I hate that I'm insecure.
I hate that I have had an eating disorder.
I hate that I'm depressed.
I hate that I am too embarrassed
So I don't go see a nutritionist
Doctor said so.
I hate that I can't cry.
I hate that I blow things out of proportion.
I hate that I am such a drama queen.
I hate that everyone is better at things than I am-
Singing.
School.
I hate that I still have glasses.
I hate that I am so uncomfortable in my own skin
And am scared to let people see the real me.
I hate that I hate so many things.
I hate that people think no one cares-
When for me they really don't.
I hate that I have absolutely zero confidence in myself.
I hate that I've thought about committing suicide.
And that I'm such a teenage cliché.
I hate that my grandfather is dead
It's not his fault he died so near a national holiday
And no one seems to notice how much it is affecting me.
I hate that my family is always stressed out.
I hate that if my parents read this
They probably would pretend to care
Then would go and complain about how horrible I am
And how I take everything for granted.
I hate that everyone else in my family can seem happy.
I hate that I am a selfish spoiled bitch
Because I don't try to be
I hate that I don't know what to do anymore.
I hate that I'm so confused.
I hate that I hate my life.
poem by Jennie Scheihing

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Brown Skin
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Where are your people from? maybe mississippi or an island
Apparently your skin has been kissed by the sun
You make me want a hersheys kiss, your licorice
Every time I see your lips, it makes me think of honey-coated chocolate
Your kisses are worth more than gold to me
Ill be your almond joy, youll be my sugar daddy
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Every time you come around, something magnetic pulls me and I cant get out
Disoriented, I cant tell my up from down
All I know is that I wanna lay you down
Every time I let you in, abracadabra magic happens as we swim
Higher and higher finally we reach heaven
Come back to earth and then we do it all again
Yeah..
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Skin so brown, lips so round
Baby how can I be down?
Beautiful mahogany, you make me feel like a queen
Tell me whats that thing you do that makes me wanna get next to you, yeah
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
song performed by by India Arie

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Skin
Have you ever thought about the skin,
And how the only thing keeping from one being slipping into another,
Being consumed by, and consuming them completely, is skin?
Have you ever felt someones skin against yours,
So close to being one entity,
Yet restricted by skin.
Such a small thing,
They keeps us from being entirely one,
An organ that keeps our organs separate, apart.
It's depressing in a way,
That two people can become so close they feel each other melding together,
Yet the skin remains a boundary between one and the other.
Maybe that's what happens when we die,
The last barrier removed from the equation,
Allowing us to finally unite with our other half, complete and entirely, together.
poem by Bethany Maxwell

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The hot hot sun
The hot hot sun
bakes
my skin skin skin
irksome infants
make
a din din din
could get under
my skin skin skin.
No
take a breath
a deep belly breath
let your diaphragm do the work
vorsprung durch inhallation
the oxygen bubbles into my blood
the heat touches my
bones
my mind absorbs those mutual benefits
slows, calms, immersed a gentle euphoria
and the warmth of the breeze embraces
I feel the joy joy joy
of the sun sun sun
on my skin skin skin
on this hot hot day!
poem by Robin Pratt

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New Warm Skin (demo)
One fatal gift
Arrived here today
Heavenly sent
From the beauticians that pray
Here comes that face
And it's a textural treat
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New
Warm
Skin
New
Warm
Expensive to touch
It's a novocaine skin
Beauty; this beast
Is transparent and thin
This sun can be cruel
I don't want to melt
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
New Warm
One fatal gift
Arrived here today
Contorted dreams
Of the beauticians that pray
Crawling out of this heat
And drifting this way
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
song performed by by Simple Minds

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Skin
Skin discloses unrealized dreams:
people moved with desires,
thinking about children they never had,
the books they never wrote,
the world they hoped to change.
Skin tells secrets:
it cracks like desert ground;
it uncovers the trails of life,
telling how long you have been here.
White skin,
black skin,
brown skin...
speak loud.
And when it is covered,
it itches.
poem by Buxton Shippy

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New Warm Skin
One fatal gift
Arrived here today
Heavenly sent
From the beauticians that pray
Here comes that face
And its a textural treat
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New
Warm
Skin
New
Warm
Expensive to touch
Its a novocaine skin
Beauty; this beast
Is transparent and thin
This sun can be cruel
I dont want to melt
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New warm skin
New warm skin
New warm skin
New warm
One fatal gift
Arrived here today
Contorted dreams
Of the beauticians that pray
Crawling out of this heat
And drifting this way
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New warm skin
New warm skin
New warm skin
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
Lyrics : j kerr music : simple minds (c) emi publishing ltd reproduced without permission
song performed by by Simple Minds

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Explorations: XXXI
Skin morphs into
A vulnerable leaf
In the face of passion
And paralyzing fever
Skin feels a textured
Piece of unique art
Tempting one to touch
When just bathed
There's no difference
Between the landscape
And the skin when
Both are fresh
Skin,
Potent communicator
Of the subtle body language
Ah, the skin!
The treasure
Skin hides like
The deep ocean blue
What's skin deep?
poem by Indira Babbellapati

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Skin Storm
Delight
See our faces are both shining
And Ive never felt so wanted
Than when you cling with arms and legs
I tremble
You crush my burning lips like ashes
With so much skin to travel over
While my head spins (and you knew it would)
And oh, what a storm !
And oh, what a storm !
We shelter in our skin storm
I feel
Feel your breath burn on my body
You touch my senses, tingling brightly
Slip-and-sliding into heaven
Love could be a wonderful emotion
With such a rush of pleasure motion
When Im dancing on our skin
And oh, what a storm !
And oh, what a storm !
We shelter in our skin storm
And oh, what a storm !
And oh, what a storm !
We shelter in our skin storm
song performed by by Morrissey

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Soul Doctor
Well I woke up this morning
Took your advice
I dialed the number
And I let it ring twice
Then I hung up
Now I tried to do
Everything I could
To save our love
And make it feel good again
I cant fight it, theres nobody home
Hard hearted and all alone
I give you love, you aint giving it back
I cant take it
I need to see the soul doctor
Before the fever begins
You know Im searching for the soul doctor
When love is wearing thin
Doctor soul is in
Ive been kicked in the corner
Im down in the dirt
I cant feel a thing
But I know it ought to hurt
Now your shaking my spirit
Im breaking my back
Im too blind to hear it
So I over react to satisfaction
If I could get me some
I aint talking, theres nothing to say
Misunderstandin, your walking away
Maybe baby, its gonna take time, time, time
I need to see the soul doctor
Before the fever begins
You know Im searching for the soul doctor
When love is wearing thin
Doctor soul is in
I need to see the soul doctor
You know things are looking grim
I keep searching for the soul doctor
Doctor soul is in
The doctors soul intention
Let it be understood
Cant pull the strings of my heart
I aint made out of wood
Now I take what I get
To get what it takes
Need a little bit a love
Got a whole lotta heartaches
I cant fight it, theres nobody home
Hard hearted and all alone
Maybe baby, its gonna take time, time, time
I need to see the soul doctor
Before the fever begins
You know Im searching for the soul doctor
When love is wearing thin
Doctor soul is in
I need to see the soul doctor
You know things are looking grim
I keep searching for the soul doctor
Doctor soul is in
Hey, a little bit of soul, oh yeah
Doctor soul is in
Heart and soul doctor
I need to see the soul doctor, soul doctor
Doctor soul is in
Doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor save my soul
Doctor soul is in
Ooh
song performed by by Foreigner

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Headless Bird
According to custom, the old people have shut me away
Not to scare me stupid when they killed the bird,
And I am listening by the bolted door
To the trampling and the struggle.
I twist the lock time has worn thin
To forget what I have heard, to get away
From this struggle where
The body races after the head.
And I jump when the eyes, thick with fear
Turn backwards, turn white,
They look like grains of maize,
The others come and peck at them.
I take the head in one hand, the rest in the other,
And when the weight grows too much I switch them
around
Until they are dead, so they are still connected
At least in this way, through my body.
But the head dies sooner,
As if the cut had not been properly done,
And so that the body does not struggle alone
I wait for death to reach it passing through me.
poem by Ileana Mălăncioiu, translated by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin

Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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The Boots...
the boots of modern America,
are made of black skin, Native American skin,
poor white trash skin, migrant worker skin,
unemployed skin, homeless skin,
prisoner poverty street skin....
who will they walk on next?
poem by Eric Cockrell

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Even in the darkest phase be it thick or thin, always someone marches brave here beneath my skin.
Love Profusion
There are too many questions
There is not one solution
There is no resurrection
There is so much confusion
And the love profusion
You make me feel
You make me know
And the love vibration
You make me feel
You make it shine
There are too many options
There is no consolation
I have lost my illusions
What I want is an explanation
And the love profusion
You make me feel
You make me know
And the love direction
You make me feel
You make me shine
You make me feel
You make me shine
You make me feel
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
There is no comprehension
There is real isolation
There is so much destruction
What I want is a celebration
And I know I can feel bad
When I get in a bad mood
And the world can look so sad
Only you make me feel good
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
(Spoken:)
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
And the love profusion
You make me feel
You make me know
And the love intention
You make me feel
You make me shine
You make me feel
You make me shine
You make me feel
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
I got you under my skin
And I know I can feel bad
When I get in a bad mood
And the world can look so sad
Only you make me feel good
song performed by by Madonna

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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