A Few Things
mother's black and white picture
on the wall,
father's leather belt kept
in an old cabinet now dusty
too dusty memories
about a family long splintered by time
about pain
about happiness suppressed
about its ability to survive despite the odds
siblings come to a reunion party
wanting to remember more names
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
At The Time When Mother Left For Ozamis
i remember now
it was at that time when mother packed her clothes
and left my father for good
back in the little village where mother
was raised by grandmother
as a naive girl
keeping things to herself.
she dwells in a house of silence.
it was at that time when father said
that he loves her very much
that losing her would mean his death
but mother was no longer in the house
where we grew.
and of course, mother did not really believe him.
she died ahead of him, and he got drunk everyday, and
he put her picture on top of his chest and he cried all night long
staring at her face, black and white, her hair her mouth.
he died a year after and he was buried just beside her pantheon.
i still wonder if mother would believe him.
the silence is overwhelming. no one sweeps the heaps of leaves
and no wind is strong enough to clean the mounds filled with thick grass.
come summer time, i see white daisies blooming, and a black butterfly
hovers to stop a while. I watch closely this new turn of events.
it is like poetry. Some metaphors. Symbols, and hints. Love's mouth
wanting to say all over again, what the heart has constantly hidden.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Idea of Ancestry
Taped to the wall of my cell are 47 pictures: 47 black
faces: my father, mother, grandmothers (1 dead), grand-
fathers (both dead), brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts,
cousins (1st and 2nd), nieces, and nephews.They stare
across the space at me sprawling on my bunk.I know
their dark eyes, they know mine.I know their style,
they know mine.I am all of them, they are all of me;
they are farmers, I am a thief, I am me, they are thee.
I have at one time or another been in love with my mother,
1 grandmother, 2 sisters, 2 aunts (1 went to the asylum),
and 5 cousins.I am now in love with a 7-yr-old niece
(she sends me letters in large block print, and
her picture is the only one that smiles at me).
I have the same name as 1 grandfather, 3 cousins, 3 nephews,
and 1 uncle. The uncle disappeared when he was 15, just took
off and caught a freight (they say).He's discussed each year
when the family has a reunion, he causes uneasiness in
the clan, he is an empty space.My father's mother, who is 93
and who keeps the Family Bible with everbody's birth dates
(and death dates) in it, always mentions him.There is no
place in her Bible for "whereabouts unknown."
poem by Etheridge Knight
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Another Suitcase In Another Hall
Eva: I don't expect my love affairs to last for long
Never fool myself that my dreams will come true
Being used to trouble I anticipate it
But all the same I hate it
Wouldn't you
So what happens now (another suitcase in another hall)
So what happens now (take your picture off another wall)
Where am I going to (you'll get by you always have before)
Where am I going to
Time and time again I've said that I don't care
That I'm immune to gloom that I'm hard through and through
But everytime it matters all my words desert me
So anyone can hurt me
And they do
So what happens now (another suitcase in another hall)
So what happens now (take your picture off another wall)
Where am I going to (you'll get by you always have before)
Where am I going to
Call in three months time and I'll be fine I know
Well maybe not that fine but I'll survive anyhow
I won't recall the names and places of each sad occasion
But that's no consolation
Here and now
So what happens now (another suitcase in another hall)
So what happens now (take your picture off another wall)
Where am I going to (you'll get by you always have before)
Where am I going to
Photographer: Don't ask anymore
song performed by by Madonna from Evita Soundtrack (Part 1)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Father Of Night
Father of night, father of day,
Father, who taketh the darkness away,
Father, who teacheth the bird to fly,
Builder of rainbows up in the sky,
Father of loneliness and pain,
Father of love and father of rain.
Father of day, father of night,
Father of black, father of white,
Father, who build the mountain so high,
Who shapeth the cloud up in the sky,
Father of time, father of dreams,
Father, who turneth the rivers and streams.
Father of grain, father of wheat,
Father of cold and father of heat,
Father of air and father of trees,
Who dwells in our hearts and our memories,
Father of minutes, father of days,
Father of whom we most solemnly praise.
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Early Morning Poetry
a gray cat so gentle
sleeping beside my easy chair
soft wind enters the window
from the far mountain
the white silky curtains
by the window
sway to the direction of the wind
a red rose blooms on the side
of the limestone wall
horse grazing on the grassy plain
a white dog runs toward a wooden gate
a car stops on the yard near the veranda of this old house
a brother from far announces his arrival
hot coffee and pancakes on the table
fumes of white rice and smoke from the grilled fish
faint classical Mozart music plays on the cassette
light from the sun penetrating the screen of the dining window
a black and white family picture on top of the family piano
grandpa on his military uniform as mother carries father on her arms
memories flood the room and words keep creeping like worms
i want to say that there are no termites on this house but that would be a lie.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A White, Blank Wall
I don’t talk
I sit and stare
At a blank wall
A blank, white wall
Like some things, a waste of space
In need of improvement
If walls could talk
Share smiles and happiness
Tears and pain
Laughter and sorrow
Some people would say
“This wall needs color, change”
What’s wrong with it?
There’s no need for change
All it is
Is a blank, white wall
Wanting to scream out, to cry
Wanting to stay, to live
Desperate to live
Needing to live
Not improve of change
It’s just a blank, white wall
poem by Anna Dietze
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Blue Collar Man
Written by tommy shaw
Lead vocals by tommy shaw
Give me a job, give me security
Give me a chance to survive
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
My god, i'm hardly alive
My mother and father, my wife and my friends
I see them laugh in my face
But i've got the power, and i've got the will
I'm not a charity case
I'll take those long nights, impossible odds
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes all that to be just what i am
I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Make me an offer that i can't refuse
Make me respectable, man
This is my last time in the unemployment line
So like it or not i'll take those
Long nights, impossible odds
Keeping my back to the wall
If it takes all that to be just what i am
I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Keeping my mind on a better life
When happiness is only a heartbeat away
Paradise, can it be all i heard it was
I close my eyes and maybe i'm already there
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Old Family Picture
In the old
black-and-white
family picture,
I see
great grandfather
dead drunk
with his hat
slightly skewed.
In the same old
black-and-white
family picture,
I see
grandfather
as drunk as
his father is
with his hat
also slightly skewed.
Father fools
great grandfather
and grandfather
with his rice-washed-water
as the good old home-made
Makoli.
They all believe him.
1996
poem by Sangnam Nam
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Little Friends
My childhood was such a magical time. My memory takes me back
so many years ago. I had a little friend, my best buddie,
we played together all the time.
We walked the dusty country roads, hand in hand.
One day my little friend showed me a gift from her sister.
She said, "this is a souvenir." She had a special place
on her dresser for this object.
At that time I did to know the word souvenir. I only know she
treated this object almost as it was sacred.
I remember thinking to myself, "I wish I had a souvenir," and
I wondered if ever I would own such a treasure.
Now, I realize the best souvenir I could ever have is those
wonderful childhood memories.
Maybe one day my friend and I will hold hands and walk another
dusty road --- and remember WHEN.
poem by Bertha Gonzalez
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Give Myself A Party
(don gibson)
Ive got alot of memories,
To last me the rest of my life
So if you dont want to love me,
Well baby thatll be alright
Im gonna take all the lovin
That I had for you
Gonna take all the loneliness
And sit right down with the blues.
Im gonna give myself a party
Serve old memories
Ill give myself a party
Think of how it used to be
Remember all the happiness
That we once knew
Ill give myself a party
Just me and the blues.
A few of your love letters
A photograph or two
The gift you gave me on my birthday
With words of I love you
Theres lots of things to think about
When youre happy being blue
Im gonna take all the heartache
And sit right down with the blues.
Im gonna give myself a party
Serve old memories
Ill give myself a party
Think of how it used to be
Remember all the happiness
That we once knew
Ill give myself a party
Just me and the blues.
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Night after Night
Night after night
I lay here night after night
I lay here as the rain pours or when the sun shines
I lay here as the weather gets colder, or when it’s summer
I lay here as the leaves change their colors, or when the snow covers
I lay here in my memories
I lay here wondering how long has it been since I passed by
I wonder how long since it has made you cry
I remember waking up to the darkness
I remember being put down inside where it was cold inside
Wondering why did I let life pass me by
I remember hearing the clock ticked my life away
I remember no one crying over me
I remember never saying goodbye
I remember wanting you to say I am sorry
I remember wanting you there by my side
I remember waiting to hear your voice one last time
As I lay there, as one by one my family, and friends comes to say goodbye one last time
I remember crying how you could not say goodbye
So night after night I lay here waiting
For you to come and say I am sorry or at least tell me goodbye
So I was not perfect, I had my flaws
But last I heard I was your every thing
So I guess I was wrong
poem by Jenna Kelley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
My Photo Album
The photo album stores the history of my life,
Every page is the mirror of bygone days,
The reflections in the mirror brings memories alive,
The memories which beam me magically in the world of my choice.
A first few pages of my album are blank,
As a little kid I did not want to stand in front of a box with a man in black hood,
I did not want to be seen upside down in his view finder,
I was happier playing soccer somewhere else in the nearby play ground.
The b & w family portrait of me, my siblings and my parents is my prize possession,
It was a rare event when we all could gather and pose for a moment,
Now some are grown up, some have left our midst,
The glimpse of all of us together brings the emotions of close family ties.
As I turn the pages of my album,
I see happiness radiating from every picture,
May it be a smile of a family member or mine,
Or it may be the beauty of the nature smiling at me,
Every picture brings a memory flashback,
of the joys and emotions of important events in my life.
Next my eyes get glued on my personal family picture,
My wife radiating with her beautiful smile,
My kids little scared of the dark studio set,
Me grinning with smile of worth thousand words.
It is picture which remains in my heart and wallet,
It is a picture which brings joy, love and affection to me every minute.
I guess no one ever keeps the pictures of death and agony,
It is hard to see the cremation picture of departed love,
It seems as if my heart is turning into ashes,
The pain and agony of this scene is so much,
The book of album closes by itself.
I leave a rose and a lily near my album,
Rose shows our everlasting love,
The lily puts the aura of comfort and hope,
That one day her love will resurrect and meet my heart.
poem by Jay P Narain
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Corner Stone (For Father's Day)
The father is the source of strength of his family.
He can weather storm in order to protect them.
He will endure rain or shine to provide his love ones.
He is always ready to give his support and guidance all the time.
The father is consistent for his duty and love for the family.
He can move mountains and shy away the temptation.
He gives himself fully to his family with love and devotion.
Children who have a father to guide them are blessed from heaven.
A husband is a gift for his wife and siblings.
The fathers may look tough in the outside yet so soft inside.
His happiness is to see his family well provided.
He sacrifices his own needs for the sake of his family.
Fathers may mean sometimes but his heart is bleeding for his child.
Fathers are the makers of what we become.
Fathers are always there to lend a helping hand.
Fathers sometimes misunderstood of his wisdom not knowing the meaning.
Fathers are gifted to be strong and stable, firm and durable as the homes foundation.
The father is the source of life itself as we become a family.
A home with out a father can not be a family at all.
A child is lucky who have a father's love and care.
A mother is blessed to have her partner and companion in life.
A house is not a home with out the foundation.
A family is blissful when love abounds.
God bless the fathers that honor his love for his family.
And for whom who remain faithful in their vows of love and devotion.
poem by Emelita C. Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Family Reunion
the genes stopped at us
we of the childless category
enjoying this luxury
as others come in numbers
with their new names
and members
they talk a lot
we remain silent
we party
on this family reunion
we think of the memories
of ma and pa
and when we were children
it is dark and light
surrenders and then
they turn on the light
we become shadows
and mere words
we become laughter
there are no places
for the tears
then we go home
to the places of our hearts.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Dusty Road
I walk the line, look straight ahead
A second chance, one slip and its gone
Though the bird has flown, the sands of time stand still
Scars that never heal, wounds you always feel
Keep on walking that dusty road, blinded by the flame
Keep on walking that dusty road, never giving in
A single light, you hold your breath
Your heart beats fast, a skin that burns
Maybe the tide has turned, one goal you know is near
And wish of a thousand nights, voices you always hear
So keep on walking that dusty road, blinded by the flame
Keep on walking that dusty road, never giving in
song performed by by Asia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Re: Cleaning Time
it has been quite a long time
when the cleaning has not been done
the cabinet is dusty and the floors stained
the walls bearing the unnecessary marks
words of protests are written and the door
creaks with hinges not oiled for long
today i am looking for the clutter of
those i do not need
the garbage has to be discarded
what has piled must be inspected
the unimportant must go
i also speak about my anger
my indifference my selfishness
like garbage they must go too
lest i be like those that i have spoken before
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Scars
Reality sucks, too much pain
I cant explain why I wanna bash brains
Still I can see it on the other side
Got a new baby, wanna stay alive
Give what I give, give what I got
Make it worth while, cause I got another shot
Broken families that always got pain
I break the chain, refuse to be the same
Mother-did as good as you could
After all the abuse I still understood
Three times divorced, and three times a kid
Gave us more love than our father ever did
Now weve all grown and moved along
Tried to forget, but my brother did me wrong
But its real hard to put it all behind me
Its like a tattoo frozen in a memory
I cant seem to erase the stain
In my brain, things will never be the same
I remember all the lies, f__ked up, now I realize
Never had a chance as a kid, I was a man
Fight after fight wasnt really what I planned
Father!
Whoever you are
Beat my mother down, all I see is scars
And memories - what about me?
Throw me through a window for watching tv
Where did I get this anger?
Where did I get this hate?
And where did I get my temper?
Now Im gonna show my faith
(huh) never will I be like you, be like you
F__ked up, that sh_t - Im staying true
My family, true to my family
Im true to my family
True to my family
Stay true
True to my family
Stay true, stay true
True to my family
Stay true
True to my family
Stay true, stay true
True to my family
True
True to my family
Stay true, stay true
True to my family
Stay true
True to my family
Stay true, stay true
Never will I be like you, never will I be like you (repeat to end)
Produced by ross robinson
song performed by by Vanilla Ice
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
After The Wedding
After a Wedding
After the wedding when the happy couple
stood on the old church steps to have their
picture taken and a throng of people where
jousting to be in the frame too, I walked
around in the church and found in a corner
a white but dusty marble Virgin Mary.
Her eyes were demurely downcast: I said:
“We’re alone you can open your eyes now.”
Was it just my imagination, caused by my
longing to believe, that I saw an eyelid flutter
and a half smile play upon cold, dusty lips?
….Pale as limestone I rejoined the throng.
poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Half my father
Half my father
Half my mother
My mother white as a ghost
My father black as coal
In my face the mixture glows
My skin is white
Still I am a black man
By the make of my nose
My hair is curly
My eyes are gray
Within me both if them lives
My mother’s race
Did enslave
My father’s race
Was never paid.
Still within I bare the two
Am O the new American?
My father is white
My mother is Korean
They met during the war
And I was born
Their only son
By my tone of skin
And by my eyes
You can tell
That there is a divide
And by my blonde hair
It is there for you to spy
Am I the new American?
My mother is German
My father polish
I learned three languages
As I grew older
Both of them
Did love me well
And of each country did tell
That I could draw
From each well
Am I the new American?
My father is Chinese
My mother Spanish
Both crossed over the Rio Grand
I am in the make of my father
But I have my mother’s brown skin
Am I the new American?
poem by David E. Patton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Will Survive
The night will see the future
Dont you know by now
The long and lonely night,
I finally see the light
Like a demons dream, lights burning
Loves not black and white
And Im still alive, and I will survive
Yeah, come on baby
I will survive
Come on honey
I could see the future, its just one dark cloud
Lets leave it to the second dance,
You wont keep me waitin too long
I can see those street lights burning,
Loves not black and white
And Im still alive, and I will survive
Well come on baby
I will survive
Yeah come on honey
The winds are hints of trouble as the skies
They turn to red
Knock knock knock, heaven upside down
As this devil holds his hand
Well I will survive
Come on baby
I will survive
Come on honey
I will survive
I will survive
Loves not black and, loves not black and,
Loves not black and white
I will survive
song performed by by Motley Crue
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!