A Fire-Truck
Right down the shocked street with a
siren-blast
That sends all else skittering to the
curb,
Redness, brass, ladders and hats hurl
past,
Blurring to sheer verb,
Shift at the corner into uproarious gear
And make it around the turn in a squall
of traction,
The headlong bell maintaining sure and
clear,
Thought is degraded action!
Beautiful, heavy, unweary, loud,
obvious thing!
I stand here purged of nuance, my
mind a blank.
All I was brooding upon has taken
wing,
And I have you to thank.
As you howl beyond hearing I carry you
into my mind,
Ladders and brass and all, there to
admire
Your phoenix-red simplicity, enshrined
In that not extinguished fire.
Submitted by Robert Fish
poem by Richard Wilbur
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
I don't believe in kicking away ladders. By that, I mean the ladders by which I ascended as a young writer, small magazines that didn't pay anything, and that sort of thing.
quote by George Woodcock
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Snakes And Ladders
Words by joni mitchell
Music by larry klein and joni mitchell
He
In a shopping mall
Finally met the perfect girl
She is all that matters
The only one in all the world
Like a barbie doll
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
Just to have and hold
Is the perfect air-brushed angel
Makes you hot just looking at her
Stapled into all his braincells
Like a centerfold
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Buy the townhouse
Call the preacher
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Set up credit for the lovely creature
The lovely creature
He
On a corporate climb
Set his sights on power for her
On a silver platter
He gave up happy hour for her
Perrier and lime
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
In a handsome world
Put her mind to social graces
All the privileged chatter
Setting pretty table places
For the girls in pearls
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Buy the carphone--
Call the broker
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Buy the wife a diamond choker
A diamond choker
True love--true love--true love
Hes so nervous
New love--new love--new love
When hes with her
Oh--hes wasting away
True love--true love--true love
Its so curious
New love--new love--new love
Just to kiss her
To kiss her--to kiss her--to kiss her
To kiss her--to kiss her--to kiss her
To kiss her he has to shave
She
In the gilded mirrors
In the swing of fancy places
Where the black ties flatter
Started seeing other faces
Young-fogie-financiers
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
See
In the crimes of time
How the seasons steal away
How the rungs are shattered
First youre green then youre grey
Still the snakes unwind
Still playin snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Sell the vineyard
Call the lawyer
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Gather garbage to destroy her
To destroy her
Ladders--ladders--ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders--ladders--ladders
The paper chase love is snakes and ladders
Ladders--ladders--ladders
The social whirl
Ladders--ladders
The rat race
Barbie doll
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Snakes & Ladders
Words by joni mitchell
Music by larry klein and joni mitchell
He
In a shopping mall
Finally met the perfect girl
She is all that matters
The only one in all the world
Like a barbie doll
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
Just to have and hold
Is the perfect air-brushed angel
Makes you hot just looking at her
Stapled into all his braincells
Like a centerfold
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Buy the townhouse
Call the preacher
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Set up credit for the lovely creature
The lovely creature
He
On a corporate climb
Set his sights on power for her
On a silver platter
He gave up happy hour for her
Perrier and lime
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
In a handsome world
Put her mind to social graces
All the privileged chatter
Setting pretty table places
For the girls in pearls
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Buy the carphone--
Call the broker
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Buy the wife a diamond choker
A diamond choker
True love--true love--true love
Hes so nervous
New love--new love--new love
When hes with her
Oh--hes wasting away
True love--true love--true love
Its so curious
New love--new love--new love
Just to kiss her
To kiss her--to kiss her--to kiss her
To kiss her--to kiss her--to kiss her
To kiss her he has to shave
She
In the gilded mirrors
In the swing of fancy places
Where the black ties flatter
Started seeing other faces
Young-fogie-financiers
Oh love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
See
In the crimes of time
How the seasons steal away
How the rungs are shattered
First youre green then youre grey
Still the snakes unwind
Still playin snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Sell the vineyard
Call the lawyer
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Gather garbage to destroy her
To destroy her
Ladders--ladders--ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders--ladders--ladders
The paper chase love is snakes and ladders
Ladders--ladders--ladders
The social whirl
Ladders--ladders
The rat race
Barbie doll
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lay Lady Lay
Lay lady lay, lay across my big brass bed,
Lay lady lay, lay across my big brass bed..
Whatever colours you have in your mind
I show them to you and you see them shine
Lay lady lay, lay across my big brass bed,
Stay lady stay, stay with your man a while..
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean
And you are the best thing that hes ever seen
Stay lady stay, stay with your man a while..
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it, too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When hes standing in front of you, ooh ooh
Lay across my big brass bed.....
Stay lady stay
I long to see you in the, morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay lady stay, stay while the night is still ahead
Lay lady lay...
Stay... stay!...
Ahhh ahhhhhhh
Ohhhh
song performed by by Duran Duran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lay, Lady, Lay
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
Ill show them to you and youll see them shine
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And youre the best thing that hes ever seen
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When hes standing in front of you
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Avenue C
BY B. CLAYTON, J HENDRICKS AND D. LAMBERT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brass: N. Y. I dig
Reeds: What about it?
Brass: N. Y. is big
Reeds: People tout it
Brass: I flip my wig
Reeds: What about?
Brass: 'Bout a street I dig
Piano (Basie's solo): One day I was walkin' n'
Finally came upon a series of alphabet streets
A-B-C and D, but I went for "C"
The most of the hard-to-forget streets
It's really and truly the dilly of all m'pet streets
Tenor sax: Hey, hey, hey everybody now
Brass: Come go walkin' with me now
Walk up avenue C now
Chicks all lookin' so pretty
They don't give me no pity
Avenue C is the grooviest in the city
Tenor sax: I never dug an avenue so enjoyable to me
"C" Avenue is groovy
Yes it was groovy as it could be
Brass: Walk with me down Avenue C
Tenor sax: Man I really hope to say
Brass: Come on baby, while we ramble
Walk beside me while we ramble
Tenor sax: You dig it too I feel you do
What a scenic hike
It's a walk that you're bound to like
Brass: Y'got "B" on the one side
Reeds: "A"
Brass: "D" on the other
Reeds: "B"
Brass: "C" in the middle
Reeds: "C"
Brass and Reeds: Baby!
Trumpet: The reason that you're feelin' so down, babe
Is 'cause you live in Stuyvesant Town, babe
I dug you down in Hamilton Fish, babe
And realized that you were my dish, babe
Walkin' home and you can walk with me
Walkin' hand in hand up Avenue C, Oh babe
And while we're walkin' we can do some talkin'
While the people dig us wonderin' what we're puttin' down
While we, happy as we can be, glide on
Takin' life in stride up to Murphy Park there beside the river
Brass: Well our feet got rhythm
Reeds: Pure pedal syncopation
Brass: 'N when we walk with 'em
Reeds: Demandin' admiration
Brass: Well our step is snappy
Reeds: Dig people step aside now
Brass: Because we're so happy
Reeds: We're takin' life in stride now
Brass: Avenue C your vibrations are followin' me. Oh yes
Reeds: Everybody busily lookin'
Brass: Yes yes
Reeds: Me and baby steadily cookin'
Brass: Yes yes
Reeds: Start at one end talkin' and movin'
Brass: Yes yes
Reeds: To the other wiggin' and groovin'
Brass: So come
Reeds: You should
Brass: And view
Reeds: I would
Brass: This Ave-
Reeds: You could
Brass: Venue
Reeds: It's good
Brass: Walk on
Reeds: "C" Avenue, see it my way
Brass: Talk on
Reeds: No better view on a highway
Ensemble: Big town you don't know 'till you see it
Brass: Walk on
Reeds: I never saw such a wonderful sight
Drum break
Ensemble: You're gonna love it
Break
Brass: I'm hip, you'll flip
Reeds: When you dig it you'll stop and linger
Brass: You'll pop your top
Reeds: What a pleasure and what a swinger
Ensemble: Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
(Come on, come on, go)
Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
(Come on, come on, now, go)
Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
song performed by by Barry Manilow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Verb: That's What's Happening
I get my thing in action
To be, to see, to feel, to live
And i put my heart in action
To run, to go, to get, to give
'cause that's where i find satisfaction
To search, to find, to have, to hold
When i use my imagination
I think, i plot, i plan, i dream
Turning in towards creation
Well i make, i write, i dance, i sing
'cause i get my thing in action
Yeah i get my thing in action
Go!
When i'm feeling really active
Well i run, i ride, i swim, i fly!
Other times when life is easy
Oh i rest, i sleep, i sit, i lie
I can take a noun and bend it
Make it a verb and really send it!
'cause i get my thing in action
And i don't know my own power
I can question; like what is it?
I can order; like go get it!
When i need i really need it
When i see i got to have it
'cause i put my thing in action
Yeah i put my thing in action
Yeah i get my thing in action
And i don't even know my power
No!
song performed by by Moby
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How Did You Get Yourself Bruised Up Like That?
Do you see that brick wall,
And the solidness of it?
I want you to hit your head up against it!
Kick it and use your fists.
And when you have grown tired of doing that,
You can then ask me any question you wish!
'Why should I do that to myself...
When I carry a ladder!
They are sitting in a pile,
Right around the corner! '
Oh!
I didn't see it!
Where did you say they were?
Those ladders?
'How did you get yourself bruised up like that? '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Got Deaf.....
She got deaf after hearing that she lost
her child in bomb blast.....
She was shocked & couldn't believe what
happened.
She was not able to see her child in pieces.
She cried to her peak & tried to kill herself.
She got deaf after hearing that she lost
her child in bomb blast.....
She cursed the person who planed bomb blast.
She begged god to get her child back to her.
She just wondered how her dreams got shattered.
She got deaf after hearing that she lost
her child in bomb blast.....
She couldn't even get her child whole body.
She was just trying to search him in the stars.
She just thought that maybe it's an horrible dream.
She got deaf after hearing that she lost
her child in bomb blast.....
© copyrights reserved by author
poem by Anita Trivedi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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the old brass bell
solid and clear
school memories
haiku by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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First Things to Hand
In the skull kept on the desk.
In the spider-pod in the dust.
Or nowhere. In milkmaids, in loaves,
Or nowhere. And if Socrates leaves
His house in the morning,
When he returns in the evening
He will find Socrates waiting
On the doorstep. Buddha the stick
You use to clear the path,
And Buddha the dog-doo you flick
Away with it, nowhere or in each
Several thing you touch:
The dollar bill, the button
That works the television.
Even in the joke, the three
Words American men say
After making love. Where's
The remote? In the tears
In things, proximate, intimate.
In the wired stem with root
And leaf nowhere of this lamp:
Brass base, aura of illumination,
Enlightenment, shade of grief.
Odor of the lamp, brazen.
The mind waiting in the mind
As in the first thing to hand.
poem by Robert Pinsky
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lay Lady Lay
Lay lady lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Lay lady lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay lady stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
Stay lady stay
Heavens ? fills our head
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I show them to you and you see them shine
Stay lady stay
Stay with your man a while
Till the break of day
Then youre gonna see him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And youre the best thing hes ever seen
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When hes standing over you
Lay lady lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay lady stay
Were gonna build the whole night ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you all night
Lay lady lay
song performed by by Ministry
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Intelligence Fails
The world is a snake-ladder game.
Some get ladders but not snake bites.
Some get snake bites but not ladders.
Most get both but not evenly.
No intelligence can work it out.
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Heavy Heart
Heavy heart think of yesterday
And you're torn apart
Thinking of the ways it was easier to smile
More than today love grew wild
Heavy heart like a perfect stranger
You make it hard
Taking all the blame - still you hear the sound
Calling your name - troubles coming down
Too heavy
Turn it around
It's pressing me down
Heavy heart
This time I find
It weighs on my mind
Heavy heart
It's just like you to take it all so far
Then you feel abused and wonder who you are
Everything you've done - anything you start
Can turn and run
Ain't it true - it's only just a stage
Gotta give it room - start an empty page
Get back in the game - but do it your way
You don't have to play so heavy
Turn it around
It's pressing me down
Heavy heart
This time I find
It weighs on my mind
Heavy heart
When your heart is strong it leads you on
But when it breaks you
It devastates you for so long
Turn it around
It's pressing me down
Heavy heart
This time I find
It weighs on my mind
Heavy heart
Turn it around
It's pressing me down
Heavy heart
This time I find
It weighs on my mind
Heavy heart
song performed by by Heart from Passion Works
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Phoenix Of My Heart
What goes on in your mind
When you said late at night
Ill shake it all up
Ill shake it all off
Ill shake it all up
Ill shake it all off
You know Ive got this feeling
You have this sense of freedom
There is a slow sensation in hesitating
In your arms, Im losing hold
Phoenix of my heart
Here she comes
Here she goes
Phoenix of my heart
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Here she comes
Here she goes
Phoenix of my heart
She comes in like a river
And leaves like the wind
Shes always in a hurry
She moves like a hurricane
Once again
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Here she comes
Here she goes
Here she comes
Here she goes
Listen
Wild thing you make my heart sing
Wild thing you make my heart sing
song performed by by Xymox
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Phoenix Of My Heart
What goes on in your mind
When you said late at night
Ill shake it all up
Ill shake it all off
Ill shake it all up
Ill shake it all off
You know Ive got this feeling
You have this sense of freedom
There is a slow sensation in hesitating
In your arms, Im losing hold
Phoenix of my heart
Here she comes
Here she goes
Phoenix of my heart
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Here she comes
Here she goes
Phoenix of my heart
She comes in like a river
And leaves like the wind
Shes always in a hurry
She moves like a hurricane
Once again
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Shes the phoenix of my heart
Here she comes
Here she goes
Here she comes
Here she goes
Listen
Wild thing you make my heart sing
Wild thing you make my heart sing
song performed by by Xymox
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sammy the Shammy
Up and down the ladders he goes
making sure the windows are clean
he's got some stories to tell I bet
about all the things he has seen.
But he takes pride in his work
and he's always there on time
as long as he get's a nice cuppa
he'll get rid of all that dirt and grime.
Always friendly and chatty
the old ladies think he's a star
they secretly get all excited
as he takes his gear out of his car.
They offer him lots of cake
and endless cups of tea
he brightens up their day
with his banter and his squeegee.
He flirts with the housewifes
but it's only a bit of fun
because an irate husband
could shoot him with a gun.
Children follow him about
as he works down their street
and if they carry his bucket
they may even get a treat.
So that's Sammy the Shammy
he's the squeegee superman
who sets old ladies hearts a flutter
when he turns up in his van!
poem by Kevin Halls
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Too Much On My Mind
Too much on my mind, just too much on my mind (repeat 4x)
[charlie brown]
My mind, ready to go, its time
I gotta gotta know, where Im going in l-i-f-e
A constant headache for charlie b
But I take an asprin and sleep
For a bit, then I dream about making more hits
Wake up, its not funny
The rent is due and I dont got the money
The landlord says get out
Sorry to hear that, no doubt
I work for a jerk that cant understand
Pride and soul cause Im a man
Minimum wage in the age of the future
Move too slow, damn, it might shoot ya
Make fools out of me and you
I sit relax and just continue
To (to) think (think) that there is
Just too much on my mind
Too much on my mind, just too much on my mind (repeat 2x)
[dinco d]
Got up this morning (too much)
Still sleepy and yawning (too much)
My stomach is growling (too much)
The bus is crowding (too much)
I told my boss Im getting paid (too less)
So I quit, and sit with my last check
I go to the mall and cant get fresh
For 99 dollars and 95 cents
Plus, I dont want to hear it
Theres too much on my mind and I can hear it
Calling for the d-i-n-c-o
Here comes my girl, wait, I gotta go
Nah, Im not running, Ill just say no
And go and tell my homeboy jerell
He cant spell but he knows, relief
(he cant spell but he knows relief)
Too much on my mind, just too much on my mind (repeat 4x)
The mind is more delicate, more action than a predicate
You think of things that are never thought of and then settle it
Do this (do that) go here (go there)
Its too much on my mind
The mind is more delicate, more action than a predicate
You think of things that are never thought of and then settle it
No money (no job) no home (no life)
Its too much on my mind
Too much on my mind, just too much on my mind (repeat 4x)
[busta rhymes]
Aw baby, what a feeling, what a way to feel when youre down and beat
Youre all by yourself in a little corner, no one to help you
Yo, its like this, you know sometimes you gotta stand up strong for self
Do the little things on your own
Strive hard, strive for perfection
And Im a tell you one thing
Leaders of the new school, definitely gonna rule things
>from our beginning time, till forever, peace
song performed by by Busta Rhymes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To a Friend
I had made promise
To be friendly and nice
As her name stood well for name
I sincerely praised her and never blamed
Today she has her birthday
I wish it to become shining and special day
All relatives and friends may be wishing
I need my silver button to brass with polishing
What would is ay to her?
A bouquet in hand to offer
With wishes of long life
Peaceful and sans strife
Smile costs nothing
It conveys beautifully something
If you can offer little happiness
That may reflect cleverly on your face
I would wish you to be friendly
Never a thought in your mind to reveal sadly
That can be real wish on this very beautiful day
Keep always in mind of never going away
Not eyes, face or language may speak
They may only infuriate and make you weak
Just little gesture may make all that beautiful
Life then would be so lovely and purposeful
I may not like stars and moon
As they may disappear soon
But you may remain for long
Even if sometimes I may go wrong
Let roses not fade away from the scene
As it will be auspicious day to be seen
You may shine in your beautiful dress
A lovely smile to be watched on face
Smile you always bear and make it as habit
Many good things mar revolve around your orbit
You shall remain there as dominating force
I shall look with smiles at you of course
Wish your happiness may never fade
You may have all the way clear to trade
What you may not find always gone year
I shall wish you loudly in your ears
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Rang?
You Rang?
Date: July 5,2012
I see that you have called
Again, you have called
Perhaps in some sad belief
That you cannot be denied
I've heard it said
"You get what you give in this life"
And I believe it to be true
Perhaps…you should too!
I see that you have called
Sporting the same old howl
With conceit that does not interest me
You are brass, and nerve, and pride
Your ego grates my peace of mind
Like nails against a chalkboard
It's the incessant squall of vanity
That wears thin my patience
I see that you have called
But fall silent when looked upon
Like a frightened child, you hide your face in shadows
For fear of being seen
There's no need to pass this way again
There's no shoulder on which to rest
No ear to listen
And there is no heart to bruise or break
I see that you have called
With any luck, may it be your last
As it will go unanswered
It will be ignored…
********************************* ************
Copyright © 2012 Leria Hawkins, All Rights Reserved
poem by Leria Hawkins
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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