Shirt
The back, the yoke, the yardage. Lapped seams,
The nearly invisible stitches along the collar
Turned in a sweatshop by Koreans or Malaysians
Gossiping over tea and noodles on their break
Or talking money or politics while one fitted
This armpiece with its overseam to the band
Of cuff I button at my wrist. The presser, the cutter,
The wringer, the mangle. The needle, the union,
The treadle, the bobbin. The code. The infamous blaze
At the Triangle Factory in nineteen-eleven.
One hundred and forty-six died in the flames
On the ninth floor, no hydrants, no fire escapes--
The witness in a building across the street
Who watched how a young man helped a girl to step
Up to the windowsill, then held her out
Away from the masonry wall and let her drop.
And then another. As if he were helping them up
To enter a streetcar, and not eternity.
A third before he dropped her put her arms
Around his neck and kissed him. Then he held
Her into space, and dropped her. Almost at once
He stepped up to the sill himself, his jacket flared
And fluttered up from his shirt as he came down,
Air filling up the legs of his gray trousers--
Like Hart Crane's Bedlamite, "shrill shirt ballooning."
Wonderful how the patern matches perfectly
Across the placket and over the twin bar-tacked
Corners of both pockets, like a strict rhyme
Or a major chord. Prints, plaids, checks,
Houndstooth, Tattersall, Madras. The clan tartans
Invented by mill-owners inspired by the hoax of Ossian,
To control their savage Scottish workers, tamed
By a fabricated heraldry: MacGregor,
Bailey, MacMartin. The kilt, devised for workers
to wear among the dusty clattering looms.
Weavers, carders, spinners. The loader,
The docker, the navvy. The planter, the picker, the sorter
Sweating at her machine in a litter of cotton
As slaves in calico headrags sweated in fields:
George Herbert, your descendant is a Black
Lady in South Carolina, her name is Irma
And she inspected my shirt. Its color and fit
And feel and its clean smell have satisfied
both her and me. We have culled its cost and quality
Down to the buttons of simulated bone,
The buttonholes, the sizing, the facing, the characters
Printed in black on neckband and tail. The shape,
The label, the labor, the color, the shade. The shirt.
poem by Robert Pinsky
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Seams In Their Stockings July 7th,2012
SEAMS IN THEIR STOCKINGS July 7th,2012
By
James Bredin
In the middle of the Twentieth Century there was a time,
We didn't have much money - sometimes not even a dime,
I still see those old girls at the Town Center now and then,
They don't recognize me with a big gray beard, again and again.
Many of those ladies who wore seams in their stocking are now old,
They nearly drove me mad back then, as they walked to and fro,
But somewhere along the way, I myself turned into an old man,
Was that in Toronto, Halifax, New York or Newfoundland?
But that was long ago before their hair turned white and cut short,
And I was much younger then and more inclined to cavort,
But I still miss those seams and wish they could come back once more,
While this old man could still watch from a distance just like before.
July 12th,2012
poem by James Bredin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Man Of Steel
Woman (Spoken):
Touch me
I'm so afraid to draw you close
Hold me
Before my hands fall away
I'll suffocate
If I can't breathe you in
And hold you there
Forever
Meatloaf:
I left a message at the hotel
They said you checked out
They said you ain't coming back
I tried to call you
But you turned off your cell
And it said at the tone
Just leave me alone
And I fall apart at the seams
It seems that I always, always fall apart
But as strong as I am
Why can't I break you heart?
I remember how it used to be
Making love to you all night long
I used to take you in my arms
And hold you there until all my strength was gone
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
I built this prison that I thought was a home
And we both lived here
Guess you were living alone
I'd tear it down if you would only have asked
And I would build you a bridge
So you could come back
And I fall apart at the seams
It seems that I always, always fall apart
But as strong as I am
Why can't I break you heart?
I remember how it used to be
Making love to you all night long
I used to take you in my arms
And hold you there until all you fears were gone
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
I used to take you in my arms
Girl:
Hey, now tell me why can't you just
Break my heart?
Meatloaf:
I used to be a man of steel
And I used to take you in my arms
Girl:
I love you right from the start
Now you can't tear my world apart
Meatloaf:
I used to be a man of steel
Now every bit of faith is gone
Girl:
You used to be so strong
Now you can't even break my heart
Meatloaf:
I used to be a man of steel
I used to take you in my arms
What's it going to take for us to break down?
And finally fall
Girl: Fall
Meatloaf & Girl:
Apart at the seams
It seems that I always fall apart
Girl: As strong as you are
Meatloaf: As strong as I am...
Girl: Why can't you break my...
Meatloaf & Girl: Heart
song performed by by Meat Loaf
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blue Noodles And The Silver Moon
Twas christmas time in Oxford street, we shopped for presents, trying to be discreet, carols and lights that end so soon, blue noodles and the silver moon.
The cobbled street's of Tunbridge Wells, each time we kissed, it rang the bells,
love is all, when all cocooned, blue noodles and the silver moon.
Riding elephants on a Thailand beach, tsunami heartbeat and gentle feet,
blood red sky and clouds that swoon, blue noodles and that silver moon.
Summer in Paris, arms entwined, I loved you so, for you were mine, caress the louvre, mime the rhymes, bastille gate's they sense a crime, wicked feats condemn and soon,
blue noodles shiver beneath frightened moon.
Barcelona nights of a fashion lust, a tapas dawn and velvet crush, sense foreboding and creeping doom, blue noodles choke by a crying moon.
So tell me then, what changed your mood? I hoped to seek of a heart turned crude,
we said goodbye and I thus conclude, farewell blue noodles, adios sweet moon.
poem by Fergus Michael Condron
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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OSU Force
Our game is polished and poised.
When you face us you'll be destroyed.
With ground attack and vicious sacks.
We'll break your back and not relax.
With aerial gains of awesome displays.
We'll rack up yardage with no delays.
Our defense makes you stumble and fall.
Turning over tons of balls.
We're a mighty force that can't be stoped.
Get ready now you're gonna drop.
poem by Michael McParland
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Some day, somebody is going to have to start talking about what happens to us all a decade from now if we let these North Koreans and the Iranians go forward with their nuclear weapons program.
quote by Lawrence Eagleburger
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Satin Dress
Needle, needle, dip and dart,
Thrusting up and down,
Where's the man could ease a heart
Like a satin gown?
See the stitches curve and crawl
Round the cunning seams-
Patterns thin and sweet and small
As a lady's dreams.
Wantons go in bright brocade;
Brides in organdie;
Gingham's for the plighted maid;
Satin's for the free!
Wool's to line a miser's chest;
Crepe's to calm the old;
Velvet hides an empty breast
Satin's for the bold!
Lawn is for a bishop's yoke;
Linen's for a nun;
Satin is for wiser folk-
Would the dress were done!
Satin glows in candlelight-
Satin's for the proud!
They will say who watch at night,
"What a fine shroud!"
poem by Dorothy Parker
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The Invisible Man
Im the invisible man,
Im the invisible man,
Incredible how you can,
See right through me,
When you hear a sound,
That you just cant place
Feel somethin move
That you just cant trace,
When something sits
On the end of your bed
Dont turn around
When you hear me tread.
Im the invisible man,
Im the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
Im the invisible man
Im the invisible man
Its criminal how I can
See right through you.
Now Im in your room
And Im in your bed
And Im in your life
And Im in your head
Like the cia
Or the fbi
Youll never get close
Never take me alive
Im the invisible man
Im the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
Im the invisible man
Im the invisible man
Its criminal how I can
See right through you,
Hah, hah, hah, hello,
Hah, hah, hah, hello,
Hah, hah, hah, hello-hello-hello-hello,
Never had a real good friend - not a boy or a girl
No-one knows what Ive been through - let my flag unfurl
So make my mark from the edge of the world,
From the edge of the world,
From the edge of the world,
Now Im on your track
And Im in your mind,
And Im on your back
But dont look behind
Im your meanest thought
Im your darkest fear
Put Ill never get caught
You cant shake me, shake me dear,
Im the invisible man,
Im the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
Im the invisible man
Im the invisible man
Its criminal how I can
See right through you
Look at me, look at me
song performed by by Queen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Don't put up my Thread and Needle
617
Don't put up my Thread and Needle—
I'll begin to Sew
When the Birds begin to whistle—
Better Stitches—so—
These were bent—my sight got crooked—
When my mind—is plain
I'll do seams—a Queen's endeavor
Would not blush to own—
Hems—too fine for Lady's tracing
To the sightless Knot—
Tucks—of dainty interspersion—
Like a dotted Dot—
Leave my Needle in the furrow—
Where I put it down—
I can make the zigzag stitches
Straight—when I am strong—
Till then—dreaming I am sewing
Fetch the seam I missed—
Closer—so I—at my sleeping—
Still surmise I stitch—
poem by Emily Dickinson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Potty About Pot Noodles!
He bought the 12-pack, took it home,
No patience, straight away...
Chicken and mushroom, added foam,
With sweetcorn, too, hooray...
Yet its taste required something,
The tongue to dazzle more...
With an oxo's beefy stuffing,
It thrilled him to the core!
He salivated there, of course,
For what else could he do?
The noodles topped with soya sauce,
Were spicy through and through!
He swirled and swirled the mixture round,
Aromas everywhere...
One slurp and he was Heaven-bound!
A feast beyond compare!
He leaned against the worktop's side,
Stood up and yet laid back,
With sniffing sounds he couldn't hide,
Then he took off his mac...
He shovelled noodles past his lips,
They slithered down his throat...
While spilling drips on fingertips,
Whatever floats your boat...
His guilty pleasure thus went on,
His belly boiling hot,
Till finally, all noodles gone,
He raised and drained the pot...
He licked the giant spoon as well,
Then thanked the Lord above...
You see, pot noodles cast a spell!
One pot and you're in love!
Denis Martindale, copyright, September,2012.
poem by Denis Martindale
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Blue Collar Man
(Travis Tritt/Gary Rossington)
I don't like hangin' out with a high dollar crowd
I ain't no socialite I'm a little too loud
I don't do garden parties sippin' hot tea
Down in some honky tonk, brother
That's the place for me
A hard days livin' is all that I understand
Well, I owe my soul to MasterCard
I'm a blue collar man
I bust my bottom every day eight to five
I come home draggin' feelin' barely alive
The kids are screamin', house is turned upside down
Need a bulldozer just to find my way around
Don't like caviar, we like our soup from a can
Yeah, I keep my life simple
I'm a blue collar man
Don't need computers handlin' my bank account
Balance my checkbook there's a zero amount
Four-carat diamond's not on my lady's hand
We live a life rich folks could never understand
I make my livin' with these two hard workin' hands
Won't ever be no millionaire
I'm a blue collar man
Won't ever be no millionaire
I'm a blue collar man
I'm a blue collar man
I'm a blue collar man
song performed by by Travis Tritt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Honesty
Let's be brutal
Its stares you in the face
But no one seams to care
We say it
As often as we can
But no one seams to care
We open up
To say what we mean
But no one seams to care
So what's the point?
Of speaking up
If no one seams to care
But if you really mean it
And it comes straight from the heart
Then never give it up
Because at least you know you care
poem by Kaila George
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lipstick On Your Collar
When you left me all alone at the record hop
Told me you were goin out for a soda pop
You were gone for quite a while -- half-an-hour more
You came back and man, oh, man, this is what I saw:
Lipstick on your collar told a tale on you
Lipstick on your collar said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar you and I are through
cause lipstick on your collar told a tale on you! yeah!
You said it belonged to me, made me stop and think
And then I noticed yours was red; mine was baby pink
Who walked in but mary jane, lipstick all a mess?
Were you smoochin my best friend? guess the answers yes
Lipstick on your collar told a tale on you
Lipstick on your collar said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar you and I are through
cause lipstick on your collar told a tale on you! boy!
Told a tale on you! man!
Told a tale on you! yeah! (fade)
song performed by by Cyndi Lauper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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People Always Talking
People always talking, voices never quiet,
Talking over beauty, messing with delight,
Gossiping their lives away, caught up in the lies-
People talking years and years, until they finally die.
People always fighting, people never still,
People never happy; going at it with a will.
Never satisfaction, or noting what they feel,
Taking what is not theirs, compunctionless to steal.
People in the graveyards, finally at rest,
Never realizing, that it was for the best;
People with no destiny, done with all their tests-
People with their last breath, that never could confess.
poem by Patti Masterman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fundamental Of Liar Chapter CXVIII: I’m Just Talking To Myself
I’m not talking to you
I’m not talking to anyone
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not grumbling
I’m not cursing
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not insane
I’m not in trance
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not mocking
I’m not threatening
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not sharing secret
I’m not hiding something
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not mad
I’m not in rage
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not jealous
I’m not envious
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not afraid
I’m not in pessimism thought
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not whining
I’m not complaining
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not depressed
I’m not in foul mood
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not blaming
I’m not accusing
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not in denial
I’m not in confusion
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not informing
I’m not warning
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not against you
I’m not rebelling
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not help you
I’m not assist you
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not running some plot
I’m not in a mischief plan
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not in great grudge
I’m not in revenge mind
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not suspicious
I’m not curious
I’m just talking to myself
I’m not saying sorry
I’m not saying thank you
I’m just talking to myself
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Autobiography
My father made the walls resound,
He wore his collar the wrong way round.
When I was five the black dreamscame;
Nothing after was quite the same.
When I woke they did not care;
Nobody, nobody was there.
In my childhood trees were green
And there was plenty to be seen.
When my silent terror cried,
Nobody, nobody replied.
I got up; the chilly sun
Saw me walk away alone.
My mother wore a yellow dress;
Gentle, gently, gentleness.
The dark was talking to the dead;
The lamp was dark beside my bed.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
Come back early or never come.
poem by Louis Macneice
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Another Few Things You Should Never Do
Never date the Invisible Man
on any given night
you will never be able to see him
and won’t know if he is there.
If anyone sees you talking to yourself,
they might send for the men in white coats
to come and take you away.
Never date the Bionic Man
or you will never know
if he will put a big squeeze on you
and break a bone or two.
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Buzzcity Talking
What makes you wander far
Dont know who you are
Now if the vibe is right
Ill go out tonight
Cause its buzzcity talking
Its buzzcity talking
Go and find a late night bar
If Im not back, leave the door ajar
Its buzzcity talking
Talking to me
We have sickness in our hair
We have time to spare
You close another door
Break another law when its
Fast, night goes fast
Oh! oh! oh!
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Buzzcity Talking
What makes you wander far
Dont know who you are
Now if the vibe is right
Ill go out tonight
Cause its buzzcity talking
Its buzzcity talking
Go and find a late night bar
If Im not back, leave the door ajar
Its buzzcity talking
Talking to me
We have sickness in our hair
We have time to spare
You close another door
Break another law when its
Fast, night goes fast
Oh! oh! oh!
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Chattering
Clucking, clucking goes the hen
Across the barnyard again and again
With worthless chatter, as that hen gets fatter
Clucking about what or even who knows when.
But soon no more clucking will be heard,
As on my dinner plate I will serve that bird.
Gossiping, gossiping goes the wife
Another facet of her busy life
Telling her stories, about men, women, girls and boys
Bullying, infidelity and physical abuse is also rife.
But one day though all of her gossiping will end,
When she loses her husband and she has not a friend.
Squeak, Squeak goes the mouse
As it darts in and out and about the house
Throughout the day, food is its only prey
Ends up frightening myself and the spouse.
But soon enough mousie it will find its bread,
As it will be in the trap and it will be dead.
poem by Randy McClave
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Summers Gone
Crack and break, lifes big mistake,
Im feeling it too, theres no way home.
The summers gone,
The summers gone away.
Back down to earth, a conscience burst,
Im feeling it too, just slipped away.
The summers gone,
The love has gone,
The sun has gone away,
Away
Its turned to grey, just burned away,
A moment too soon, weve turned to grey...
Just like yesterday,
Its turned to black and white.
Cold as stone, no contact known
Youre feeling it too, as thoughts decay.
The summers gone, the colours gone,
The sun has gone away
Its turned to grey, just burned away,
A moment too soon, weve turned to grey,
Just like yesterday,
Its turned to black and white.
Oh, youre thinking back, youre going back to places that youve been,
Where days could last forever, but you can only dream,
Oh, were going back Im looking back to places that weve seen,
Moments that have been, places we can dream.
Crash and break, lifes big mistake,
Youre feeling it too, just slipped away.
The love has gone,
The summers gone away.
Its turned to grey, just burned away,
A moment too soon, weve turned to grey,
Just like yesterday, yesterday
Its turned to grey, just burned away,
A moment too soon, weve turned to grey,
Just like yesterday, yesterday...
song performed by by Feeder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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