The Shadow
The shadow followed me up the road,
laughed at me, teased me, sneaked up on me.
It looked far slimmer than me,
more agile, more spritely.........
and as I turned my head it tricked me,
ducked and dived behind a tree,
making a dash to catch up
the moment my back was turned.
poem by Ruth Walters
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Creation of the Moon
The man cut his throat and left his head there.
The others went to get it.
When they got there they put the head in a sack.
Farther on the head fell out onto the ground.
They put the head back in the sack.
Farther on the head fell out again.
Around the first sack they put a second one that
was thicker.
But the head fell out just the same.
It should be explained that they were taking the head
to show to the others.
They did not put the head back in the sack.
They left it in the middle of the road.
They went away.
They crossed the river.
But the head followed them.
They climbed up a tree full of fruit
to see whether it would go past.
The head stopped at the foot of the tree
and asked them for some fruit.
So the men shook the tree.
The head went to get the fruit.
Then it asked for some more.
So the men shook the tree
so that the fruit fell into the water.
The head said it couldn't get the fruit from there.
So the men threw the fruit a long way
to make the head go a long way to get it so they could go.
While the head was getting the fruit
the men got down from the tree and went on.
The head came back and looked at the tree
and didn't see anybody
so went on rolling down the road.
The men had stopped to wait
to see whether the head would follow them.
They saw the head come rolling.
They ran.
They got to their hut they told the others that the head
was rolling after them and to shut the door.
All the huts were closed tight.
When it got there the head commanded them to open the doors.
The owners would not open them because they were afraid.
So the head started to think what it would turn into.
If it turned into water they would drink it.
If it turned into earth they would walk on it.
If it turned into a house they would live in it.
If it turned into a steer they would kill it and eat it.
If it turned into a cow they would milk it.
If it turned into a bean they would cook it.
If it turned into the sun
When men were cold it would heat them.
If it turned into rain the grass would grow and the
animals would crop it.
So it thought, and it said, "I will turn into the moon."
It called, "Open the doors, I want to get my things."
They would not open them.
The head cried. It called out, "At least give me
my two balls of twine."
They threw out the two balls of twine through a hole.
It took them and threw them into the sky.
It asked them to throw it a little stick too
to roll the thread around so it could climb up.
Then it said, "I can climb, I am going to the sky."
It started to climb.
The men opened the doors right away.
The head went on climbing.
The men shouted, "You going to the sky, head?"
It didn't answer.
As soon as it got to the Sun
it turned into the Moon.
Toward evening the Moon was white, it was beautiful.
And the men were surprised
to see that the head had turned into the Moon.
The Liar
'I cannot tell the truth, ' he said,
'In truth, I always lie.'
I lay back on the gentle grass
And looked up at the sky,
He'd said it all before, of course,
He had me taken in,
Until I came to realize
Each lie was like a sin.
Each lie he told subverted truth,
Each 'truth' was but a lie,
If he could never tell the truth...
I turned my head to sigh!
'And so you lie with every breath,
Is what you're telling me? '
'That's right, they say I can't lie straight
In bed, yessir, that's me! '
'You lie, ' I said, 'you lie again,
If you can't tell the truth! '
'Of course, ' he laughed, and turned to kiss
His current girlfriend, Ruth.
'And so you even lie to her,
So what's her take on this? '
Ruth turned, 'I love a liar,
When a liar loves like this.'
I packed the picnic basket and
I threw it in the car,
Jumped in the driver's seat and turned
The key, then locked each door.
He jumped up then, alarmed, and said:
'You'd leave us high and dry?
You said you'd drop us off at home...'
'I lied, ' I said, 'Goodbye! '
18 June 2009
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Hex
The Hex.
Where the village lane meets the main road there was
an ugly olive tree that looked like two crippled old men
trying helping each across the road, petrified by cars,
I used to stop and talk to the tree old but still bore fruit;
now it has been chopped down and will end up as winter
wood. No. I’m not a tree hugger but it annoyed me that
it was cut down as it was not in any ones way.
An old woman came down the lane she had a long nose
with a big hairy wart on and a sack of twigs slung on her
crocked back. “Tell me dear woman, why was this tree
executed? “Because it was ugly looked like two old men
trying to help each other across the road”, she said and
toothlessly laughed.
poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Scratch Your Way Out
She turned to me as I said hello
when I passed her down the hall
She forced herself to bring me a smile
but I think she didnt mind at all
In just two seconds, I said to her
you could have me down on my back
She laughed, laughed, laughed but I didn't care
she stroke me like a blitzattack
She looked so good
She looked so fine
but she will never look better than me
Burning up with fever again
and the fever was running high
I licked her face and asked her if
she wanted to lick mine
She looked so nice as I laid her down
with a shotgun placed in her mouth
I feel the tickle as I pull it of
and now I know there is no doubt that
She look so good
She look so fine
but she will never look better than me
song performed by by Yvonne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You are now sleeping on your side
You are now sleeping on your side
with your back turned to me
and I see the line
that your spinal cord is making
and my sight follows it over your buttocks
till it disappears at the back of your ankles.
You are now sleeping on your side
with your back turned to me
but it only causes my hand
to slip easily over your curves
and to hang on your soft breast
as if I can catch the life in you
magically like this.
poem by Gert Strydom
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You Turned To Me
You turned to me
And all at once
I knew I was betrayed
My eyes met yours just down the darkened path
Where both of us had strayed
Nothing good can come out of this
I know it may not be
But just then you turned to me
And I thought for a moment
Like the fool that I've become
I might be the one
To turn these lights back on
Just as I began to say
It's never worth the price you pay
I was going there anyway
You turned to me
And all at once
I knew that you had seen
How I was lost in something quite like love
When all I did was dream
Now as evening becomes the dawn
I wonder where you'll be
And just why you turned to me
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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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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Swan Dive
The windows were open
The night air was cold,
The curtains were blowing
Like ribbons of gold,
We stood there forever
Both Henry and me,
The night his wife dived
Off the balcony.
We looked at each other
We each shook our head,
And waited to hear if
The poor girl was dead,
I looked at my watch
It was just after three,
When Gwendoline dived
Off the balcony.
I waited a moment, then:
'What did I say?
Was that a faux pas about
You in Calais?
Or did she take umbrage
When I poured the tea?
Is that why she jumped
Off the balcony? '
'Don't think for a moment,
Old chap, ' he had said,
'I thought she had mumbled
And stumbled to bed!
She'd said she had someone
Tomorrow to see,
So why would she dive
Off the balcony? '
We walked very gingerly
Out through the door,
And peered on down from
The fifty-sixth floor,
I thought I could see a small
Splat by a tree,
Just where she had dived
Off the balcony.
Could that be your Gwendoline,
There on the ground?
That's funny, she dived all
That way, made no sound!
Not one little scream -
Did you hear? ' - 'Not me! '
When Gwendoline dived
Off the balcony.
The police galloped up
By the lift, through the doors,
'That splat in the courtyard, sir,
Could it be yours? '
Then Henry admitted that
It could well be,
His wife, who had dived
Off the balcony!
They made us go down with
A bucket and mop:
'Clean up every vestige,
Remove every drop!
You can't go round leaving
Wives haphazardly,
Whenever they dive
Off the balcony! '
They made us feel humble,
We lowered our heads,
I picked up her armpits,
He mopped up her legs,
But bits of her weren't where
In truth, they should be,
When Gwendoline dived
Off the balcony.
Much later he told me that
Wives one and two,
Had left in the very same way,
I said, 'True? '
It seems Gwendoline had been
Wife number three,
Who'd taken a dive
Off the balcony.
Now Henry has married
Again, number four,
He's moved his apartment down
To the ground floor,
He locks all his windows
And tells Stephanie,
'Don't ever you dive like
Wives one, two and three! '
3 June 2009
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Some Kind Of Friend
Music by Barry Manilow
Lyrics by Adrienne Anderson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I saw you at the Beechwood Cafe
You looked at me and then you looked away
That was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
You said you had places that you had to be
Now who is gonna be there for me
That was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
Lady that was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
Baby that was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
They say that women like you can't get enough
Got your Maserati built for two
They say that women like you like to play
with love
Is that true?
When I ran into you the other day
You smiled at me but you had nothing to say
That was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
Tell me why'd you do what you did to me
Covered up your life so I couldn't see
Now that was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
Lady that was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned to be
Baby that was some kind
Some kind of friend you turned out to be
I never should have let you get to me
Nevershould have let you bring me down
Didn't know that I was just some fantasy
That you found.
song performed by by Barry Manilow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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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
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Ten Thousand Angels Cried
Stillness Filled The Heavens On Crucifixion Day
Some Say It Rained I Don't Know If It's True
Well I Can Just I'magine Ten Thousand Angels Cried
That Would Seem Like Rain To Me And You
The Angels All Stood Ready To Take Him From The Tree
They Waited For The Words From His Voice
And When He Asked The Father Why Has Thou Forsaken Me
They Watched The Saviour Die Of His Own Choice
I've Never Seen Ten Thousand Angels Cry
But I'm Sure They Did
As They Stood By
And Watched The Saviour Die
God Turned His Head Away
He Couldn't Bear The Sight
It Must Have Looked Like Rain
When Ten Thousand Angels Cried
As The Sun Slipped Away
The Skies Turned To Grey
And When Jesus Gave His All
That's When The Tears Began To Fall
I've Never Seen Ten Thousand Angels Cry
But I'm Sure They Did
As They Stood By
And Watched The Saviour Die
God Turned His Head Away
He Couldn't Bear The Sight
It Must Have Looked Like Rain
When Ten Thousand Angels Cried
It Must Have Looked Like Rain
When Ten Thousand Angels Cried
song performed by by LeAnn Rimes from You Light Up My Life
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Death at the Window
This morning, while we sat in talk
Of spring and apple-bloom,
Lo! Death stood in the garden walk,
And peered into the room.
Your back was turned, you did not see
The shadow that he made.
He bent his head and looked at me;
It made my soul afraid.
The words I had begun to speak
Fell broken in the air.
You saw the pallor of my cheek,
And turned--but none was there.
He came as sudden as a thought,
And so departed too.
What made him leave his task unwrought?
It was the sight of you.
Though Death but seldom turns aside
From those he means to take,
He would not yet our hearts divide,
For love and pity's sake.
poem by Robert Fuller Murray
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Monkey struggle
Skinny legged monkey
Jumps from tree to tree
Giggling loud at spree
To be at last free
Incapable to comprehend
In his peanut sized brain
There was nothing he could gain
As he didn’t drive the train
He kept jumping from tree to tree
Train kept moving with full speed
Enhancing the unjustifiable greed
Ignoring the red signals, refusing to heed
The jugglers laughed and laughed
Leting loose the rope
When spectators clinged to hope
Trusting the monkey will finally cope
Poor little monkey did whatever he could
To avoid the inevitable crash
With high jumps and dash
By making everything a mash
By jumping from tree to tree
The Mirror...
I Looked At The Mirror
Mirror, Looked Back At Me
I Asked The Mirror
What Do You See?
The Mirror Smiled
“Same As You See”
I Touched The Mirror
The Mirror, Touched Me
Pressing To Break Thru
Glass Vanity
For Tho’ Eye To Eye
Sometimes I See
Mirror’s Right
Is Left To Me
And My Right Side … Made Mirror Left
I Got Perplexed At Imagery
And I Turned Away From Mirror
And Mirror Turned From Me
Our Backs To Each Other
Exposed Rigidly
But, Both Turned Back To Face
And Touch Same Place, And Be
Contained and Content
In Each Other’s Space Respectfully
We Shattered The Barrier
Between Mirror and Me
Back To Reflecting Our World
And The Same Things, We See …
Oh … Mirror, Mirror …
Reflecting You … Seeing Me …
poem by MoonBee Canady
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sitting in a car on a rainy evening in Bhopal
Evening rain glistens on the road
As bread is bought and bananas are
Turned over for ripeness and less ripeness.
The rain is dancing on the car roof;
From the car the camera tries to catch
The wet sun on the leaves of the corner tree
Soon the wipers catch fever and quickly
We make our way in a sea of umbrellas.
poem by Jagannath rao Adukuri
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Something That You Said
Everything in a moment starting where
Something you said is hanging in the air
Now I know my life is sweetening
Changing everything
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Running through my head
Something I have dreamed about
And I feel so real
And it feels so right...
Showing you every weakness
And feeling strong for it
I used to run from real love
Now I long for it
Now I know what Ive been missing
Since Ive been listening
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Lying in my bed
Whispering your name out loud
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Got through to me tonight
Never so far you cant call me back
Im never more than a single kiss away
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Running through my head
Something I had dreamed about
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Lying in my bed
Whispering your name out loud
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Running through my head
Something I had dreamed about
And it feels so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
song performed by by Bangles
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tennessee Jed
Cold iron shackles, ball and chain,
Listen to the whistle of the evenin train.
You know you bound to wind up dead,
If you dont head back to tennessee jed.
Rich man step on my poor head,
When you get back you better butter my bread.
Well, do you know its like I said,
You better head back to tennessee jed.
Tennessee, tennessee, there aint no place Id rather be,
Baby wont you carry me back to tennessee.
Drink all day and rock all night,
The law come to get you if you dont walk right
Got a letter this morning, baby all it read,
You better head back to tennessee jed.
I dropped four flights and cracked my spine,
Honey, come quick with the iodine,
Catch a few winks, baby, under the bed
Then you head back to tennessee jed.
Tennessee, tennessee, there aint no place Id rather be,
Baby wont you carry me back to tennessee.
I run into charlie fog,
Blacked my eye and he kicked my dog,
My doggie turned to me and he said,
Lets head back to tennessee jed.
I woke up a feelin mean,
Went down to play the slot machine,
The wheels turned around, and the letters read,
You better head back to tennessee jed.
Tennessee, tennessee, there aint no place Id rather be,
Baby wont you carry me back to tennessee.
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Someone Missing? Someone Gone?
I listened to the old man’s sighs,
he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
Back in time his memories went.
His shoulders and his back were bent.
His face took on a haunted look,
as he scrolled through his minds scrapbook.
A smile appeared and up he glanced,
remembering some time enhanced
by pictures entering his mind,
something that he had left behind
in those faint far away spent days,
recollected down distant ways.
And then his countenance turned grim,
a stark event came back to him,
forgotten for a long, long spell,
making the shining tears to dwell,
within those seeing orbs that shone.
Is someone missing? Someone gone?
I saw before me a man wise,
and watched him as he tried to rise.
Stumbling, weary, along the road,
carrying such a heavy load
of sorrows, pain and things now past.
On cobblestones his shadow cast.
So slowly he advanced towards,
a shelter made of plywood boards.
And climbing in, was out of view,
his name, his age, I never knew.
I turned and walked across the square,
thinking that life was so unfair.
Next day I heard that he had died,
and that’s when I sat down and cried.
poem by Ernestine Northover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shattered Love)
Its a moment of truth--
A realization of fact--
A nightmare turned daymare--
A haunting that always comes back;
Reality plays itself in such daunting ways...
So hard to face it head on...
Tremulous moments- in the in betweens...
Always present-never gone;
Its a moment of truth---
A realization of fact---
A nightmare turned daymare---
A haunting that always comes back;
A broken dream surfacing...
A loss of true love so pure...
An ailment never ending...
A sorrow with no cure;
Its a remembrance that always returns...
Its a part of my heart that forever longs...
Its an unending nightmare---
Ever since you've been gone;
Its a break of: 'our once was'...
Of our future and our past...
Its a moment of harsh truth...
About a love that didn't last;
Its: 'a days gone by pain'...
That always returns...
Its my eternal love and longing...
With a fire that forever burns;
Its a moment of truth--
A realization of fact---
A nightmare turned daymare-
A haunting that always comes back;
June 4,2010
Song Lyrics
poem by Theodora Onken
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Real Turned On
Girl, before you go now
Theres one thing I wanted to do
Thats get you to come back
Because I wanna make love to you
Got me real turned on
Yes, you have
But theres something in your eyes
Telling me you have to go
Something in your eyes
But youre trying not to let it show
Got me real turned on
Next time you come over
Ill buy you a bottle of wine
Just take a little drink
And everything will turn out fine
Yes, it will
Whoa baby, do you know
What Ive got in mind
Can you guess what it is
Or do you want it on the line
Got me real turned
Got me real turned
Got me real turned
Got me real turned on
song performed by by Uriah Heep
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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