The Baptism
I walked down from Nazareth with the crowd,
nudged on by their excited chatter
and rumors of a crazy man by the river
shouting God at sinners,
thrusting them into the Jordan
like so much dirty laundry
to be rinsed clean and pure.
These are my people,
hungry people
seeking new wine and
new bread, lepers
yearning to be cured,
But deep within me
silence grows,
and somehow I know
that I am closer to Home,
though so far away
from my father's workshop
and my mother's kitchen.
When John sees me
he takes my hands and gently
pushes my face into the stream
befouled with the sins
of the people...
I cannot see.
I struggle
to rise and breathe,
from this watery death
I want to be free,
and as I break through
I see His fire, I hear
His voice like a flash of wings
falling down on me,
calling me His Beloved Son,
telling the stunned crowd
to listen to everything
I will say,
but frightened,
I hurry away,
into the empty desert
to stray.
poem by Steven Federle
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Interstate
Bonus track only on lp (and b-side of a single)
Children are laughing in the sun
I count the voices one by one
But Im not there to share the fun
Im out on the interstate
I can hear a soft voice calling
Calling me to bring my guitar home.
Im happy singing in a crowd
The lights are bright, the musics loud
I like to look in every face
But out on the interstate
I can hear a soft voice calling
Calling me to bring my guitar home.
Out in the dusty desert wind
The fox goes looking for a friend
She sees a light around the bend
Im out on the interstate
I can hear a soft voice calling
Calling me to bring my guitar home.
song performed by by Neil Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Hear
(diana ross/stan scates)
What is this i hear
Falling softly in my ears
Quietly telling me to wipe away my tears
Yesterdays are gone
And love has cleared the way
No matter who you are
You can touch the stars
Life's interactions can make you smile
Just listen to the voice in your heart
The voice is near you, it's never too far
The voice is with you, where ever you are
It's closer than close, calling to your heart
I hear the voice of love
I hear the voice of love
The voice will never leave you
It lives deep down inside
It's calling you, asking you
To open up your heart
All things are achievable
Nothing is impossible
You can reach your highest high
You can make it if you try
Life's interactions can make you smile
Just listen to the voice in your heart
The voice is near you, it's never too far
The voice is with you, where ever you are
It's closer than close, calling to your heart
I hear the voice of love
I hear the voice of love
Follow where it leads you in the dark
The voice will guide your heart
The voice is always near
I hear the voice, i found the voice
From the mountains to the sea
The voice of love is calling me
Where ever you are, the voice is near you
It's never too far, the voice is with you
I hear the voice of love
I hear the voice of love
I hear the voice of love
song performed by by Diana Ross
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In A Crowd, In A Sea Of People
in a crowd of people, in a sea of people
you can just be a wooden sail, and sail like
there are no people in there, in the sea of people,
you can just be yourself, like they do not exist,
you can even just be any kind of wave in there,
a small gentle wave with the usual sea cap, a white
foamy sea cap, indistinguishable like the rest of the
people in the sea of people, and in this sea where you
are just one of them, there is really no problem, you are
just like them, behaving just like anyone of them, and you can always be with them, lonely, lonely like them, always being like them, in a crowd, in this uniformity, in this
anonymity, but once it may occur to you, that there is
something in yourself that simply shouts, I can be out
from here, out of here, from this cacophony, from this loneliness,
I cannot wait anymore, in the sea of people, I can be out,
An outcast, and it does not matter, deep within I know I can feel it now,
my mother was a seagull, and I have always known how to fly.
The time is now to spread the wings that I have been hiding.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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24
in a crowd of people, in a sea of people
you can just be a wooden sail, and sail like
there are no people in there, in the sea of people,
you can just be yourself, like they do not exist,
you can even just be any kind of wave in there,
a small gentle wave with the usual sea cap, a white
foamy sea cap, indistinguishable like the rest of the
people in the sea of people, and in this sea where you
are just one of them, there is really no problem, you are
just like them, behaving just like anyone of them, and you can always be with them, lonely, lonely like them, always being like them, in a crowd, in this uniformity, in this
anonymity, but once it may occur to you, that there is
something in yourself that simply shouts, I can be out
from here, out of here, from this cacophony, from this loneliness,
I cannot wait anymore, in the sea of people, I can be out,
An outcast, and it does not matter, deep within I know I can feel it now,
my mother was a seagull, and I have always known how to fly.
The time is now to spread the wings that I have been hiding.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Phantom Footsteps
Childish foosteps, just behind her,
Softly patter on the green.
Back she glances; tears may blind her,
But no little one is seen.
Blanched, as by an ill appalling,
Home in terror hastens she,
While a baby voice is calling,
"Mother! mother! wait for me."
Phantom footsteps! hear them
falling (falling, falling),
falling (falling, falling)
Now, wherever she may be!
(hear footsteps falling!)
While a baby voice is
call- (calling, calling,)
-ing, (calling, calling,)
"Mother! mother! wait for me."
Sobbing still, but never lagging,
Soon she enters the gate,
And before her, on the flagging,
Sees the symbols of her fate:
Tiny shoeprints, plainly speaking
Of the salt and foamy sea.
Hark! was that the doorhinge creaking?
"Mother! mother! wait for me."
Half her night is spent in weeping,
Ere she can forget her cares:
Is there not an infant creeping--
Creeping slowly up the stairs?
Venturing thither in her yearning,
Only shadows can she see;
But she hears the cry while turning,
"Mother! mother! wait for me."
poem by Henry Clay Work
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From the Grave
When the first sere leaves of the year were falling,
I heard, with a heart that was strangely thrilled,
Out of the grave of a dead Past calling,
A voice I fancied forever stilled.
All through winter and spring and summer,
Silence hung over that grave like a pall,
But, borne on the breath of the last sad comer,
I listen again to the old-time call.
It is only a love of a by-gone season,
A senseless folly that mocked at me
A reckless passion that lacked all reason,
So I killed it, and hid it where none could see.
I smothered it first to stop its crying,
Then stabbed it through with a good sharp blade,
And cold and pallid I saw it lying,
And deep—ah' deep was the grave I made.
But now I know that there is no killing
A thing like Love, for it laughs at Death.
There is no hushing, there is no stilling
That which is part of your life and breath.
You may bury it deep, and leave behind you
The land, the people, that knew your slain;
It will push the sods from its grave, and find you
On wastes of water or desert plain.
You may hear but tongues of a foreign people,
You may list to sounds that are strange and new;
But, clear as a silver bell in a steeple,
That voice from the grave shall call to you.
You may rouse your pride, you may use your reason.
And seem for a space to slay Love so;
But, all in its own good time and season,
It will rise and follow wherever you go.
You shall sit sometimes, when the leaves are falling,
Alone with your heart, as I sit to-day,
And hear that voice from your dead Past calling
Out of the graves that you hid away.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Dont Listen/ listen
Don't listen when they tell you that you can't be somebody well known someday
Don't listen
to the stupid remarks people say
Don't listen
when people spread rumors.
Listen
when people give you advise
Listen
when they try to bring you spirit high
Listen
because they always try to help you.
Don't listen
to the people who try to get you high
Don't listen
to the people who lie
Don't listen
to the people who tell you that your ugly.
Listen
to the people who make you smile
Listen
to the people and get to know them for a while
Listen
to the people for you may learn something everyday.
poem by Leticia Starkey
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In The Silence
Silence is too quiet,
It tortures us until we break it.
I was silent for a reason,
The reason not to cause trouble,
But that is all I ever did.
Troubled to stop the pain of my past,
Troubled to hear your voice calling for me,
Troubled to much to grab your hand,
So you could set me free.
In the silence you see struggle,
In the silence you can't see,
You can't breathe.
In the silence you can't hear me,
No matter how loud my voice exceeds.
Never being helped in my eternal silence.
poem by Amy Fifita
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Crazy, Crazy Nights
(whoow! heres a little song for everybody out there)
People try to take my soul away, but I dont hear the rap that they all say
They try to tell us we dont belong, thats alright, were millions strong
This is my music, it makes me proud, these are my people and this is my crowd
Chorus:
These are crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy nights
These are crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy nights
Sometimes days are so hard to survive, a million ways to bury you alive
The sun goes down like a bad bad dream
Youre wound up tight, gotta let off steam
They say they can break you again and again, if life is a radio, turn up to ten
Chorus repeats 2x
And they try to tell us that we dont belong
But thats alright, were millions strong
You are my people, you are my crowd, this is our music, we love it loud
Yeah, and nobodys gonna change me, cos thats who I am
Chorus repeats out
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Oh Jordan River Lord Say Lay My Burdens On Thee
Oh Jordan River Lord Say Lay My Burdens On Thee
Oh Jordan River down yonder where the
Black sea sings,
Oh Jordan River, cry loud with me
Oh Jordan River the blood in my hand
Oh Jordan River, the black sea sings
Oh Jordan River, lord come for me
Oh Jordan River lord say I be free
Oh Jordan River, lord protect me
Negroes at the river wanna be free
Oh Jordan river put chains on me
Oh Jordan river take my baby from me
Oh Jordan river lord waits for me
Going to break the chains
Down yonder by the black sea
Oh Jordan river I sing to thee
Oh Jordan River the master say
Nigger’s got to serve them
But lord say I free
Oh Jordan River, I'm bound to lord savior,
walking in the black river,
Oh Jordan River saves me.
I‘sa a free mind train
I set me free
Oh Jordan River
Lord say I Free
poem by Jacqueline Amos
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Laugh song
(it's just a silly song, please sing with your own melody)
Drunken man: The bottle is empty
I’m still thirsty
What can we do right now?
Crowd: Let’s steal some wine!
Bar owner: It’s the time up now!
You must pay and go
Crowd: Why is she so cruel?
We’re just having fun
Bar owner: The wind goes strong
I’m afraid storm comes
What can I do old man
With drunken men and fool?
Crowd: Our friends with us
You are warm and nice
Bar owner: No more drink tonight
Go home, goodnight!
Servant boy: The rain goes heavy
The bridge is down!
Crowd: Lord has mercy
We can’t go right now!
Crowd: The road is dark
Hard storm around
What can we do right now?
Bar owner: Sit and wait sad clown!
Man: Thunder sparks wild
Do we have some bone?
The dog still barks
Crowd: Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark
Drunken man: The bone is gone
Tomorrow we’ll mourn
What can we do right now?
Crowd: What can we do right now?
Man: No feet dance here
No music I hear
Crowd: Let’s ask our dear!
She can cheer we here
Man: The fiddle’s asleep
Her cords are curling
Crowd: Let’s just sing a song!
La, la, la, la, la
Drunken man: Your song is bad
My ears are ache
Crowd: It’s the wine not song
Your sense goes wrong
Servant boy: The rain still falls
It’s not safe to home
Crowd: We own our fall
It’s not safe from fight
Drunken man: The bottles mad and fly
Too pity they’re empty
Bar owner: Play set in my rest
You’ll be kicked and wet!
Man: Let’s close to the fire
Till words are over
Crowd: Tell tales and stories
Till the world’s over
Crowd: Only wise can say
We crazy laugh and cry
In the middle of flood
The last laugh will shout!
poem by Maria Sudibyo
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Elegy for Juliani
They found him today,
the dirty canal washing his face,
his lungs bursting full
with watery breath.
Confusion and hatred
coldly cast this child
to the chilly turbid flow.
Another child died long ago
and all the people wept
to see young life so quickly swept
into death’s deep sleep,
and so they begged
for a miracle. He said
“Wake up, little girl, ”
and startled, wide eyed and
very hungry, she sat up.
Does sleepy Juliani
hear a soothing voice say,
“Wake up, little boy”?
Does he rise now to play
in heaven’s soft, new day?
poem by Steven Federle
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Don't trust the hypocritic dog!
The dog looks hungry, as it is a stray,
A piece of meat and some food to make it gay,
Shakes its tail as fast as it can,
Stands near the gate for fun and bun,
Runs to and forth rubbing the fence,
The human at home becomes its friend,
Then a group of its relative stray arrives,
The kind hearted person goes out to feed,
On seeing the human coming towards them,
All start to bark and the first stray is one of them.
The same People who have kind words to share with us,
When we are alone with them at home or on the roam,
May backbite and act like a stranger,
when we are with others in a crowd,
where people gather for a function or a gossip.
poem by Veeraiyah Subbulakshmi
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Some Kind Of Monster
These are the eyes that can't see me
These are the hands that drop your trust
These are the boots that kick you around
This is the tongue that speaks on ths inside
These are the ears that ring with hate
This is the face that'll never change
This is the fist that grinds you down
This is the voice of silence no more
These are the legs in circles run
This is the beating you'll never know
These are the lips that taste no freedom
This is the feel that's not so safe
This is the face that you'll never change
This is the god that ain't so pure
This is the god that is not pure
This is the voice of silence no more
We the people
Are we the people?
Some kind of monster
This monster lives
This is the face that stones you cold
This is the moment that needs to breathe
These are the claws that scratch these wounds
This is the pain that never leaves
This is the tongue that whips you down
This is the burden of every man
These are the screams that pierce your skin
This is the voice of silence no more
This is the test of flesh and soul
This is the trap that smells so good
This is the flood that drains these eyes
These are the looks that chill to the bone
These are the fears that swing over head
These are the weights that hold you down
This is the end that will never end
This is the voice of silence no more
We the people
Are we the people?
Some kind of monster
This monster lives
This is the cloud that swallows trust
This is the black that uncolors us
This is the face that you hide from
This is the mask that comes undone
Ominous
I'm in us
song performed by by Metallica
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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(V - 2004) The Lad who was called Mad
People called him mad.
Many a days
He came to my mother
He would then say
‘There is fire in my stomach’
My mother would then hurry her cooking
Soon she would serve
Rice and curry
Spiced with love and care.
He would eat to his full
And at the very next door
He would again say
‘There is fire in my stomach –
I am hungry still’
And so one day
I looked deep into him
Wondered what his hunger was for
And saw fire in his heart.
Still, he little knew that
He simply said, ‘there is fire in my stomach’
And people called him mad.
He was a sensitive lad
Some had led him astray
So he lost his senses,
Lost his way
And people called him mad.
This hurt him more
Still he had them guide him.
So, finally one day
Into the temple pond
He drowned himself
To quell for ever
The fire in him
And then the people
Who had called him mad
Said with pity, ‘Oh, how sad! ’
Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 9)
By boat, He crossed and came to His own town;
They brought a paralytic on a bed;
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to him,
‘Courage, your sins have been forgiven you.’
At this some scribes began to tell themselves,
‘This man blasphemes for He forgives man’s sins! ’
As Jesus knew what they were thinking then,
He asked, ‘Why do you harbor evil thoughts? ’
Say which is easier saying, ‘Your sins are
Forgiven or rise and walk, ’ Thus Jesus asked.
‘To prove the Son of Man has power on earth
To forgive sins, He told the sick person,
‘Arise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.’
The man rose immediately and went home.
Awe-struck, the crowd then glorified the Lord,
For giving such authority to man.
As Jesus passed, he saw a man Matthew,
Sitting at the customs’ post. He told him,
‘Follow me.’ He got up and followed Him.’
And at the table, in His house, there sat
Tax-collectors and sinners with Jesus.
The Pharisees then asked his disciples,
‘Why does your teacher eat with such people? ’
As Jesus heard, he said, ‘Those that are well
Don’t need a physician but sick ones do.’
‘Go learn the meaning of the words, ’ He said:
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice;
I came to call sinners, and not righteous.’
Then the disciples of John asked Jesus,
‘Why do the Pharisees and we, fast much?
Why don’t your disciples fast anytime? ’
Then Jesus asked, ‘Can wedding guests mourn when
Their bridegroom stays along with them as long?
Those days will come when bridegroom has to leave,
And then the wedding guests will fast like you.’
‘No one will patch an old cloak with new cloth;
For, when the new cloth shrinks, the tear gets worse.
Neither they put new wine in old wine-skins;
For, both the skins burst and the wine spills out.
They fill new wine in only new wine-skins;
Both are preserved and destroyed is not one.’
Just then, an official came to Jesus,
Knelt down to Him and said, ‘My daughter’s dead! ’
But if you lay your hand on her, she’ll live.’
Jesus followed him with his disciples.
A woman menorrhagic for twelve years,
Behind him came and touched His cloak’s tassel;
She said to herself, ‘If I can but touch
The fringe of His garment, I shall be cured!
Then Jesus turned around and said to her,
‘Courage my daughter, your faith has saved you.’
And at that moment, that woman got cured.
When Jesus reached the official’s house, then
A crowd had gathered, causing commotion;
He said, ‘Just leave, the girl’s not dead but sleeps! ’
The people there ridiculed Him for this;
When Jesus took the girl by hand, she rose;
The news then spread throughout the land quite fast.
As Jesus passed, two blind men followed Him,
And cried, ‘O son of David, pity us.’
When Jesus asked them, ‘Do you believe me? ’
They replied, ‘Yes, .my Lord, in one loud voice.
Then Jesus touched their eyes in turns and said,
‘Let it be done according to your faith.’
They got their sight and Jesus warned sternly,
‘See that none come to know about your sight.’
But they went out and spread word of Jesus.
By then, a mute demoniac was brought;
And when the demon was sent out, he spoke.
The crowd was astonished when this happened.
They said, ‘Nothing like this has Israel seen.’
But Pharisees then said, ‘Prince of demons
Is able to drive out other demons.’
Then Jesus went to towns and villages,
And taught in synagogues in all temples,
Proclaiming Gospel of the kingdom and
Curing diseases and illnesses all.
His heart was filled with pity seeing crowds,
Who looked abandoned and troubled in life,
And wandered akin sheep without shepherd.
He said, ‘The harvest is so abundant;
But laborers are few in number found;
So, ask the Master for more harvesters!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-30-2007
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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From My Window To The Road Below
a brown boy
beside his pregnant mother
hand gripping
a bus stops
it is going to the mountain
loaded with
boxes and bags
and a crowd of
people
the boy sees his father
carrying
a net bag of fish
he gets away from
mother and
runs across the road
where father
is waiting
an over speeding
motorcycle is
coming
screeching sound
and screams
and then
silence, i, close my eyes
and walk away
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dirty Laundry
I make my living off the Evening News
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam
in her eye
It's interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the heir dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff
Kick 'em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do "The Innuendo"
We can dance and sing
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that Crap is King
Give us dirty laundry!
song performed by by Lisa Marie Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Mark (Chapter 1)
From Isaiah’s writings:
“Behold God’s messenger!
He comes ahead of you;
He’ll prepare your way! ”
A voice echoes in desert, loud:
“Prepare way for the Lord;
Make straight His paths;
Repent, be forgiven.”
Through Judea, Jerusalem,
The Baptist, John walks;
As people confess sins,
About the Lord, he talks.
And baptizes them all
In river Jordan!
John, clothed in camel’s hair,
With leather-belt in waist,
Feeds on locusts and wild honey.
Proclaiming: “Comes a mightier one
After me, whose sandals’ thongs,
I’m unworthy to stoop, loosen! ”
‘I baptize you with water;
He does by Holy Spirit.’
A Nazarene, of Galilee,
Yet, Jesus got baptized by John.
The Heavens tore open:
The Spirit came dove-like!
A voice said from heaven:
“This is my son in whom
I am well-pleased! ”
Soon, Jesus went to the desert;
For forty days, He lived just there;
And Satan tempted Him!
He lived amidst wild beasts;
But angels ministered to Him!
And after John’s arrest,
Then, Jesus preached God’s gospel,
In all of Galilee:
‘God’s Kingdom is at hand;
Repent, believe His word;
Enter His land.’
To Simon and brother
Andrew, both fishermen:
‘Come after me, He said.
I’ll make you both ‘Fishers of men’! ’
They left their nets and followed Him.
And walking farther on,
Then Jesus came upon,
Zebedee’s sons, James and John,
Mending their nets with zeal;
When Jesus called them both,
They left their father, boat
And followed Him.
Then Jesus came to Capernaum,
Entered the synagogue,
On Sabbath-day!
With great authority, He taught;
Astonished, people stayed.
Came, a man with unclean spirits
That said:
‘O Holy One, Destroy us not! ’
When Jesus rebuked the spirit;
The man convulsed and cried,
Out came, the evil spirit!
While people murmured:
‘He commands unclean spirits too,
They obey unto Him.’
Across all Galilee,
His fame thus spread.
And Jesus entered Simon’s house;
His mother-in-law was febrile;
He grasped her hand and helped her up;
The fever left at once.
When evening came, they brought to Him,
The ill and demonized;
He cured the sick off illnesses,
And drove the demons out;
He left by early dawn,
A desert place to pray;
Then Jesus went to places near,
Most villages to preach.
A Leper knelt and begged of Him:
‘If you so wish, I will be clean.’
With pity, Jesus stretched His hand
Over his head and said, “Be clean”
At once, the leprosy left him!
Jesus warned him sternly:
‘Don’t tell anyone anything;
Go show the priest and
Offer as Moses said,
As proof of turning clean.’
The man told many people;
So, Jesus stayed in lonely spots;
Yet, people flocked from everywhere.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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An Altercation
when i step there
for the first time i know
the difference between
silence and
shutting up, that soundless scream
that only your ears
can hear and people wonder
what is happening inside
your tiny world
where you always live and
there is no
specific address
as the streets wind up to nowhere
the world is full of noise
and as you see you imagine people
as like you
all in the flurry of the winds
of disgust
and then i ask you to see the
light at the post
it is 6: 30 in the evening
and lights begin
to make a claim of their
own islands
amidst the crowd of
passers-by
i ask you once again
to listen to the clicking of the
watch inside your
heart
and try to erase the
imagined scream
i agree it is an evening
loveless in itself
there is only you
and no one else
for i am but a stone to you
in your garden
of sands
i urge you to listen
carefully and close your eyes
and open them
once again
searching for the red
color of the
longing
it is deep into the night
when trees are but
shadows
and the winds create
a stir of
falling leaves
those that last only
for the night
and i assure you
there is nothing
here but leaves
yes, leaves and
leaves
softly falling to the grass
carried by the
sounds of the flurry
of invisible wings
and i am telling you
it could be
hope dressed
like maple.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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