Reflections On Leaves
You answer me across the years
when I ask what it means to be alive
It means peace with myself,
my world, and my god
It means freedom to roam unhindered
to gather experience
to absorb the ambiance of America
But the American Rugged Individualist
has joined the endangered species list
He is ostracized, alienated, imprisoned,
and often encouraged to die
He may soon follow the passenger pigeon
into North American legend
And the Wide Open Spaces
have been closed by barbed wire
and real estate development
The great American quilt has become a blanket -
a land of fast food and golf courses
But perhaps I romanticize the past
maybe you too struggled with the purpose of existence
maybe you too felt helpless, hopeless, and meaningless
Perhaps you too howled into the night
'What's it all for? What am I for? '
I know I am not the first to ask these questions
I know I will not be the last
But now the answers seem muddied
perhaps they were never there at all
And perhaps most discouragingly, I realize
even nostalgia isn't what it used to be
poem by Rob McKercher

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Related quotes
My American Dream
Author unknown (sung by dan peek)
Found on heard.
I always thought that I wanted a long, new, shiny cadillac
That a real man wears five hundred dollar suits upon his back
I always thought that I needed a big, old house with a million dollar view
But baby, since we fell in love, all I needed is you
Waking up (waking up) to my american dream
Shes a long haired, blue eyed, country girl
Shes better than a fantasy
Waking up (waking up) to my american dream
And I would not trade the whole wide world
For what she means to me
Shes pretty as the moonlight on the gulf of mexico
And her heart is pure and true as any california gold
I put her on a pedastel like lady liberty
Know there is no finer girl from sea to shining sea
Im waking up (waking up) to my american dream
Shes a long haired, blue eyed, country girl
Shes better than a fantasy
Waking up (waking up) to my american dream
And I would not trade the whole wide world
For what she means to me
Waking up (waking up) to my american dream
Shes a real live, blue eyed, country girl
The best thing Ive ever seen
And I would not trade the whole wide world
For what she means to me
Im waking up (waking up) to my american dream
Im waking up (Im waking up) to my american dream
song performed by by America

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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War Means
War Means death
War Means destruction
War Means fire
War Means bombing
War Means sorrow
War Means turmoil
War Means tears
War Means guns
War Means blood
War Means confusion
War Means explosions
War Means mutilation
War Means sickness
War Means killing
War Means occupation
War Means loss
And lots more
But after one side
Or the other side
Has finally had enough
And lays down their arms
To surrender and give up
War Means Peace
poem by Brie Carter

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War Means
War Means death
War Means destruction
War Means fire
War Means bombing
War Means sorrow
War Means turmoil
War Means tears
War Means guns
War Means blood
War Means confusion
War Means explosions
War Means mutilation
War Means sickness
War Means killing
War Means occupation
War Means loss
And lots more
But after one side
Or the other side
Has finally had enough
And lays down their arms
To surrender and give up
War Means Peace
poem by Mrunal Nandankar

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Look, if America - if being an American means anything, it means not having to lie under oath, not even for the president.
quote by Linda Tripp

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Meaning Of War
Meaning of war
War means bombing
War means explosions
War means fire
War means destruction
War means hating
War means mutilation
War means killing
War means tears
War means guns
War means loss
War means not of who is right
War means not of who is wrong
War means only of whom is left
poem by Oscar Montano

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The American Popular Song
It's a popular song, an American popular song.
And there's something about it, can't live without it.
It's the tune of the day, somehow it takes you away
and it grabs you, and it holds you, feel it control you,
makes you want to clap your hands.
Makes you want to stomp your feet.
Makes you want to sing along. It means business.
The American popular song goes on and on.
The American popular song goes on and on and on.
It's a popular song. An American popular song.
A simple story wrapped up in glory.
Once you hear it you know you got to hear it some more.
And that's power, try it, you can't deny it.
Makes you want to clap your hands.
Makes you want to stomp your feet.
Makes you want to sing along. It means business.
The American popular song goes on and on.
The American popular song goes on and on and on.
It's a popular song. An American popular song.
It's a popular song, an American popular song.
It's a popular song, an American popular song.
song performed by by Neil Diamond

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Are you growing?
If you ask questions that have answers
It means you are growing.
If you ask questions that have no answers,
It means you have grown up.
If you ask no questions of either
It means you are stagnant.
28.09.2007
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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The existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of American settlement, explain American development.
quote by Frederick Jackson Turner

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Franco Un-american
I never thought about the universe, it made me feel small
Never thought about the problems of this planet at all
Global warming, radio-active sites
Imperialistic wrongs and animal rights! no!
Why think of all the bad things when life is so good?
Why help with an am when theres always a could?
Let the whales worry about the poisons in the sea
Outside of california, its foreign policy
I dont want changes, I have no reactions
Your dilemmas are my distractions
Thats no way to go, franco un-american
No way to go, franco un-american
No way to go, franco un-american
No way to go, franco, franco un-american
I never looked around, never second-guessed
Then I read some howard zinn now Im always depressed
And now I cant sleep from years of apathy
All because I read a little noam chomsky
Im eating vegetation, cause of fast food nation
Im wearing a couple of shoes cause of globalization
Im watching michael moore expose the awful truth
Im listening to public enemy and reagan youth
I see no world peace cause of zealous armed forces
I eat no breath-mints cause their from de-hoofed horses
Now I cant believe; what an absolute failure
The presidents laughing cause we voted for nader
Thats no way to go, franco un-american
No way to go, franco un-american
No way to go, franco un-american
Where can we go, franco un-american
I want to move north and be a canadian
Or hang down low with the nice australians
I dont want to be another i-dont-care-ican
What are we gonna do franco, franco un-american
song performed by by NOFX

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Distance Of These Other Worlds
THE DISTANCE OF THESE OTHER WORLDS
The distance of these other worlds
Means you and I
Will never know them in our lifetimes-
The distance of these other worlds
Means you and I
Are in space and time
So small-
The distance of these other worlds
Means there is a great emptiness in- between
Vaster than our own spaces and worlds-
The distance of these other worlds
Means we in our own
Are more alone-
And if and when we meet others
Will not meet
In arrogant pride
But in fearful humility
The distance of these other worlds
Whether they are real or not
Means we are less great
Than we thought
And never will be
As singularly real
As we once dreamed-
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Death means Love means
Death means freedom
Love means pain
Which would you choose?
Death means rest peacefully
Love means restless motion
Which would be comfortable?
Death means life
love means death to the heart
Which one would you want?
Death means everlasting happiness
Love means confusion
Which would be more rich?
Death means rejoice with loved ones
Love means losing someone
Which would be better?
Death means peaceful dreams for forever
Love means fear of nightmares
Which would you perfer?
poem by Desserray Whitcomb

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Our identity as a nation — unlike many other nations — is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood. Being an American involves the embrace of high ideals and civic responsibility. We become the heirs of Thomas Jefferson by accepting the ideal of human dignity found in the Declaration of Independence. We become the heirs of James Madison by understanding the genius and values of the U.S. Constitution. We become the heirs of Martin Luther King, Jr., by recognizing one another not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. This means that people of every race, religion, and ethnicity can be fully and equally American. It means that bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed. And it means that the very identity of our nation depends on the passing of civic ideals to the next generation.
quote by George W. Bush

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Doing the right thing.....
Sometimes it means giving in
When you know that nothing else matter
Sometimes it means needing to be quiet
When words can no longer deliver the message
Sometimes it means going separate ways
When things have gotten unbearable and hopeless
Sometimes it means turning away
When your presence will do more harm than good
Sometimes it means giving up your dreams
When you no longer have time to dream
Sometimes it means stop hoping
When there's nothing else to hope for
Sometimes it means giving up your reasons
When you know that they just don't fit
Sometimes it means masking your true feelings
When you know that you have to put up a face
Sometimes it means keeping the love within your heart
When you know that it can only bring pain.
poem by Malaya Bodlaver

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Kiwi Slangs
Char Char
Means good one
Nik minit
Means next minute
World famous in NZ
Means you're famous only in NZ
Get in behind
Means please move out of my way
Got ya right
Means I've got your back mate
Hard
Means good
Solid
Means choice
Skuks
Means all good or excellent
Primo
Is not a drink it means in kiwi slang nice one?
Kids today baffle me with slang
Sometimes I think I'm in another land
poem by Kaila George

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American Bald Eagle
American bald eagle
The American eagle took to flight
Soared into the valley, with its wings of might.
An endangered species it became in 1973
To protect the heritage of you and me.
On our currency and in our hearts
Of the united states it has become a big part.
With a wing span of 79 to 90
And a body length of 35 to 37
And a neck and tail as white as snow
This is something that many don’t know.
The beauty of this bird so rare
Is something that we’re proud to share.
They have been here even before
The birth of the united states
And this is what makes them great
For they survived from the
Destruction of man
And taught us how to take a stand.
So to the American eagle we honor you
In everything that we say and do.
Keep us standing tall and proud
For throughout this world
You do get around.
poem by Louis Rams

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American Bald Eagle
American bald eagle
The American eagle took to flight
Soared into the valley, with its wings of might.
An endangered species it became in 1973
To protect the heritage of you and me.
On our currency and in our hearts
Of the united states it has become a big part.
With a wing span of 79 to 90
And a body length of 35 to 37
And a neck and tail as white as snow
This is something that many don’t know.
The beauty of this bird so rare
Is something that we’re proud to share.
They have been here even before
The birth of the united states
And this is what makes them great
For they survived from the
Destruction of man
And taught us how to take a stand.
So to the American eagle we honor you
In everything that we say and do.
Keep us standing tall and proud
For throughout this world
You do get around.
poem by Louis Rams

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I wonder what it means about American literary culture and its transmission when I consider the number of American poets who earn their living teaching creative writing in universities. I've ended up doing that myself.
quote by Marilyn Hacker

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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American as Anybody
There is no required citizenship
in order for one to be considered an American.
You don't have to be born or even live within the boarders to belong,
You could go your whole life without ever once stepping foot on American soil.
You need not to know the political policies
parties or even president's names,
only the underlying foundation of principle.
Faces of Mt. Rushmore
Lady Liberty
Washington in all his forms -
whether Man Myth or place,
The Proud Spangled Banner itself!
All irrelevant symbols
used to signify the United Ideal.
The only anthem needed to know is the Unified Anthem of Man!
But one pledge, no pledge of greater significance than the pledge to one's self!
No language but the World Wide language of Love!
No law higher than God Given Equality to each in their own personal pursuit of Happiness!
I Sing the Mexican as American as the Michigander!
The Guatemalan as American as the Georgian!
the Chilean as Free as the Californian!
The Somalian with just as much right as the Carolinian!
The PuertoRican as Patriotic as the Pennsylvanian!
The center Heart of America belonging to the left as equally as to the right!
I hear not just 300 million - but Billions chanting the Paean of American Virtue World Wide!
The weight of America's potential must be hoisted by the joined hands of all Nations!
No printable documentation could ever supplement or suffice the American Spirit!
As long as you believe that each Man
Woman
Child and
Sentient Being
born to to be Free
you are as American as Anybody!
poem by Gregory Allen Uhan

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Barbed Wire Fences
Barbed wire fences
And chains around the heart
In the grind
Of the circle called life
On and on we go
Around a meaningless show
Where does thou stop
One does not know
Yet we slave on
To be free
Yet what defines freedom
And what is this bond
Or bondages unbound
Freedom is not
Or is Freedom a knot
Tied to barbed wire fences
Where we live in the luxury of nothing
And call it freedom profound
We are but fools
With existences defined
Around are the barbed wire fences
And the joys of it abound.
poem by Ayan excalibur

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To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.
quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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