Something From the Woman I Left Behind
1978,
the seventh anniversary of our marriage
we spent the night in a van,
on top of Brasstown Bald mountain.
He slipped a pistol under the mattress
and said we would be safe
from robbers.
Vandals wear many disguises
and the violated learns, eventually,
to recognize the mask.
2 a.m.,
wrapped in my own arms,
the scent of his whiskey on my neck,
bruises on bare trembling legs;
I stood naked before the moon.
In cold October air,
had to find my way back
to me.
© Shirley Alexander
poem by Shirley Alexander
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The Man And The Robbers
A MAN HAD GONE TO HIS BANK AND WITHDREW A LARGE SUM OF MONEY, AND ON HIS WAY BACK, HE SUDDENLY HAPPENED UPON A CREW OF ROBBERS AND HE TURNED BACK AND RAN AWAY AS FAST AS HIS LEGS COULD RUN!
AS HE RAN AWAY, HE SUDDENLY RAN INTO A CREW OF NIGERIAN POLICEMEN! AND THE MAN WAS FLABBERGASTED, HE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO RUN ANYMORE AND HE SUDDENLY TURNED BACK AND BEGAN TO RUN TOWARDS THE ROBBERS AND HE SHOUTED AS HE RAN, WAIT MR ROBBER! WAIT!
THE SURPRISED ROBBERS STOOD WHILE HE CAME TO THEM AND HUMBLY HANDED THE MONEY OVER TO THEM, AND ONE OF THEM ASKED, WHY DID YOU RETURN TO GIVE US THE MONEY WE WANTED TO ROB YOU OF? AND HE REPLIED, OH, AS I RAN AWAY FROM YOU, I RAN INTO A CREW OF NIGERIAN POLICEMEN! AND I DECIDED TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU ROBBERS THE MONEY INSTEAD!
A CURIOUS ROBBER ASKED, WHY DID YOU PREFER TO GIVE US THE MONEY? AND THE MAN SAID, OH, WELL, YOU ROBBERS WOULD ROB ME AND LEAVE ME ALIVE, BUT THE NIGERIAN POLICEMEN WOULD ROB ME, THEN SHOOT ME DEAD AND TELL THE WORLD THAT I WAS THE ROBBER! STATED THE MAN TO THE ASTONISHED ROBBERS
poem by Overlord Don Manuel Ihcakeyno
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The Treasure Of The Wise Man
O the night was dark and the night was late,
And the robbers came to rob him;
And they picked the locks of his palace-gate,
The robbers that came to rob him--
They picked the locks of his palace-gate,
Seized his jewels and gems of state,
His coffers of gold and his priceless plate,--
The robbers that came to rob him.
But loud laughed he in the morning red!--
For of what had the robbers robbed him?--
Ho! hidden safe, as he slept in bed,
When the robbers came to rob him,--
They robbed him not of a golden shred
Of the childish dreams in his wise old head--
'And they're welcome to all things else,' he said,
When the robbers came to rob him.
poem by James Whitcomb Riley
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Whiskey, Whiskey
Shes a little bit of the sunshine
Just before the rain
A little like this quiet night
Before the cold winds came
Shes a little bit like the weather
I never know when shes gonna change
Shes a part of my heart
And a whole lot of my pain
Chorus:
Whiskey, whiskey my old friend
Ive come to talk with you again
Milk of mercy please be kind
Drive this feeling from my mind
Dont you know, somehow her smile
Can make the day begin
Shed take away this mask of grey
And let the sun shine in
Now I find Ive been blinded
By the cold and wintery wind
She disguised behind her eyes
Oh what a fool Ive been
Chorus:
Whiskey, whiskey my old friend
Ive come to talk with you again
Milk of mercy please be kind
Drive this feeling from my mind
Chorus:
Whiskey, whiskey my old friend
Ive come to talk with you again
Milk of mercy please be kind
Drive this feeling from my mind
song performed by by Kris Kristofferson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Right Mask
One night a poem came up to a poet
From now on, it said, you must wear a mask.
What kind of mask? asked the poet.
A rose mask, said the poem.
I've used it already, said the poet,
I've exhausted it.
Then wear the mask that's made out of
a nightingale's song, use that mask.
Oh, it's an old mask, said the poet,
it's all used up.
Nonsense, said the poem, it's the perfect mask,
still, try on the god mask,
now that mask illuminates heaven.
It's a tight mask, said the poet,
and the stars crawl about in it like ants.
Then try on the troubador's mask, or the singer's mask,
try on all the popular masks.
I have, said the poet, but they fit so easily.
The poem was getting impatient,
it stamped its feet like a child,
it screamed. Then try on your own face,
try the one mask that terrifies,
the mask only you could possibly use,
the mask only you could wear out.
The poet tore at his face til it bled,
this mask? he yelled, this mask?
Yes, said the poem, yes.
But the poet was tired of masks,
he had lived too long with them,
he snatched at the poem and stuck it in his face.
Its screams were muffled, it wept, it tried to be lyrical,
it wriggled into his eyes and mouth.
Next day his friends were afraid of him,
he looked so distorted.
Now it's the right mask, said the poem, the right mask.
It clung to him lovingly and never let go again.
poem by Brian Patten
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Wrapped
I keep every tear like an ocean
For every day that my fortune
Kept me from being with you
I cradle your faith that reveals me,
Grows like a flower, then heals me
Fills me with promise anew
I carry your worn disillusion
When my pathetic confusion
Kept me from speaking the truth
I'm simply a coin in your fountain
Lost like the seconds I'm counting
Till I am closer to you
I cherish every morning that found us
With the night scattered around us
Faded and painting me blue
I carry your joy in my footsteps
Making my way to your harbor
Don't need to go any farther
You are my sun and my moon
Wrapped in your arms where it's peaceful
Back in your arms where I'm happy
I would do anything gladly
Only to see you again
Wrapped in your arms I can wander
Out to the heavens above me
Hearing you say that you love me
Back in your arms where I'm free
I keep every phrase barely spoken
That from your lips may have broken free
As you give me your love
My yearning is constant and steady
When I'm with you I'm already
Everything I can become
I cherish every morning that found us
With the night scattered around us
Faded and painting me blue
I carry your joy in my footsteps
Making my way to your harbor
Don't need to go any farther
You are my sun and my moon
Wrapped in your arms where it's peaceful
Back in your arms where I'm happy
I would do anything gladly
Only to see you again
Wrapped in your arms I can wander
Out to the heavens above me
Hearing you say that you love me
Back in your arms where I'm free
(Repeat)
song performed by by Gloria Estefan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bald as the bare mountain tops are bald, with a baldness full of grandeur.
quote by Matthew Arnold
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Complicated
I know
You want something
Complicated.
You move heaven and earth
To get what you want
A body, a room, a set of eyes
Wanting to write
Your name there-
Then the body
Grips your neck,
The room imprisons you
And the set of eyes
Stares at you,
Now they demand
Something that you dislike
You begin to hide
And wear disguises
You fold your arms
And they ache
You hold your feet
And you begin to
Feel the numbness
Of things that you said
You love to hold to keep
You remember some dreams
They had all been there
In silence
You mention some names
You face some faces
But they do not
Recognize you anymore
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Half In Day, Half In Night!
what if you moved the mountain?
raised your hand and stilled the storm?
fed the hungry, healed the sick,
and stood up and stopped all wars?
what if you peeled back the mask of prejudice,
and exposed the beating heart?
what if you walked on the water?
what if you built a temple,
using only your own hands?
what if you made your life a prayer?
what if you gave all you had to the poor?
what if you did all of this,
and it still wasnt enough?
would you be willing to go on?
what if i gave you my heart,
my spirit, and my soul?
and laid my body at your feet,
sacrificing my dreams for yours?
what if i stood up like a man
and demanded an answer?
would you know,
and would you care?
what if i opened the door
and flew into the night?
would there be a light on
when i returned?
what if i just dont know
anything else to say or do?
so what if i just be me?
would you recognize the man
standing, half in day,
and half in night?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Correct?
If the moon and the sun waged a war,
Who would win? The moon, I'm sure.
The sun would fight face to face,
Making sure everything was proper and in its place.
The sun would often stop and double check,
Just to make certain he was politically correct.
While the sun was being fair and safe,
The moon was off in a darkened place.
In the night, the moon slipped around
And hid behind the sun somehow.
The evening ended and the sun awoke.
He rose quickly as the morning broke.
The sun searched but could not find the moon,
And the sun was happy the war had ended so soon.
When the day turned dark and dark turned black,
The moon stabbed the sun in his well-meaning back.
poem by Richard Betts
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Fallen Angel
she stands on the corner,
shaking with the cold;
reeking of sex, whiskey,
and cheap perfume...
just a kid, really;
somebody's daughter...
lost in a maze of crack,
and violent retribution...
bruises on her face,
her arms, and her heart...
no way to go back,
nothing to go back to...
around the world, or
just a little head...either way,
she gotta pay the man,
gotta feed her need...
and somewhere there's
an empty room, in an empty
house, on a forgotten street...
a child dead, but not buried!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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What those marriage worth, I am already yours
What those marriage worth, I am already yours
We have marriage by heart not by rituals.
Our marriage is pious then those done by priests
And those other who are eyeing are big fool
Those who tell that I have no right on you
Don’t know that we are lovers by heart
Our children have already started to play
Not those physical children but our love has passed third anniversary.
Is physical marriage bigger then natural?
Even god believes in original heart marriage
Who dare to discard my say can anyone tells me?
If not then why dismay in her physical marriage
I am already husband of yours and you my wife
That crimson in your head, necklace in your neck has not value.
poem by Sambidhan Acharya
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Within Passion’s Embrace
I stood there welcoming night,
as it came to call.
A smile curled my lips,
as slowly the lights went out.
The moon shone down on us,
its light embracing our naked form
and the contours there.
We embraced each other
within the long grass,
our bodies locked together
within passion’s embrace.
Her throaty murmurs
were lost to the wind
and only the small creatures of the night
witnessed our consuming passion,
as we reached beyond the moon
to some far-flung stars.
When ours passions finally overwhelmed us,
we lay in each other’s arms,
spent and exhausted,
waiting for the morning sun.
(1 July 2007)
poem by David Harris
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Jizzlobber
They will sum it all up in a sentence
A verdict made by those who know
Im ready to make a commitment
Im willing to make love to concrete
Smiles
Bruises
Smiles
Bruises
Bars in the womb
I hide the dirty minutes under my dirty mattress and they are making me itch
My time
Is spilt milk
My skin is a layer of soot
Im spending my days scrubbing
Im trying so hard to act like nothing happened (no one left to blame)
Im trying so hard to find that fresh, clean smell (no one left to blame)
Smiles
Bruises
Smiles
Bruises
Bars in the womb
I hide the dirty minutes under my dirty mattress and they are making me itch
My time
Is spilt milk
Cruel world sleeps above me
Mounting and teasing
I am what Ive done
I am what Ive done
Im sorry
Im sorry
Im sorry
Sorry
Sorry
Sorry
song performed by by Faith No More
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seventh Heaven
Ive been to places where the sun goes down
Each day and never rises
Ive been to places in a dark room
Where we played with our disguises
Heaven, Im in heaven
Im in seventh heaven now
Seventh heaven
It was a dream, I heard a voice
I put it down to wishful thinking
It was a dream, a silent scream
Out of the blue, a new beginning
Heaven, Im in heaven
Im in seventh heaven now
Seventh heaven
And then I fell upon a stroke of luck
That led to my good fortune
And then I fell upon my knees
And gently kissed the ground you walk on
Heaven, Im in heaven
Im in seventh heaven now
Seventh heaven
song performed by by Deep Purple
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wrapped
Hold me to the light
All this for me
Arms wrapped around me
Breathe out gold
Cold
Hold me to the light
Hold me to the light
All this for me
Arms wrapped around me
Breathe out gold
Cold
All I could want
All I could need
All I could feel
All I could see
Damn myself
Am I safe?
Bought myself a better life
Gave myself a reward
A worse hand was never dealt
A worse hit was never felt
Damn myself
Am I safe?
Back myself, paid the price back myself
Bought you a better life
Hold me to the light
See what I just might offer up
Forgiveness
Think that I'd forget this?
With all I could want
With all I could need
With all I could feel
With all I could see
Bought myself a better life
Gave myself a reward
A worse hand was never dealt
A worse hit was never felt
Hold me to the light
All this for me
Arms wrapped around me
I don't think so.
song performed by by Ultraspank
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Intermission
Warm, wet, wrapped
in each other's
arms, legs,
still for a moment,
we rest,
a spider spent,
trapped in its web.
poem by Donal Mahoney
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June In January
When in January it’s June,
in March it will be August, hot
and clammy while I swoon
within your arms, if I am not
mistaken about climate change
that is inevitable when
the summer months within my range
make me perspire once again,
and long for January that’s cold,
when I feel comfortable within
your arms, not feeble, frazzled, old,
and ready to embark on sin,
without the need for air condit-
ioning that I associate with June.
That’s why in wintertime I wish
that January will not leave soon,
but when it does it should be May,
my favorite month when birds do sing,
accompanying my love each day
with joy while you make my heart spring.
Inspired by “It’s June in January, ” a song associated with Bing Crosby, written by Ralph Rainger and Leon Robin:
A clouded moon creeps across the clouded sky
Winds of January sigh and moan
And yet it's June.
I can see a sky of blue
Dear the miracle is due to you.
Just you.
It's June in January
Because I'm in love
It always is spring in my heart
with you in my arms.
The snow is just white blossoms
that fall from above.
And here is the reason, my dear,
Your magical charms.
The night is cold
The trees are bare
But I can feel the scent of roses in the air.
It's June in January
Because I'm in love.
But only because I'm in love with you.
Oh the night is cold!
Won't it be to bear?
But I can feel the scent of roses in the air.
It's June in January
Because I'm in love
`1/23/08
poem by Gershon Hepner
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Saturday Night Special
(ed king - ronnie vanzant)
Two feets they come a creepin
Like a black cat do
And two bodies are lyin naked
Creeper think he got nothin to lose
So he creeps into this house, yeah
And unlocks the door
And while a man reaching for his trousers
Shoots him full of .38 holes
(chorus)
Its a saturday night special
Got a barrel thats blue and cold
Aint no good for nothin
But put a man six feet in a hole
Big jims been drinkin whiskey
And playing poker on a losin night
Pretty soon, big jim starts a thinkin
Somebody been cheatin and lyin
So big jim commences to fightin
I wouldnt tell you no lie
And big jim done grab his pistol
Shot his friend right between the eyes
(chorus)
Hand guns are made for killin
Aint no good for nothin else
And if you like your whiskey
You might even shoot yourself
So why dont we dump em people
To the bottom of the sea
Before some fool come around here
Wanna shoot either you or me
song performed by by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nov.4th (Anniversary)
A fog is spilling into these streets again
Like smoke filling the doomed house at night
And the chill is doubling day by day
And the ice on the road creeps this way
Unlivable, it was unworkable for too long
So, the powers that be; they took a chance
And spoke the words that I couldn't say
And stamped the hope with a date and time
The silver skies that were suspended
Clouded up with those freezing fears
That letting go, into that all-unknown
With only a bottle of beer for peace
A year ago we talked, then turned and walked
Beyond the furthest point we'd been before
And into new arms, you were promptly caught
And into a drug, I tossed my heavy heart
There were Christmas-coloured lights in the street
There was ice on my windshield each morning
Frozen tears that I bled under my bed at night
Lamp light and the warmth of caring friends
Anniversary
An anniversary of change
We don't celebrate
We don't gratify the date
Anniversary...
An anniversary of change
(2007)
poem by B. Alexander
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Bad n Ruin
(rod stewart, ian mclagan)
Mother dont you recognize your son, ooh hoo
Coming home, yeah yeah
Getting home, cause I failed you mother, hmm-mmm
Ill be there in the mornin
If you have me back
The rent up here is much too high
For a room without a tap
A room without a tap, hoo
Ill be early in the morning
And Ill find my way back home
Back home bad n ruin
With my tail between my legs
Tail between my legs
And Ill be so tired
Ill be so tired, now listen
Ill be early tomorrow morning
And Ill fall down off my plane
Dont be embarrassed mother
By your ugly worn-out son, hmm
Your ugly worn-out son.
So just let me warn you
Mother, you wont recognize me now
Mother, you wont recognize me now
Mother, you wont recognize me now, hoo
And Ill be down on cannon[? ] street
Passport in my hand
Should you could not recognize me
Ive heavily made-up eyes
Momma, you wont recognize me now
Brother, you wont recognize me now
Hello there
Sister, you wont recognize me now
Mother, you wont recognize me now
Ooh, hoo
So mother when youve seen me
Dont forget Im your boy too
I know my brother has done you proud
Hes one foot in the grave
Mother dont you recognize me now ?
Im a burglar in the first degree
But it dont seem to worry me
Ill be so tired, so tired
Ill be so tired, so tired
So tired
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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