The Breathers
The Breathers
(Jeffrey Andrew Reiss: October 5,1969)
In Ohio, where these things happen,
we had been loving all winter.
By June you looked down and saw your belly
was soft as fresh bread.
In Florida, standing on the bathroom
scales, you were convinced
and looked both ways for a full minute before crossing
Brickell Boulevard.
In Colorado you waited-out summer in a mountain
cabin, with Dr. Spock,
your stamps, and my poems in the faint
8000-foot air.
Listen, he had a perfect body,
right down to his testicles, which I counted.
The morning he dropped from your womb, all rosy
as an apple in season, breathing the thick
fall air of Ohio, we thought good things would happen.
Believe me, Dr. Salter and the nurses were right:
he was small but feisty—they said he was
feisty. That afternoon in his respirator
when he urinated it was something to be proud of.
Cyanotic by evening, he looked like a dark rose.
Late that night you hear...
Think of the only possible twentieth-century consolations:
Doris saying it might have been better this way;
think of brain damage, car crashes, dead soldiers.
Better seventeen hours than eighteen, twenty years
of half-life in Ohio where nothing happens.
Late that night you hear them
in the...
For, after all, we are young, traveling
at full speed into the bull's eye of the atom.
There's a Pepsi and hot dog stand in that bull's eye,
and babies of the future dancing around us.
Listen, the air is thick with our cries!
Late that night you hear them
in the nursery, the breathers.
Their tiny lungs go in and out like the air
bladder on an oxygen tank
or the rhythm of sex.
Asleep, your arms shoot towards that target
with a stretch that lifts you like a zombie,
wakes you to the deafening breathers.
And now you see them crawling
rings around your bed, in blankets,
buntings, preemies in incubators circling
on casters, a few with cleft palates, heart trouble,
all feistily breathing, crawling
away from your rigidly outstretched arms—
breathing, robbing the air.
poem by James Reiss
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Stop! Look, Listen
[marvin]
You're alone all the time
Does it ever puzzle you
Have you asked why
You seem to fall in love and out again
Do you really ever love
Or just pretend, oh, baby
Why fool yourself
Don't be afraid to help yourself
It's never too late, too late to
Stop, look, yes, listen to your heart
Hear what it's sayin'
Stop, look, listen to your heart
Hear what it's sayin'
Love, oh, love, love
[diana]
Though you try, you can't hide
All the things you really feel
This time decide
That you will open up, let it in
There's no shame in sharin' love you feel within
So jump right in
Head over heels and fall right in
It's never too late, too late to
Stop, look, listen to your heart
Hear what it's sayin'
Stop, look, oh, listen to your heart
Hear what it's sayin'
Love, love, love
[both]
Darlin', darlin', stop and look
[stop right now and listen to your heart]
Oh, listen to your heart hear what it's sayin'
[can't you see that it's not too late]
Stop and look
And listen to your heart hear what it's sayin'
Stop and listen to your heart right now
[stop, look]
[listen to your heart hear what's it's sayin']
Oh, can't you see that it's not too late
[stop, look]
[listen to your heart hear what it's sayin']
Darlin', stop and look
And listen to your heart hear what it's sayin'
Stop, baby
[stop right now and listen to your heart]
And listen to your heart hear what it's sayin'
[ooh, ooh, can't you see that it's not too late]
song performed by by Diana Ross
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Evening Coconut
The statue of liberty is breathing in the air
Atlantis is waiting down below.
Late at night, flashing lights are sighted in the air.
Its no secret, what everybody knows.
It really dont matter much, which way I go.
But remember to pull over in the storm.
Have you seen the evening coconut
Bobbing on the bay?
Standing on the waters edge of stone
Someone there besides you
To hear the words you say
To show you things your eyes have never known.
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
The statue of liberty is breathing in the air
While atlantis is waiting down below.
Late at night, flashing lights are sighted in the air.
Its no secret, what everybody knows.
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
Evening coconut, evening coconut
song performed by by Neil Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Late night driven by
Late night
And i´m sitting here
Watching the dark road pass me by
Trough the car window, there´s him
And then there´s me
Late night
And i´m sitting here
Thinking about the random things that cross my mind
Next to me, there´s him
And then there´s me
Late night
Driving trough the loneliness of the night
Watching my life before my eyes
There´s him and
Then there´s me
Late night
And the radio is the only thing
We can possibly hear at this moment
There´s him and then there´s me
This silence is striking
Late night
Tried falling asleep
There´s him
There´s me
I wonder if he knows that
There is you.
poem by Nina gáspari
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Shall I See My Boy Again
Must I die so soon? ah, far away
By blue Ohio's shore,
A little group waits patiently
Till this sad war is o'er;
A little face is often pressed
Against the window pane,
Oh, chaplain only tell me this
Shall I see my boy again?
Must I never press close to my heart
The rings of shining hair,
Or listen to my bright-eyed child
Whisper his evening prayer,
Shall I never hear his bounding step
Across the cottage floor?
It were not hard to die, chaplain,
Could I see my boy once more.
When morning broke with solemn tread
On old Potomac's banks,
His comrades laid the soldier down -
Discharged from the ranks,
But many a day o'er western hills,
By blue Ohio's shore,
A little boy will patient wait,
When this sad war is o'er.
poem by Anonymous Americas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) (feat. Toni Braxton)
Oh, no no baby
You're alone all the time
Does it ever puzzle you, did you ask why
You seem to fall in love, and out again
Do you ever really love or just pretend
Oh, baby why fool yourself
Don't be afraid to help yourself
It's never too late, too late to
Stop, look
Listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Stop, look
And listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Love, love, love
Though you try, you can't hide
All the things you really feel, this time decide
That you will open up, and let it in
There's no shame in sharing love you feel within
So darling, just jump right in
Head over heels, and fall right in
'Cause it's never too late too late to
Stop, look
And listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Stop, look
And listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Love, love, love
song performed by by Michael Mcdonald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stop, Look, Listen
Oh, no no baby
You're alone all the time
Does it ever puzzle you, did you ask why
You seem to fall in love, and out again
Do you ever really love or just pretend
Oh, baby why fool yourself
Don't be afraid to help yourself
It's never too late, too late to
Stop, look
Listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Stop, look
And listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Love, love, love
Though you try, you can't hide
All the things you really feel, this time decide
That you will open up, and let it in
There's no shame in sharing love you feel within
So darling, just jump right in
Head over heels, and fall right in
'Cause it's never too late too late to
Stop, look
And listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Stop, look
And listen to your heart, hear what it's saying
Love, love, love
song performed by by Michael Mcdonald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shot In The Dark
Out on the street Im stalking the night
I can hear my heavy breathing
Paid for the kill but it doesnt seem right
Something there I cant believe in
Voices are calling from inside my head
I can hear them I can hear them
Vanishing memories of things that were said
They cant try to hurt me now
But a shot in the dark one step away from you
A shot in the dark always creeping up on you
Taught by the powers that preach over me
I can hear their empty reason
I wouldnt listen I learnt how to fight
I opened up my mind to treason
But just like the wounded and when its too late
Theyll remember theyll surrender
Never a care for that people who hate
Underestimate me now
But a shot in the dark one step away from you
A shot in the dark not a thing that you can do
A shot in the dark always creeping up on you
But just like the wounded and when its too late
Theyll remember theyll surrender
Never a care for the people who hate
Underestimate me now
But a shot in the dark one step away from you
A shot in the dark not a thing that you can do
A shot in the dark always creeping up on you
song performed by by Ozzy Osbourne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Toledo
This song appears on two albums, and was first released on the an evening with john denver album as a live version, and it has also been released on the changes album. this song is also referred
S saturday night in toledo, ohio.
Saturday night in toledo, ohio, is like being nowhere at all
All through the day how the hours rush by
You sit in the park and you watch the grass die
Ah, but after the sunset, the dusk and the twilight
When shadows of night start to fall
They roll back the sidewalks precisely at ten
And people who live there are not seen again
Just two lonely truckers from great falls, montana
And a salesman from places unknown - ces unknown
Oh add all together in downtown toledo
To spend their big night all alone
You ask how I know of toledo, ohio
Well I spent a week there one day
Theyve got entertainment to dazzle your eyes
Go visit the bakery and watch the buns rise
Ah, but lets not forget that the folks of toledo
Unselfishly gave us the scales
No springs, honest weight, thats the promise they made
So smile and be thankful next time you get weighed
And wive and wet wive
Let this be our motto
Lets let the sleeping dogs lie - ping dogs lie
And heres to the dogs of toledo, ohio
Ladies, we bid you goodbye
Words and music by randy sparkes
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Memory
Late, late last night, when the whole world slept,
Along to the garden of dreams I crept.
And I pulled the bell of an old, old house
Where the moon dipped down like a little white mouse.
I tapped the door and I tossed my head:
"Are you in, little girl? Are you in?" I said.
And while I waited and shook with cold
Through the door tripped me---just eight years old.
I looked so sweet with my pigtails down,
Tied up with a ribbon of dusky brown,
With a dimpled chin full of childish charme,
And my old black dolly asleep in my arms.
I sat me down when I saw myself,
And I told little tales of a moonland elf.
I laughed and sang as I used to do
When the world was ruled by Little Boy Blue.
Then I danced with a toss and a twirl
And said: "Now have you been a good, good girl?
Have you had much spanking since you were Me?
And does it feel fine to be twenty-three?"
I kissed me then, and I said farewell,
For I've earned more spanks than I dared to tell,
And Eight must never see Twenty-three
As she peeps through the door of Memory.
poem by Zora Bernice May Cross
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Body Count
All the young kids learn to dance in the combat zone
Never dared to take a chance
Goin' home alone
But it gets so very cold
When it's late at night
Leave the foxholes on their own
Do you sleep well at night?
Bodycount...feeling hot
Bodycount...keeping warm
Friends are playing with danger
They don't know where it's found
With their casual letters
It's just another chain
You've lost the innocence
That you've never found
Standing in the DMZ
Don't get turned around
Body count...feeling hot
Body count...Vietnam
It's not the game..well, it's a scar
And they won't let you wear your khakis
And your Izods anymore
You can go get shot to hell
They don't want you anymore because..
All the young kids learn to dance
In the combat zone
Never dare to take a chance
You're going home alone
Military metaphors
Are metaphors no more
Keeping up with protocol
You're dancin' off to war
Body count feeling hot
Body count Vietnam
Do you sleep well at night?
Body Count...Vietnam
They can say what they want
But you have your doubts
It's not what you've lost
It's what your without
When I ran so far
And they just turned away
I doesn't bother me by the light of day
But at night...I hear your call
Late at night...I hear your call
I saw the mirror that you broke today
I saw the ceiling falling down your way
When they looked at you, you could turn away
You didn't bother then by the light of day...you'll stay
But at night...I hear your call
Late at night...I hear your call
You said that you could turn away
I knew that you going to stay
The walls are falling all around
They pinned you down onto the ground
But at night...I hear your call
Vietnam...I hear you call
song performed by by REM
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wednesday Morning 3 A.M.
I can hear the soft breathing of the girl that I love
As she lies here beside me asleep with the night
And her hair in a fine mist floats on my pillow
Reflecting the glow of the winter moonlight
She is soft, she is warm, but my heart remains heavy
And I watch as her breasts gently rise, gently fall
For I know with the first light of dawn I'll be leaving
And tonight will be all I have left to recall
Oh, what have I done; why have I done it
I've committed a crime, I've broken the law
For twenty-five dollars and pieces of silver
I held up and robbed a hard liquor store
My life seems unreal, my crime an illusion
A scene badly written in which I must play
Yet I know as I gaze at my young love beside me
The morning is just a few hours away
song performed by by Simon & Garfunkel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sure Know Somethin'
I've been up and down, I've been all around
I was mystified, almost terrified
But late at night i still hear you call my name
I've been on my own, I've been all alone
I was hypnotized, I felt paralyzed
But late at night I still need you just the same, just the same
I've been a gambler but I'm nobody's fool
And I sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
You showed me things they never tought me in school
And I sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
No one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know somethin', sure know somethin' aha
I was seventeen, you were just a dream
I was mesmerized, I felt scared inside
You broke my heart and I still can feel the pain
I've been counted out, I've had fear and doubt
I've been starry eyed, never satisfied
'Cause late at night I still need you just the same, just the same
I've been a gambler, but I'm nobody's fool
And I sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
You showed me things they never taught me in school
Sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
No one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, aha
Ahhh
I've been counted out, I've had fear and doubt
I've been starry eyed, never satisfied
But late at night I still need you just the same, just the same
I've been a gambler, but I'm nobody's fool
And I sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
You showed me things they never taught me in school
Sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
No one can make me feel the way that you do
Sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
No one can tell me 'till I hear it from you
Sure know somethin', sure know somethin'
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Watching Fireworks
The crowds are gathering
along the Ohio river bank
tonight, to watch the
famous Rossi's fireworks.
One side Ohio, the other
side Kentucky. Here I sit
wondering where are you,
wishing you were here with
me, missing you.
The night sky is ablaze
with beautiful fusions.I
saw your face in a star
burst, flashing across
the northern sky.
I reached to touch you.
I wanted to chase it.
But in an instant all
was gone.The color
display so wonderful,
I sat in amazement.
I searched the mid-night
skies looking for you,
trying to draw you near.
Somehow you had escaped.
As the evening was ending
I once again drew you unto
myself.In loving thoughts
I say, good-night honey
I love you, rest well.
poem by Heather Burns
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sure Know Something
Ive been up and down, Ive been all around
I was mystified, almost terrified
But late at night I still hear you call my name
Ive been on my own, Ive been all alone
I was hypnotized, I felt paralyzed
But late at night I still want you just the same
Ive been a gambler, but Im nobodys fool
And I sure know something, sure know something
You showed me things they never taught me in school
And I sure know something, sure know something
No one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, aha
I was seventeen, you were just a dream
I was mesmerized, I felt scared inside
You broke my heart and I still can feel the pain
Ive been counted out, Ive had fear and doubt
Ive been starry eyed, never satisfied
cause late at night I still need you just the same
Just the same
Ive been a gambler, but Im nobodys fool
And I sure know something, sure know something
You showed me things they never taught me in school
And I sure know something, sure know something
No one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, aha
Ive been counted out, Ive had fear and doubt
Ive been starry eyed, never satisfied
cause late at night I still need you just the same
Just the same, yeah
Ive been a gambler, but Im nobodys fool
And I sure know something, sure know something
You showed me things they never taught me in school
And I sure know something, sure know something
No one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, sure know something
No one can tell me till I hear it from you
And I sure know something, sure know something
Ive been a gambler, but Im nobodys fool
Sure know something, sure know something
You showed me things they never taught me in school
Sure know something, sure know something
No one can make me feel the way that you do
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What Happens Next? .....
for now i do not go to church
and hear Sunday mass,
i am coming back as always
early morning
and late at night and between
my busy hours
to savor this forbidden place
with no other objective and wish
that i be finally bored
in this kind of hell
choice and find this place later on
to be horrible
seriously, and sincerely
from the inner conviction of my mind
so i may never find myself
back to this place again
and then finally i tell myself
now i am convinced
now i win
now i must leave
and i will never come back again
but when will this really happen?
only when i am dead?
when it is too late?
when it is already irreversible?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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One Late Night
Ive been to the edge and back again
And I know all there is to know its a dead end
Late at night Ill come walking by
Just to see what went wrong
Late at night youll come crawling back
Just to steal a piece of me
I know what the world is made of Ive seen it
You dont have all the answers keep dreaming
Late night Ill come walking by
Just to see what went wrong
Late at night youll come crawling back
Just to steal a piece of me
Lay down now
Late at night Ill come walking by
song performed by by Default
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Motherhood
You - born with my blood
On your body like a sacrifice
I looked at you breathing, taking
My air into your lungs as you
Occupied my space.
Like the reiteration of sirens
I hear your cries
As I learn to distinct the sounds
I find solitude in your
Wellbeing and your comfort
Taking ownership of your
Existence I give love, shelter
And protection freely and not
Because you need it but
Because you are mine
I am determined to overlook
Our similarities and celebrate
Your differences the ones still
undiscovered, slumbering, waiting.
Surprise me in exchange for love.
With you my life became a journey
Always hoping always setting
New goals, new mile stones to discover
Unexpected obstacles to conquer
And loving every minute of it.
Today after the years, I would do it again
All over without looking back
I would let nature rip you from my
Womb and catapult you out
Into my world to give you love.
poem by Kristina Louisa Carr
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Ohio
Tin soldiers and nixon coming,
Were finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and nixon coming,
Were finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in ohio.
song performed by by Neil Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That's What You Said
I remember the night you weren't at home
(had to work late is what I heard)
That's what you said
I can never forget the way it felt,
you needed some time to work it out,
that's what you said
and now I feel a fool.
'Cos late at night I call your name,
I'm wondering what for,
'cos I've seen those other guys
sniffin' around your door.
Whatever happened to the words
'Lovers for all eternity?'
That's what you said,
I was your rome, you were my Juliet,
eternally
that's what you said
and now I feel a fool.
'Cos late at night I hear your voice
calling out my name,
oh I know it's just a dream
but every night's the same.
I carried a torch for you, through the thick and thin
you know it don't seem right that I won't see you again
No no
Late at night I call your name,
I'm wondering what for,
'cos I keep seeing those other guys
sniffin' around your door.
I carried a torch for you through the wind and rain
I'll never forget you, but I won't see you again
No no
I thought your friends all liked me
I thought I fitted in just right,
that's what you said.
Soon I'll be gone and you'll be free,
you can go find the things that you want.
That's what you said
and I won't feel a fool
'cos late at night I still call your name,
I'm wondering what for,
'cos I keep seeing those other guys
sniffin' around your door.
What for?
song performed by by Phil Collins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Dont Wonna Know
I dont wonna know
I dont wonna know
Your eyes were covered
In sunglasses
When they first met mine
I sat there and started at you
You didnt seem to mind
The arkward ways we meet
First comes heavy breathing
Staring at the ceiling
What will happen next
I dont wonna know
I never cared how I dressed before
But I cared that night
Anticipation ran through my bones
And my clothes never fit right
I cant wait till we meet again
First comes heavy breathing
Staring at the ceiling
What will happen next
I dont wonna know
Framed pictures start to appear on the walls
Constant visits while Im out on the road
Its hard to leave sometimes
But you know where I lay my head at night
First comes heavy breathing
Staring at the ceiling
What will happen next
I dont wonna know
I dont wonna know
(I dont wonna know)
First comes heavy breathing
(First comes heavy breathing)
Staring at the ceiling
(staring at the ceiling)
What will happen next
I dont wonna know
I dont wonna know
song performed by by New Found Glory
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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