The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death
They smiled so much and waved their flags
As she saluted to the military band
Most of the people failed to see
She had a broken bottle in the other hand
And she took them by surprise
When she took them by the throat
And said my friend youre not allowed to vote
But they shook it all off
With a nervous laugh and cough
Next time, she said Ill let those people choke
The people who grinned themselves to death
Smiled so much they failed to take a breath
And even when their kids were starving
They all thought the queen was charming
She polished all upon the wall
And ran her hands right through her hair
So if the lady took the time to call
All the houses on the street would not compare
And she thought it really funny
That she hadnt any money
But those she looked up to, they had
But they shook it all off
With a nervous laugh and cough
And when they took her riches it was sad
The people who grinned themselves to death
Smiled so much they failed to take a breath
And even when their kids were starving
They all thought the queen was charming
song performed by by Housemartins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Still Smiling........
Smiled When Mother Took Me Into Her Arms For The First Time,
Smiled When Saw World Outside The Hospital For The First Time,
Smiled Whenever Went To School,
Smiled Even Being Laughed At....
And Called A Fool....
Smiled When Stood First In The Class,
Smiled When I Wasn't Misunderstood..... At Last!
Smiled When My Poem Was Said Wow!
Smiled When Realised That Only Day Is Today....
And Time Is Now......
Smiled When Got My 'True' Love,
Smiled As I Always Felt We Are Two Doves,
Smiled Even When Came To Know He's Not Mine,
Smiled Even When He Married My Friend.....
And Raised A Toast Of Wine,
Smiled Even When Lost Every Hope,
Smiled Even When Wasn't Able To Cope,
Smiled Even When Knew My End Is Near,
Smiled And Enjoyed Cutting My Nerve.......
No Fear...............
Smiled At Every Moment Of My Life,
Whenever, Wherever And Never Cried.............
But Now, I'm Lying Under A White Cover,
Father Putting Me On Fire.........
With No Blessings Left To Shower.....
People Around Have Nothing To Do With My Death
But Are Crying.........
And I'm............
Still Smiling.................................
poem by Apurva Jain
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Accidental Smile
there were two people met
they're walking in the street
one was an old man
other was a boy
they didn't know each other
they hadn't met before
the old man's eyes almost blind
and the boy forgot wearing his glasses
the old man thought he met his neighbor's son
the boy wore same spotlight jacket
so he smiled to him
the boy thought he met someone knows him
he couldn't see clearly but the old man's lips seen smiled
so he smiled back to him
there were two people met
they're walking in the street
one was an old man
other was a boy
they didn't know each other
they hadn't met before
but they smiled each other
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Girl Who Held Your Hand
You got on the coach
for the day trip
organized by the chapel people
for kids who were poor
and this girl
sat next to you
and said
you can be my boyfriend
for the day
and she took hold
of your hand
and gave it a squeeze
and you looked out
of the window
at your mother
standing there
looking up at the coach
and you thought
is this part of the deal?
Is this girl for real?
And Mother waved
and smiled
and you smiled
uneasily back
with the girl’s hand
holding yours
out of sight
and she looked
over your shoulder
and waved
but no one
waved back to her
because her mother
wasn’t there
maybe she was off somewhere
or had to go to work
or maybe
she was still in bed
with another uncle
beneath the sheets
and maybe
he was holding her hand
and she was holding
something you never knew
or cared about
just sitting there
waving to Mother
beneath a sky of blue.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rachel and You and The Day Trip
It was a day trip out
to some seaside place
arranged by the Gospel church
for kids whose parents
were poor
and having got on the coach
you sat in a seat
by the window
and waved at your mother
standing on the pavement
along Rockingham Street
and she waved back
then this girl sat beside you
who you didn't know
and she smiled and said
all right if I sit here?
sure
you said
and looked back out
at your mother
and waved again
and she waved back
and you thought
who is this girl?
and why is she
sitting next to me?
and she looked at out
the window
and waved to her mother
who started talking
to your mother
and they both waved back
to you and the girl
and you said
do you want to sit
by the window?
and she said
ok yes that'd be nice
and so she got out
and you got out
then she got in
and sat
by the window
and you sat
down beside her
and then the coach
started up
and drove off
and you both waved
at your mothers
until they were out of sight
and the girl turned
and said
I'm Rachel
this is my first time
to the seaside
and you said
you can walk around
with me if you want to
and she said
that'd be good
I don't know
anyone else here
and so she did
all day
walked around with you
along the beach
and on the sands
making sandcastles
and in the cafe
where they took you all
for a meal
of fish and chips
and she talked
and talked
and smiled
and laughed
and once she took
hold of your hand
and it seemed
for a while
that she was happy
at least it seemed so
by the width of her smile.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Surprise Me Again
Well I remember the day when she said go away
I rearrange my hair
Well I cant take anymore
I bought some natural food
And then I fell on the floor
Well I cant take anymore
I need a change of address
By the way, why cant you smile
She said at first it was great
And in the middle I stayed
But at the end I was sick
I said Ive got to get out quick
Then you suddenly smiled
You took me by surprise
You suddenly smiled
You took me by again
Well I remember the time
Wrapped up nice and cosy
She was washing my hair
Well I was thinking of midnight, falling in love
Watching the rain fall
When we relax Im going to sleep on your chest
And listen to your beats
And lets go to norway, live in rain and snow
And get totally depressed about nothing
At all really hello
Then you suddenly smiled
You took me by surprise
You suddenly smiled
You took me by again
You suddenly smiled
You suddenly smiled, again and again
You cant smile
Then you suddenly smiled
You took me by surprise
You suddenly smiled
You took me by again
You suddenly smiled
You suddenly smiled
You suddenly smiled
You suddenly smiled
You took me by again
song performed by by Haircut 100
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Brave New World
The police have failed the people;
they don’t protect them on the streets.
The judges have failed the police;
they don’t send the criminals to prison.
The politicians have failed the judges;
they don’t sack them.
The people have failed the politicians;
we don’t vote for someone else.
poem by Brian Taylor
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Best Smile
It was a portrait
Of six feet height
Full size Lady Grace,
Minus lips on her face.
With all his skill
The artist failed still,
To give her a smile,
Free from any style.
He scanned every mile,
For that unseen smile,
One lovely to admire,
Forever, the world over.
Smiles, smiles every where,
But not a smile there,
New, true and plain,
His lady should own.
His wife smiled.
His girl smiled.
His servant smiled.
His boss smiled.
The milkmaid smiled.
The cartman smiled.
The beggar smiled.
The neighbour smiled.
The dandy smiled.
The waiter smiled.
The grocer smiled.
The councilor smiled.
He saw an ambitious smile,
Not an aesthetic smile,
And a cunning smile,
Not a winning smile.
He saw a dubious smile,
Not a divine smile,
And a greedy smile,
Not a graceful smile.
He saw a mischievous smile,
Not a magnanimous smile,
And a voluptuous smile,
Not a virtuous smile.
Smiles, with strings, he found,
Wherever he went round,
But not the best one,
The Lady Grace won.
The smile, the best,
He found at last,
From his own child,
Rocking in the cradle.
Now the Lady Grace smiled.
Thanks to the child.
The portrait was acclaimed,
The best of its kind.
(Longest word in English is 'Smiles'
Because there is a mile between 'S' and 'S')
poem by Rajaram Ramachandran
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Destruction And Salvation
The buildings were collapsing all around
People screaming then falling down
Than not making a sound.
(I smiled)
The ground started opening up
And people falling in.
(I smiled)
The sea waters overflowed on the land
Bringing destruction, mud, and sand.
(I smiled)
The skies turned completely black
And the sounds of the lightning’s cracked.
(I smiled)
A man stopped me and asked:
Why do you smile when the world
around you is falling down?
I responded: I smile because the lord walks
by my side, and fills my heart and soul.
I grabbed his hands- “ and he smiled”
Let me walk with you, for I also felt him too.
We walked hand in hand through this barren land.
Other people stopped and asked the same question.
Then took our hands and joined us too.
The salvation of the world was coming true.
Faith, hope, love, was following thru.
As the people joined and held hands
The destruction began to cease.
And in peoples hearts
They found relief and peace.
When they looked there were thousands
Holding each others hands
For this was - part of gods plan.
poem by Louis Rams
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Cold Life
Cold you know the yolk its spreading from you laugh as people scatter
bout surrounded by a veil of stars you realize your life is dark earth
Gets colder every day if scientists could have their way theyd study us
From far away and watch as peoples minds decay cold your bodys in the
Hands of fools with swimming pools and low iqs theres nothing to see,
Nothing to do buy your stocks and sell your jewels bill collectors stole my
Mail my wife and kids are all for sale I hope to God I go to jail and no
One can come up with bail cold life I cant control my buried thoughts the
Slightest thing makes me distraught Im like the people I once fought my
Every actions being bought robot trainers earn their pay as mutant kids go
Out to play its such a pretty pretty day with orange nights and days of
Grey cold Ive now become a nervous wreck Im getting closer to my death i
Keep expecting my last breath as all my friends just laugh and jest the
Earth is such a filthy place and human such an awful race and Id rather
Live in outer space where death goes at a slower pace cold life
song performed by by Ministry
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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T'was the Night Prior to the Real Nightmare
Failed concepts...
Are diminishing by the minute.
And those who are in it,
Have to sit and finish them off!
T'was the night prior to the real nightmare.
People were sunbathing without a thought or care!
Mockings of inner city people were good and well done!
And out of the blue,
Bird doo hit the head of someone,
And he became startled, baffled and stunned!
Was that the bird of truth?
His nervousness begun!
People stopped listening to him like they should.
He sent in fresh missionaries to keep the 'hood' good!
He took away the alcohol from his kids...
Took away their weapons,
Although they had some hid from him they did!
He spoke to his pastor...
Who was also his lawyer,
Banker and baker of his bread!
He didn't know what to say,
About his dread.
And it was dreadful!
He tried his best,
To provide for everyone.
By selling the land,
Running it!
And racking up bills as he ran,
As far as he could from reality!
And now he wants to be perceived,
As the one most willing...
To piece together a portrait of universal love!
And this...
Will be yet another,
Failed concept!
Laid out on the table....
From a chair he sits that is much too big!
Failed concepts...
Are diminishing by the minute.
And those who are in it,
Have to sit and finish them off!
Failed concepts...
Are diminishing by the minute.
And those who are in it...
Are no closer to an exit,
Than the first exit plan they claim...
Would win the game!
Failed concepts...
Are diminishing by the minute.
And those who are in it
Must do something quick,
Or sit and be finished off!
T'was the night prior to the real nightmare...
People were sunbathing without a thought,
And none dared to care.
Until out of no where...
Strange Beings appeared.
With pierced skin and tattoos from toe to ear.
They were quite drugged,
And their focus wasn't clear.
But they began to stalk...
In growing numbers.
Surrounding those...
In numbing fear!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Nervous Shakedown
freeze, said the man cruisin the beat
you get your hands up and spread your feet
dont you move an inch, I heard him say
or youll be doin time until the judgement day
And he said, dont tell me no lies, give me alibis
cause if you cross my path, youll be doin life
Its a dirty lie
Chorus:
Its a shakedown
And its a nervous shakedown
A nervous shakedown
Another nervous shakedown
Its a shakedown
And its a nervous shakedown
We got a shakedown
Another nervous shakedown
(its more like a set-up)
take a dime, said the man, you can make one call
You got a one-way ticket to the county hall
Well, the judge looked high and I looked low
And when he smiled at me it was a one-man show
He said, two to five, the jury decides
Double parole if you survive
Its a dirty lie
Chorus
Law is gonna get you this time
And throw away the key
Chorus
Its a shakedown on - you
song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Jeane
Jeane
The low-life has lost its appeal
And i'm tired of walking these streets
To a room with its cupboards bare
Jeane
I'm not sure what happiness means
But i look in your eyes
And i know
Oh ...
That it isn't there
Oh, we tried, and we failed
Oh, we tried, and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried
Oh, jeane
There's ice on the sink where we bathe
So how can you call this a home
When you know it's a grave ?
Yet you still have that greedy grace
As you tidy the place
But it will never be clean
Jeane
We tried and we failed
We tried, and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
And we tried
Oh ...
Cash on the nail
It's just a fairytale
Oh ...
And i don't believe in magic anymore
Jeane
But i think you know
I really think you know
Oh ...
Oh yes, i think you know the truth
Jeane
Oh ...
No heavenly choirs
Not for me and not for you
Because i think you know
I really think you know
Oh ...
I think you know the truth
Oh, jeane
We tried, and we failed
We tried, and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried
song performed by by Smiths
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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An Independent Candidate's Frustration
Elections are over
Results have come
People failed
And failed for a long time.
I stood with hope
Against a flock of bastards.
No money
No Power
With education high
And youthfull blood
I stood with hope.
They had it all
Money
Power
And also an ugly wrinkled image
To crush me down
And boot on my chest.
I now forgot
That I am a citizen of India
A democratic paradise
Filled with people
Who carry independent thoughts
And an attitude to
Stay stereotypical
In making alternative governments
Enthroning him or her.
I stood with hope
To create a change
In the current political scenario
Assuming myself
To be fit to rule
With education and young age
But people proved intelligent
They rather prefer freebies
Than my future plans
And now i stand a goof
Thinking that people have failed
And failed for a long time
Their fate is so
Their heart is so
An independent candidate
Is one among them too
A literal fool.
poem by Mohamed Umar Farooq
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Spare
Spare, as, era, pea, asp, apes, peas, are, reap, rap, rape;
Say to the king and the queen of my town that, they should humble themselves!
For the time of war is at hand;
Because the people have failed to understand the true meaning of peace,
And the summer rains have set in.
Spare, sear, ape, rapes, raps, spear, ear, sap sera;
Take a minute to think about the first war in your town!
And like the moment of the next war at hand;
Because your people have failed to understand the true menaing of peace!
But the summer rains have now set in.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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The Money
Can money kiss you?
Can it give you a hug?
Will money save you from death?
Often people kiss their money
As if money were a person
but does money kiss you back?
Does money make the world go round?
Perhaps money can bring you down
When you spend it all, it’s just gone
leaving you with... possessions?
It’s true; money can buy you things
but it shouldn’t be the main motivation
or reason to live
It’s the root of all evil
Too much love causes greed
Some people have way too much
While others are in real need
Why are people starving?
The rich dictate the poor
Nothing less and nothing more
Everyday prices just rise
Every night we have to pay more to be alive
Dollar signs and question marks
are what I contemplate
Than money breaks up people
and causes them to hate
Never really seeming to be able to relate
What is real and what is fake?
Money isn’t something death will let you take
So why are riches passing by us daily?
On a path to no where, the money is failing
9-16-07
poem by Jesse Tampa
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I Thought I Was A Child
Its such a clever innocence with which you do your sorcery
As if somehow the years just bow and let that young girl go free
I thought I was a child until you turned and smiled
I thought I knew where I was going until I heard your laughter flowing
And came upon the wisdom in your eyes
Surprise--
Ive spent my whole life running round
Chasing songs from town to town
Thinking Id be free so long as I never let love slow me down
So lonely and so wild until you turned and smiled
By now I should have long been gone
But here I am still looking on
As if I didnt know which way to run
Its such a clever innocence with which you show myself to me
As if you know how it feels to never be who you wanted to be
I thought I was a child until you turned and smiled
I thought that I was free but Im just one more prisoner of time
Alone within the boundaries of my mind
I thought I was a child
song performed by by Jackson Browne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Window
Little Sophie sat by her window
on every single day,
just looking for someone
with whom she could play.
The streets were full of people
but none of them she knew.
She waved at them as they went by
and some of them waved too.
But they were busy people
going everywhere.
None of them had time for play,
no time to spare.
Her sisters and her brother
all went to school.
She could not go. She was only four
and that was against the rule.
So by the window Sophie sat
and one day someone smiled.
It was a mother passing by
with her little child.
And after several days of this
a knock came at her door.
It was the mother with her child
who also was just four.
The mother said 'My little one is lonely.
She needs a friend like you.'
So Sophie clapped her hands and said
'I know what we can do.'
And so they played for hours
and then her friend did say
'Can we sit by your window
and wave to people today? '
poem by Edwina Reizer
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x15-I Saw My Death
-Jane Spencers-
My grave has kept away my secrets.
The leaves are greener, the grasses-taller.
I heard you talking to me
with your solemn tears...
you didn't have to say you're sorry
for taking away my cheers;
for taking away my lover...
for making it all over.
Coz it's not the reason why i died...
as this empty earth has always denied.
The petals had fallen, the waters had flowed...
leaves are greener, grasses standing on the ground.
I saw my death when I saw his face-
how it glowed when he looked at you deeply;
he looked at you the way he never did to me.
I saw my death when I saw his smile-
he smiled beyond his heart when
he smiled at you sweetly...
He smiled at you the way he never did to me.
I saw my death when he looked into my eyes,
and all i can see is my empty grave,
and all others are lies.
When he looked at me, but it's you he sees...
I never want to breath.
The day he said he loves you
was the day I saw my death.
poem by Jessel Jane Tevar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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And You Don’t Remember Me
I sat on the park bench
pen and notebook in hand.
I watched all the people
as they passed on by.
I wondered how in life
each one of them had fared
with their happiness
and their sorrows.
I looked for inspiration
for something to write.
She looked at me and smiled,
I smiled back
thinking that was that.
“You don’t remember me? ”
She said and sat down.
I looked at her again
as memories swirled
around in my mind.
She was right
I didn’t remember her
Her hair was mousey colour
with flecks of grey
starting to appear here and there.
There were thick lines
across her forehead,
crow feet lines
near the corners of her eyes.
The corners of her mouth
drooped just slightly.
Her blues eyes were striking
and I knew I had seen them before,
but they were with a younger face
a long time ago.
A face that lit up
whenever she spoke.
“You still don’t remember me? ”
She asked once again.
I shook my head,
but unfortunately, I did.
I could remember
all the beauty
she had had in her youth,
before time had ravaged her
and taken away her beauty
and her youth.
She looked so sad.
I wanted to reach out
like I always wanted to,
but something deep inside,
a little voice you could call it,
kept telling me no.
My urge to hold her
was trying to win out,
but I couldn’t do it.
She was no longer
a part of my life.
All she was now
was a memory I clung to,
a memory of my youth
so long, long ago.
With notebook and pen,
I smiled and bit her farewell.
I whispered her name
as I said a last goodbye.
I didn’t look back
or I would have looked back with regret.
She was a past,
something none of us can ever relive.
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rock 'N' Roll Band
If we were a rock 'n' roll band,
We'd travel all over the land.
We'd play and we'd sing and wear spangly things.
If we were a rock 'n' roll band.
If we were a rock 'n' roll band,
And we were up there on the stand,
The people would here us and love us and cheer us.
Hurray for that rock 'n' roll band.
If we were a rock 'n' roll band,
Then we'd have a million fans.
We'd giggle and laugh and sign autographs,
If we were a rock 'n' roll band.
If we were a rock 'n' roll band.
The people would all kiss our hands.
We'd be millionaires and have extra long hair,
If we were a rock 'n' roll band.
But we ain't no rock 'n' roll band,
We're just seven kids in the sand.
With homemade guitars and pails and jars
And drums of potato chip cans.
Just seven kids in the sand.
Talk'n and waven' our hands.
And dreamin' and thinkin' oh wouldn't it be grand,
If we were a rock 'n' roll band.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
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