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 0° 
Thomas W Case
It didn't matter if it was
August, and the air felt like an
oven on broil, or if it was
February, and the dumpsters
were icecicles to the soul.
We needed *****, and since we
didn't have jobs, the cans, at
5 cents a piece were our
aluminum tickets to sweet relief.
The magic click.
Enough cans meant a bottle of
whiskey
*****
gin,
anything to dull the
sharp, vivid pain of life.

We sifted through
cat ****
catsup
***** diapers
discarded ***** mags,
and all the other
garbage from the
rich and the poor.

One winter morning,
I threw back a heavy metal lid,
and there was a fat
raccoon looking up at me.
If Bacchus or Dionysus were
smiling, we found a
full bottle.
It happened once in
a while during summer when
the college kids headed home.

Miles of walking,
freezing or burning up,
We were the aluminum
cowboys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz70MOS_JX8
Here is a link to my you tube channel where I read my poetry from my books, the latest being Sleep Always Calls, they are available on Amazon.  I have a website...link below
 0° 
Barton D Smock
came first
plastic
then
immoral
loneliness
then
said a whale
to a whale
scratch
your eye
with mine
we’ve seen
for weeks
god
pass
for silence
in the apple
death
of brief
eels
So out of touch,
Lost, out overlooking sea.
Adrift, alone —
Cast out, wayside of the rift.
Scream, beg, but no sound.

Tired, futile to ease,
One foot forward, drag the back.
Adrift, alone —
Struck down, caught by the plague.
Scream, beg, but vacuum surrounds.

So uneasily unstable,
A crumbling world, can't fix the cracks.
Adrift, alone —
Fallen once, an angel, now trapped.
Scream, beg, but alas,

No sound.
- C.c
 0° 
neth jones
.
what devils can i get away with in words ?
like arranging mercury slinks              
to make a true thing    unbloated and blue
an honest note of mood
or  instead  floated finks of corpse              
vicious old swears                                
  with nasty rash of discrimination
hold still   it ain't pretty but              
         i can capture this picture
.
[original - approx 06/25 what devils can i get away with in words /like arranging mercury slinks/to make a true thing   unbloated and blue/hold still   i capture a picture/art you a fixture ?  get out the glue]
 0° 
Jamal Upshaw
angels
are
the
architects
that
dangle
the
soft white clouds
like
marionettes
that
dangle
their
puppets upon a string
while
whispering still
through
the
heavenly clouds
 0° 
Millee
The winds of change swirl in my life, leaving new breath in my lungs. Is this me? Am I truly free from all your negativity?
My chest burns with something new, love?
Not for you, but for me.
I'm finally free.
 0° 
Kairos
At life's next threshold
I can live my questions now
Not drowned in answers
A slight nod to Rilke's "letters to a young poet"
Quel temps de chien ! - il pleut, il neige ;
Les cochers, transis sur leur siĂšge,
Ont le nez bleu.
Par ce vilain soir de décembre,
Qu'il ferait bon garder la chambre,
Devant son feu !

A l'angle de la cheminée
La chauffeuse capitonnée
Vous tend les bras
Et semble avec une caresse
Vous dire comme une maĂźtresse,
" Tu resteras ! "

Un papier rose à découpures,
Comme un sein blanc sous des guipures.
Voile Ă  demi
Le globe laiteux de la lampe
Dont le reflet au plafond rampe,
Tout endormi.

On n'entend rien dans le silence
Que le pendule qui balance
Son disque d'or,
Et que le vent qui pleure et rĂŽde,
Parcourant, pour entrer en fraude,
Le corridor.

C'est bal Ă  l'ambassade anglaise ;
Mon habit noir est sur la chaise,
Les bras ballants ;
Mon gilet bĂąille et ma chemise
Semble dresser, pour ĂȘtre mise,
Ses poignets blancs.

Les brodequins à pointe étroite
Montrent leur vernis qui miroite,
Au feu placés ;
A cÎté des minces cravates
S'allongent comme des mains plates
Les gants glacés.

Il faut sortir ! - quelle corvée !
Prendre la file Ă  l'arrivĂ©e  
Et suivre au pas
Les coupés des beautés altiÚres
Portant blasons sur leurs portiĂšres
Et leurs appas.

Rester debout contre une porte
A voir se ruer la cohorte
Des invités ;
Les vieux museaux, les frais visages,
Les fracs en coeur et les corsages
Décolletés ;

Les dos oĂč fleurit la pustule,
Couvrant leur peau rouge d'un tulle
Aérien ;
Les dandys et les diplomates,
Sur leurs faces Ă  teintes mates,
Ne montrant rien.

Et ne pouvoir franchir la haie
Des douairiĂšres aux yeux d'orfraie
Ou de vautour,
Pour aller dire Ă  son oreille
Petite, nacrée et vermeille,
Un mot d'amour !

Je n'irai pas ! - et ferai mettre
Dans son bouquet un bout de lettre
A l'Opéra.
Par les violettes de Parme,
La mauvaise humeur se désarme :
Elle viendra !

J'ai lĂ  l'Intermezzo de Heine,
Le Thomas Grain-d'Orge de Taine,
Les deux Goncourt ;
Le temps, jusqu'Ă  l'heure oĂč s'achĂšve
Sur l'oreiller l'idĂ©e en rĂȘve,
Me sera court.
 0° 
Amethyste
I wanted to feel it
The joy of being understood.
 0° 
Agnes de Lods
Ego
Oh, my dearest Egooooo!
When you can’t squeeze through the door,
so immense and entitled,
I tell myself,
“That’s enough!”
No more confetti and fireworks!
Haunting me over a lost chance.

The Magnificence of Doubt—
what if I were

Soundless compliments
only to be pinched and ignored later.

From now on,
I celebrate my mediocre greatness
with a crown of fool’s gold on my head

yet throne-less.

Some falls, invisible success,
and unfulfilled hopes,
which, surprisingly,
made me stronger.

Oh, the Irony of fate!
All these sleepless nights
for this Wisdom?!
 0° 
AydanL
Our lives
are like cardboard
boxes,

there's only so much
they can retain.

If the pressure's
too great

it will break,
shattering what's
inside.

I loved you
like childhood,

but I guess
we all have to grow up
sometimes.
 0° 
OnLithium
in this lifetime
i am yours
in another lifetime
someone else's
i am aware
of the others
if only faintly
and i hate to speak
for the others
but this one with you
by far the best
ÂĄYa coronĂł la dicha tus amores!
Un hijo tienes ya, que habrĂĄ nacido
Oyendo, cual los dulces ruiseñores,
MĂșsicas en los aires y en el nido.

SĂ© que la madre de ventura loca
Cifra en él sus mås dulces embelesos,
Y que en la fresca guinda de su boca
Acendra miel con lĂĄgrimas y besos.

SĂ© que a ti ya te enferman los sonrojos,
Pues cada extraño que en tu bien repara
Te dice que sus ojos son tus ojos.
Que en su cara de cielo estĂĄ tu cara.

Y hablando la verdad, si se parece
A su progenitor, yo lo bendigo;
Ya verĂĄs cĂłmo vive y cĂłmo crece,
Y halla en cada mortal un buen amigo.

ÂĄTodo igual a su padre! el mundo dice,
Y tĂș lo miras, y con tierno arrullo
Tu mano lo acaricia y lo bendice
Con infinito amor y noble orgullo.

Hoy tiemblas si en la cuna se menea,
Y tiemblas cuando duerme sosegado,
Y al ver que gesticula y pestañea
Dices en tu interior: ¿qué habrå pensado?

Ni la brisa sutil dejas que roce
Su frente angelical; te ve y suspira,
Y dices con pasiĂłn: ÂĄya me conoce,
Y ya me quiere hablar cuando me mira!

HabrĂĄ que verte cuando ufano pasas
Llevando al nuevo rey de tus amores,
En un coche de mimbres y de gasas
En triunfo por los anchos corredores.

Seguro estoy de que gozoso gritas
Cuando ves con qué gracia tu heredero
Alza al aire las blancas manecitas
Y agita el argentado sonajero.

Y que, por mås que estå recién llegado
A tu hogar, venturoso cual ninguno,
Lo sueñas almirante y abogado,
CapitĂĄn general, sabio y tribuno.

Y lo miras del mundo en la faena
Desdeñando lisonjas y oropeles,
Y su mirada cĂĄndida y serena
Te habla de gloria, aplausos y laureles.

Siendo tan pequeñito lo ves hombre,
Y hasta pretendes inquirir ufano
CĂłmo pondrĂĄ las letras de su nombre
El jazmĂ­n diminuto de su mano.

Comprendo bien que el serafĂ­n te engrĂ­e,
Que con él van tus horas muy de prisa,
Y que miras a Dios si te sonrĂ­e,
Pues estĂĄ todo el cielo en su sonrisa.

Miro a la joven madre en su recato
Cómo lo baña en su mirar sereno,
Y hallando en él tu amor y tu retrato,
ÂĄLe da toda la savia de su seno!

Comprendo tu alborozo: en tu alma anida
El mĂĄs augusto y santo regocijo;
ÂĄSer padre es ser devoto de la vida,
Porque toda la vida estĂĄ en el hijo!

Hoy pensarĂĄs en todo; si te exalta
El mĂĄs ciego furor, pronto al mirarlo
ExclamarĂĄs con miedo: ÂĄle hago falta!
ÂĄYo no debo por nadie abandonarlo!

Es nueva religión la que en él tienes;
Al verlo tu esperanza fortificas,
Y la mejor corona de tus sienes
Es el inmenso amor que le dedicas.

ÂżNaciĂł para cantar? ÂĄdestino santo!
No lo veré; mi vida se derrumba
A un abismo sin fin; pĂ­dele un canto
A mi cariño a ti, sobre mi tumba;

Dile que se estrecharon nuestras manos
Cuando viniste a honrar el suelo mĂ­o,
Que tĂș y yo nos quisimos como hermanos,
Que le amo mucho, y que me llame tĂ­o.

Que ha visto el claro albor de la existencia
En esa fecha llena de esplendores
En que mi patria ungiĂł su independencia
Con el grito del cura de Dolores.

ÂĄDios te vele esa joya de valĂ­a,
Tenga en el mundo mirtos por alfombra,
Y que mañana puedan tĂș y MarĂ­a
Entrelazar sus canas a su sombra!
 0° 
Nosy
Why must I be within your heart
This hurts as I wanted to leave,
When with eternity you grow,
And every fare declines way.

This could mean I shall stay,
But for whom,
Just for you.
ChĂœbaĆĄ mi
Apples
in a bowl
on a wooden table
glowing
in a beam
of sunshine

A window
facing trees
gently moving
in the winds
of Summer

A hand
pooring coffee
for a friend
at the table

Senses intermingling:
apples, wood, summer wind
talk and friendship
in a timeless moment
of simplicity.
 0° 
Emery Feine
because i had everything i could ever want
then figured out it was all a lie
because while all you could do was taunt
i crafted my own wings to fly
dont worry i didnt fly too high
The room,
bone white,

painted
freshly,

the clear
glass of

water—
reflected

in the small
oval

mirror
—sitting

on the
well worn

seat of
a chair,

vivid,
illuminating

after-
noon sun.
Roses are red
Netanyahu is a swine
I pray to the Lord for
A free Palestine
đŸ‡”đŸ‡žđŸ‡”đŸ‡žđŸ‡”đŸ‡ž
 0° 
RJ
I’ve been through enough
to know silence can be louder than screams.
Enough to know
“I'm fine” usually means
I'm not.

I’ve had nights
where the weight got heavy,
but I held it anyway.
No applause.
No witness.
Just me
and the dark
playing tug-of-war with my peace.

But I never let go.
Even when I wanted to.

There’s a version of me
I used to mourn
the one before the heartbreak,
before the trust got shattered,
before I learned
people only love you
when it's easy.

Now I move slower,
but wiser.
I speak less,
but mean more.
I lost some friends,
but I found my spine.

The ink on my hand
ain’t decoration
it’s declaration.
Proof I’ve made it this far,
even if the road
was more cuts than comfort.

I don’t expect perfect anymore.
Just real.
Just effort.
Just peace that don’t ask me
to shrink to fit inside it.

I’m not healed,
but I’m healing.
Not fearless,
but brave.
Still got days
where I look in the mirror
and ask,
“Am I really built for this?”

And every time,
my reflection answers,
“You really are.”
 0° 
jasmine
In darkness i search for light,
In light i yearn for darkness.
I solemnly pray for the changing tides.
I unwittingly am blind.

I whisper out to darkness.
“The voice of a succubus”, he responds
I yearn for the light.

I whisper out to light.
“The voice of an angel”, he responds
But i am unwittingly blind.
I yearn for the dark.

In the night i yearn for light,
In the light i search for darkness,
I pray for changing tides.
 0° 
betterdays
Young magpies,
still grey of feather,  
attack random sticks
thinking them food,
cry out despondently
when discovering
their prey is inedible wood.
Mother magpie overseas
Scavenging expedition with
beady eyed patience...
 0° 
Olivia Williams
Hello!
It’s me again. :)

I am leaving for VACATION!!
Literally tomorrow (Friday, jul 18).
And I won’t be back until next week!
I’m seeing my dad’s family up north in cabins for the week!
And going on the e-foils :).   :).      
Anyways!
Love you all and your support!
I’ll always be here
Forever and always
To infinity and beyond
I will be back
(Im going to go have fun now.  :)

-Olivia.  :)
I LOVE SMILY FACES :).   !!!!   :)
 0° 
Agnes de Lods
I flowed into the dark blue ocean of symbols.
Just yesterday,
I walked with heavy footsteps,
well-grounded.

But once again,
an irresistible force lifted me.
I wanted to see what was above.

Then I came back,
changed,
less happy,
a part of me scattered
in that an alternative universe.

Now, worlds overlapping appear,
The sun is shining with different light.
Words change their meaning.
The fog thickens so,
I can no longer see fissures
under my feet.

Step by step, carefully,
I try to pass through
a dimension of forgotten dreaming.

I don’t want to be stuck
inside an illusion for too long.
Looking at my heart still glowing,
devoured by some voices,
bite by bite, crumb by crumb.

They come in need,
then dissolve like ghosts.

How can one love,
under the heavy weight of knowing—
with Lapis Lazuli pressed
against my chest?

I don’t want to vanish
into sticky spider webs
into formal language  
that is too cold,
too detached.

Two forces fight inside me
To see the truth, even if it hurts,
or to close my eyes,
and idealize brutal reality.

Looking in the distorted mirror,
observing love quivering on the verge.
And thus, the Earth becomes the theater.

The cynical facades ******
with pretended freedom,
taking every hour,
every month,
every year,

into

PROGRESSIVE
DE
HUMANIZATION
 0° 
Thomas W Case
We talk about the
past like it's a
movie we
watched together.
You liked the
cinematography.
I didn't care for the
cruelty of the
protagonist.

We disagree on the
theme, and every
scene holds different
aspects of
symbolism for us.
I'm not sure I want
there to be a sequel,
despite the good
acting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9IAYo0wZE
Here is a link to my YouTube channel, where I read poetry from my latest book, Sleep Always Calls.  It's available on Amazon.  My two other books are also available.  Seedy Town Blues and It's Just a Hop, Skip, and a Jump to the Madhouse.
Ulric, nul oeil des mers n'a mesuré l'abßme,
Ni les hérons plongeurs, ni les vieux matelots.
Le soleil vient briser ses rayons sur leur cime,
Comme un soldat vaincu brise ses javelots.

Ainsi, nul oeil, Ulric, n'a pénétré les ondes
De tes douleurs sans borne, ange du ciel tombé.
Tu portes dans ta tĂȘte et dans ton coeur deux mondes,
Quand le soir, prÚs de moi, tu vas triste et courbé.

Mais laisse-moi du moins regarder dans ton Ăąme,
Comme un enfant craintif se penche sur les eaux ;
Toi si plein, front pĂąli sous des baisers de femme,
Moi si jeune, enviant ta blessure et tes maux.
 0° 
Pavin Daniel
word of wisdom (10 words)

words ten i do say
lessons learnt in my way

A finger pointed at you
brings three pointing for you

they do say you cant
just because they just cant

craziness often mistook as brave
it just leads to grave

judge not by actions today
better reactions awaits next day

plant a tree give free
when in shade bless thee

a crying child mothers worry
a smiling child everyone sorry

praise of few be carefull
words of advice be cheerful

at all time try happiness
God did not make sadness

Pavin
I held your love
with the fingers of my heart
I tattooed the promise
to all my tomorrows
across my back to be carried for eternity
. . . where are you now ?

It takes forever for distant stars to burn my lips
There is no mercy found on the floorboards that walk across my kiss
. . . where are they now ?

Remember how the needles of time stitched the nights together ?
How easy does the fabric of love become unentwined
. . .  remember ?
 0° 
Mélissa
Through winters I long
For summers to come
And then they come
And I hate them
I'm always escaping
Never a part of the world
Through daytime I long
For the night's veil to fall
But it falls on me
Heavy like a rope net
I'm always waiting
Life always on hold
 0° 
eliana
Be brave.
You already are.
Look at what you've made it through.
The wounds of your past have healed.
The seemingly endless chapter has ended,
And those bruises have faded.
The battle, you survived,
And you are still here.
Be brave.
this poem  is about my battle scars. I hope it gives the people who have cut or are still cutting inspiration
 0° 
Michael Shave
It is good to be proud of your service,
Remembering what you have done;
The trials and the tribulations,
The telling of which is such fun.
But time tends your memories to alter,
Contextual fogs shroud the fact.
Thus, sometimes your tales tend to falter
And your audiences cease to react
In ways that you were expecting,
And on Facebook persuasion’s perverse.
So that often when saying the one thing
We broadcast to all the reverse.
 0° 
Lee Holloway
I will
cultivate the exquisite
portion of my own remarkable
consciousness

I shall
remain untroubled
strew petals and
relish the long,
long solitary days

Decorate my
tortoise with jewels
perhaps

And society, I remain in a
perpetual state of undeclared
war with you
and I owe you nothing
Inspired by the weekly advice column of The Atlantic columnist James Parker.
 0° 
Bekah Halle
“The Establishment” has been tarnished by
Entitlement, abuse of power

Neglect

Trauma —
Absence of soul;
Values and beliefs have left a vacuum.
Where we need to return to the Ancient of Days for the true source of power,
Beliefs and
Life —
 0° 
deanena tierney
So many things
I care nothing about now
As society says I should
My soul disagrees
 0° 
touka
I am fixed
to the walls of this house

so tightly joined to it,
this bed
through sinew and bone

thread, thread, thread

another plait into me

the night, the breed she is
with that ****** needle
and thread, thread, thread

knows I can’t stand within it
the vignette
the solitude

the white coats,
the men of the word
those in the mire of the clay
all prescribing the same thing

a hit of perseverance

“Oh, okay,”

“oh, okay,”

“oh, okay.”

I lick, lap at
the slow drip
so tightly fixed to where I always have been

don’t come in,
don’t go out

“I’m sorry,”

in the pooling of spit
one hand in the *****
reaching into the pit

the *******
night
I don’t say in vain

“Okay,”
“Okay,”
“Okay,”

she waits
loosens my thread
slips those little tethers
so much good slack

I run
take my hit of perseverance
I burn
burn, burn, burn
right up in the fire of day

she waits for the ash

the sun rises and sets
on the same thing, always

always
always
always

they don’t understand
those free feet, walking the narrows
I watch them all go
no wince, no limp

no thread, no spit

the way that it seems,
from my portion of shadow,

“Oh, okay,”

so easy ‎
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