"grandstand" poems
I'll settle for the 6 horse
on a rainy afternoon
a paper cup of coffee
in my hand
a little way to go,
the wind twirling out
small wrens from
the upper grandstand roof,
the jocks coming out
for a middle race
silent
and the easy rain making
everything
at once
almost alike,
the horses at peace with
each other
before the drunken war
and I am under the grandstand
feeling for
cigarettes
settling for coffee,
then the horses walk by
taking their little men
away-
it is funeral and graceful
and glad
like the opening
of flowers.
4.9k
Don't knock what you've never tried
Lock box with a heart inside
Six shots from a forty five
Punk rock makes you come alive
Black-hawks in the clear blue sky
It's ad hoc but you can just get by
On Poprocks and cyanide
Tick-tock time to decide
What made you think that you could take me down?
The method's flawed, but the strategies sound.
What made you try to hold me back?
I hope you're ready for the counter-attack.
Backhand and you feel the heat
Grandstand 'till you take a seat
Kickstand just to keep your feet
Firsthand watch you admit defeat
Nov 12, 2012
Nov 12, 2012 at 5:01 PM UTC
From Brooklyn, over the Brooklyn Bridge, on this fine morning,
please come flying.
In a cloud of fiery pale chemicals,
please come flying,
to the rapid rolling of thousands of small blue drums
descending out of the mackerel sky
over the glittering grandstand of harbor-water,
please come flying.
Whistles, pennants and smoke are blowing. The ships
are signaling cordially with multitudes of flags
rising and falling like birds all over the harbor.
Enter: two rivers, gracefully bearing
countless little pellucid jellies
in cut-glass epergnes dragging with silver chains.
The flight is safe; the weather is all arranged.
The waves are running in verses this fine morning.
Please come flying.
Come with the pointed toe of each black shoe
trailing a sapphire highlight,
with a black capeful of butterfly wings and bon-mots,
with heaven knows how many angels all riding
on the broad black brim of your hat,
please come flying.
Bearing a musical inaudible abacus,
a slight censorious frown, and blue ribbons,
please come flying.
Facts and skyscrapers glint in the tide; Manhattan
is all awash with morals this fine morning,
so please come flying.
Mounting the sky with natural heroism,
above the accidents, above the malignant movies,
the taxicabs and injustices at large,
while horns are resounding in your beautiful ears
that simultaneously listen to
a soft uninvented music, fit for the musk deer,
please come flying.
For whom the grim museums will behave
like courteous male bower-birds,
for whom the agreeable lions lie in wait
on the steps of the Public Library,
eager to rise and follow through the doors
up into the reading rooms,
please come flying.
We can sit down and weep; we can go shopping,
or play at a game of constantly being wrong
with a priceless set of vocabularies,
or we can bravely deplore, but please
please come flying.
With dynasties of negative constructions
darkening and dying around you,
with grammar that suddenly turns and shines
like flocks of sandpipers flying,
please come flying.
Come like a light in the white mackerel sky,
come like a daytime comet
with a long unnebulous train of words,
from Brooklyn, over the Brooklyn Bridge, on this fine morning,
please come flying.
2.9k
Spot, that lucky dog, is dead.
He did not live to see
what became of **** and Jane.
Let me relate their history.
**** and Jane now were in their teens
Vietnam was our national hell.
Jane mourned her fellows at Kent State.
Dick's squad stormed Hue's Citadel.
**** came back from Vietnam
a changed and distant man.
In sleep he'd mutter, toss and turn,
crying out like one who's dammed.
Jane became a feminist and
in protest burned her brassiere.
**** in monosylables
proclaimed he loved Jane dear
Soon Jane was having fun with ****
in the back seat of his car.
A different sort of fun, I think
than they ever had before.
They both tried marijuana
and both of them inhaled
They were discreet, unlike their friends
and avoided time in jail.
They lived together for a while
Eventually they married.
The product of their union was
two boys named Tom and Harry.
**** got work at Chysler
standing right beside his Dad.
He figured he was set for life.
He became a Union man.
Jane became a lawyer
working for A.C.L.U.
**** and Jane would often argue
about the causes she pursued.
By now the boys were growing up
and spending time with Dad
Out at Tiger Stadium
they had seats in the grandstand.
It seemed everything was perfect.
Of course everything was not.
**** and Jane fought frequently.
Her career was getting hot.
She no longer had much fun with ****
the passion had grown cold.
Cialis was not invented yet
and **** grew fat and bald.
Jane began to question why
she ever chose to marry.
Jane stopped having fun with ****
Jane now has fun with Sally.
Dec 4, 2011
Dec 4, 2011 at 6:02 PM UTC
Are you relieved to be normal?? It's something only you see.
Wasting away with a false impression we're all as strange as can be
I take some consolation as light reflects differently before passing my eyes and disguising inside mistaken identity
Spooked by our shadows safer with backs against trees
Wandering hopeful in vast space kicking round autumn leaves
Vanish like Houdini chained in a box at the bottom of the sea.
Just like smoke through every vent caught by any breeze
I think a part of everyone resides somewhere else
The 21 grams we lose in death
We've all wondered what it was in the corner of our eye
Maybe you looking back at you now you've died
Say there was no answer just questions?
Would we stop looking for them in the bottom of glasses?
Something seems strange but I'm not sure
It's not a disease there is no cure
It's not a house of cards or castles made of sand
But a poisonous web spun by delinquent human hand
Sunny days and weekend stays in places far from home
Meet the locals to say goodbye before you've even said hello
Leaves in trees so eager for a breeze to fall
This is no life at all.
Its one or two things that remind me it's a game
The tedium like nails at scabs and the blood it'll bring
A slice of lemon is all I need to add a little colour.
Perhaps a banksy on my garden wall.
Having a door held for me.
Strawberries for breakfast.
Punctuality.
Four feet at the foot of my bed.
Not waking contemplating regret.
Sun on my face
Sand in my shoes
A different kind of saltwater kisses.
Grandstand welcomes from close friends.
Tearful goodbyes everytime.
The magic must happen when I blink or during the blackouts when I drink.
Aug 25, 2013
Aug 25, 2013 at 6:09 AM UTC
a cucumber sandwich
shouldn't be made ahead of time
as the liquid in the cucumber
will seep through the bread like lime
you'll have a wet hand
as you lift the sandwich off the plate
your palm and your fingers
will be in a saturated fate
always make cucumber sandwiches
immediately before afternoon tea
at this juncture of time the bread
will not become so soggy
your afternoon tea guests wont abide
the seepage all over their hands
it will make them feel like
jeering spectators in a grandstand
the most tempting cucumber sandwiches
are never served wringing wet
they have a dry bread covering
akin to an indoor carpet
to stop this sort
of sandwich irrigation
you must follow
these preparatory recommendations
Nov 28, 2013
Nov 28, 2013 at 8:15 PM UTC
Fried green beens
Whirl of the machines
Flashing lights
Squeals of delight
Games to win prizes
Drinks in all sizes
Pig and cow judging
Old friends hugging
Bands in the grandstand
Fried pickles at foodstand
Gator bites and gyros
Rides tossing to and fro
Cotton candy
Salt water taffy
Beer tents
Free events
Pies, canning and art
Contest to take part
Many concessionaire
Great old fashion state fair
Mar 22, 2016
Mar 22, 2016 at 11:42 AM UTC
*Atop the emerald earth,
a bush of crimson ablaze.
Blush of sunrise.
Bruised rouge of sunset.
Kaleidescope colors of
complex designs complete.
Ahh..but for the lingering questions.
Questions that continue with the
fresh of each day...
Rita...We call to Rita!
Our ethereal selves.
She calls, We come
Into her night of dreams
Woven within her dreams of day.
We come in Our
Saintly stance.
Rita hears.
Knows Our hearts.
And so to her,
We present ourselves.
Rita feels
the plush nuance
of Our ancient wisdom.
A melding of truths
Rita knows
She is a conduit
through which the
breath of message
and knowledge exchange.
'Sine timore'
Without timidity or fear.
Imbued deep within
her Irish blood.
Gift passed from the elders.
Yet, this Lass of yore,
stands away from the podium.
Has chosen not to grandstand,
or grasp boldness too tightly.
Goodness of power is embraced
laced with enchantment.
Able to transcend The Veil,
She walks Her path.
Our winsome
Saint of Impossible Causes.*
Jan 10, 2016
Jan 10, 2016 at 7:50 PM UTC
Atoms skitter to the center
In the square dance of all matter;
Quarks should rotate once around,
Keeping us on earth firm-bound.
Swing your partner far and wide,
Perihelion's kept astride,
And the strings of matter
String along the boson's heart.
Now come together; smatter, scatter;
Atom-smashers do not matter,
For this dance of matter
Truly is a dance of higher art,
Matter curtsys; and there's gravity
Fills in each slight curving cavity-
From above, you'll notice first
It all starts from just one burst-
So the particles keep on dancing,
Midnight comes, and still they're prancing;
Whirling, somersaulting like they never
Dared to dance before;
Keep on watching, as the clocks hands
Travel once more past the grandstand;
We're transfixed since matter never
Let us ever see this door.
We're the eyes and ears that dare
To watch this tantric ballet, bared;
Entanglement seduces; there's no other place to be-
Bow to your partner in this deadly quantum duel of rivalry.
Jul 18, 2010
Jul 18, 2010 at 3:03 PM UTC
a cucumber sandwich
shouldn't be made ahead of time
as the liquid in the cucumber
will seep through the bread like lime
you'll have a wet hand
when you lift the sandwich off the plate
your palm and fingers
will be in a saturated state
always make cucumber sandwiches
immediately before afternoon tea
as at this juncture of time
the bread will not be so soggy
your afternoon tea guests won't abide
the seepage all over their hands
it will make them feel like
jeering as spectators in a grandstand
the most tempting cucumber sandwiches
are never served wringing wet
they have a dry bread cover
akin to an indoor carpet
to stop this sort of sandwich irrigation
you must follow these preparatory recommendations
Apr 28, 2014
Apr 28, 2014 at 8:21 PM UTC
I ran my race,I did my best.
I'm not the champion,I'm among the rest.
After twenty six miles I'm scant of breath.
I push myself but there's not much left.
I search the crowds on Boyleston Street.
for the friends That I'm supposed to meet.
I see an upraised friendly sign
that marks my race's finish line.
Then thunder, fire, billowing smoke.
The air is acrid and I am choked.
The starter clock reads Four oh Nine
as I fall across the finish line.
I think of him from ancient times
who ran a race as long as mine
To Athens he sped from Marathon
to bring good news in a troubled time.
My news is evil, I scarce can speak
of what I saw there in the street
A loud report, a second bomb,
A portion of the grandstand gone
A blur of color, the flag brought down
I see the picture but there's no sound.
Apr 15, 2013
Apr 15, 2013 at 8:14 PM UTC
Past the moon light
over the tall knoll
under the bows of the mighty
exists a pond
steaming from the warmth of the day
like glass the water is still
it is the stage for countless fireflies
that dance with the evening chill
there on the grandstand
lives the olympian
who gently glides
in silent elegance
looping under ribbons of light
she is the matriarch
of this small kingdom
tucked on the edge of timber
it is here a figure appears
she is not alone
peering from behind the steam
his eyes gleamed
slowly following the white
he examines her majesty
transfixed on ever feather
he watched
feeling strange
he saw what lies before him
a shape yet odd
her glowing feathers she spread
bathed in moon light
her body ached
twisted and full
wings to arms
feathers to curves
beak to full rose
eyes to blue
her hair flowed a gray stream
covering her subtle *******
he fell to his knees
eyes wide
hidden in spring fed grass
his eyes following the slight shadows
of her neck
pass the barren of her belly
down through taut slender legs
he confessed, he declared
that she was his
the maiden now notice
the eyes of another
demands he reveals thy self
from toe to tip
the stunned man stepped
a man of no work or duty
nor rich or fame
he stepped into view
a peasant
her ice blue eyes
weave through his features
their eyes met
and as if fated
they fell at first glance
Apr 11, 2012
Apr 11, 2012 at 10:25 PM UTC
The morning light wanes
out on open plains
my belly debates
croissants have to wait
All the nylon fliers
like crayons palettes
festival of spectacles
So many favorites
Up Up and Away
a hundred balloons
above lagoons and chimneys
below valleys and alleys
In one strong forehand
a spectacular descent
it looks unplanned
a landing on the grandstand!
There was no flaw
only the applause
at dawn, champagnes flow
I stand in awe
Jun 7, 2018
Jun 7, 2018 at 12:09 AM UTC
Within the realm of unplayed instrumentation
a crescendo of specific notes are lost
dangling on high maple branches during autumn leaf change
and only divots below the mowed through grassy soil
throughout segregated quarantine reserves
partitions of divorced land
In the bottom of a child’s backpack
so heart jarring and singularly dedicated to the wandering dreamer harboring any thoughts of doubt about what is and what might inhibit the coming up next
covering over wooden plank necks with strings of primitive notation drafted inside the woods create,
rows of ivory keys and ebony flats,
this includes either screeching or murmuring brass buttons can make
And depending on the blow
Lead based letters
Squeezed together grammar and prose
have no window to grandstand
in a duel verses this one climb of instrumental verse
these missing tones are in tangible reaches
could even be in a soft mother’s dream waiting to be awoken to bring an awakening
Who will seek and find this group of lost tones with striking nuances so spirit soothing
that seeing the mere future is old news
but instilling, feeling, and describing the true meaning of life after hearing what is under, inside and above this crest of colored resonance of tonal pitch...
Or maybe it can insight a minor confidence in the one who lacks it to take that small step forward
Ensuring another step
This is one who will hear this
Jun 19, 2019
Jun 19, 2019 at 11:46 PM UTC
Obviously
Both comedy and tragedy
Feed on
And are fed by reality
With a savagery
So if you play nice
You might find the happy in strife
Both can
Take you by the hand
And lead you to the promise land
Your best guess of an afterlife
Slice the tension with a knife
To get the upper hand
Don't bite the hand
Try to
Stick to
The grand plan
But prepare to fall when you take your stand
Humble humility will get you knocked off the grandstand
Then where will you stand?
Honestly,
It all feels like quicksand
No buts, just and
I too don't understand
©2024
Dec 7, 2024
Dec 7, 2024 at 5:56 PM UTC
Sound no trumpet before you,
man's praise a hollow reward
what good is giving alms
like the hypocrites do in the streets?
Practice your piety in secret
The grandstand play holds no sway when you die
Be humble and you will be blessed
Be Simple and you will never perish
Jan 27, 2016
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:48 PM UTC
Enero Diez y Otso, Dos mil Kinse
Kayrami paring mga sumalubong sa kalye
Unang tinungo Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas
Tuloy parin ang pangaral at pagbasbas
Nakipagkita mga pinuno ng ibang relihiyon
Humingi ng pag-unawa at kapayapaan sa mga nasyon
Nakinig sa hinaing ng mga kabataan
Inalo isang batang babaeng luhaan
Huling tinungo ang Grandstand sa Quirino
Kung saan may pinakamaraming dumalo
Tinig ng koro nakapangingilabot
Mensahe ng Dios abot na abot
Oh anong saya nang tawagin ng Santo Papa
Na dakila ang aming munting bansa
Ngayong kapistahan ni Santo Niño
Kanyang ipinaalaala halaga ng mga bata sa mundo.
-01/19/2015
(Dumarao)
*Pope Francis Fever Collection
Sep 21, 2019
Sep 21, 2019 at 9:43 PM UTC
i am never leaving here
i will sway and swing
and fill the humidity around me
with all the flavors
that once ran through
this beating body
but I will not leave
you see
i never saw things upside down
until we ran from everything
until legs sold out
and spent themselves on love
on you
and all it bought
was a grandstand view
of you
still running
still living
Feb 4, 2019
Feb 4, 2019 at 5:20 PM UTC
It was the birthday calender.
It was the mean text.
But it was the birthday calender first,
tacked to the wall and dense with
the names of people I didn't recognize.
Larry something or other, Jessica (scribble), Monte the alien. So real and
so grandstand -
the year is congested with people.
Existence is chock-full of experience,
all scrambled eggs.
And then it was the mean text.
I know my relationship is falling apart,
I read futures
in overturned bowls of breakfast.
At twenty three all I want is to be
self sufficient and loved. So
I let the buried dragon coin me trinket.
So I
payed for his auto insurance. So I
almost bought him a house. So I
dealt with veiled abuse -
veiled, the phony ****** bride.
I want to cook breakfast for nice people
on planet tried and failed.
Jun 9, 2016
Jun 9, 2016 at 9:26 PM UTC
Coming back
Coming back without a grandstand
Coming back from the hinterland
Coming back as an old hand
I had cast myself aside
to focus on new graces
Instead placing myself
in permanent stasis
I had all these grand plans
and each one fell through
So now I stumble on back
down a crumbling avenue
Never knew which dream to follow
Never knew which pill to swallow
Now my words they ring so hollow
Now my passions no longer wallow
Coming back
Coming back to a humble home
Coming back to a field to roam
Coming back to find one's own
The sofa begins to mold
itself around my spine
As I lay and acting out
like it was all of mine
Not wanting to address
my failures or success
Claiming that it was all
just part of the process
Never knew what I should do
Never knew how to carry through
Now it happens out the blue
Now I need a new point of view
Coming back
Coming back to build myself
Coming back to repair my health
Coming back with the cards I dealt
Never knew I had it in me
Never knew if I could be happy
Now I skip the hyperbole
Now I give up emotional syncope
Coming back
Coming back to sing my song
Coming back from what was wrong
Coming back to live lifelong
Sep 7, 2017
Sep 7, 2017 at 12:00 PM UTC
I let the ancients decide for it's them who ride roughly on the cobbled streets where my life is at bay.
As they fly through the night with the reins of my day held tight in their hands,they grandstand to me
as if I want to see what is slipping away.
Let them have today for tomorrow is mine and time in small doses is all I can take,I shall wager a stake on the pinwheel of fortune that soon they'll be gone,washed up as sand on some far distant beach,within reach of the sea but far removed from me,
I let the ancients decide,they reside in us all and the call of the wild will always remain on the lips of this child,
so let them ride rough,I am strong and am tough,I can roll with the punches and knocks,watching clocks as they tick and knowing tomorrow will lick me
into shape.
Apr 10, 2014
Apr 10, 2014 at 4:59 AM UTC
Brisbane bowling trip day 3
Today was the third day of my tenpin bowling trip in Brisbane
I started the day having a late breakfast at 7-30
And after that I went back to the room till 10
Watching Frasier on tv after everybody loves Raymond
After that we headed off to the bowling alley
Getting ready to play bowling, it will be radical
My scores were 136 and 106 and 116
And, mate, I blew those pins to kingdom come
And then after that I went to the cafe at the bowling centre
And bought sweet potato fries with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce
And mate that was a dainty dish, fit for a king like me
I bought three chocolates and one guy who was fat himself
Told me if you eat too much chocolate, you will get FAT
After I finished that meal, I went to the grandstand
To watch Leckie and Stephen bowl
And mind you they bowled fantastic
I watched Shane bowl with Belinda and Paul bell
That was cool
After leckie and Stephen finished, our team posed for our team photo
And the picture was so close to the bowling lane
We were setting off the fowl lines
It was fun laughing at that, yes it was
After we left there, we put our bowling shirts out to get washed, so
They will be ready tomorrow
And after that we went to the OLD MILL for our dinner
I had chicken parmigiana and I made a joke, of a chicken wearing pyjamas
Ha ha ha ha, very funny
And I had a pavlova for dessert
And I walked home, and went inside to hang our
Bowling shirts out to dry in the cupboard
And watch home and away and the neighbours
And the AFL footy, between port and Geelong
Cats won, and I remembered Matthew Reid’s song
We are Geelong the crappest team of all
We are Geelong we’re always dropping the ball
But the cats won, I wanted port to win😹😹😹😹😹
And now we are off to bed, goodnight
At the club we were remembering all the home and away and neighbours
Stars
Now we are off to bed
Good night😌😌😌😌😌😌
Oct 8, 2021
Oct 8, 2021 at 7:36 AM UTC
Stand together!
Stand tall!
Stand proud!
Don’t fall!
Pick each other up!
Stand for the rights of all!
We’re louder as a unit!
Isolated
our voices
become
small...
Feb 24, 2019
Feb 24, 2019 at 11:00 PM UTC
Here's to reasons we fly
between our dreams and the sky
to the heavens above
here's to reasons we love.
In the desolation of a bankrupt nation where the hard pressed, distressed, the poorer and depressed in a state of denial put Jesus on trial
I read a story that was written about the time god had smitten the wicked,
it was wicked though I suspect also untrue.
Why would a god of love do
such a thing?
We all sing out dirges
we are the victims of pogroms and purges
It wasn't just you
I suspect that might be true.
Projecting ahead
I forecast
the dying are already fed up and the dead will then try to rise up as Babylon falls.
in the priest hole behind the false wall there's a skeleton
a relic, maybe holy or that may be
hocus pocus
it's up to us
to decide
If he died did he rise?
I don't know religion like the back of my hand
don't have a grandstand view
but it could be true.
Jul 14, 2016
Jul 14, 2016 at 1:43 PM UTC