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"mowers" poems
STATE SHUT DOWN BY IDIOCY "This is correspondent, uh, burp... wait, winds r, yeah, okay go back on live camera..." pretend the wind is blowing you back "This is the most major storm in recorded history of this network!" "My God, I could die in this sh..stuff." "Five star hotel what the **** "Okay, okay, live we are, look here, pan closer, these leafs on this Raleigh plant here, see how violently they are moving?" LEAVES ARE FALLING! "That is the fear one feels knowing that a category two, at any moment, could become a category five." "This Dave Mowers live from Hawaii, checking in before I possibly die. Mom I love you, Dad, well, look how brave I am!" "Is that an Asian girl?" "What an a..cute *** that, cut to... to the violent leaves again you **** "I'll fire you cameraman!" *Four large oak trees have fallen. HAWAII HAS ENORMOUS SURF!.  Four large oak trees have fallen.**
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Aug 24, 2018
Aug 24, 2018 at 11:59 PM UTC
LIVE FROM RALEIGH
There's a silence in the evening, A silence most displeasing. It's not the absence of mowers running, Or bedsheets flapping, motors humming. Trains still shunt, foghorns blast, Where are the sounds From our past? It's not the sound of contrary laughing Walking from a parent's lashing. Something's missing,  sounds are gone, Familiar sounds from our lawns. The sound of rope slapping cement, Fantasy games kids invent. An echoing slapshot before, "Car!" These missing sounds are so bizarre. Those yestergames we played in jest, Like Hide and Seek at dusk was best. But outside games gave way to screens, I'd rather hear childish screams.
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May 27, 2014
May 27, 2014 at 11:08 AM UTC
Yestergames
By David John Mowers Oceanus, Acheron, Styx and Gyges, Phlegethon, Phaeacians lament, mourn the loss, Scheria, dissolved in froths. Virgil’s tale, found correct, a land too good, a nation wrecked, Nausikaa, burn the ships; their minds released, cool airy nips, Below the wave, watery grave, submerged to bottom, fathoms by stave, Fathoms some more, until the whorl, descending to, another world. Through Omphalos, to Land of Sleep, awaits a beast, where time has ceased, Darkness here, underworld, cold and frigid, below the whirl, In solemn grave, souls released, judged and counted, by the beast, Deeper than, the deep itself, past drowning fairies and dying elves, Who did mourn them? Those golden men, magic mariners, Mino's kin? What wrong was seen? What vice not true? What awful sin? What did they do? One thousand years, first black age, Two thousand more, to find the stage, Cast off Aries and cast Orion, to find beginning, of Golden Lion. Man of Heavens, Beast agrees, Bull of Sky, Ox of seas, Land of Punt, Land of Éire, Ogyges blue, hearts on fire, All the seashores, all the mines, Tribe of Dan, from ancient times, Port of Sais, Port of Thera, Port of Lagash, bygone era, Sailor’s horse, Minotaur, a lyre is crying, strummed guitar, nation dying, abattoir. Ochre foams to sanguine depth, there they rested, where Kronos slept, He’ll never answer, he doesn’t care, we’ll never know, if this was fair. Our hearts in sadness, hands on the gates! I curse you Poseidon! . . .and your Sea of Fates!
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Jun 4, 2016
Jun 4, 2016 at 7:58 AM UTC
Po-se-dawon-e (Powerful Waters/Waters of Power)
By David John Mowers Oceanus, Acheron, Styx and Gyges, Phlegethon, Phaeacians lament, mourn the loss, Scheria, dissolved in froths. Virgil’s tale, found correct, a land too good, a nation wrecked, Nausikaa, burn the ships; their minds released, cool airy nips, Below the wave, watery grave, submerged to bottom, fathoms by stave, Fathoms some more, until the whorl, descending to, another world. Through Omphalos, to Land of Sleep, awaits a beast, where time has ceased, Darkness here, underworld, cold and frigid, below the whirl, In solemn grave, souls released, judged and counted, by the beast, Deeper than, the deep itself, past drowning fairies and dying elves, Who did mourn them? Those golden men, magic mariners, Mino's kin? What wrong was seen? What vice not true? What awful sin? What did they do? One thousand years, first black age, Two thousand more, to find the stage, Cast off Aries and cast Orion, to find beginning, of Golden Lion. Man of Heavens, Beast agrees, Bull of Sky, Ox of seas, Land of Punt, Land of Éire, Ogyges blue, hearts on fire, All the seashores, all the mines, Tribe of Dan, from ancient times, Port of Sais, Port of Thera, Port of Lagash, bygone era, Sailor’s horse, Minotaur, a lyre is crying, strummed guitar, nation dying, abattoir. Ochre foams to sanguine depth, there they rested, where Kronos slept, He’ll never answer, he doesn’t care, we’ll never know, if this was fair. Our hearts in sadness, hands on the gates! I curse you Poseidon! . . .and your Sea of Fates!
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24
the bane of my existence here now is all of the incessant noise.   the city encroaches ever outward, gobbling up the suburbs like the great big Blob contributing layer after layer of noise.   a new metro line opened last year disheartened the morning realized it was the trains i heard as my puppy and i walked so early.   trash trucks, back up beeping noises, leaf blowers, mowers and trimmers ... all conspiring to drive me mad. the birds and owls, snakes and deer, hawks and rabbits toads and trees and flowers, puppies all other creatures divine, tempering this man-made chaos this man-made hell keeping me hopeful that i will have some respite    some respite from this hideous cacophony, this man-made hell, in the future, not too distant. of course there are some benefits from all the city life but i prefer the silence the solitude of nature. the Taoist recluses who speak to me, whose poems paintings writings and silence are balm to my soul.   some day soon, i too shall join the recluses far away far far away in the mountains. but for now, i am only a modern day taoist recluse stuck in suburbia, doing my best, living in this noisy hell.
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Aug 8, 2015
Aug 8, 2015 at 2:37 AM UTC
Modern Suburban Hell
316 The Wind didn’t come from the Orchard—today— Further than that— Nor stop to play with the Hay— Nor joggle a Hat— He’s a transitive fellow—very— Rely on that— If He leave a Bur at the door We know He has climbed a Fir— But the Fir is Where—Declare— Were you ever there? If He brings Odors of Clovers— And that is His business—not Ours— Then He has been with the Mowers— Whetting away the Hours To sweet pauses of Hay— His Way—of a June Day— If He fling Sand, and Pebble— Little Boys Hats—and Stubble— With an occasional Steeple— And a hoarse “Get out of the way, I say,” Who’d be the fool to stay? Would you—Say— Would you be the fool to stay?
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The Wind didn’t come from the Orchard—today
When you think of love you think of butterflies and flowers Prince Charming and towers happiness in abundance. You think of kisses and hugs Aladdin and rugs a sort of sixth sense. You think of daydreaming, hearts sinking no, not sinking, skipping. Red crayons and smiles Long stares into each others eyes Carnival rides You think of it being written in the sky and a sweet apple pie We see it as sea side picnics Holding hands Watching cheesy chick flicks all night long. Guys riding on lawn mowers holding up a boombox, blaring phil collins. We see walks on the beach shoreline just reaching our feet. When I think of love I think of awkward moments. I think of my father as he left my mother See, I want someone more than just a lover. When I think of love I think of a stomachache my last heartbreak and band-aids to hide the pain. I think of his hands in mine our thoughts intertwined I see the hurt in your eyes as I told you goodbye Our last kiss in the summer rain. I think of love as a societal excuse A word said too much, too often Just a word Nothing more than caution. When I think of love I see a dog’s loyalty to his owner and the owner showing him affection. A sunset, a beautiful sky The way the ocean shows its reflection When I think of love I think of the heart’s sight. Love is light. Love is Agape- God’s grace and mercy poured on top of me the day Jesus died on the cross. I think of no hope lost. When I think of love I think of Him I think of how. Love is here Love is now.
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Oct 19, 2012
Oct 19, 2012 at 4:06 PM UTC
Love
When you think of love you think of butterflies and flowers Prince Charming and towers happiness in abundance. You think of kisses and hugs Aladdin and rugs a sort of sixth sense. You think of daydreaming, hearts sinking no, not sinking, skipping. Red crayons and smiles Long stares into each others eyes Carnival rides You think of it being written in the sky and a sweet apple pie We see it as sea side picnics Holding hands Watching cheesy chick flicks all night long. Guys riding on lawn mowers holding up a boombox, blaring phil collins. We see walks on the beach shoreline just reaching our feet. When I think of love I think of awkward moments. I think of my father as he left my mother See, I want someone more than just a lover. When I think of love I think of a stomachache my last heartbreak and band-aids to hide the pain. I think of his hands in mine our thoughts intertwined I see the hurt in your eyes as I told you goodbye Our last kiss in the summer rain. I think of love as a societal excuse A word said too much, too often Just a word Nothing more than caution. When I think of love I see a dog’s loyalty to his owner and the owner showing him affection. A sunset, a beautiful sky The way the ocean shows its reflection When I think of love I think of the heart’s sight. Love is light. Love is Agape- God’s grace and mercy poured on top of me the day Jesus died on the cross. I think of no hope lost. When I think of love I think of Him I think of how. Love is here Love is now.
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56
Our houses, spitting-distance close Feet propped on railing cold beer with fresh lime watching robins flung in flocks to the failing of August Too close-- Really? John, on his cell is fu_king the world again from his garage Why not-- squeeze in pool or a dog Lawn mowers and **** whips tune in to whine late Friday afternoon 'bout dinner time Clinking silver, scrapes of plates Running water for suds through open windows to the thunk of pots Doors bang behind on pathway to garbage or joint in the woods wafting over all wordless squeals of delight from autistic child Meanwhile, the odor of nail polish removes all doubts of-- --Gawd! lodging low and toxic as the sun dissolves orange in its acetone setting Kids playing Man Hunt as darkness falls Leaping hedges, slamming gates No yards can contain these kinetics restless legs, furtive minds Muttering wind chimes from four different porches above the drone of highway a half mile yawns Pieces of talk flipping the crickets over-- Why or who or at what time? Other-worldly glow from The Mall dims stars outlines mountains brightens the horizon behind Mosquitoes coming in for a landing
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Sep 2, 2016
Sep 2, 2016 at 5:20 PM UTC
Spitting Distance
How sweet and pleasant grows the way Through summer time again While Landrails call from day to day Amid the grass and grain We hear it in the weeding time When knee deep waves the corn We hear it in the summers prime Through meadows night and morn And now I hear it in the grass That grows as sweet again And let a minutes notice pass And now tis in the grain Tis like a fancy everywhere A sort of living doubt We know tis something but it neer Will blab the secret out If heard in close or meadow plots It flies if we pursue But follows if we notice not The close and meadow through Boys know the note of many a bird In their birdnesting bounds But when the landrails noise is heard They wonder at the sounds They look in every tuft of grass Thats in their rambles met They peep in every bush they pass And none the wiser get And still they hear the craiking sound And still they wonder why It surely cant be under ground Nor is it in the sky And yet tis heard in every vale An undiscovered song And makes a pleasant wonder tale For all the summer long The shepherd whistles through his hands And starts with many a whoop His busy dog across the lands In hopes to fright it up Tis still a minutes length or more Till dogs are off and gone Then sings and louder than before But keeps the secret on Yet accident will often meet The nest within its way And weeders when they **** the wheat Discover where they lay And mowers on the meadow lea Chance on their noisy guest And wonder what the bird can be That lays without a nest In simple holes that birds will rake When dusting on the ground They drop their eggs of curious make Deep blotched and nearly round A mystery still to men and boys Who know not where they lay And guess it but a summer noise Among the meadow hay
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The Landrail
How sweet and pleasant grows the way Through summer time again While Landrails call from day to day Amid the grass and grain We hear it in the weeding time When knee deep waves the corn We hear it in the summers prime Through meadows night and morn And now I hear it in the grass That grows as sweet again And let a minutes notice pass And now tis in the grain Tis like a fancy everywhere A sort of living doubt We know tis something but it neer Will blab the secret out If heard in close or meadow plots It flies if we pursue But follows if we notice not The close and meadow through Boys know the note of many a bird In their birdnesting bounds But when the landrails noise is heard They wonder at the sounds They look in every tuft of grass Thats in their rambles met They peep in every bush they pass And none the wiser get And still they hear the craiking sound And still they wonder why It surely cant be under ground Nor is it in the sky And yet tis heard in every vale An undiscovered song And makes a pleasant wonder tale For all the summer long The shepherd whistles through his hands And starts with many a whoop His busy dog across the lands In hopes to fright it up Tis still a minutes length or more Till dogs are off and gone Then sings and louder than before But keeps the secret on Yet accident will often meet The nest within its way And weeders when they **** the wheat Discover where they lay And mowers on the meadow lea Chance on their noisy guest And wonder what the bird can be That lays without a nest In simple holes that birds will rake When dusting on the ground They drop their eggs of curious make Deep blotched and nearly round A mystery still to men and boys Who know not where they lay And guess it but a summer noise Among the meadow hay
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60
The cats sleep on the rooftops, an ambient beat from the shower radio comes tone-deaf through the open window, replacing the hum of lawn mowers that had been harmonising all Sunday afternoon. We buried one in the garden, an overlooked shrine within the deep grass, child-like magic markers  with a simple turn of phrase; yet all I can think about as I look over her grave are how the beetles are nesting in her brain. I lost the knack for sympathy, ever since they medicated my drink and told me I was their patient. I lost the will for empathy, ever since I tried to hang myself and still they told me to be patient.
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Oct 5, 2014
Oct 5, 2014 at 7:26 PM UTC
Four Months At Home
Now the rich cherry, whose sleek wood, And top with silver petals traced Like a strict box its gems encased, Has spilt from out that cunning lid, All in an innocent green round, Those melting rubies which it hid; With moss ripe-strawberry-encrusted, So birds get half, and minds lapse merry To taste that deep-red, lark’s-bite berry, And blackcap bloom is yellow-dusted. The wren that thieved it in the eaves A trailer of the rose could catch To her poor droopy sloven thatch, And side by side with the wren’s brood— O lovely time of beggar’s luck— Opens the quaint and hairy bud; And full and golden is the yield Of cows that never have to house, But all night nibble under boughs, Or cool their sides in the moist field. Into the rooms flow meadow airs, The warm farm baking smell’s blown round. Inside and out, and sky and ground Are much the same; the wishing star, Hesperus, kind and early born, Is risen only finger-far; All stars stand close in summer air, And tremble, and look mild as amber; When wicks are lighted in the chamber, They are like stars which settled there. Now straightening from the flowery hay, Down the still light the mowers look, Or turn, because their dreaming shook, And they waked half to other days, When left alone in the yellow stubble The rusty-coated mare would graze. Yet thick the lazy dreams are born, Another thought can come to mind, But like the shivering of the wind, Morning and evening in the corn.
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3.1k
Country Summer
by David Patrick Mowers Been together a long, long time, your heart and hand held close to mine, but after fourteen years, and you know some thousand tears... I don't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore. Had some problems in our life... times I weren't your Man, times you weren't my Wife, ..but after Fourteen Years, and you know some thousand tears.. I don't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore. Oh no more.. No, no, no-o....no more-or Still have to think about, all the things we couldn't talk out.... ..but I don't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore... Oh I know I don't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore. Now the end is finally come, new things have now begun, funny, I still think of you, ...and all the things that we've been through, But I don't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore. No, no I don't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore. I can't wear my heart on my sleeve anymore, no more... ...I don't wear it no more, I don't wear it! I don't wear it no more....
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Aug 21, 2016
Aug 21, 2016 at 12:39 AM UTC
Carole
It was just one of those days when the haze of summer had just started to lull the suburbs into a sticky heat of grills and lawn mowers of air conditioning (everyone pretended not to use it; windows! barked the mothers, windows!) and the sweat stuck to the brows of the life guards napping in the sun above an empty pool the Dawson pool. No one ever swam there and the lifeguards knew it those teenagers, sunning themselves lazily on hot days like this (and the mothers! They complained about the tans. Cancer! the said. In a way they were right, but really.) The waters were clear but the fences were rusted the diving boards were falling throwing themselves off the deep end Katydids lawnmowers those lazy days and the mothers! the constant nagging of soccer moms lulled around the pool on the day Cassandra took her last swim Her face was like shoe leather tanned by no fewer than 98 summers spent on porch swings plodded slowly, like her feet were considering every last step this woman presented her 5 dollars to the girl at the gate (some surprised lifeguard, because, you see, no one ever swam in Dawson pool) and pushed inside. Cassandra never left her porch. and the mothers! how they scolded their children for teasing her (even though they had done the same thing at that age. That's how old Cassandra was). Decades of the suburbs and push mowers and world wars stayed like photograph around her face. The lifeguards stared. Cassandra kicked off her flip flops and shrugged off her mumu. In a pink bathing suit she sank into the water. The age melted off of her as she danced through the water graceful strong the strokes were slow and deliberate and the lifeguards watched as she pulled herself from one end of the pool to another and back. She made 16 rings remembering her childhood 23 more for her marriage and then 60 60 rings! before she stopped. 60 years old, the year her husband died. The year she had stopped talking aside from the hushed prayers in church but she was talking to him; that didn't count. 60 rings. And Cassandra just disappeared. No one found the body no one found anything aside from flip flops and a mumu. The lifeguards were nearly scandalized for letting Cassandra drown but soon she went from a news story to a ghost and the mothers! sniped at their children for whispering "Did you here about old Ms. Cassandra? They say she found God."
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May 17, 2013
May 17, 2013 at 7:03 PM UTC
Dawson Pool
It was just one of those days when the haze of summer had just started to lull the suburbs into a sticky heat of grills and lawn mowers of air conditioning (everyone pretended not to use it; windows! barked the mothers, windows!) and the sweat stuck to the brows of the life guards napping in the sun above an empty pool the Dawson pool. No one ever swam there and the lifeguards knew it those teenagers, sunning themselves lazily on hot days like this (and the mothers! They complained about the tans. Cancer! the said. In a way they were right, but really.) The waters were clear but the fences were rusted the diving boards were falling throwing themselves off the deep end Katydids lawnmowers those lazy days and the mothers! the constant nagging of soccer moms lulled around the pool on the day Cassandra took her last swim Her face was like shoe leather tanned by no fewer than 98 summers spent on porch swings plodded slowly, like her feet were considering every last step this woman presented her 5 dollars to the girl at the gate (some surprised lifeguard, because, you see, no one ever swam in Dawson pool) and pushed inside. Cassandra never left her porch. and the mothers! how they scolded their children for teasing her (even though they had done the same thing at that age. That's how old Cassandra was). Decades of the suburbs and push mowers and world wars stayed like photograph around her face. The lifeguards stared. Cassandra kicked off her flip flops and shrugged off her mumu. In a pink bathing suit she sank into the water. The age melted off of her as she danced through the water graceful strong the strokes were slow and deliberate and the lifeguards watched as she pulled herself from one end of the pool to another and back. She made 16 rings remembering her childhood 23 more for her marriage and then 60 60 rings! before she stopped. 60 years old, the year her husband died. The year she had stopped talking aside from the hushed prayers in church but she was talking to him; that didn't count. 60 rings. And Cassandra just disappeared. No one found the body no one found anything aside from flip flops and a mumu. The lifeguards were nearly scandalized for letting Cassandra drown but soon she went from a news story to a ghost and the mothers! sniped at their children for whispering "Did you here about old Ms. Cassandra? They say she found God."
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79
Small town sounds Unlocked doors Not that many cars. Main Street grocery store Nickel candy bars. Church Street, “Sunday shoes”, Parents stood outside and smoked, Kids caught with cigarettes Would have allowances revoked. Corn Growers Push mowers Friday football games. Everybody, Everywhere, Knew everybody’s name. Summer shouts Paper routes Cub Scouts once a week Boys and girls in sixth grade Dancing cheek to cheek. No shirts Blue jeans Walking through the beans Witches, ghosts and scary things Every Halloween Greased pigs Little League Swimming lessons in the lake Talking back to teachers Was a BIG mistake! Teachers had hard paddles that They were not afraid to use Parents told them, “Go ahead.” And they did not refuse. Bicycles everywhere Pocket knives Truth or Dare Water balloons, Kids Cartoons Fishing in the creek Not it Gravel pit Games of Hide and Seek Bible School Golden Rule Jesus Loved Me This I Know Several generations Watching children grow. Laying on a blanket Watching shooting stars Teachers went two towns away When they went to bars. Home grown tomatoes Juicy burgers nice and thick Eating home-made ice cream Until all of us were sick. Nine o’clock bedtimes The nights were very still I still hear the small town sounds I guess I always will. PwL 5/5/15
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May 5, 2015
May 5, 2015 at 1:49 AM UTC
Small Town Sounds
The smell of grass in the air was undeniable. I could hear the lawn mowers simultaneously roaring away, disrupting my dog-days peace. A blue blanket was overhead, the white fluff barely disrupting a blazing ball of heat. Smiles and laughs left spirits high and ears ringing. Everyone and their mother was enjoying the day. I went back inside; I think I’m allergic to Summer.
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May 6, 2015
May 6, 2015 at 1:57 PM UTC
Summer Days
I still can't go there. To that little swatch of grass bathed in sunlight without even a dappling of shade It seems like a  green field of memories with almost no one left to remember Even the words  subscribed on the tiny brass plaques seem somehow belittling   With them set into the ground for the convenience of mowers to pass over It makes her seem so inconsequential that she shouldn't trouble the groundskeeper with her monument It makes me think of the mundane consequences of death that overshadow the greatness of life Like the simple economics of  maintenance I can't look at the life of such a beautiful women summed up in such a small way it seems  so common so trite I know that she would have told you that she was common but she wasn't She had a greatness in her soul and being that transcended the normal that transcends death I am overwhelmed by that little plaque and it's insignificance Enough to paralyze me from going there I know that if I see it it will push the other memories from my mind   and supplant her She will become a place in a cemetery with a little map on the grounds keeping shed gridded and numbered number 6 in row B a little part of the order in a small field and I can't have that
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Jan 23, 2014
Jan 23, 2014 at 9:38 AM UTC
Thinking about the cemetery
I remember so much that I wish I could forget.   This is a poem about Psalm 23 choked out through tears.   This is a poem about astro vans and                                       tractor lawn mowers and                                       driveway car washes and                                       small garden spaces and                                       digger wasps and                                       three wolves and a moon.   This is about the Backstreet Boys and                               Def Leppard and                               Kenny Chesney.   “Dreams” by The Cranberries. About waterparks and             swim lessons and             the smell of chlorine.   Fresh cut grass.  Bonfire smoke permeating through the house.   Grey diamond tiles on white linoleum.                                                                   Hands clenched down on washcloths. Muddled.  It’s all so muddled.  Stuck beneath                                                            brain matter and cerebrospinal fluid and                                                               down, down, down beneath the lake.   How can I dig it out while also digging it down deeper?   I want to forget it all.  No memory, no pain, no ******* problem.   Goldfish life: a pipedream.
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Oct 23, 2021
Oct 23, 2021 at 12:35 PM UTC
Please Do Not Repeatedly Tell the Dementia Patient That Their Loved One Has Died; Blissful Unawareness is Considered Most Humane
I remember so much that I wish I could forget.   This is a poem about Psalm 23 choked out through tears.   This is a poem about astro vans and                                       tractor lawn mowers and                                       driveway car washes and                                       small garden spaces and                                       digger wasps and                                       three wolves and a moon.   This is about the Backstreet Boys and                               Def Leppard and                               Kenny Chesney.   “Dreams” by The Cranberries. About waterparks and             swim lessons and             the smell of chlorine.   Fresh cut grass.  Bonfire smoke permeating through the house.   Grey diamond tiles on white linoleum.                                                                   Hands clenched down on washcloths. Muddled.  It’s all so muddled.  Stuck beneath                                                            brain matter and cerebrospinal fluid and                                                               down, down, down beneath the lake.   How can I dig it out while also digging it down deeper?   I want to forget it all.  No memory, no pain, no ******* problem.   Goldfish life: a pipedream.
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24
1 In this dark, cruel and callous world it’s optimists ar’ always good to me - they lend me a thousand dollars and when I don’t return they don’t get discouraged they convince themselves I’ll pay up soon “Tomorrow,” they nod sagaciously Yeah, tomorrow And even when they get mad and furious all I have to do is to offer them half a glass 2 To ‘em optimists I’m full of gratitude cos when I  ‘s a kid and skinned their cats and stole their lawn mowers and silverware and put them up for sale in the same street they stood agape and said: “This kid, one day he’ll be a great entrepreneur” 3 I love optimists cos even though my parents cursed “We never really wanted you”; and my wife confesses every other night: *“I married you for all the stolen money and will dump you and claim half of every dollar and property”;* and my kids keep pestering me: *“When will you die? Have you written your will?”* - optimists tell me: *“The universe loves you; reach out, and the universe reaches out to you”* Hey, you get more love from strangers than from family 4 And of course let me not forget Destiny’s plan for optimists in my life cos even after the fourth ****** for which I was found guilty (never mind the six undiscovered) the optimists in the legal system and Friends of the Maladjusted got me out in seven-a-weeks, with the hope: *” This time, surely, he will change for the better”* Ah, what’ll I do without  ‘em optimists? - bless ‘em all, and keep ‘em alive for I’m planning my next killing
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Feb 13, 2014
Feb 13, 2014 at 12:25 AM UTC
optimists - I love 'em
1 In this dark, cruel and callous world it’s optimists ar’ always good to me - they lend me a thousand dollars and when I don’t return they don’t get discouraged they convince themselves I’ll pay up soon “Tomorrow,” they nod sagaciously Yeah, tomorrow And even when they get mad and furious all I have to do is to offer them half a glass 2 To ‘em optimists I’m full of gratitude cos when I  ‘s a kid and skinned their cats and stole their lawn mowers and silverware and put them up for sale in the same street they stood agape and said: “This kid, one day he’ll be a great entrepreneur” 3 I love optimists cos even though my parents cursed “We never really wanted you”; and my wife confesses every other night: *“I married you for all the stolen money and will dump you and claim half of every dollar and property”;* and my kids keep pestering me: *“When will you die? Have you written your will?”* - optimists tell me: *“The universe loves you; reach out, and the universe reaches out to you”* Hey, you get more love from strangers than from family 4 And of course let me not forget Destiny’s plan for optimists in my life cos even after the fourth ****** for which I was found guilty (never mind the six undiscovered) the optimists in the legal system and Friends of the Maladjusted got me out in seven-a-weeks, with the hope: *” This time, surely, he will change for the better”* Ah, what’ll I do without  ‘em optimists? - bless ‘em all, and keep ‘em alive for I’m planning my next killing
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53
Glorious morning dew... On each leaf of grass, On each leaf of the trees, Covering the window shields, But... If only I can **** the undying noise; The mowers near and far, The mechanical birds overhead, The storming of vehicles on the highways. Still... What glorious morning dew!
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Oct 29, 2015
Oct 29, 2015 at 11:25 AM UTC
Glorious Morning Dew
How strong I can recall Summer’s cut grass Damp from the thick Southern air We danced with plastic castles In our arms Dodging sprinklers In neighbors’ yards A child’s bliss Ignoring calls Of supper and setting suns We ran on Wet concrete Beneath my feet Felt like sand And salt marsh breeze Wandered gentle Through my hair Not quite a beach But nearly there Then quietly The whirr of mowers Disappeared Summer’s white noise Cut from my ears We ambled home Tired in and out Called back by good request Of stomach’s pleading And light’s arrest
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May 2, 2010
May 2, 2010 at 11:36 AM UTC
Summer's Cut Grass
Pushing wheelbarrows through tall grass hoping it will mow the lawn it only carries old dirt over new problems Occasionally spilling manure over the lip to make new weeds grow faster. Never believed in lawn mowers. Said that cutting the heads off all this grass would risk cutting the heads off the flowers too Most people say **** the flowers But not you Your garden is extravagant.
0
Jun 29, 2016
Jun 29, 2016 at 11:56 AM UTC
Wheelbarrow
When I listen to music And sing along in my head, I hear poetry, And I wish I could write something so beautiful. Beautiful words seep out of the speakers Twinkling in the air Invisible notes Prancing toward my ears. The music makes me sway, Sway with emotion, with passion, on the verge of tears. In that moment, I am free. I drown out the unharmonious world. Lawn mowers, keyboard typing, Talking, banging, flushing, Boys screaming at their **** video games at 4am. Don’t they have homework? But who cares because I have the music And the music has me. We are not alone. We are one unit. The artists sing to me But don’t know my name. I dance around Unaware of my pain. An escape from the world These people have given me. I want to say thank you For making the world a little beautiful. For making me feel a little beautiful.
0
Dec 4, 2012
Dec 4, 2012 at 2:42 PM UTC
Stop. Don't look. Just listen.
Outside is calm, The shrieks have ceased; The sounds of laughter Left our streets. The chalk lines faded Like summer tans, The derelict castles Lie in the sand. The swings sit still, The splash downs vacant, The parents have gladly abdicated, Relinquished reins and riding crops, The mowers, rakes and garden tools; For the kids are finally back at school.
0
Sep 5, 2017
Sep 5, 2017 at 10:19 AM UTC
I Know This Day Well
He had no idea if he would... If he could actually do it... When the time came, When his sergeant gave the nod, Let slip the dogs of war, Unleash the copper bees, Send missiles hurtling up or down At targets moving now... On men who may be wondering If they could fire the same, When the time came.... "Steady, men!" "On my command." He lay there, On a roof, In a ditch, On an open field, Crouched inside a turret, Bellied down in a plexiglass ball, Hurtled above a world mostly covered in cloud, Standing far below the earth in silo'd steel, Seeing still, through satellite eyes.... Peered into the mil dot scope, Ignored the cross To see through the center, Found the circled aperture, Punched coordinates into a seeing machine, Saw green circles on the screen... Aligned the circles.... Tried to breathe. So that was how it was For farm boys, Mowers of hay, Grocers' sons, smashers of ants, Carpenters, hammerers of nails, And bakers' boys, cutters of bread, Just in from shooting marbles and BB guns, Transported into war, Fed soldiers' ration: meat and bread and beans, Five cigarettes apiece in boxed MREs, Sent off to **** and to be killed With mothers' tears still fresh upon their cheeks, With lovers' ache still glowing embered heat. Training fresh, Waiting command To fire only when the order came... To remain firing til the order came... To hold the breath and squeeze... To hold the sight just so... To squeeze... And to reload Keeping head low, Eyes on target... To ignore all but the sergeant's yell, To think of squeezing on new targets, To wait awhile to process coming hell.... And when the time came, He squeezed, Felt the sudden life, Heard little but the sound of Clean ejection ... Saw his bullet, Saw his missile, Saw his target meet, And in the meeting, Red, And in the meeting , Fire and smoke, And in the meeting Knew  that he could do What soldiers do. This boy Now cutting hay, Now stomping ants, Hammering nails, Cutting loaves of cooling bread... Caught in the maelstrom of war With no moment left but now, No possible tomorrow... Only targets, Only targeted In ferocious winds Of battle.
0
Sep 21, 2014
Sep 21, 2014 at 6:52 AM UTC
Reaping
He had no idea if he would... If he could actually do it... When the time came, When his sergeant gave the nod, Let slip the dogs of war, Unleash the copper bees, Send missiles hurtling up or down At targets moving now... On men who may be wondering If they could fire the same, When the time came.... "Steady, men!" "On my command." He lay there, On a roof, In a ditch, On an open field, Crouched inside a turret, Bellied down in a plexiglass ball, Hurtled above a world mostly covered in cloud, Standing far below the earth in silo'd steel, Seeing still, through satellite eyes.... Peered into the mil dot scope, Ignored the cross To see through the center, Found the circled aperture, Punched coordinates into a seeing machine, Saw green circles on the screen... Aligned the circles.... Tried to breathe. So that was how it was For farm boys, Mowers of hay, Grocers' sons, smashers of ants, Carpenters, hammerers of nails, And bakers' boys, cutters of bread, Just in from shooting marbles and BB guns, Transported into war, Fed soldiers' ration: meat and bread and beans, Five cigarettes apiece in boxed MREs, Sent off to **** and to be killed With mothers' tears still fresh upon their cheeks, With lovers' ache still glowing embered heat. Training fresh, Waiting command To fire only when the order came... To remain firing til the order came... To hold the breath and squeeze... To hold the sight just so... To squeeze... And to reload Keeping head low, Eyes on target... To ignore all but the sergeant's yell, To think of squeezing on new targets, To wait awhile to process coming hell.... And when the time came, He squeezed, Felt the sudden life, Heard little but the sound of Clean ejection ... Saw his bullet, Saw his missile, Saw his target meet, And in the meeting, Red, And in the meeting , Fire and smoke, And in the meeting Knew  that he could do What soldiers do. This boy Now cutting hay, Now stomping ants, Hammering nails, Cutting loaves of cooling bread... Caught in the maelstrom of war With no moment left but now, No possible tomorrow... Only targets, Only targeted In ferocious winds Of battle.
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83
Snoozing quietly on a sunny day, with eyes half closed, breathing relaxed, listening to the sounds the sun brings out. Children screaming with play, lawn mowers cutting, bees buzzing and singing birds. Languidly lost in time bemused at the thoughts running free in my mind. I start to muse on ridiculous things: Why liquid soap? Why a date of birth but no date of death? (That would be helpful like a use by date on food, fit in that bucket list or miss your deadline) Why do ice lollies only come in packs of three like condoms? Why are children so ultimately free? Why does the sun make us feel so safe? Why does road rage come out in the sun? Why do we insist on eating burnt carcasses and underdone chicken? At barbecues that take forever to organise with people you'd rather flail alive?
0
May 21, 2014
May 21, 2014 at 11:46 AM UTC
Musings on a sunny day.
This is where the wet will be when my wellies come out of hibernation (though, technically, it’s aestivation, every day’s a school day) when someday soon, this loop, this recuperative walk will weigh heavy on my feet with the mud of thought and of the mud of actual mud til then I’ll wend, mostly light footed with the rattle of mowers and threat-cackle of magpies to score me and though not Oscar worthy the kite-screech soundtrack serves
0
Oct 10, 2021
Oct 10, 2021 at 8:29 AM UTC
Wettening