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"uniforms" poems
There are roots that delve deep in our bones, wrapping us like our skin. They define who we are. But, who am I? I am learned, sophisticated, well versed in history and language. My companions are numbers, papers, pens, and letters. I drive a fine silk suit: shiny, clean, fragrant... Though am I, really? Or am I one who acts the opposite? One who is surrounded by those who have numbers, papers, pens, and letters as companions whilst I am with pebbles, leaves, sticks; driving a worn out hide made from a dying pig. Or maybe, I am both... No. I am not common folk who act out the Streets on a home lined with shiny rocks, smooth paper on a lap, twinkling fireflies hanging from the roof whilst displaying what I've learned from being raised around uniforms and books.
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Jun 22, 2015
Jun 22, 2015 at 7:42 AM UTC
Finding Myself: Two in One
I will love you no matter how many mistakes I make when trying to reduce fractions, and no matter how difficult it is to memorize the periodic table. I will love you as the manatee loves the head of lettuce and as the dark spot loves the leopard, as the leech loves the ankle of a wader and as a corpse loves the beak of a vulture. I will love you as the iceberg loves the ship, and the passengers love the lifeboat and the lifeboat loves the teeth of the ***** whale, and the ***** whale loves the flavor of naval uniforms. I never want to be away from you again, except at work, in the restroom or when one of us is at a movie the other does not want to see. I will love you as we find ourselves farther and farther from one another, where we once were so close that we could slip the curved straw, and the long, slender spoon, between our lips and fingers respectively. I will love you until the chances of us running into one another slip from slim to zero, and until your face is fogged by distant memory, and your memory faced by distant fog, and your fog memorized by a distant face, and your distance distanced by the memorized memory of a foggy fog. I will love you no matter where you go and who you see, no matter where you avoid and who you don’t see, and no matter who sees you avoiding where you go. I will love you no matter what happens to you, and no matter how I discover what happens to you, and no matter what happens to me as I discover this, and no matter how I am discovered after what happens to me as I am discovering this. I will love you as a drawer loves a secret compartment, and as a secret compartment loves a secret, and as a secret loves to make a person gasp, and as a gasping person loves a glass of brandy to calm their nerves, and as a glass of brandy loves to shatter on the floor, and as the noise of glass shattering loves to make someone else gasp, and as someone else gasping loves a nearby desk to lean against, even if leaning against it presses a lever that loves to open a drawer and reveal a secret compartment. I will love you until all such compartments are discovered and opened, and until all the secrets have gone gasping into the world. I will love you as misfortune loves orphans, as fire loves innocence, and as justice loves to sit and watch while everything goes wrong. I will love you if I never see you again, and I will love you if I see you every Tuesday. Strange as it may seem, I still hope for the best, even though the best, like an interesting piece of mail, so rarely arrives, and even when it does it can be lost so easily. Life will never end when you are in it.”
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Apr 25, 2014
Apr 25, 2014 at 1:30 PM UTC
By Lemony Snicket
I will love you no matter how many mistakes I make when trying to reduce fractions, and no matter how difficult it is to memorize the periodic table. I will love you as the manatee loves the head of lettuce and as the dark spot loves the leopard, as the leech loves the ankle of a wader and as a corpse loves the beak of a vulture. I will love you as the iceberg loves the ship, and the passengers love the lifeboat and the lifeboat loves the teeth of the ***** whale, and the ***** whale loves the flavor of naval uniforms. I never want to be away from you again, except at work, in the restroom or when one of us is at a movie the other does not want to see. I will love you as we find ourselves farther and farther from one another, where we once were so close that we could slip the curved straw, and the long, slender spoon, between our lips and fingers respectively. I will love you until the chances of us running into one another slip from slim to zero, and until your face is fogged by distant memory, and your memory faced by distant fog, and your fog memorized by a distant face, and your distance distanced by the memorized memory of a foggy fog. I will love you no matter where you go and who you see, no matter where you avoid and who you don’t see, and no matter who sees you avoiding where you go. I will love you no matter what happens to you, and no matter how I discover what happens to you, and no matter what happens to me as I discover this, and no matter how I am discovered after what happens to me as I am discovering this. I will love you as a drawer loves a secret compartment, and as a secret compartment loves a secret, and as a secret loves to make a person gasp, and as a gasping person loves a glass of brandy to calm their nerves, and as a glass of brandy loves to shatter on the floor, and as the noise of glass shattering loves to make someone else gasp, and as someone else gasping loves a nearby desk to lean against, even if leaning against it presses a lever that loves to open a drawer and reveal a secret compartment. I will love you until all such compartments are discovered and opened, and until all the secrets have gone gasping into the world. I will love you as misfortune loves orphans, as fire loves innocence, and as justice loves to sit and watch while everything goes wrong. I will love you if I never see you again, and I will love you if I see you every Tuesday. Strange as it may seem, I still hope for the best, even though the best, like an interesting piece of mail, so rarely arrives, and even when it does it can be lost so easily. Life will never end when you are in it.”
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7
My hometown is a place of rustic beauty and simple people a population under 200 meant that everybody knew everybody farmer Neville and his sheep always on the loose and the quiz night at the pub just another excuse to get drunker and drunker and the private boarding school which I attended so rich with false academia we learned the lessons which would prepare us for the false prophets yet to come and the public school and their ***** uniforms where I found my friends friends who at this point have arrest records ranging from assault to petty larceny and criminally wasted potential oh how I miss that town even now, because despite the racism and xenophobia which infest my kinsmen I still have to believe that things can get better that life there can match the beauty of North Yorkshire farm lands and woodlands and friendly knowing smiles My hometown isn't perfect and I wouldn't have it any other way
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Apr 21, 2013
Apr 21, 2013 at 3:13 AM UTC
My Hometown
to sit on the lawn outside on a bright Spring day trade winds softly breeze endless cerulean skies the vibes of a live brass band dark skinned Hawaiians white marching band uniforms a curious sight ah...but the sounds are soothing wafting warmly through the air relax and enjoy look around, drink it all in think of nothing else feel the music through your bones close your eyes and flow with it Del Maximo (c) February 5, 2009
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Feb 5, 2010
Feb 5, 2010 at 9:32 AM UTC
In Harmony
When I hear the words “marching band”, I think of 4 am’s eating donuts on the bus, Piled in big heaps to conserve warmth, Not caring who we were laying on. I think of lips on fire, Sectionals that drag on and on in The scorching sun, and staying At attention for longer than you can bear. I think of impossibly quick changes into uniforms, Asking your friends to zip you up, Band moms wiping off bibbers and shoes, And when you’re all ready, realizing you didn’t put on your mic. I think of falling on turf during 25 mph wind gusts, hearing the hail smash your instrument, Not being able to feel your face, But knowing you have to play on just the same. I think of eating at weird times, Breakfast at 4 am, lunch at 10 am, and supper at 10 pm, But knowing that when you get you get a chance to eat, The band dads have got you covered. I think of laughing so hard on the bus You’re crying, sobbing even, sprawled across Your best friends, and you think you’ll never calm down Enough to ever play your instrument again. I think of the drum majors’ voices yelling LEFT LEFT LEFT Over and over again until the freshmen finally understand. There’s always that one that never does. I think of the moment of utter agony Before they announce the last place in your class, And you’re squeezing your eyes shut, praying That at the very least, you won’t be last. I think of that moment of utter relief After you hear the last place in your class, And it’s not you, and your prayers have been answered That at the very least, you were not last. I think of the last competition of the season, When the seniors are bawling and it seems like Your entire world is crashing down, And nothing will ever be right again. This poem could go on forever, But finally: finally. When I hear the words “marching band”, I think of that triumphant moment right As your show ends for the last time, That last horns down, And you know you’ve given it your all, And no matter what your score is, You feel in your heart that you have put everything You have out there, All the music, the drill, the blood, sweat and tears, Out there on that football field. And that moment, you can get no where else, but Marching band.
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Oct 26, 2018
Oct 26, 2018 at 5:42 PM UTC
Feel This Moment
When I hear the words “marching band”, I think of 4 am’s eating donuts on the bus, Piled in big heaps to conserve warmth, Not caring who we were laying on. I think of lips on fire, Sectionals that drag on and on in The scorching sun, and staying At attention for longer than you can bear. I think of impossibly quick changes into uniforms, Asking your friends to zip you up, Band moms wiping off bibbers and shoes, And when you’re all ready, realizing you didn’t put on your mic. I think of falling on turf during 25 mph wind gusts, hearing the hail smash your instrument, Not being able to feel your face, But knowing you have to play on just the same. I think of eating at weird times, Breakfast at 4 am, lunch at 10 am, and supper at 10 pm, But knowing that when you get you get a chance to eat, The band dads have got you covered. I think of laughing so hard on the bus You’re crying, sobbing even, sprawled across Your best friends, and you think you’ll never calm down Enough to ever play your instrument again. I think of the drum majors’ voices yelling LEFT LEFT LEFT Over and over again until the freshmen finally understand. There’s always that one that never does. I think of the moment of utter agony Before they announce the last place in your class, And you’re squeezing your eyes shut, praying That at the very least, you won’t be last. I think of that moment of utter relief After you hear the last place in your class, And it’s not you, and your prayers have been answered That at the very least, you were not last. I think of the last competition of the season, When the seniors are bawling and it seems like Your entire world is crashing down, And nothing will ever be right again. This poem could go on forever, But finally: finally. When I hear the words “marching band”, I think of that triumphant moment right As your show ends for the last time, That last horns down, And you know you’ve given it your all, And no matter what your score is, You feel in your heart that you have put everything You have out there, All the music, the drill, the blood, sweat and tears, Out there on that football field. And that moment, you can get no where else, but Marching band.
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54
She walks down this path so many Mothers have walked before her, Crisp uniforms line the path..a heavy heart..Tears in her lap. An American Flag snaps to attention as if to say we know your pain Mother, but we don’t. Through this all, she carries on the pride and resolve despite an unthinkable loss. The twenty-one gun salute resonates through every city in America Reminding everyone to take a moment to honor this fallen son. On the 6 O’clock news Taps plays on every television. And we shake our head in disbelief. An unbroken line of Patriots that passed before him, Line the stairway to heaven to welcome their brother home. And a banner hangs in Moms living room window..Displaying  one Gold, two blue stars “Lord please bring my boys home safely”, she prays I hope you’ll think of some of the reasons why our brave sons & daughters make the ultimate sacrifice…..Here are just a few…….. The American Flag Our military men and women Freedom Patriotism America the Beautiful Land of the Free Home of the Brave 4th of July Memorial Day The Bald Eagle Democracy Free Enterprise God Bless America!
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Apr 26, 2016
Apr 26, 2016 at 4:10 PM UTC
Gold Star Mother
The star in my Hand is falling All the uniforms know what's no use May I bow to Necessity not To her hirelings
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5.9k
Wish
Pretty Little Cup Cake Store: I walk through the door. Somehow I think it will Cheer me up. A white iced-pink sprinkled cupcake Will help me forget. While unwrapping the trendy black and  baby blue doted baking paper Will bring back the past again. But, even I know it is a ruse A joke I play on myself. You know the owners are some super hot soccer moms whose family invested in their latest project. Those **** bakers with pretty white aprons And size two retro-pink waitress uniforms; Smiling and cooing at the lavender infused cake That makes this treat go down so smooth. A gluten-free icing with a garnish of kumquat. This will land their pictures on the local news. I am not a size two. I will just as soon eat a nutty-buddy by Little Debbie But, this trendy cupcake cafe, makes me feel I am one of those Pretty ladies in the retro pink waitress uniform. Kinda like a celebration, for a party of one. I am not a hot pretty stick chick I will buy four, five or six of those pretty cupcakes. Pretending I am buying a hostess gift. But, the truth..... My husband forgot that we married 8 years ago this day. I will pay too much for too little product: but the cake box is cute I will sit in my car Eating, till my teeth hurt. I will rationalize; that I will cleanse tomorrow. I will go home. He will ask how I am, while staring at the TV. "Shussh" he will say, "I'm trying to hear." There is no use to remind him He will play the tired "I'm-in-the-dog-house game." I prefer stuffing four, five or six pretty little cupcakes Into my mouth then listening To his tired apologies, weak little lies and false promises of a planned Surprise. Instead; I will go to my room; then my private bath: I will stick my fingers down my throat And cough up my life.
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Apr 5, 2016
Apr 5, 2016 at 7:27 PM UTC
Pretty Little Cupcakes
Pretty Little Cup Cake Store: I walk through the door. Somehow I think it will Cheer me up. A white iced-pink sprinkled cupcake Will help me forget. While unwrapping the trendy black and  baby blue doted baking paper Will bring back the past again. But, even I know it is a ruse A joke I play on myself. You know the owners are some super hot soccer moms whose family invested in their latest project. Those **** bakers with pretty white aprons And size two retro-pink waitress uniforms; Smiling and cooing at the lavender infused cake That makes this treat go down so smooth. A gluten-free icing with a garnish of kumquat. This will land their pictures on the local news. I am not a size two. I will just as soon eat a nutty-buddy by Little Debbie But, this trendy cupcake cafe, makes me feel I am one of those Pretty ladies in the retro pink waitress uniform. Kinda like a celebration, for a party of one. I am not a hot pretty stick chick I will buy four, five or six of those pretty cupcakes. Pretending I am buying a hostess gift. But, the truth..... My husband forgot that we married 8 years ago this day. I will pay too much for too little product: but the cake box is cute I will sit in my car Eating, till my teeth hurt. I will rationalize; that I will cleanse tomorrow. I will go home. He will ask how I am, while staring at the TV. "Shussh" he will say, "I'm trying to hear." There is no use to remind him He will play the tired "I'm-in-the-dog-house game." I prefer stuffing four, five or six pretty little cupcakes Into my mouth then listening To his tired apologies, weak little lies and false promises of a planned Surprise. Instead; I will go to my room; then my private bath: I will stick my fingers down my throat And cough up my life.
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44
I am the Individual Isness incarnated in this body. I am not the body. I have travelled through many lifetimes in many bodies. always learning learning learning. I have developed nous from my experiences only. I WILL NOT EVER- accept a mind in my head. accept any conditioned identity as being  me. cede control over my brain centres to any mind or groupmind that exists anywhere.. I WILL NOT EVER-- cede control over my brain centres to any conditioned identity or group conditioned identity that exists anywhere. or accept that any other but me,the Individual Isness, using my brain centres,using my brain the way I,the Individual Isness,want to and can do to be in charge of the brain centres in the head of this body that I,the Isness,am incarnated in. I WILL NOT EVER-- be prey to opinion-formers and experts and  pie charts and focus groups and surveys. be manipulated by PR men and women in shiny suits. see Edward Bernays book--Propaganda. be manipulated by GroupMinds into thinking  their way. be taken in by brutal security forces posing as "guardians of peace. respect in any way any member of any military forces anywhere no matter how fancy the uniforms or excuses for ****** they wear. I do not respect these parasites anywhere as they are nothing more than paid mercenary murderers on behalf of various Oligarchies.. see Jaques Ellul's book--Propaganda. I WILL NOT EVER-- take any dangerous addictive cancer causing drugs such as Alcohol and Tobacco primarily-- food additives... No one has ever died from any cannabis product. or from LSD or Mesccaline or Psylocybin. believe in any so-called "god" or "goddess". believe in any so-called "prophet" of any so-called "god"or "goddess". accept any so-called "holy" book as valid or truthful or valuable in any way except as emergency papers to roll a grass joint or to wipe my **** on. be taken in by depraved words and concepts in any of these so-called "holy "books that have led to endless wars and still ongoing terrorism and atrocities in the name of one bloodthirsty "god" or "goddess". I WILL NOT EVER-- accept anything as reality unless I can see clearly that it is beyond duality. accept any Conditioned Identity as me. For I am the Isness which is a small but equal,individual, autonomous and independant part of the essence of the Isness of the Universe--!. which is not a "soul" or Atman or spirit or any other religious concoction. I WILL NOT EVER--- accept Mind as a necessary evil accept GroupMind as a necessary evil. I WILL NOT EVER --- eat junk food of any kind. drink tap water anywhere except in direst emergency. eat white sugar or any other pure carbohydrate. be a hypocritical moralising vegetarian. become stoopid through bowing and scraping and stooping at stupas. I will be just a Self realised man living on a big ball in space with a Self Realised woman playing and singing and dancing the Song of Our Lives. www.thefournobletruthsrevised.co.uk
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Jul 6, 2014
Jul 6, 2014 at 1:13 AM UTC
My promise to the Isness of the Universe
I am the Individual Isness incarnated in this body. I am not the body. I have travelled through many lifetimes in many bodies. always learning learning learning. I have developed nous from my experiences only. I WILL NOT EVER- accept a mind in my head. accept any conditioned identity as being  me. cede control over my brain centres to any mind or groupmind that exists anywhere.. I WILL NOT EVER-- cede control over my brain centres to any conditioned identity or group conditioned identity that exists anywhere. or accept that any other but me,the Individual Isness, using my brain centres,using my brain the way I,the Individual Isness,want to and can do to be in charge of the brain centres in the head of this body that I,the Isness,am incarnated in. I WILL NOT EVER-- be prey to opinion-formers and experts and  pie charts and focus groups and surveys. be manipulated by PR men and women in shiny suits. see Edward Bernays book--Propaganda. be manipulated by GroupMinds into thinking  their way. be taken in by brutal security forces posing as "guardians of peace. respect in any way any member of any military forces anywhere no matter how fancy the uniforms or excuses for ****** they wear. I do not respect these parasites anywhere as they are nothing more than paid mercenary murderers on behalf of various Oligarchies.. see Jaques Ellul's book--Propaganda. I WILL NOT EVER-- take any dangerous addictive cancer causing drugs such as Alcohol and Tobacco primarily-- food additives... No one has ever died from any cannabis product. or from LSD or Mesccaline or Psylocybin. believe in any so-called "god" or "goddess". believe in any so-called "prophet" of any so-called "god"or "goddess". accept any so-called "holy" book as valid or truthful or valuable in any way except as emergency papers to roll a grass joint or to wipe my **** on. be taken in by depraved words and concepts in any of these so-called "holy "books that have led to endless wars and still ongoing terrorism and atrocities in the name of one bloodthirsty "god" or "goddess". I WILL NOT EVER-- accept anything as reality unless I can see clearly that it is beyond duality. accept any Conditioned Identity as me. For I am the Isness which is a small but equal,individual, autonomous and independant part of the essence of the Isness of the Universe--!. which is not a "soul" or Atman or spirit or any other religious concoction. I WILL NOT EVER--- accept Mind as a necessary evil accept GroupMind as a necessary evil. I WILL NOT EVER --- eat junk food of any kind. drink tap water anywhere except in direst emergency. eat white sugar or any other pure carbohydrate. be a hypocritical moralising vegetarian. become stoopid through bowing and scraping and stooping at stupas. I will be just a Self realised man living on a big ball in space with a Self Realised woman playing and singing and dancing the Song of Our Lives. www.thefournobletruthsrevised.co.uk
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60
I'm Bailey. I sometimes forget to recycle. I'm from singing camels and trigonometry. From soap bubbles and yellow scarves, Irish hymns and Zucchini the ferret, piano keys, bluebonnet seeds, and DO NOT ENTER signs. From salt. I'm the color of hosed off sidewalk chalk. I'm all summer in a day. I'm a conglomeration of artistic thoughts that make me look more profound than I actually am. I'm your infinite playlist. I'm from elephant necklaces and rosemary bushes from high-heeled taps and Camelot threadless socks, shopping carts, and impromptu salons. I'm the fifth ninja turtle. I live where you laugh so hard you cry. I'm from carrots and ranch. I'm a happy cow from California, a fortune cookie with your enchilada, a drill team skirt over marching uniforms. I'm from unfinished crossword puzzles and forgotten dead languages from pixie dust and snapcracklepop from actually-it's-pronounced's, because-i-said-so's, and that's-not-my-name's. I am Nancy Drew with a Peter Pan complex. I come from honeysuckle candles and sunroofs of pickup trucks broken-down fences and peach salsa the second you step onstage. I'm from in between. I'm Bailey. I don't drive the speed limit. And I'm from you.
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Dec 22, 2009
Dec 22, 2009 at 6:08 PM UTC
Where I'm From
It was supposed to be The dawn of a new age; A new set of dialogue On a more balanced stage With better lines for The actors to deliver. It was supposed to start in The sixties and last forever. We didn’t really know for sure What this Aquarius stuff was But it seemed to us to be A metaphysical enough cause, To change the way we acted And to shout down the rest; To face the demagogues Then put them to the test. We stopped wearing uniforms That said we went along With the hard-assed leaders. We put a lot of it in our songs. We called them what they were Greedy warmongering ****** We protested and picketed And promised so much more. We spoke out loudly on TV And in crowds in the streets That we were through will genocide And would not accept defeat. We cried out that our government Had assumed the role of villain And was murdering for no reason Not just men, but even children. But, we let it all die down; We let the government slide On investigating the truth And keeping the truth inside A carefully chosen batch of Criminals in public office. We let them go on making war And making money off us. We let them cheat and lie And re-write acceptable laws To support their bloodthirstiness And we gave up on our cause. Maybe all that protesting gave All our marching feet limps. Or maybe it’s because all along We were just a bunch of wimps.
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Dec 4, 2015
Dec 4, 2015 at 9:38 PM UTC
NEW AGERS
Red                                                              Red blood                                                            poppies splatters the ground                                       blanket the ground on a cold                                                      on a calm Orange                                                         Orange autumn day                                                   autumn day a bitter, biting wind                                        a cool, rousing breeze meets the                                                      meets the Yellow                                                         Yellow piercing sun                                                   warming sun beating down                                                shining down on dead, littered bodies                                 on thriving, vibrant flora skin turning                                                   emerging from Green                                                           Green decay                                                            grass an ugly scene                                                 a brilliant display of man's loss                                                 of nature's victory Blue                                                             Blue uniforms                                                        sky war-torn, battered                                        endless, infinite hidden                                                          retires by the                                                           to the Purple                                                          Purple night                                                             night
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Jan 16, 2015
Jan 16, 2015 at 9:50 PM UTC
Colors
Red                                                              Red blood                                                            poppies splatters the ground                                       blanket the ground on a cold                                                      on a calm Orange                                                         Orange autumn day                                                   autumn day a bitter, biting wind                                        a cool, rousing breeze meets the                                                      meets the Yellow                                                         Yellow piercing sun                                                   warming sun beating down                                                shining down on dead, littered bodies                                 on thriving, vibrant flora skin turning                                                   emerging from Green                                                           Green decay                                                            grass an ugly scene                                                 a brilliant display of man's loss                                                 of nature's victory Blue                                                             Blue uniforms                                                        sky war-torn, battered                                        endless, infinite hidden                                                          retires by the                                                           to the Purple                                                          Purple night                                                             night
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24
dead soldiers from the night before stared up from their hiding spot still in their brown uniforms the snap of the sheath was lost in the snap crackle and pop of the dying embers the blade of the axe tested on a thumbnail cut a satisfying line to proof the sharpness you turned with precision and gravel crunched beneath your feet, eyes searching for the driest piece to feel the point of the heavy head your whistling echoed from your lips as trees dance to your tune in the not so gentle breeze fleshy hands and oak handle embracing log victim placed on the sacrificial stump lined up your trial mark 'practice makes perfect' the swift swinging arm motion followed by sound from a sudden swing forced a new echo through the trees landing with a solid thump and silence with more whistling eerily into the silence between the splitting of each one after another, the red painted axe head was gleaming with each chop while ready to work again and again and...
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May 31, 2013
May 31, 2013 at 11:47 PM UTC
Camping
I remember watching Grandad Whenever it would rain He would walk around the house a lot You could tell he was in pain See, Grandad fought in World War One Though he never said a word He was hearing things inside his head Things no one ever heard He hated rain, it made the mud And that's where it began Fighting, deep within the trenches Keeping dry as best you can Everything was always wet You fought the *** and fought the sky The battle in the trenches seemed To find ways to keep dry Fifty yards away, no more The enemy was waiting Would today be when we made a move Both sides always waiting There were no birds up in the sky Just clouds and all that rain That war was stuck in Grandads head And it was driving him insane My dad would watch as Grandad walked To hide from that **** sound You know that all he thought of then Was that trench, and muddy ground You'd wrap yourself in what you could You'd use uniforms of the dead Taken from your cohorts Soaked in mud, and stained blood red Boots, soaked through like paper Feet wrapped up as best you could The mud was everlasting It covered everything but good Dad, said it was painful To watch Grandad on those days He would hide so deep within himself In a deep, dark, mental maze The sun, it never dried the earth The water just sat in little pools With the sunlight bouncing off of it Leaving drops shining like jewels The smell, of rotting corpses Piled high down at the end Bodies of the fallen The bodies of your friends Dad said it was different When he went off to fight It wasn't like his father's war It was just like day and night I remember when my Grandad passed It rained the whole day through I remember as they lowered him Now, I know what Grandad knew The mud, the worms, the water Filled his little six foot trench And everyone was soaked on through In my mind, I smelled the stench I feel sorry for my Grandad Because in truth, I like the rain And I feel so sorry for him That it caused him so much pain The horror of the battle And the act of keeping dry You might defeat the enemy But, not both...but, you'd try I remember watching Grandad And of how he hated rain But, my Grandad was my hero And, now I know...he's out of pain
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Oct 29, 2015
Oct 29, 2015 at 11:56 PM UTC
The rain
I remember watching Grandad Whenever it would rain He would walk around the house a lot You could tell he was in pain See, Grandad fought in World War One Though he never said a word He was hearing things inside his head Things no one ever heard He hated rain, it made the mud And that's where it began Fighting, deep within the trenches Keeping dry as best you can Everything was always wet You fought the *** and fought the sky The battle in the trenches seemed To find ways to keep dry Fifty yards away, no more The enemy was waiting Would today be when we made a move Both sides always waiting There were no birds up in the sky Just clouds and all that rain That war was stuck in Grandads head And it was driving him insane My dad would watch as Grandad walked To hide from that **** sound You know that all he thought of then Was that trench, and muddy ground You'd wrap yourself in what you could You'd use uniforms of the dead Taken from your cohorts Soaked in mud, and stained blood red Boots, soaked through like paper Feet wrapped up as best you could The mud was everlasting It covered everything but good Dad, said it was painful To watch Grandad on those days He would hide so deep within himself In a deep, dark, mental maze The sun, it never dried the earth The water just sat in little pools With the sunlight bouncing off of it Leaving drops shining like jewels The smell, of rotting corpses Piled high down at the end Bodies of the fallen The bodies of your friends Dad said it was different When he went off to fight It wasn't like his father's war It was just like day and night I remember when my Grandad passed It rained the whole day through I remember as they lowered him Now, I know what Grandad knew The mud, the worms, the water Filled his little six foot trench And everyone was soaked on through In my mind, I smelled the stench I feel sorry for my Grandad Because in truth, I like the rain And I feel so sorry for him That it caused him so much pain The horror of the battle And the act of keeping dry You might defeat the enemy But, not both...but, you'd try I remember watching Grandad And of how he hated rain But, my Grandad was my hero And, now I know...he's out of pain
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72
I leap across steppingstones in the grass that lead out to my washing line, wait for the wind to come and pass then drape my socks out in the sunshine. Somewhere, it’s grey and cold they hang clothes indoors on plastic frames walls and windows gather mould, those with wet work uniforms go insane. There is hidden wealth in the economy. There is no such thing as inequality. (When I was twelve my family moved to Dunedin, my brothers became Christians then travelled to Asia to spread their Religion - they said “there is no class system in New Zealand, there is no faith Cambodia” ) There is hidden wealth in the economy. There is no such thing as inequality.
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Oct 25, 2013
Oct 25, 2013 at 4:54 AM UTC
There is no class system in New Zealand
We walk among hero’s every day. And they are recognised, But not nearly enough. They all fight on the same team, They don’t always have the same uniforms, But they fight for you, out of love. They get paid sure, just about, But it doesn’t keep them there, It’s their compassion. They suffer long hours, and bad pay, Overworked, overwhelmed, Something we need to refashion. Yet they continue, fighting for your health, Mending wounds, treating disease, Doing their all, doing what they can. They do it with a smile, a friendly face, They do it agile, and with grace, Yet they’re just human, not Superman. They’re on the frontline, hands on, They’re behind the scenes, Each a cog, in a massive machine. But this machine is built by living parts, And they’re breaking more and more, Physically, emotionally, everything in between, Yet they carry on. They continue to fight. A battle never won. Recognised and praised, These are our heroes, Recognised, revered, yet still unsung.
0
Feb 5, 2024
Feb 5, 2024 at 5:59 AM UTC
Walking Among Heroes
I plunge into the cold water on that warm July day no goggles, only the loose-fitting swimming trunks I swim through the blur of chlorine pushing through the water when a familiar tune I heard hours earlier traps itself in my brain and I suddenly become weightless, a plane high above in the air The water is pure blue sky, below me the clouds And at the bottom the city in ruins I take my plane and dive down below the clouds past the blur, until the city is in view just below me I level the bomber and let it soar low above the ground Over the pale white shells of buildings I remember the museum exhibit that inspires this flight I walk through, studying the pictures and the uniforms and the weapons on display when in the distance of the room beyond I hear the familiar tune: Brian Eno's "Ascent (An Ending)". It brings me closer, and I move past the exhibits at a quickening pace, past the slow browsers glancing only briefly to read, to catch a glimpse of an object, a photo, a map I keep going, "Ascent" on a loop, its minimalist beauty entrancing me until I find a large television in a small corner. A few people are gathered around, solemn, the television entrancing them, the music washing over the room. First the white words centered against the black screen: "The Bomb". The come the white-and-black photos and footage of the mushroom clouds hovering above Hiroshima, then Nagasaki, standing tall like ungainly trees in an empty field. The soundtrack to the short video before me is "Ascent", or rather an excerpt, a piece of it, stirring strange emotions Familiar ones that I give attribution to when I listen to it on my own. Yet it feels different coming from this; on the screen a few photographs of corpses and burnt victims flash by. And then the screen fades to black, a moment of silence before it all starts again I hear this loop and see these images before me as I fly above the imagined city in ruins And for a brief moment I am the Enola Gay; I will only know it at the bottom of a hotel pool
0
Mar 9, 2015
Mar 9, 2015 at 4:23 AM UTC
The Enola Gay is at the Bottom of a Hotel Pool
I plunge into the cold water on that warm July day no goggles, only the loose-fitting swimming trunks I swim through the blur of chlorine pushing through the water when a familiar tune I heard hours earlier traps itself in my brain and I suddenly become weightless, a plane high above in the air The water is pure blue sky, below me the clouds And at the bottom the city in ruins I take my plane and dive down below the clouds past the blur, until the city is in view just below me I level the bomber and let it soar low above the ground Over the pale white shells of buildings I remember the museum exhibit that inspires this flight I walk through, studying the pictures and the uniforms and the weapons on display when in the distance of the room beyond I hear the familiar tune: Brian Eno's "Ascent (An Ending)". It brings me closer, and I move past the exhibits at a quickening pace, past the slow browsers glancing only briefly to read, to catch a glimpse of an object, a photo, a map I keep going, "Ascent" on a loop, its minimalist beauty entrancing me until I find a large television in a small corner. A few people are gathered around, solemn, the television entrancing them, the music washing over the room. First the white words centered against the black screen: "The Bomb". The come the white-and-black photos and footage of the mushroom clouds hovering above Hiroshima, then Nagasaki, standing tall like ungainly trees in an empty field. The soundtrack to the short video before me is "Ascent", or rather an excerpt, a piece of it, stirring strange emotions Familiar ones that I give attribution to when I listen to it on my own. Yet it feels different coming from this; on the screen a few photographs of corpses and burnt victims flash by. And then the screen fades to black, a moment of silence before it all starts again I hear this loop and see these images before me as I fly above the imagined city in ruins And for a brief moment I am the Enola Gay; I will only know it at the bottom of a hotel pool
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36
Caressing my face, Bubbles rush to greet me Tickling like a sweet spring sigh. This is only the first. I am still half A visitor. Stuck in suspension Between this world and mine. Slowly I pass Through the threshold. My air-sick ears adjust To the sounds of the sea. I stare down At the small colony On the sea floor, My landing gear is down. Customs arrives. A grey, French Angelfish Of the most industrious kind. But he isn’t obtrusive. As he flits in and out Checking my bubbles Ensuring I am not bringing Any more air than I should. No doubt he will stay near Most of my stay I have finally arrived, The coral city stretches before me. I catch the current trolley And it whisks me past Rocky storefronts and coral motels. Lobster shopkeeps Rush out of dark Stores and stand in the street Giant claws raised Toward me in supplication. Beckoning me to come And browse his wares While a fish I don’t know Is busy cleaning homes and stores. They must’ve dropped out of the school Which passes by The pupils in matching uniforms Of flashing silver and black. Clown fish wave To me from their Lawns Of sea anemone Before darting back inside. Here is the kind of place Where I could put down roots. Live out an idyllic life Living in a coral townhouse. But for me to stay Would be severely fatal. I’m just a visitor And my visa is about to expire. I look back one more time As my head breaks the surface. The sun stings, I blink.
0
Jun 3, 2013
Jun 3, 2013 at 2:07 PM UTC
On Scuba Diving
The world is indeed flat. When we fell from the star into the box, shades of amber colored the walls. People were like sheep, following the flock. In their stupid uniforms until they crashed                 face first into the side       dazed   disoriented   dizzy. We followed them and the box became smaller. We started walking like them, talking like them. And our prattle      echoed and hopped, bleating from corner to corner.
0
Apr 14, 2014
Apr 14, 2014 at 6:46 PM UTC
sheep
*The man with green hair and green hands. A long long time ago When army’s wore uniforms. We were khaki they were grey. My grandfather was fire warden In WW2 he had seven sons And three daughters . You could say he was a bit of a pacifist. Make love not war Was his mantra. He married my Grandma when she was seventeen. They were to stay married for over sixty five years. And produce tribe of ten children. He had spent his whole life Working as a coppersmith For the same company. His hair and hands tinted green From the metals Verdigris. My father was a baby just born In the middle of the war. We lived in Manchester. Money was always tight. But we were happy. Just as Herr ****** invaded Poland My grandad bought our first house. We always rented until then. It was a large town home. The six older boys All joined the marines At the outbreak of the war. They did one act of preparation That ultimately saved the family. They took down an old barn for a farmer And used the beams to shore up the stone cellar of the house. When the air raids came later. We would all huddle under the stair well Until the all clear sirens sounded. When the bad raid came It was the early hours of the night. Grandad was out on fire watch. Six of the sons were on ships In Europe and the far east. My aunty told me much later. When the war was long over. She heard the bomb falling It screamed as it fell. Exploding just outside our house the house caved in and they were all buried under the rubble in total darkness. She said grandma was breastfeeding the baby my dad. Grandad was busy the raid was a hard one. A friend said Frank your house has been hit It’s bad. He dropped everything and ran and ran Breathless he reached the fallen house. In his heart he thought we were all dead. It took ten neighbors four hours to reach us. They pulled the girls out first Then the baby my dad. And finally the dimutive figure of my grandma. She was weeping. She said Frank we’ve lost everything. There’s nothing left. He held her in his big arms Tears flowing from the eyes of a man Who had had a hard life. Who never cried. He kisses her full on her lips A single sign of public affection That was out of his character. He whispered to grandma. That odd Mary Because I just found Everything I ever wanted or needed.*
0
Oct 30, 2015
Oct 30, 2015 at 12:36 AM UTC
My Grandad with the green hair ..A true story from Judes past.
*The man with green hair and green hands. A long long time ago When army’s wore uniforms. We were khaki they were grey. My grandfather was fire warden In WW2 he had seven sons And three daughters . You could say he was a bit of a pacifist. Make love not war Was his mantra. He married my Grandma when she was seventeen. They were to stay married for over sixty five years. And produce tribe of ten children. He had spent his whole life Working as a coppersmith For the same company. His hair and hands tinted green From the metals Verdigris. My father was a baby just born In the middle of the war. We lived in Manchester. Money was always tight. But we were happy. Just as Herr ****** invaded Poland My grandad bought our first house. We always rented until then. It was a large town home. The six older boys All joined the marines At the outbreak of the war. They did one act of preparation That ultimately saved the family. They took down an old barn for a farmer And used the beams to shore up the stone cellar of the house. When the air raids came later. We would all huddle under the stair well Until the all clear sirens sounded. When the bad raid came It was the early hours of the night. Grandad was out on fire watch. Six of the sons were on ships In Europe and the far east. My aunty told me much later. When the war was long over. She heard the bomb falling It screamed as it fell. Exploding just outside our house the house caved in and they were all buried under the rubble in total darkness. She said grandma was breastfeeding the baby my dad. Grandad was busy the raid was a hard one. A friend said Frank your house has been hit It’s bad. He dropped everything and ran and ran Breathless he reached the fallen house. In his heart he thought we were all dead. It took ten neighbors four hours to reach us. They pulled the girls out first Then the baby my dad. And finally the dimutive figure of my grandma. She was weeping. She said Frank we’ve lost everything. There’s nothing left. He held her in his big arms Tears flowing from the eyes of a man Who had had a hard life. Who never cried. He kisses her full on her lips A single sign of public affection That was out of his character. He whispered to grandma. That odd Mary Because I just found Everything I ever wanted or needed.*
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80
The civil war's not over The sides are re-arranged Those who once were allies Now, they are estranged The uniforms don't matter It's now the colour of their skin That's put the country back To when the trouble did begin Slavery abolished? Have you looked outside your door? Just take some time and ask yourself Just who you're working for The civil war's not over It didn't ever end Just watch your local nightly news and see it's continuing my friend America is burning The flames are getting higher The country's feeding on itself Throw more fuel on the fire Ferguson and Baltimore are the start of the new pyre America is burning Throw more fuel on the fire One percent to ninety nine That's slavery to me It's not just racial segregation There's more than that to see The civil war's not over It's continued rolling on It will stay there in the background It's the country's most successful con Johnny comes marching home again...hurrah, hurrah Johnny comes marching home again...hurrah, hurrah The country will be burning when he comes From a war where no one really won As another town burns, for all the world to see
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May 1, 2015
May 1, 2015 at 11:17 AM UTC
America is burning
Gratitude: It pays to be kind It pays to know that something's not gonna be there forever I'm serious When that lovely lady passed away this monster ****** all the life out of her I couldn't help but think why hadn't i treasured you before Why oh why So here is my gratitude poem I love you mummy For all the things From sacrificing your sleep and time To make me a good breakfast And ironing uniforms Which you've always hated to do But did that all for me So that I would look decent in school To Staying up with me To do homework and revision before terrifying monsters called EXAMS For kissing me goodnight and telling me good things about life Doing so many lovely things So that I would have a better life I love you mummy I love my dad No matter how much I seem to argue with you on math or science I really love you too. Deep down I really appreciate your help but you've got to dig deeper to see that I hope you talk to me more About your life It's always been about my life my studies my health my friends And our talks never about you I never known a genius like you. ***** You are a piece of **** Really I wish you were 5 all again When you didn't have sarcastic comments And the I-grew-up-already attitude I love you all the same You stay up to help your big sis With her art work ( I **** at art) Or type for me in tamil You do great things, girl And sooner or later You are gonna be a great young lady Just like me I love all my friends The ones that hurt me The ones that love me The ones that like me All of you gave me experiences words advice stories that I've never known What is a life without stories? And lastly, my grandpa You were a great man. You may have died When I was one But I'm telling you grandpa I love you all the same I remember your wise words All the famous people who came to Shower their blessings on me And your lovely lap Which I used to take as my personal bathroom I'll never forget you You have an indelible place in my heart You have been my greatest inspiration and strongest supporter I love you all the same. The things I am grateful for It's an endless list But I love each and every single one all the same. I will treasure you better from now on. I love you.
0
Jul 23, 2013
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:45 AM UTC
The things I am grateful for
Gratitude: It pays to be kind It pays to know that something's not gonna be there forever I'm serious When that lovely lady passed away this monster ****** all the life out of her I couldn't help but think why hadn't i treasured you before Why oh why So here is my gratitude poem I love you mummy For all the things From sacrificing your sleep and time To make me a good breakfast And ironing uniforms Which you've always hated to do But did that all for me So that I would look decent in school To Staying up with me To do homework and revision before terrifying monsters called EXAMS For kissing me goodnight and telling me good things about life Doing so many lovely things So that I would have a better life I love you mummy I love my dad No matter how much I seem to argue with you on math or science I really love you too. Deep down I really appreciate your help but you've got to dig deeper to see that I hope you talk to me more About your life It's always been about my life my studies my health my friends And our talks never about you I never known a genius like you. ***** You are a piece of **** Really I wish you were 5 all again When you didn't have sarcastic comments And the I-grew-up-already attitude I love you all the same You stay up to help your big sis With her art work ( I **** at art) Or type for me in tamil You do great things, girl And sooner or later You are gonna be a great young lady Just like me I love all my friends The ones that hurt me The ones that love me The ones that like me All of you gave me experiences words advice stories that I've never known What is a life without stories? And lastly, my grandpa You were a great man. You may have died When I was one But I'm telling you grandpa I love you all the same I remember your wise words All the famous people who came to Shower their blessings on me And your lovely lap Which I used to take as my personal bathroom I'll never forget you You have an indelible place in my heart You have been my greatest inspiration and strongest supporter I love you all the same. The things I am grateful for It's an endless list But I love each and every single one all the same. I will treasure you better from now on. I love you.
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97
A gaggle of glamour girls, Debutantes of Times gone by. With talk of Aruba, White Sands and clear blue waters, Spoken to inspire jealousy to all those around. And of organization, Motherhood and label makers, Construction of pigeon holes for every part of life. And the Latino Girl at work, Whispers of the lasciviousness of a life unknown, In the silliness of two glasses of white wine each. I smoke a barrier between them and me. In an effusive hurried rush they leave, In search of sustenance of the soul, In search of Sisterhood. I sit in a Dewar’s drought. She walks by and grazes her fingertips across my back, A touch of familiarity, A touch that I long for. Gently, I speak, Within this microcosm, You stand as Aphrodite. Smiling, she goes about her work. I return the appreciation, The warmth of bad bourbon, Exuding from my pores. Cause I sit in a Dewar’s drought. They sit down in the virility of youth, Testosterone tilted hats, Speaking the language of Poser Street, In the melody of white noise. Showcasing the uniforms of a self-created culture. I turn and tune them out.
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Jan 24, 2014
Jan 24, 2014 at 2:47 AM UTC
Gentle Aphrodite
Writing heads, stooping down, On desks made to conform While water plays outside Free, no form. A wandering mind, With Innocence is filled, A question of marriage, Drops running down the sill. In uniforms so close, People come and go, Forget the magic rumble Of the world in tow. The need to wake up, To sights like these, We forget and sink, In the streams with unease.
0
Jul 12, 2015
Jul 12, 2015 at 1:53 AM UTC
Rain Gone By