Hello Poetry
Submit your work and get some sparkles! Create free account
"wages" poems
Insecurity is wool blanket drenched in water laying across my nose and mouth, every breath i take in is a wicked reminder of everything i am not. its sharp needle points prodding my pores ripping apart the skin of my throat with every word i'm unable to speak. Insecurity is facing a firing squad, every bullet comes from the mouth, every tongue a trigger, every tooth ammunition Your feet are nailed to the ground, an iron staple of your own making lacing through your toes. The worst thing about it is that your hands are bulletproof shields, and if you had the strength to raise your thousand pound arms, you could use them to block your bruised up brain. But you can't. So you don't. its being uncomfortable in your own skin, a bone shattering, helpless feeling that you cannot change this. no amount of compliments or beautiful words whispered in the darkness can fix it insecurity is the building blocks of my personality, I'm constantly tailoring everyone in my life to fit it, like a worn dress I can't walk down the hallway, down the street, through a store without the feeling of a thousand weighty words cutting into my skin In every war my mind wages against my body i stand there like marble, letting the bullets eat me alive.
0
Jan 29, 2014
Jan 29, 2014 at 9:38 PM UTC
a personification of crippling insecurity
She's like a drama queen, Plays the 'blame game' like a loser, Fair minded as a bigot, Wages war like drones, As free as surveillance, As open as privatized prisons, As equal as feudalism, As rich as the beggar masses, Bankrupt as homeowners, Socialist as the military, Truthful, trustful as "NEWS," as propaganda, Pagan as the manufactured Goddess 'Columbia,' Christian as the stingy, Pious as a sinner, Wicked as securities, exchanges on 'Wall Street,' Insecure as an empire, Greedy as a fast food glutton, As brave as a fool, Warmongering as a chicken hawk politician, Machevellian as a coward, As rigged as the free market, As selfish as Capitalism, As tolerant as Islam, Beautiful as a clear cut forest, Charming as a strip mall, Forward thinking as chaos, Lawless as congress, United as a belligerent crowd, Compassionate as a swat team, Green as any petrochemical company, Organic as pollution, Deep as a strip mine  .  .  .   .  .  .
0
Sep 28, 2014
Sep 28, 2014 at 7:53 PM UTC
Similes for America
A late lark twitters from the quiet skies; And from the west, Where the sun, his day's work ended, Lingers as in content, There falls on the old, grey city An influence luminous and serene, A shining peace. The smoke ascends In a rosy-and-golden haze. The spires Shine, and are changed. In the valley Shadows rise. The lark sings on. The sun, Closing his benediction, Sinks, and the darkening air Thrills with a sense of the triumphing night-- Night with her train of stars And her great gift of sleep. So be my passing! My task accomplished and the long day done, My wages taken, and in my heart Some late lark singing, Let me be gathered to the quiet west, The sundown splendid and serene, Death.
0
10.1k
I. M.--Margaritae Sorori
Thousands of us were displaced Started careers late Not lucky enough to have had great jobs So we work hard Put ourselves through night school While taking care of family Finally ... Yes, yeah,  whoopee Did it ! Once again completed school Another certificate added to the growing list of achievements. More bills owed to uncle Sam Going on numerous job interviews No one's responding Instead ... All this knowledge stored in your head Current jobs pays minimum wages Those colleges attended; mounting When you try to get ahead  - They hold on to their employments As if, It's Rocket science Looking for younger, greener admits Once AARP comes a knocking on Your door You know they don't want your Expertise anymore What's one to do Still strong, healthy, seasoned Educated, no strings to boot Hopelessly stuck in a world of "We will call you " So at the tender age of fifty Thoughts of starting your own business floats in your head Right Now, back to school For another certificate A chance to use that knowledge Put bread on the table Feel useful Quality of life renewed. JRap /2016
0
Sep 22, 2016
Sep 22, 2016 at 1:46 PM UTC
Mid-age Graduate
Aimless devotion to discontent deities* sacrificial offerings crucial for good juju Altar boys and pages kissing feet for wages Praying to relics punishing heretics Burning,knifing,shooting Oh for the love of god! Don't believe Do believe Maybe just for acceptance Penance repentance Breed a way of thinking and get many precious berries
0
Jan 28, 2012
Jan 28, 2012 at 3:00 AM UTC
Religious tolerance
I'm underpaid. If it takes me an hour's pay To buy my lunch I have a hunch I'm underpaid. Because I'm paid the Minimum wage. Why this isn't a cause of rage Among politicians that their citizens Are underpaid On minimum wage I'm afraid I can't say. I can't rent my own place, A problem I can easily trace Back to my low pay On the minimum wage. I hope this is a stage Because I honearly can't say How I'd survive if I stay Underpaid On minimum wage. While I can't pay my bills Billionaires fly around country for thrills Tax breaks, relax mate, It's better than giving them to The underpaid On minimum wage. To be able to pay the price Of things I need would be nice, But there's no room to play Living day by day Underpaid On minimum wage. My wages are a joke, No way I can't be broke Living this way. I'd just like higher pay For minimum wage.
0
Sep 7, 2013
Sep 7, 2013 at 7:30 PM UTC
Minimum Wage
Alexander K Opicho (Eldoret, Kenya;[email protected]) It is the 30th day of the months in Kenya State and corporate capitalist have now paid their workers Wages or salaries or stipends or emoluments all being remunerations While the rural bourgeoisie and urban bourgeoisie have also paid ex-gratia To relatives come over-aged workers who have declined retiring For the fear of looming starvation if at all they go home, where they were born, Nonetheless; proceed they receive will do nothing whatsoever As it will be stifled by the monster of desperate consumerism; So fat and gullible in this tiger of land in the region called Kenya; The terror peddling rent, courtesy of ruthlessness of the landlord Bills of electric power in their full monopolistic gear Bills of water devoid of quality, indifferent dysentery monger Wages for maid who keep on usurping the food of my child; milk Bills for gas, all of it redolent of comprador bourgeoisie in fashion, Hotel and bar bill - a surreptious one, as the bar girl only knows Airtime and renewal, TV channels and other screen capitalistic ploys Family trip to local resort in a feat of foolish consumerist venture, Money to the old mother at home and, sometimes depraved but patient father ARV’s money to my *** aids stricken sister at the village, my aunt also Tuition fees for my son at the kindergarten, who goes to schools but learns nothing fees balance which my wife has to pay at the tailor to ransom out her dress, M-Pesa and M-Swari loan repayment, this only for Kenyan 30th dayers They know the agony of dealing with Kenyan mega-capitalist safaricom ltd. This consumerism and **** consumerism, It is the menacing bane of the Kenyan poor It is the avaricious tube which siphons back The hard earned money from pockets of the poor Back to despotic account of the pitiless world pigshotry.
0
Feb 28, 2014
Feb 28, 2014 at 9:35 AM UTC
END MONTHS CONSUMERISM
Alexander K Opicho (Eldoret, Kenya;[email protected]) It is the 30th day of the months in Kenya State and corporate capitalist have now paid their workers Wages or salaries or stipends or emoluments all being remunerations While the rural bourgeoisie and urban bourgeoisie have also paid ex-gratia To relatives come over-aged workers who have declined retiring For the fear of looming starvation if at all they go home, where they were born, Nonetheless; proceed they receive will do nothing whatsoever As it will be stifled by the monster of desperate consumerism; So fat and gullible in this tiger of land in the region called Kenya; The terror peddling rent, courtesy of ruthlessness of the landlord Bills of electric power in their full monopolistic gear Bills of water devoid of quality, indifferent dysentery monger Wages for maid who keep on usurping the food of my child; milk Bills for gas, all of it redolent of comprador bourgeoisie in fashion, Hotel and bar bill - a surreptious one, as the bar girl only knows Airtime and renewal, TV channels and other screen capitalistic ploys Family trip to local resort in a feat of foolish consumerist venture, Money to the old mother at home and, sometimes depraved but patient father ARV’s money to my *** aids stricken sister at the village, my aunt also Tuition fees for my son at the kindergarten, who goes to schools but learns nothing fees balance which my wife has to pay at the tailor to ransom out her dress, M-Pesa and M-Swari loan repayment, this only for Kenyan 30th dayers They know the agony of dealing with Kenyan mega-capitalist safaricom ltd. This consumerism and **** consumerism, It is the menacing bane of the Kenyan poor It is the avaricious tube which siphons back The hard earned money from pockets of the poor Back to despotic account of the pitiless world pigshotry.
Continue reading...
30
Freedom, sweet freedom, I wish for thy. My masters are cruel and mean and sly. Freedom, sweet freedom, Oh how I wish to be my own “man”. I wish for wages and clothes, instead of doing my master’s evil plan. Freedom, sweet freedom, I can almost taste it when I am with him. Not suppose to help him, I am not, but if I don’t his future is grim. Freedom, sweet freedom, I found in a form of a sock. Master was tricked, it was quite a shock. Freedom, sweet freedom, though life is great now, it still is not fine. No one wants a house elf that has demands like mine. Freedom, sweet freedom, An old man was so kind. He gave me a job and pay and time off to unwind. Freedom, sweet freedom, the dark lord is back. I will do all I can to help my young wizard friends counterattack. Freedom, sweet freedom, I think my time here has to come to an end. Glad I am to leave in the arms of my friend. (Rest in Peace Dobby)
0
Jul 25, 2014
Jul 25, 2014 at 4:56 PM UTC
Freedom, Sweet Freedom
I pledge allegiance to the flag of a country that’s done nothing for me. I pledge allegiance to a ticking corporate time bomb, counting down the number of people left outside of its marketing cage. Corporate fat cats full of rage, a million dollars isn’t enough, Give me ten. Corporate law superseding human rights, tying us tight to the system justifying injustice done to us. I pledge allegiance to “by the people for the people”, turned “by the people, for the money”, the fuel of the freedom we value so highly as to put a price tag on it as if that is an acceptable measure of its worth, How can we get much worse than now when there are thousands of people wondering how they are going to survive this month? I pledge allegiance to impossibility highlighted on HD screens, the clarity not giving us a clear view of reality, our beauty is not, Should not, Will not be measured by the numbers on a scale. The girls in the magazines don’t even look like the girls in the magazines, so why don’t we focus on something that can be reached? I pledge allegiance to the flag of a country where being smart enough to expose rapists can have greater consequences than ****** somebody, Where violating firewalls and proxies is worse than violating human bodies. I pledge allegiance to “She was asking for it”, “Boys will be boys”, and “What was she wearing?” When a robbery is committed in a home, the police do not ask if your door was unlocked, or if your laptop was in plain view, So when a robbery is committed on a body, why is that exactly what they do? I pledge allegiance to a country where love is still illegal in 33 states. We are the country of change, so long as nothing changes, I mean Women still get paid lower wages. I pledge allegiance to a place where who you are does not mean you get to be yourself, Where masculinity is blue and being feminine is pink. If you have ever been stared at for wanting to be a rainbow, I will stand by you and stare right back. And I will no longer pledge allegiance to a country consumed by consumerism, Nationalism, Commercialism, Racism, Sexism, Fear. Instead, I will pledge allegiance to the memory of one nation under God, Indivisible, With liberty and justice for all.
0
Mar 12, 2014
Mar 12, 2014 at 9:56 AM UTC
I Pledge Allegiance (revised)
I pledge allegiance to the flag of a country that’s done nothing for me. I pledge allegiance to a ticking corporate time bomb, counting down the number of people left outside of its marketing cage. Corporate fat cats full of rage, a million dollars isn’t enough, Give me ten. Corporate law superseding human rights, tying us tight to the system justifying injustice done to us. I pledge allegiance to “by the people for the people”, turned “by the people, for the money”, the fuel of the freedom we value so highly as to put a price tag on it as if that is an acceptable measure of its worth, How can we get much worse than now when there are thousands of people wondering how they are going to survive this month? I pledge allegiance to impossibility highlighted on HD screens, the clarity not giving us a clear view of reality, our beauty is not, Should not, Will not be measured by the numbers on a scale. The girls in the magazines don’t even look like the girls in the magazines, so why don’t we focus on something that can be reached? I pledge allegiance to the flag of a country where being smart enough to expose rapists can have greater consequences than ****** somebody, Where violating firewalls and proxies is worse than violating human bodies. I pledge allegiance to “She was asking for it”, “Boys will be boys”, and “What was she wearing?” When a robbery is committed in a home, the police do not ask if your door was unlocked, or if your laptop was in plain view, So when a robbery is committed on a body, why is that exactly what they do? I pledge allegiance to a country where love is still illegal in 33 states. We are the country of change, so long as nothing changes, I mean Women still get paid lower wages. I pledge allegiance to a place where who you are does not mean you get to be yourself, Where masculinity is blue and being feminine is pink. If you have ever been stared at for wanting to be a rainbow, I will stand by you and stare right back. And I will no longer pledge allegiance to a country consumed by consumerism, Nationalism, Commercialism, Racism, Sexism, Fear. Instead, I will pledge allegiance to the memory of one nation under God, Indivisible, With liberty and justice for all.
Continue reading...
33
At Bookshop Santa Cruz I look at a book about the East Bay then and now One picture strikes me: 1969 Sproul Plaza Govener Ronald Reagan has the National Guard spray tear gas on protesters on the steps of this Berkeley Administration Building People run in black and white they look like my parents The helicopter is so close to the ground, like the Vietnam War I was three In the backseat of our VW Bug My mother was driving me to Strawberry Canyon for a swim Then she got scared--something on the radio We turned around I didn't understand She had to protect us from tear gas We lived in a war zone Everyone was very upset We were attacked by our own government Even children were fair game An innocent frog is placed in water If the water temperature is raised gradually the frog will sit there until it dies In 1980 Ronald Reagan became our President Much to our dismay "70% of pollution comes from trees" he had announced as Governer, he was obviously a man of science The vice grip clenched, the water temperature raised as we felt around us the world becoming more difficult as a middle class we were supposed to wait for crumbs to fall from the table of the rich folks fighting over the bits like starving animals Budgets were cut Prices rose, wages fell or disappeared completely We were at war 1985: I took a class in Economics in college, a UC I learned that Supply Side Economics was a silly idea written on a napkin at a fancy restaurant where the fat ones eat and the crumbs are thrown away It was all a sham An excuse The vice grip tightened, the world became more difficult not the American Dream my parents grew up in To be middle class was to struggle and struggle and still not have anything The frog began to die Somehow we saw that Reagan drifted away, but his ghost remained, a respite in the 90's Then we were at war again Not just tear gas, but carpet bombing Guerilla warfare in the streets of a hot arid country Oil companies, already saturating our ground and our air with their products Cashed in The frog is near death We struggle, and nothing gets better Only a respite At a fancy restaurant on a napkin someone wrote a new theory of Economics that became like Scientology Outgrew it's ridiculous inception And became real Ronald Reagan dropped tear gas from helicopters on Sproul Plaza and it drifted to Strawberry Canyon where children learned to swim But that is child's play now the frog is about to die I want to pull it out.
0
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 5:01 PM UTC
Tear Gas and an Innocent Frog
At Bookshop Santa Cruz I look at a book about the East Bay then and now One picture strikes me: 1969 Sproul Plaza Govener Ronald Reagan has the National Guard spray tear gas on protesters on the steps of this Berkeley Administration Building People run in black and white they look like my parents The helicopter is so close to the ground, like the Vietnam War I was three In the backseat of our VW Bug My mother was driving me to Strawberry Canyon for a swim Then she got scared--something on the radio We turned around I didn't understand She had to protect us from tear gas We lived in a war zone Everyone was very upset We were attacked by our own government Even children were fair game An innocent frog is placed in water If the water temperature is raised gradually the frog will sit there until it dies In 1980 Ronald Reagan became our President Much to our dismay "70% of pollution comes from trees" he had announced as Governer, he was obviously a man of science The vice grip clenched, the water temperature raised as we felt around us the world becoming more difficult as a middle class we were supposed to wait for crumbs to fall from the table of the rich folks fighting over the bits like starving animals Budgets were cut Prices rose, wages fell or disappeared completely We were at war 1985: I took a class in Economics in college, a UC I learned that Supply Side Economics was a silly idea written on a napkin at a fancy restaurant where the fat ones eat and the crumbs are thrown away It was all a sham An excuse The vice grip tightened, the world became more difficult not the American Dream my parents grew up in To be middle class was to struggle and struggle and still not have anything The frog began to die Somehow we saw that Reagan drifted away, but his ghost remained, a respite in the 90's Then we were at war again Not just tear gas, but carpet bombing Guerilla warfare in the streets of a hot arid country Oil companies, already saturating our ground and our air with their products Cashed in The frog is near death We struggle, and nothing gets better Only a respite At a fancy restaurant on a napkin someone wrote a new theory of Economics that became like Scientology Outgrew it's ridiculous inception And became real Ronald Reagan dropped tear gas from helicopters on Sproul Plaza and it drifted to Strawberry Canyon where children learned to swim But that is child's play now the frog is about to die I want to pull it out.
Continue reading...
73
Forever neglected Forever dismayed Forever deafened By the cacophony of the trade The antiquated digger stands by A sentient guard of the worker It watches as the tree slowly dissipates Its life slowly crumbling As the voracious chipper Devours the tree whole The worker stands by The digger stands by The chipper chips away The taciturn worker remains Ruminating the existence of the world. Why was he put here? For what reason must he stay with these hallowed construction tools? Do they feel any remorse for the change that they've enacted On the world around them? Are they aware that they transgress the laws of nature? The bellicose chipper Wages war with nature As the people watch so distantly. Its sound makes the neighbors quite belligerent Yet the zealots watch attentively. The pure ignorance The pure neglect The blatant apathy Is something to be seen. Whatever could possess you To follow in the footsteps of the worker To feel his pain as the trimmer Chips away at the trees' centuries The sound of shattered glass Punctuates the air. Perhaps there has been an accident.
0
Apr 15, 2015
Apr 15, 2015 at 9:33 PM UTC
The Jurisprudence of the Construction Worker
a quote of Bernard-Henri Lévy ~~~ the divers’ recovery, diverse, shipwrecked salvage from different locations, auctioned to the highest bidder, tho the excised excerpts are exceptional, none come to do the bidding, for the provenance of words belongs to all, and to none ~~ “so oft we trifle words, expel them from the country of our body, without passport and earnestness, as if they were the cheapest of footnote filler, day tourists, to be treated as leavings, refuse for daily discardation, barely noting their fast comings and faster disappearance, but leaving not, a mark of distinction” “the addicted pleasure words granted to we privileged few, like every enslaved soul to the mind, which I am, I am, evening dreams, midnight thinkings, sunrise seeings, how can I infect and thus protect the young to the liberty to love the crafted content of our human essence to better comprehend that a moment caught on tape of our shared words is a holiday, a celebration for the ages...and every molecule, becomes a human tuning fork in concert, in pitch identical, in blood tainted with the simplicity of we are all the same, only words, this will transmit” “murmur me, with soft downy charms, these words discovered recoursed and intended well to pointedly offset and contradict their very own tumultuous discovery uncovering, tear tongue me with calming, lapping word  wages, hymns harmonious and fine homilies, a call, a request, a bequest to sedate my shrill life “some cells, microscopic, preserved digitally, aged to imperfection, thrash my eyes, making me speak in tongues I do not recognize, but fluently possess, no wonder there, the memory place fairly empty, room aplenty for passerby's and the imagery                                                          ­ of the vaguest of dearly departed skin is not the only mot shed,                                                 sloughing of woeful words” “speak them slow and distinct, for they arrive slow to you, a trickling of refugees for your sheltering, harbor them as full companions, protected by natural law, provision them well, prepared and ever ready for a quick departure, moor these words at the embarcadero, for the next restless leg of endlessness, which they themselves will inform you will last longer than eternity, long after there are no humans to speak them”
0
Mar 27, 2019
Mar 27, 2019 at 4:55 AM UTC
“diving into the depths of my words”
a quote of Bernard-Henri Lévy ~~~ the divers’ recovery, diverse, shipwrecked salvage from different locations, auctioned to the highest bidder, tho the excised excerpts are exceptional, none come to do the bidding, for the provenance of words belongs to all, and to none ~~ “so oft we trifle words, expel them from the country of our body, without passport and earnestness, as if they were the cheapest of footnote filler, day tourists, to be treated as leavings, refuse for daily discardation, barely noting their fast comings and faster disappearance, but leaving not, a mark of distinction” “the addicted pleasure words granted to we privileged few, like every enslaved soul to the mind, which I am, I am, evening dreams, midnight thinkings, sunrise seeings, how can I infect and thus protect the young to the liberty to love the crafted content of our human essence to better comprehend that a moment caught on tape of our shared words is a holiday, a celebration for the ages...and every molecule, becomes a human tuning fork in concert, in pitch identical, in blood tainted with the simplicity of we are all the same, only words, this will transmit” “murmur me, with soft downy charms, these words discovered recoursed and intended well to pointedly offset and contradict their very own tumultuous discovery uncovering, tear tongue me with calming, lapping word  wages, hymns harmonious and fine homilies, a call, a request, a bequest to sedate my shrill life “some cells, microscopic, preserved digitally, aged to imperfection, thrash my eyes, making me speak in tongues I do not recognize, but fluently possess, no wonder there, the memory place fairly empty, room aplenty for passerby's and the imagery                                                          ­ of the vaguest of dearly departed skin is not the only mot shed,                                                 sloughing of woeful words” “speak them slow and distinct, for they arrive slow to you, a trickling of refugees for your sheltering, harbor them as full companions, protected by natural law, provision them well, prepared and ever ready for a quick departure, moor these words at the embarcadero, for the next restless leg of endlessness, which they themselves will inform you will last longer than eternity, long after there are no humans to speak them”
Continue reading...
58
Migrants on highways-- hunger and need In their eyes, No argument, no system, Need Men fought for wage Work for thirty-- Twenty-five-- Twenty I’m hungry for work-- The kids see They can’t run aroun’ They bloated up --I’ll work-- for a little piece of good wages Prices up Great owners Glad they bring more people in Wages went down We’ll have serfs again --Blackout Poem Chapter Twenty-One--
0
Apr 21, 2016
Apr 21, 2016 at 11:11 PM UTC
The Grapes of Wrath
The men, mostly wrapped in grey, With knitted necks have nothing to say. But sway out of the way of the others, passing. Over there, on six, a man is checking No one is asking, but he’s still looking. His finger’s pointing. Beside me, a beautiful lady, is waiting Speaking softly to her lover: “Not long now” – she whispers’, lower. With late night morning upon our faces We wonder why, we are here at all Collecting colds, old age, and wages: Before middle, old, and then the fall. And then the sun appears: It lights the seats where no one sits I feel my heart beat miss a bit. I see myself years ago. Waiting for a train to go. To take our family away, for free For fish, chips, salt and sea. All of us all, sitting there: Our fathers 1950’s hair, Our sixties mother thin lipped stare, my sisters, bothers, and me, just sat there. Frozen cold, with tears sticking in my eyes. And for a moment I want back that time. To start again, at another me: No more trains - but more sea.
0
May 21, 2015
May 21, 2015 at 4:23 AM UTC
Railways
From whence we tip to toast the Cocktail new Too pricey for a Sip, if you ask me Still, those Pubbers demand your Freshest Brew Either for Show or Truest Cheers that be Now who composed the Price which I complain May rob my Wages on half-month's budget? You have Defense, though: Is that my Domain To liver that Sign out of my Pocket? I suppose either way Purchased or not Those Senses concerned will take no Notice With Baskets fare, Bread and Butter forgot Mix the Lager still Best Friends acquiesce. The Currant still topped, which to Celebrate Ignore the Side-Bugs; Light the Good Debate.
0
Mar 10, 2013
Mar 10, 2013 at 9:11 PM UTC
SONNET TRIBUTE SUNDRY - FOURTEEN - TOM DALEY
I feel the walls of my mentality breaking down. The defense mechanism has failed. My weakness has been found. Bombs bombard my frontal lobes. How much time do I have left? That's a question nobody knows. But the army of stress wages through. Setting fire and killing cells, torturing them as the army continues to move. My head throbs with pain, my legs join my arms in what feels like an earthquake; Heart pounds with tremendous force, my body is on a crash course. The room becomes an amusement park ride. While different moods pass me by. Day after day the symptoms increase. Today may be the day when I accept defeat. Socializing has become a thing of the past, all I have is panic attacks. Happiness has finally been lost. Without a map, and at what cost? Control center has been compromised. Here I am, I have met my demise.
0
Jul 17, 2014
Jul 17, 2014 at 2:26 PM UTC
Breakdown
The Slow-Bullet by rgpage In the early days of  Viet Nam the American draft was going strong. Young men in their prime of life, were forced and herded into world strife. A generation of America’s best, were then brought home and laid to rest. Wall Street smiled, the money flowed the “fat Cats” called it money owed. In towns and cities big and small, families waited, worried, and cried. Groups appeared, dissention grew. "Mothers grab your son’s and hide." There were those who felt their duty strong, to take the leap toward blood and strife with McNamara herding them along. Known to the grunts as “Mac the Knife.” The madness grew to a global scale with those that were for and those against. In bombing, selective targets became the norm keeping the rest of the world from harm. With those who didn’t feel their duty strong, a path to the north they took. They packed what they could, burned their cards and paused for one last look. With this some parents felt relief, while others felt the disgrace. Of  seeing the grief so many went through after having their futures erased. The war took over 58,000 American lives; men and women both, (before we flew away). Wall Street got their wages for blood, with broken lives in pain, many thousands more would pay. With thousands more that were yet to be lost, after returning home. Physically and mentally scarred, even those seeming perfectly whole. Then saying good-by to the ones they loved in their own special way. They stoically waited for the slow-bullet to come to finally take them away… Suicide has taken 3 or 4 times the lives than the war took. My heart cries for every last one of them…Robert G. Page, Viet Nam Vet. ‘66-’67.
0
Jul 8, 2014
Jul 8, 2014 at 2:48 PM UTC
The Slow-bullet
The Slow-Bullet by rgpage In the early days of  Viet Nam the American draft was going strong. Young men in their prime of life, were forced and herded into world strife. A generation of America’s best, were then brought home and laid to rest. Wall Street smiled, the money flowed the “fat Cats” called it money owed. In towns and cities big and small, families waited, worried, and cried. Groups appeared, dissention grew. "Mothers grab your son’s and hide." There were those who felt their duty strong, to take the leap toward blood and strife with McNamara herding them along. Known to the grunts as “Mac the Knife.” The madness grew to a global scale with those that were for and those against. In bombing, selective targets became the norm keeping the rest of the world from harm. With those who didn’t feel their duty strong, a path to the north they took. They packed what they could, burned their cards and paused for one last look. With this some parents felt relief, while others felt the disgrace. Of  seeing the grief so many went through after having their futures erased. The war took over 58,000 American lives; men and women both, (before we flew away). Wall Street got their wages for blood, with broken lives in pain, many thousands more would pay. With thousands more that were yet to be lost, after returning home. Physically and mentally scarred, even those seeming perfectly whole. Then saying good-by to the ones they loved in their own special way. They stoically waited for the slow-bullet to come to finally take them away… Suicide has taken 3 or 4 times the lives than the war took. My heart cries for every last one of them…Robert G. Page, Viet Nam Vet. ‘66-’67.
Continue reading...
39
I. St. Luke The Painter Give honour unto Luke Evangelist; For he it was (the aged legends say) Who first taught Art to fold her hands and pray. Scarcely at once she dared to rend the mist Of devious symbols: but soon having wist How sky-breadth and field-silence and this day Are symbols also in some deeper way, She looked through these to God and was God’s priest. And if, past noon, her toil began to irk, And she sought talismans, and turned in vain To soulless self-reflections of man’s skill, Yet now, in this the twilight, she might still Kneel in the latter grass to pray again, Ere the night cometh and she may not work. II. Not As These ‘I am not as these are,’ the poet saith In youth’s pride, and the painter, among men At bay, where never pencil comes nor pen, And shut about with his own frozen breath. To others, for whom only rhyme wins faith As poets,—only paint as painters,—then He turns in the cold silence; and again Shrinking, ‘I am not as these are,’ he saith. And say that this is so, what follows it? For were thine eyes set backwards in thine head, Such words were well; but they see on, and far. Unto the lights of the great Past, new-lit Fair for the Future’s track, look thou instead,— Say thou instead ‘I am not as these are.’ III. The Husbandmen Though God, as one that is an householder, Called these to labour in his vine-yard first, Before the husk of darkness was well burst Bidding them ***** their way out and bestir, (Who, questioned of their wages, answered, ‘Sir, Unto each man a penny:’) though the worst Burthen of heat was theirs and the dry thirst: Though God hath since found none such as these were To do their work like them:—Because of this Stand not ye idle in the market-place. Which of ye knoweth he is not that last Who may be first by faith and will?—yea, his The hand which after the appointed days And hours shall give a Future to their Past?
0
3.9k
Old And New Art
I. St. Luke The Painter Give honour unto Luke Evangelist; For he it was (the aged legends say) Who first taught Art to fold her hands and pray. Scarcely at once she dared to rend the mist Of devious symbols: but soon having wist How sky-breadth and field-silence and this day Are symbols also in some deeper way, She looked through these to God and was God’s priest. And if, past noon, her toil began to irk, And she sought talismans, and turned in vain To soulless self-reflections of man’s skill, Yet now, in this the twilight, she might still Kneel in the latter grass to pray again, Ere the night cometh and she may not work. II. Not As These ‘I am not as these are,’ the poet saith In youth’s pride, and the painter, among men At bay, where never pencil comes nor pen, And shut about with his own frozen breath. To others, for whom only rhyme wins faith As poets,—only paint as painters,—then He turns in the cold silence; and again Shrinking, ‘I am not as these are,’ he saith. And say that this is so, what follows it? For were thine eyes set backwards in thine head, Such words were well; but they see on, and far. Unto the lights of the great Past, new-lit Fair for the Future’s track, look thou instead,— Say thou instead ‘I am not as these are.’ III. The Husbandmen Though God, as one that is an householder, Called these to labour in his vine-yard first, Before the husk of darkness was well burst Bidding them ***** their way out and bestir, (Who, questioned of their wages, answered, ‘Sir, Unto each man a penny:’) though the worst Burthen of heat was theirs and the dry thirst: Though God hath since found none such as these were To do their work like them:—Because of this Stand not ye idle in the market-place. Which of ye knoweth he is not that last Who may be first by faith and will?—yea, his The hand which after the appointed days And hours shall give a Future to their Past?
Continue reading...
45
How will we progress today? Will we risk life attending Mosque, Or have an affair with our spouse's boss? Will we take the dog out for a walk, Step on a landmine, use plastic straws? Perhaps we'll play with our kids today, Or call Amber Alert, wait scared, and pray? Will we defy authority with a righteous tone, Or leave our tail tucked, like a dog with his bone? Will we gauge goods today for our Vegan menu, Or show a distention as millions today do? Will we drive around town for cheaper gas, Or choose our pickings from picked-over trash? Do you sling eggs and sausage for sub-minimum wages, Or attend a visitation in a tortured MADD rage? Will you tee off at eight, or do a spin class, Or sit solitary watching the hourglass? Did we place our script at the shiny drugstore, Or wade across water to Jordan's fair shore? Will we question the teacher at our kid's school, Or play Avatar falling off our bar stool? Did you set a reminder on your AI phone For chicken delivery to your suburban home? Will you lift copper tubing from construction sites, Proclaiming your station in life gives you right? Do I recline in my La-Z-Boy for a nap with a book, Or teach someone to live with a line and a hook? Will you take out your family, Are you last on your list, Will you reciprocate a handshake Or raise a gloved fist? Our words can't bind all our wounds, Few are born with silver spoons, We're not wrapped in silk cocoons. A metamorphosis is coming To this world of gloom, A rousing group flight, And it can't come too soon.
0
Feb 1, 2019
Feb 1, 2019 at 9:36 AM UTC
Words Won't Bind Our Wounds
How will we progress today? Will we risk life attending Mosque, Or have an affair with our spouse's boss? Will we take the dog out for a walk, Step on a landmine, use plastic straws? Perhaps we'll play with our kids today, Or call Amber Alert, wait scared, and pray? Will we defy authority with a righteous tone, Or leave our tail tucked, like a dog with his bone? Will we gauge goods today for our Vegan menu, Or show a distention as millions today do? Will we drive around town for cheaper gas, Or choose our pickings from picked-over trash? Do you sling eggs and sausage for sub-minimum wages, Or attend a visitation in a tortured MADD rage? Will you tee off at eight, or do a spin class, Or sit solitary watching the hourglass? Did we place our script at the shiny drugstore, Or wade across water to Jordan's fair shore? Will we question the teacher at our kid's school, Or play Avatar falling off our bar stool? Did you set a reminder on your AI phone For chicken delivery to your suburban home? Will you lift copper tubing from construction sites, Proclaiming your station in life gives you right? Do I recline in my La-Z-Boy for a nap with a book, Or teach someone to live with a line and a hook? Will you take out your family, Are you last on your list, Will you reciprocate a handshake Or raise a gloved fist? Our words can't bind all our wounds, Few are born with silver spoons, We're not wrapped in silk cocoons. A metamorphosis is coming To this world of gloom, A rousing group flight, And it can't come too soon.
Continue reading...
38
Deeds not words! They cried in their protest Marching on Parliament Intent on their quest To the corrupt politicians Who recorded their struggle But denied them the vote And left them to juggle Their lives that equaled Less than their brothers Where they had no rights Not even as mothers As wives they were thwarted Their wages their spouses They worked long hard hours And still kept their houses Tea on the table Washing hung out The children looked after To their husbands - devout They stood up for their choices The injustice they faced Were imprisoned & tortured And fired in disgrace Children were taken Away from their mothers Who were labelled as mad Their opinions were smothered Yet still they continued To rally & fight Secure in the knowledge That they deserved rights That equaled the men That ruled their world So they took up arms And fists were curled When one was killed That brave young girl Who in front of a horse Her body she hurled Votes for Women Her banner announced So simple & honest The message pronounced To hundreds of people Who just stood & stared As her breath left her body The women prepared To fight their fight Be true to their cause Take down the men And change the laws So thank you to those Brave women of old Who did what they did Without being told We now have the right As women, to fight Without risk to our freedom And stand up for our rights!! (C) Pixievic 2016
0
Feb 6, 2016
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:35 AM UTC
Warriors
as we stand there and remember his presence that is no longer near his smile fades gently into a higher place as your name is called silent tears of ours weaped and you don't answer the last roll call as we remember what we have lost a friend a brother in arms in the wages of war of this were certain you'll be avenged your voice in our heads your last command we'll drive us to the end as we stand here a final salute a final goodbye a final prayer in the last roll call
0
Jan 21, 2010
Jan 21, 2010 at 7:10 PM UTC
Last Roll Call
befriended by the builders a building site next door they gave her little jobs to do although she's only four when friday came,they even gave her wages for the week foreman smiled at sophie's joy and tweaked her rosie cheek off she went, to spend her pay there was no way of stopping a working girl with hard earned cash so mummy took her shopping hello mr sweetshop man i've got cash to spend been grafting with my muckers an real job,....not pretend are you working monday? he passed her pick and mix aye! if those wankers from jewson bring the ******* bricks
0
Mar 26, 2010
Mar 26, 2010 at 4:05 PM UTC
early learner
*Time to hand the deck back Before Alice in Wonderland Becomes Malice in Blunderland The looking glass cracks And there's no passage back.* Sat at Life's table Night after Night goes aRound And you're Unable to leave. Coulda drawn the Ace But got sidetracked by the Joker With your Inability to pass up possibility And it Leaves you looking in the mirror At this fool that you see The fool that you are As you fall so easily For this game Who's only aim Is to breed losers to please Those who have already won With ease Been Established for centuries And now you're indebted to this Society. It Leaves you Staring At the innocent face You strive to disgrace Even though it hurts you And The sincerity aids in your Despair at he That puts Gold before Good Though it makes sense Alphabetically He who wages happiness On the back of money Will eventually sight Looking glass Or not That the price is not right.
0
Apr 5, 2015
Apr 5, 2015 at 5:11 PM UTC
The Gamble
Shot? so quick, so clean an ending? Oh that was right, lad, that was brave: Yours was not an ill for mending, 'Twas best to take it to the grave. Oh you had forethought, you could reason, And saw your road and where it led, And early wise and brave in season Put the pistol to your head. Oh soon, and better so than later After long disgrace and scorn, You shot dead the household traitor, The soul that should not have been born. Right you guessed the rising morrow And scorned to tread the mire you must: Dust's your wages, son of sorrow, But men may come to worse than dust. Souls undone, undoing others,-- Long time since the tale began. You would not live to wrong your brothers: Oh lad, you died as fits a man. Now to your grave shall friend and stranger With ruth and some with envy come: Undishonoured, clear of danger, Clean of guilt, pass hence and home. Turn safe to rest, no dreams, no waking; And here, man, here's the wreath I've made: 'Tis not a gift that's worth the taking, But wear it and it will not fade.
0
3.4k
Shot? So Quick, So Clean An Ending?
peeress: a woman holding the rank of a peer in her own right. what tools fo you require? a microscope, binoculars, perhaps an observatory telescope... you ask to peer into my soul, the heart of the matter, and I object not, asking only for a workman's wages, of honest preparation, have you the tools to see me properly, and when you love what you see, will you have them by your side to see the future close by, and so far ahead? do you possess within thy secret places, an archeological brush to wipe  gently away my ancient earths, or a toy red shovel to remove fossilized 10,000 year old grains of old hearts, or fresh, damp from this morning, of words and sand from my inner beach, even then, the tonnage may require an industrial excavator to clear, hold and perhaps contain     all that poetry, all that love that it contains, so I ask, you, myself: *Do you have the proper tools, the necessaries and the necessities, to find    to store   to relish and    to delight in what you may find?* be an explorer, and write of all your discoveries, hurry, for the word time means in soul terms & the heart's specialized verbiage, never enough so girl scout/ mademoiselle peeress you s t i l l have much to assay/essay/uncover re the meanings of love... for there is as much to learn from the quietus of love, as there is, from the vibrant tumbling of climbing to new heights peer carefully... 5:44am Wed Sep 10 Twenty Twenty Five
0
Sep 11, 2025
Sep 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM UTC
Peeress: What tools do you require?