Best Cassettes Poems
Sometimes I can't believe it
It all happened so fast
Real life is truly here
Just who is that looking at me in the mirror?
How come these bills are addressed to my name?
It's like I went to sleep and woke up
And I'm all grown up
Sometimes I miss the days
When your crush had cooties, not STDs
And afternoons were spent climbing trees
And it's hard to grasp our age
Who's that man calling you "his wife"?
How come that little girl just called you Dad?
It's like I went to sleep and woke up
And we're all grown up
Sometimes the kids today
Make me feel so old when they say
They've never heard of Kurt Cobain
But I know that we're better
Cause we could fix our Nintendo in just one blow
And we all figured this out sans Twitter
It's like I went to sleep and woke up
And I'm all grown up
I remember the stupid things
Pogs and Goosebump books
Playlists were mixtapes on cassettes
And Friday nights meant TGIF on ABC
Nickelodeon was our only obsession
Friend requests were made in person
And they still showed music videos on MTV
It's like I went to sleep and woke up
And it's a different world - Nothing's the same
Cause we're all grown up
I am Farrah Fawcett,
Poster on the wall.
I am a rotary phone,
When I made a call.
I am, Boss,
it’s the plane, The plane.
I am Pablo Escobar,
And his cocaine.
I am Queen with
Freddy Mercury Live.
I am the Bee Gees,
Talking that Jive.
I am vinyl, 8-tracks,
cassettes and CDs.
I am, make love not war,
And Hippies.
I am where is the beef?
Don't squeeze the Charmin.
I am Cheech and Chong
and George Carlin.
I am SNL when it
Was funny.
I am Happy Days,
And a Playboy bunny.
I am M.A.S.H. and
A metal Lunch-box.
I am clackers, tang,
And a Pet-rock.
I am American Bandstand,
Peace signs, and the twist.
I am pay-phones, pagers,
and stick-shifts.
I am, conjunction junction,
What's your function?
I am Patty Hearst and
Her abduction.
Turbo1904
6/8/17
A world full of different colors and shapes
As well as apes
Locations that do or don't sell crepes
Vines with or without grapes
Houses with dark or light drapes
That do or don't have cassettes and video tapes
Near and far from any capes
Surfaces continually getting more scrapes
Each having their own plate
A smile on everyone's face
While one said grace
By a fireplace
Flower vase
And curtains made of lace
Soon everyone took a taste
Then said it was a great
Especially the steak
Later on, all had dessert, which was home-made cake
It's all good if you can't relate
To anything I state
Or paint
A life that is quaint
Currently got no complaints
I ain't
No saint
A lot of things took restraint
Didn't want to let it go to waste
Couldn't always play it safe
Wasn't always worth the risk, and what I happened to make
I can't afford to take a break
Or flake and be late
That'd be more than a mistake
People being honest or fake and like a snake
There's always going to be love and hate
I do more than educate
But hold up wait
Let's get one thing straight
Drake
You were on Degrassi, and I'll put you into your place
See through, not opaque
Soft as a pancake
Grab, pull and throw you out your wraith
I don't care how much your being paid
You can catch a fade
Mentoring a talent, gifted and mature, way beyond her years
Anchoring a show, on television, serenely she appears.
Narrates the story of Mirabai, I sadly missed the premier
Audio cassettes get released, by an accomplished career.
So very beautiful, yet her soul, is so crystal clear
I feel incompetent to counsel her, if I should be sincere.
Painstaking and meticulous, she wants to be number one
Radiating eyes with a determined look, even while she’s having fun.
Afraid I am that in her quest, not to be undone
Sashay away would she, towards the starting gun?
Aside would she cast her gift away; weighing a thousand ton?
Dream her dream; I hope she does, and reach out for the sun.
I grew up in Bath in the nineteen nineties
wearing short shorts over tighty whities,
while Bath were champions of English Rugby,
a beautiful city farfetched from ugly.
We played on Stilts and had Yo-Yo's,
skateboards with logo's,
Tamagotchi's, Slinkys and Pogo Sticks,
a string tied to sticks for Diablo tricks.
A lot wobbled, we played Wall Ball,
Smarties packets caused trouble.
Political Correctness didn't exist yet,
we wore Reebok, Fila or Hi-Tec.
We had Roller Skates, later Roller Blades,
out on the concrete in the streets we played,
as there were always lots of parking spaces,
space we used for running races.
We played Bulldogs Charge on repeat,
never stopping for the rain or sleet.
We played Wembley, or Heads, Volleys and Beats,
playing in the street our daily treat.
We played Kirby because kirbs were free,
40 40 in, also called Alien,
front gardens were a great WWF ring,
or we'd hit tennis balls tied to string.
Jumpers for goalposts,
or one and a lamppost,
cheated as we'd peek
playing Hide And Seek.
We played Knock Knock Ginger with its hiding,
or we'd get out our bikes and go riding.
We went Garden Hopping, never stopping,
played in the dark after the suns dropping.
We had Master Systems, Mega Drives or Nintendo's,
but were not reliant on technology inside,
we built Lego stadiums, played Subbuteo,
we collected sticker books, Pog's and trading cards with pride.
There was a fuzziness to Radio and TV,
we'd always sneak a peek at Page 3,
we watched films on VHS, played Cassettes or CD's,
or Conkers when they dropped from trees.
We only had four television channels to be flicking,
Saturday mornings were for Live and Kicking.
Bodger and Badger, The Chuckle Brothers, Rosie and Jim,
but you couldn't beata, bit of Blue Peter,
to Neighbours and Home and Away we tuned in.
When home alone emptied living rooms,
played football inside, 2-a-side,
cleaned up damage with brooms,
when parents got home we lied.
I'm proud I grew up in the nineties in Bath,
we had so much fun, so many laughs.
From no other time and place I'd rather be,
so here's to the nineties in the West Country.
Hyperthermia can be caused by standing in slip streams in sluice dumps. It never really fails if ice water can run a lake from a rusted tap. And the mid morning broken by the drip drip drip from a nozzle. Squirt then. Nozzles are not noses and noses are not neon. But bringing a interdimensional b track record is now considered to be as slack as wearing dungarees in a cottage garden or a farm. Wow such rich aroma and oversized overspill of oversight. From a wide lusty frame. Whose discussions with a female mongoose will go unnoticed once the turmoil begins. Cover oneself with fifty six sheets, a record collection, five billion cassettes and consider life as a plant. Conversation cleverly choosing charismatic charming chequered chins chasing chests. And a dodo on a mountaineering expedition with two hundred tyrannosaurus rex, eighty-three teradactals and a half pint of lemonade in a nice clean jug. To wash with not drink. What on earth did you think. The amazement of some is often to the admonishment of another and the cruel multiplatonic indifference is what the name of the takeaway should be called. To be ingested in front of the ray machine. Hypnotic baby soothers. In mass. In amps. En masse. But not en suite. For that is merely utilised for the jam production in many hue and flavour. How very clever thought the passing bluebird. Halfway to town and twenty seeds left. Then right. Fortification of flames on a canal trip taking turns steering. Good. And fashion no necklace into a giant statue of an old hero. Hearing a moon beam then? Good. For at that elevation you should hear even the most daintiest cry from a single blade of field. Dare to dance with that then? Yes? Great. Fantastically freeformed frame fishes. And the hallways smile in castles worldwide. Grab then a hat,a coat, some gloves and build a symmetrical snowman with a crane. Hahahaha beetle borrowing books hahahaha laughing leering lecherous lurking leeches. Xxxxx hyperbolic z this is the midday bulletin from the p y q reporting live from the headquarters at 89.0 whisking. X
Back in my day shell suits were the latest fashion
And I made sure I wore my diamond socks with a passion
The only sky I knew was the one up above my head
No dvd player, just a betamax had to do instead
The only laptop I knew was the tray my dinner was served in
No sat nat to direct us, just maps and a lot of guessing
My social network involved playing outdoors with my friends
If I had an important message there was no text for me to send
Instead I would simply go and knock on the door
And enjoy a good game of hopscotch, drawn neatly on the floor
If I wanted to listen to music I held my boom box to my ear
And I felt like a millionaire in my latest pair of L.A Gear
No ipod to shuffle or touch just my sony walkman
No google to look for answers, just the library to depend on
No Ipad, no playbook, just a good old storybook
It may even be in hardback if I had any luck
No freeview, no Virgin, I was lucky to even have colour tv
And a rubiks cube would suffice, never mind an XBOX 360
It was all about hammer time and wearing those pants
And the theme tune to Fraggle Rock I would happily chant
No cyber bullying, only cyber I knew was the tamagocchi pet
No loading plates into the dishwasher as it hadn't been invented yet
No cd player, my cassettes were the in thing
And to have a sovereign ring on every finger meant you had some bling
The A Team, crossroads, tiswas and happy days was the programmes I watched
No series links or reminders to watch programmes like Lost
No rewinding the tv or pausing whilst I nip to the loo
Instead I had to ask someone and hope that they have a clue
No Adidas for me, just my trusted bum bag
My girls world doll and scrunche's were things I just had to have
In my day the only kid I wanted was a cabbage patch kid
Not a real one so that in a hostel I can live
No PS3, no Wii, no Vita or Nintendo DS 3d
Just my good old NES on my four channel tv
Care bears, the moomins, playschool and dangermouse
No crimewatch to make me afraid to be in my house
In my days if I was rude I would get a good smack
And I couldn't dare say the clothes you just bought me were whack
No microwave dinners, No chinese takeaway for me
Saturday soup was the best, one big bowl balancing on your knee
The 80's and the 90's I enjoyed it while it did last
But every now and again I take a glimpse of the past
A northern lover turned bitter;
the greatest disappearing act; laden w/ tact.
I have always lacked what it took to make you stay.
A northern lover in the winter;
How my skin cracks
and the ocean seems so far away; like the words you
swore you'd never say.
I have always lacked what it took to make you stay.
A midwest breeze; it opens me
I can finally breathe
and the reason to see becomes clear to me
when I wake to my window cracked;
I have always lacked what it took to make you stay.
A southern fling; engagement rings
spoken words, humming birds,
the lake to bathe in and wash away your sin
don't worry love I still see you, for what you are,
sleeping in cars, smoking me out, higher than the
clouds, buried in the ground, always coming
back around and waiting for the fall-out...
Greeting cards and broken toys
And yo-yos missing strings
Were among the items ditched
With lots of other things.
Marble notebooks filled with math,
A horn that lost its toot;
Bags and bags of memories
All tossed right down the chute.
I’d emptied out the closet
For emergency repair.
It seemed the perfect time to whittle
What’s been waiting there.
Costumes, masks and crushed up hats
From years and years ago;
Magnets, pistols, doctors’ kits
And whistles that won’t blow.
Dusty dolls and lesson plans,
Cassettes with ripped-up tape;
So much stuff so nice when new
But now in sorry shape.
Finally I called it quits,
The salvaged goods all packed
Until they multiply
Then once again, I will subtract!
In the beginning there was a word
Which was I, so I couldn't be alone
So I flied, reminiscing about those days with boom box's
and listening to slow jams,
Dancing to tunes oh the beauty in that thou,
thee shall not if thee shall won't,
The days, I was flying like Peter pan
Shouting "who wants to be old when you can be young and have fun"
But time hits us all!
so we keep spinning the wheel of fortune
to being catapulted out of our own imagination,
So we throw a quarter just to start over,
Knowing if we go back will lose our chances of being equal
The early days, once upon a time
When we were animals,
When we were black
Now we Africans, just reminiscing!
We will ever be humans, im just asking ?
Days go by, but im just playing records
To cassettes so im rewinding,
Back to the 80s,
my previous incarnation
Before the whole revolution,
so im skipping tapes,
playing with stones instead of toys no money,
it was kept behind the curtains now its out in the open,
sadly thee open the vault thee shall close,
This is more like Thanksgiving so lets enjoy the feast,
a whole family of guests I guess that's what happens
when you leave the door open and the windows closed,
All you have is an opportunity but no vision,
So they pull the strings,
man I'm just reminiscing about those days
we used to watch puppets,
those monsters on the screen,
The Sesame street
Ranging from care givers to cookie eaters,
Coated with red and some blue
they taking over the neighborhood,
To the frog, that's always being chased so the hood
could never have a prince, so we can never be saved,
man I'm just reminiscing,
The early mornings
Waking up to the rising sun
Now it just rains and rains
So I stay indoors, heater lit up
Guess who's feeling all warm and cozy
My fuzzy cat Elfie, that feline!
Reminds me of Tom in the cartoon series Tom and Jerry,
Oh boy! those were the youthful days
running around in circles dodging the system and its obstacles,
To being in church with Mary
Begging to Jesus can't you share your mom,
since that day i remember it as Merry Christmas
something like Mother’s day
déjàvu now its Sunday and I'm listening to slow jams,
going through all that again.
A 'Good Old Days Market' sign seen
With arrows that point to the scene;
There hidden by wall
Of stone, very tall,
I ventured and found behind screen,
Some tables with items arranged...
Such irony...somewhat deranged!
There spread out in view...
Still wanted by few...
Remains, by new tech, now estranged!
Typewriters galore, 'modern' style.
Old telephones that you must dial.
Flip cellphones that close...
Eight-track videos...
Oh, such a 'nostalgic' junk pile!
Some huge V H S movie cams,
The weight of two five-pounder hams.
Fax senders...hand fed...
Received...in hands read,
And heaps of outdated programs!
Old Apple computers, diskettes;
Recorders with lots of cassettes.
Fat TVs with tubes,
Old Kodaks, flashcubes...
Those 'good' old days? Gone! No regrets!
Sandra M. Haight
Do you think I’ll ever be
able to smile again
(I just don’t know)
I’m losing it all within
(To where do I go)
When I’m out of my skin
I was breathing this morning
Red bricks, green leaves
I showered and mourned
All my dreams away
I’m happily fading
Don’t you wish you were here
This morning I rose
My toes next to yours
I’m peacefully falling
In and out of doubt
Cassettes and feathered weights
I grabbled and crawled
Within your daunting walls
I’m my corner I’m daunting
Yes dear, I’m subtly yours
Closed my curtains this evening
And you kissed my doors
I was breathing this morning
Red bricks, green leaves
I happily fading
Don’t you wish you were here
I’m peacefully falling
I’m losing it all
Do you think I’ll ever be
able to smile again
(I just don’t know)
I’m losing it all within
(To where do I go)
When I’m out of my skin
His groupies were in pre-school
(Or their parents, more the like).
At concerts, all his lyrics
Were sung back by every tyke.
We listened to his records
(Way back then, on small cassettes).
When our kids would clap along
That was as good as music gets.
Now 30-plus years later
With our grandson (just past 2),
We watch a younger Raffi
And his power still shines through.
For with YouTube on the iPhone
There’s his presence in our laps
And as Henry watches, mesmerized,
It makes me feel, perhaps…
Somehow time is at a standstill.
What was new once still feels fresh,
Though in truth I’ve no idea today
How Raffi’s in the flesh.
4/27/17
Whether in the North, East, South, or West
On any side of the fence
Things can go from calm to intense
Near and far from incense
On a planet that is immense
Better always use common sense
While events continue to commence
Before and after the sun sets
It just may manifest
Realize next
That steps
Going towards the right or left
Just may lead to success
Or quite the mess
And failure at your own expense
Because all actions have consequence
With similar or different causes and effects
As light rays reflect
In and out of areas with low to high temps
Among colossal objects and mere specks
Above and within the depths
Close and beyond forests considered dense
Things used to try and eliminate pests
Non-toxic or harmful to pets
A hidden cache found filled with bayonets
Cartons of cigarettes
Piles of fishing nets
Old and new cassettes
Dressings mostly caesar, blue cheese and vinaigrettes
As well as cans of soup with letters of the alphabet
Underneath a trapdoor was a chest
Full of things one could not expect
More or less
Near some food that was rotting or still fresh
Had to hold your breath
Because of the stench
Let me sketch
You a picture so you can understand how it went
Down in the trench
With a wrench
And rope of hemp
People were fighting each other to the death
Or sitting on a bench
Had to always do my best
And put forth one hundred percent
Effort with my blood and sweat
In order to one up any threat
Coming at my neck
Or aiming towards the heart inside my chest
By: Dalton Ogletree
Dirty shoes torn into pieces, against a shiny floor.
No more streets, a perfect house she’d learn to adore.
Someone to take her in, when her light is fading.
If she was to escape the dark, it’d take a lot of persuading.
But for now she’ll sit on the throne of a new life.
As she lets go of the past and all of the strife.
She held fancy silverware in her hands, instead of cigarettes.
The air no longer filled with smoke, but sounds of old cassettes.
She pranced around in fancy ball gowns, instead of old rags.
Makeup covered her face and under her eyes her bags.
That told the dreams of sleepless nights, from her tragic past.
As she now sipped some gin from a fancy glass.
This life she was thrown into, didn’t seem so terrible.
As long as she is in this life, it’d be considered as memorable.
If all she had to do was wear a grin, and share a few meaningless kisses.
If marrying a mysterious man, just brought her some riches.
Taken under a fake love, that didn’t sweep her off her feet.
All the love in pain, instead of something sweet.
A love just for show, in the broken girl’s mind.
The young man, in love with her, her feelings he was blind.
So she was trapped, yet it was so glamorous.
Yet she never noticed that her life was now slanderous.
So she remained oblivious to her situation.
As she sat pretty on the throne in her new habitation.