They played "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" at the nursing home
People in their eighties clapped and sang along.
I paused nearby and listened before proceeding on my way
It was a ray of sun in a cloudy dismal day.
They played "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" when the POWs came home
Vietnam behind them, the eagle had long flown
From 'hell in session' to a divided land
They deserved our thanks, so strike up the eighties band.
(Chorus)
Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
It's been many years, but heart's stay free
The world is getting smaller, friends have come and gone
Sometimes a song can help a weary soul hold on.
They played "tie a yellow ribbon' for freedom in Hong Kong
Funny how a romance tune became a protest song.
We've already forgotten those romantics in the street
A song can't beat a rifle, no matter how upbeat.
They played "tie a yellow ribbon" when our hostages came home
Women wore one in the Civil War when the cavalry was gone
Home is where the heart is, and if oldsters can laugh and share
The rest of us should regroup and try to self-repair.
you played me for a fool
used my feelings as the tool
to open my heart.
Once my heart was overflowing,
once my love was ever growing,
you showed me your true colors.
like a surgeon you took your time,
dissected every corner of my mind,
till I was lost in emotion.
my love was all a game to you,
but my feelings were true,
and now I'm paying the price
for falling so deeply in love with you.
they say what goes around
will eventually come around,
understand.
the unending pain I feel,
will soon be over and I'll heal.
understand.
but bad Karma will follow you
everywhere you go.
you played me for a fool,
used my feelings as the tool
to open my heart.
Deceiver.
Saturday was our one day,
seeing our friends and laughing.
Couple on wood skating floor,
around we loved to go~go.
He held me so very tight,
as the fun music played on.
He asked me to marry him.
The tiny shop was nestled in the historic Strand Arcade
and on every shelf, a treasured item was carefully laid.
On a gramophone, a seventy eight record was played.
Such a grand, delightfully soothing ambiance it made.
Curiosity drew me to examine everything displayed,
through piles of old clothes I could painstakingly wade.
There were wonderful period dresses of dainty brocade,
Gentleman's coats so well made of waterproof suede.
The softness of a Dior silk scarf with the edges frayed.
To be found, fine jewellery with precious gems inlaid.
There was a pendant and earings all fashioned in jade,
with a necklace that ornately allowed pearls to cascade.
Seeing the Aladdin's lamp, my joy was outweighed.
Presented in a velvet lined box, definitely first grade.
I was curious as to how much that needed to be paid.
Approached the owner, the price, hoping to persuade.
Boys Forts
The boys would climb up,
taking toys and making noise,
into the tall trees.
Wearing funny hats,
yelling~ were their pants on fire?
we did laugh at them.
Girls Castles
Dining room table,
with long lace cloth was our spot,
under on the floor.
Dolls were everywhere,
tea and cookies were a treat,
we were princesses.
Our life a horror movie they played to us in real life
In horror films black people die first
We always make smart decisions
And yet they still manage to find a way to erase us even in film
They don't leave us alone
Not in life
Not in death
Not even in fiction
They do this to show that no matter what we will always be trapped
That even if we follow the rules
We still die
We are still erased
That we still have no control
Over our own fate
We will always be puppets
To a system
That doesn't control by using string
But by barbed wire
Making sure every movement is painful
Making sure we have a slow and violent death
That with every breath
The barbed wire strips another piece of our flesh
Slowly peeling away our blackness
We are seen as the disposable one
In life
In movies
And shows
To be the one who helps
The one who saves
And the one who sacrifices
Their life
For their white counterpart
To make sure they get to the end
Where's our happily ever after
We always get the struggle trope
And when we ask to change the ending
They just say nope
you p.l.a.y.e.d with my l~o~v~e
hot t
e
a
r
s
l
e
ak from my bruised
h~e~a~r~t ~
b
r
o
k
en f—o—r—e—v—e—r
Contest: YOUR CHOICE u
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Date: June 2nd, 2025
Contest Judged: June 6th, 2025 9:03:00 AM
Placement: First
Low Emission zone disinformation..Is a factor on sinage
Thats the situation.' First a magistrate in Bedford flagged
Not fine, these signs that have ruined life for many.' Also
Wasted so much time.' Yesterday Noel Wilcox, Royally won'
At the so named courts in London judgement on veracity I
See it had to come.' So now if you've been hit no matter
Where you are from.' You can obtain a refund, maybe to
Spend on having fun? Like driving to London.' Just to see
The sights.? Oh and I do hope we are soon rid of all that
That extra metal signage.' Thats really an unsightly blight !
Player or Be Played
Should there only be two options?
Can’t there be an in-between?
An in-between where they are there
for Each Other.
An in-between where they
choose Each Other.
An in-between where they
know Each Other.
An in-between where they can
respect Each Other.
An in-between where any problem can be solved
with Each Other.
The perfect one becomes perfect when you show up.
perfect for Each Other,
not alone.
I could do the dishes
But then what would I do tomorrow? Asked toad
Frog did not want to distress or alarm him.
He listened.
I could sweep the junk off the kitchen floor.
But you would be bored tomorrow, right? Asked Frog.
Toad rolled his eyes at him and said nothing.
Frog wondered about this, but dared not ask a question.
I could clean out that silverware drawer, Toad said.
He gave frog a sly look.
Frog had played this game with toad before.
He knew from experience, that he usually lost.
So, he went home.
i'm talking world war three blues
and how the baubles resemble the planet neptune
one kid has trashed the grotto
flameless LED tea light candles on the mantlepiece
another exclaims, 'can we stop talking and just take
the photo?'
a girl says she wants a telescope
a boy says he wants a crane
another says a fraggle stick car
helicopter parent and coo coo bonko
my daughter doesn't recognise me
tears of a clown stuff
a kid claims the beard is fake and i say, 'look...',
i tell a family from germany
we can take a hundred photos, i don't mind,
i will get the son that red double-decker bus
you're wonderful people
they leave
the boss pokes his head round the door and says,
'brilliant, boy.'
Imagine...
A symphony orchestra,
all the greats,
the legends,
the masters of the universe,
playing...
...a perfect piece.
BORING!
Perfectly executed,
flawless, pristine...
but dead.
Empty.
A sterile echo,
a ghost of a melody.
Now imagine...
A kid,
scruffy,
misfit,
with a guitar older than time,
a cracked voice,
fingers fumbling on the strings...
...but playing from the heart.
Every note,
a stumble,
every chord,
a struggle,
but the music...
The music is alive!
It's raw,
it's honest,
it's real!
Perfect form,
a sculpted stone,
frozen beauty,
but lifeless.
Flawed creation,
rough edges,
unpolished,
but burning with passion,
breathing with life.
Don't let the perfect fool you.
Don't mistake precision for truth.
Don't let the polished mask hide the beating heart.
The flaws are the beauty!
The stumbles are the steps!
The imperfections are the soul!
Let the music live!
nonpareil domnia lui
Would words speak him to
Pharoah.
Shall Casear speak me
to hizzpeeplez.
Might I gloat in vain
to be defeated
in Florence?Nonpareil domnia lui!
might we contest contractious!
The flowers of Florence
shall bloom
the April Showers
shall norish them
I shall hold the vase
and eat the sweet candies
NonPareil Domnia Lui!
NonPareil Domnia Lui!
Reigning Championsport
Sports Champion!
Nonpareil domnia Lui!
He who has failed to do his due,
Man’s been a sour fruit of God’s whim,
One cannot but come to this view:
Gone acrid has His grandest dream—
A nightmare and greatest blunder
Which, He can’t but regret and rue,
I see Him now in deep ponder,
Hope, a bright flash flares from blue.
Mayhap, God played a game of dice
With Destiny, a sure spoiled sport,
And now, poor Earth pays a steep price,
As man by far has fallen short…
Maybe, apes would have better done,
Aft all, poor Darwin was human!
_________________________________
Sonnet | 15.01.2005 | men, God
Played
Every other's antennas oftentimes are up, An emotional
state that everything is mental being free from deceit.
Unguarded emotions impulsiveness and vulnerability
routinely get taken for granted in games of strength,
distractions are often hypocritical and shady. Rules
are broken, and trust is deceptive powerless to be played.
Survival of the mentally fit supposes everything has cause
and consequences who you thought you played
well, you played yourself.
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