blood sweat and tears leave
no stone unturned move heaven
and earth pull your weight
go to great lengths make
a supreme effort bust a
gut and go all out
give it everything
you’ve got burning desire
step up to the plate
fire in the belly
spur on drive someone get the
ball rolling take pains
take the bull by the
horns jump on the bandwagon
and pull your socks up
eager beaver stay
the course give it your all throw
yourself into it
keep your eye on the
prize light a fire underneath and
pull out all the stops
roll up your sleeves bite
the bullet and pushing the
envelope spur on
pull out all the stops
keep your shoulder to the wheel
go the extra mile
bust your chops sweat blood
work your fingers to the bone
bend over backwards
go to great lengths put
your heart and soul into it
and work like a dog
go at it hammer
and tongs roll up your sleeves do
the heavy lifting
put your nose to the
grindstone put in the hours
break your back
It's time for a serious poem
So I can truly show 'em
That I've mastered metaphor
simile, prosaic petit fours ...
I'll pull out all the stops
rhyme and meter, extra hops
Brew up such a batch of phraseology
as befits an epic of eschatology ...
My vocabulary will absolutely astound you
as to the heights it soars and leaps-'n'-bounds you
And as for opaque literary allusions
why, there will be multitudinous profusions ...
But if all this still does not pass critical muster
~ I'll hire AI to adjust her
Pull out all the stops
and shout from rooftops,
the truth that we know,
felt by heart mellow.
Each path is unique,
of same truth we seek,
getting to the roots,
as our soul reboots.
There’s no this or that,
arguments fall flat,
as we so become,
with That oneness one.
We do wish to share
but who may so pair,
for truth’s beyond mind.
We must feel to find.
01-July-2022
You look at me and mostly see
The simplest of clowns
Acting out the fool in all I do
Whenever you're around
Not just the nose that's red of course
As I embarrass myself too much
Trying to empress with what little I have
This fool for you in love
With the atmosphere of Circus here
I pull out all the stops
Imagine me in Center Ring
Giving it all I've got
A clown that hopes you love bad jokes
And can not get enough
Taking that thought all the way to the Big Top
This fool for you in love
Juggling with all my might this crazy life
To bring you closer to me
The Greatest Show on Earth for all we're worth
Anyone has ever seen
With painted smile mile after mile
Not resting till I'm done
All a part of me you can clearly see
This fool for you in love
I just want to be...
The promise that you keep
The moment that you need
Your thought that's gone to seed
I just want to be...
What it is that you most crave
The one decision that you make
The perfect ending to your day
I just want to be...
Where your vast ocean meets the land
The treasure held in your hand
The moment you come to understand
I just want to be...
The one name that you drop
There when you pull out all the stops
All it is that you have got
I just want to be...
The answer when you ask
The love that you unmask
All that you have left
But most of all,
I just want to be your yes...
I am a teacher
Eager beaver
Full of beans
I build bridges
And burn the candle at both ends
I am a teacher
Cap in hand
Full of the milk of human kindness
I fight tooth and nail
To make my pupils see reason
I am a teacher
As hard as nails
Face like thunder
I resent cheap shots
And the breaking of every rule in the book
I am a teacher
With a carrot and a stick
I bring my pupils to heel
I reward who reach for the moon
I clip pupils’ wings
If they go far and off the rails
I am a teacher
Not a mouse potato
And not behind the times either
I am all ears
I bare my soul to my pupils
I make them explore all avenues
And go the extra mile
I am a teacher
I have my heart set on giving
It is a long row to hoe
I will make headway
Pull out all the stops
And hang in there
That’s what I have on the brain.
December 17th, 2015
Of all things I have learned about the world it is this,
Anything is possible.
And nothing has yet shaken that belief
Of course just knowing it has been enough to both delight me and
Give me nightmares.
Yet they both these feelings pale into insignificance compared to my
Daily frustration at seeing and hearing people who say so many things are Impossible to them.
It is hard not to weep when all I hear is
You can't win or we will never get rid of it or nothing will change.
But that is not the worst,
No the worst is hearing someone who is in charge of fixing a problem
Telling us that it can't be done,
Not the least because, given this defeatist attitude,
It is unlikely that they will pull out all the stops or encourage others
To support them in trying to fix the issue.
Yet despite all of my fluctuating feelings I still cling to my belief that anything is Possible when I have friends still left who thumb their noses at those running the show
And keep on making the impossible possible,
Making my worst nightmares a little less possible.
s/he’ll stand for just what you
want her/too,
s/he’ll pull out all the stops,
s/he’ll stay up all day & night
to gain another ballot box,
s/he’ll visit towns & villages
that no one knows exist,
s/he’ll bow down, suck off,
kiss up, bend over,
as long as the election
s/he wins.
s/he takes on many faces
s/he’s new & improved,
comfortable & old fashioned---
s/he’s as hip as you need her/him
to be, s/he’s as comfortable &
quaint (like mash potatoes,
ice cream & all comfort foods of
the self-pity-alone-on-a-weekend-
night can produce)---
s/he’s the friend you’ve always known,
s/he’s the famous one you
envy,
s/he’s the key to all your happiness &
if you don’t think so right now,
s/he will convince you
quickly.
s/he says everything that YOU want to,
so that you don’t need to get off the
couch,
s/he is as photogenic as a supermodel
or as ugly as the Grouch---
for what it takes to win your faith
in this crippled & corrupt
system,
is nothing but a moment of your time &
a voice for you to
listen.