By: Godfrey Rust
when the washing is done
and the driers have dried
and the spinners have spun
and it's past eight o'clock
and there's no one about
and the launderette's locked
then the odd socks come out.
There is hosiery here
of each pattern and hue
some plain, striped or spotted,
some black, red or blue
some wom only once,
some so old they have formed
to exactly the shape
of the foot they once warmed
some were brought back from Sock Shops
in airports in France,
some were hideous presents
from matronly aunts
but in all their variety
one thing is shared:
to the place where socks go
they will not go pre-paired.
Then the odd socks remaining
are placed in the chest
(They must turn up sometime
now where was that vest...?)
and new socks come at Christmas
and birthdays bring more
and the old lie, alone,
at the back of the drawer.
And maybe, one evening
when memory is low,
they too slip away
to the place where socks go
and in silent reunion,
each one with its pair,
they join in the dance
with the other things there
the letters unanswered,
the calls not returned,
the promises broken,
the lessons not learned,
the lost afternoons,
the appointments unmade,
the best of intentions,
the debts never paid,
and the friends not kept up
and the others let down
in the ragbag of conscience
they waltz sadly round,
beyond the respite
of the washing machine,
no amount of detergent
can now get them clean
till that day when all laundry
is washed white as snow,
and everyone's tumbled
and soft soap must go,
when nothing is hidden
but all is revealed
and socks shall be holy
and souls shall be healed.
Godfrey Rust
Daily Quote: Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
- Mohandas Gandhi
Linguist Corner-ITALIAN: neve: snow
Example sentence: Quando c'è la neve in città è una gran seccatura!
Translation: When there is snow in the city, it is very annoying!
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2012
By: Ravi Panamanna
Ship is moored in a port
Friendship blossoms in the heart.
Ship is tossed by winds
Friendship withstands any wind.
Ship cruises along the sea
Friendship- the depth one can’t see.
A ship takes you to many lands
Friendship shows you many wonderlands.
A ship carries tons of cargo
Friendship- strong and pure is void of ego.
A ship sails unto new horizons,
Friendship opens new horizons.
A ship is caught in ice-berg,
Friendship gets beyond all ice-bergs.
A ship sinks in the waters
Friendship gets beyond all Waterloos.
Ravi Panamanna
Daily Quote: It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.
- Oriah
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Kathleen Mulroy
Green eyes closed, she purrs.
Content with the moment - now.
Buddha-like, at peace.
Kathleen Mulroy
------------------------------------------------
Two Seasons
Peach trees on the hill,
Their blossoms will reach full bloom
Then will blow away
Now they are changing,
Bright shades of red and yellow;
The leaves will soon fall.
Dylan Potter (15 years old)
Daily Quote:
Through humor, you can soften some of
the worst blows that life delivers.
And once you find laughter,
no matter how painful your situation might be,
you can survive it.
- Bill Cosby
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Butch Phillipps
Caring and loving from deep within,
Always there through thick and thin.
Encouraging you to be yourself,
Knows you better than anyone else.
..
No need for you to be on guard,
Here you will never be barred.
No matter how long it has been,
Greeted as if always seen.
..
In your youth it's easy to forget,
Don't do things you may regret.
Both love and hate are at times blind,
Being around family clears your mind.
..
Preventing you from many a vice,
Counsel they give may not be nice.
Advice given is always good,
May take awhile to be understood.
..
No matter what you do or say,
Supporting you always every day.
Don't ever take them for granted,
Their opinion will not be slanted.
..
Love like this you will only find,
When you have a family you call mine.
Time with them is always well spent,
Respect and love are ever present.
..
Joyous memories being debated,
As new ones are being created.
Reminiscing about the past,
Wishing it would forever last.
..
Just remember and never forget,
Unconditional love is what you get.
Always there through thick and thin,
Caring and loving from deep within.
..
Butch Phillipps. copyright © 2011 -all rights reserved
Daily Quote: Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind,
than on outward circumstances.
- Benjamin Franklin
Linguist Corner-SPANISH: vela: noun / candle
- la gran cena a la luz de las velas en su honor
the candlelit gala dinner in his honor
It also means when you can’t get to sleep.
- Pasábamos las noches en vela, platicando hasta el amanecer.
We would stay up all night, chatting till dawn.
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Butch Phillipps
Very hard for one to see,
Even harder to actually be.
Skeletal existence a tragic sight,
A heavy heart knowing their plight.
..
Only crime was being born,
To a world full of scorn.
They are God’s children none the same,
The whole World should be ashamed.
..
We go about our daily lives,
Unconcerned with their strife.
Little ones with naught to eat,
We quibble about what’s on our feet.
..
In this world of material excess,
Not one child should be in distress.
Children starving is not a game,
Many countries are to blame.
..
People sit with all their riches,
Ignoring ones lost in the ditches.
It's their fault is their usual cry,
This they mutter with a dry eye.
..
My heart is heavy and full of tears,
Their cries are falling on deaf ears.
No reason for a child to starve,
While turkey and beef we doth carve.
..
It's time we take a look at others,
After all they are our brothers.
They need our help it's to be expected,
A starving child can never be accepted.
..
Children starving throughout the world,
It's all around don't take my word.
They are Gods children and not to blame,
The whole World should be ashamed.
..
Butch Phillipps
Daily Quote: I have found the paradox,
that if you love until it hurts,
there can be no more hurt, only more love.
- Mother Teresa
Linguist Corner-ITALIAN: prezzo: price / noun
Example sentence: I prezzi sono aumentati ancora!
Translation: Prices have increased again!
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
The waves are raucous at night, like they're
trying harder to make up for a lack of blue
against white. What there is of sky is more
the colour of absence- of sleeping eyes from
the inside- than the colour of a destined life.
My feet are operating like Newton's cradle:
rocking from heel to toes, from lurching legs
while trousers billow, while weather undulates-
(it's recording emotion; it's mourning imprecision).
All ghosts of clouds gather around the lamps
that line the promenade. They descend for eyes,
meeting glances with misty breath like passers-by.
And I ponder (as the meeting of the cold and
my skin creates a cloak between me and the
wind) whether I've ever stared through nightfall
without the moon resembling your eyes and the
stars resembling mine- all at the height that future's
lovers look up to and from which all weather falls.
S. Rankin
My Mirrored Pool of Thought
"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."
~Henry Ellis
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Coffee Table Poetry's GUEST BOOK is a division of Coffee Table Poetry for Tea Drinkers, and is updated often. The easiest way to enjoy the selections from talented fellow poets is to select E-mail or RSS Reader. Also, come follow us on Twitter. We look forward to sharing your own beautiful poetry with the world.
By: Michael Reynolds
A life,
so vivid,
so clear,
so seemingly happy to those around me,
a mask,
a secret,
a lie,
hidden torment,
agony,
loneliness,
what others see is not truly what I am,
a monster,
a savage,
an abomination,
a life which no one understands,
a burden,
worthless,
a scapegoat,
the pain that keeps me alive,
the hurt that keeps me going,
this hell they call life.
Michael Reynolds
Daily Quote: Anger is often more hurtful than the injury that caused it.
- English Proverb
Linguist Corner-SPANISH: repasar, verb
to check; to revise
Example:
- Repase la factura antes de firmarla.
- Check the invoice before signing it.
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Lawrence Pillar
So busy they are today,
With their self importance.
Those feeding off of acquired popularity.
And believing themselves,
Overwhelmingly magnetic to others.
As they see themselves to be.
They can not see themselves,
From a superficial point of view.
They believe themselves to be the center of things.
Since some folks have them believing that is true.
A connection that has existed for some time to the world,
Appears to be comfortably attached...
Without an outward showing,
Of an entrapped affectation.
That connection to reality is obvious to those,
Who are aware of what reality means.
And for many this has been their lives as known.
A desire to have a popularity.
To be seen and showing what it is they do and 'own'.
And feeling alone and hollow,
If egos they displayed were not publicly overblown.
And fed wherever they are bled to produce,
Evidence of their significance to induce a following.
'Are you jealous? '
Of what?
I have been comfortable in my own skin,
'Most' of my life!
I am in no need to solicit popularity.
My radiance comes naturally.
'Oh.
How blind of me not to see it.'
Lawrence Pillar
Daily Quote: What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,
but what is woven into the lives of others.
- Pericles
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Butch Phillipps
Seeing the ocean is usually the start.
It draws people from near and far,
Just as dreamy as a distant star.
.
Sailing above much is unseen,
What lies below only a dream.
As of now much is unknown,
Can make one feel very alone.
.
In its whole a vast expanse,
Has seen much remembrance.
Ships and planes lost at sea,
Loved ones lost for eternity.
.
Forever alive and always changing,
Many delights and lots of warnings.
Most of us drawn to the seashore,
They’re some who chose to explore.
.
Marine biologists try their best,
Relying on their funding requests.
Inner earth they doth seek,
Trying to take a little peek.
.
Much is unknown but they don't care,
Yearning to explore where no other dare.
Among the Beauty thats all around,
Forgotten are the dangers abound.
.
Mysteries still surround the deep,
Treasures found you may keep.
Inner earth waiting to be discovered,
Many things still not recovered.
.
Not always finding what you seek,
It's not a quest for the meek.
Beautiful and mystical as our birth,
So is it with Inner Earth.
Butch Phillipps, Copyright © 2011 - All rights reserved.
Daily Quote: We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anaïs Nin
Linguist Corner-FRENCH: toile de maître / masterpiece / noun
Example sentence
- French: Ce Monet, une véritable toile de maître, a été vendue aux enchères pour plus de 4 millions d'euros.
- English: This Monet, a real masterpiece, has been sold at auction for more than 4 million Euros.
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Butch Phillipps
Waiting in the doctors office,
Wondering if he's a novice.
They said to come in at ten,
have to sit and wait on them.
Not sure why it's always the case,
Guess overbooking is common place.
Feeling that I am wasting my time,
Waiting like this should be a crime.
No excuse to take this long,
Feeling like I don't belong.
Getting upset and about to shout,
Contemplating whether to walk out.
It's now eleven and still waiting,
After this he'll get a bad rating.
Assistant walks in with a huff,
Service like this is very rough.
Finally he walks through the door,
Don't have to wait anymore.
They're backed up that's to blame,
My time is valuable just the same.
In five minutes he is through,
Not enough time to say how do.
Bedside manners he does lack,
Pretty sure I won't be back.
Have to wait even to pay,
Didn't hear have a good day.
Without a smile tells what to do,
Glad to say they're in the rearview.
A little courtesy should suffice,
They should know to be nice
Is he a doctor or a quack,
Never again will I go back.
Butch Phillipps
Daily Quote: Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.
- Luther Burbank
Linguist Corner-SPANISH: disgustar, verb / to upset
- Me disgustó su tono.
His tone upset me.
- Estaba indignado con su comportamiento.
I was disgusted at his behavior.
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Butch Phillipps, Copyright © 2011 - All rights reserved.
Believing that there is no other.
Claiming that they have the fix,
While always playing politics.
...
Along the way they sell their soul,
Allowing others to shape and mold.
At this point in politics,
It all turns into PoliTricks.
...
Motivated by going toe to toe,
Having no mercy on their foe.
All the time they fight and fight,
While conquering all with their might.
...
Divide and conquer that's their way,
Only concern is to survive another day.
Self consumed to the bone,
Not realizing much is unknown.
...
People just toys with whom they play,
Twisting words and spinning all day.
They tell you this and then do that,
Hypocrites all so watch your back.
...
Always telling us what we think,
while taking the country to the brink.
Without asking they do our bid,
If this were true they would be rid.
...
What we need is people of honor,
To serve us every waking hour.
It's time to put the country first,
Maybe a dream but quench my thirst.
...
And all this time they’ve lost sight,
It's for the people they should fight.
Claiming that they have the fix,
Be wary of their PoliTricks.
Butch Phillipps, Copyright © 2011 - All rights reserved.
Daily Quote: Take our politicians: they're a bunch of yo-yos. The presidency is now a cross between a popularity contest and a high school debate, with an encyclopedia of cliches the first prize. ~Saul Bellow
Linguist Corner-SPANISH: repasar, verb / to check; to revise
Repasar refers to checking or going over something, such as accounts or a bill as well as reviewing something.
- Repase la factura antes de firmarla.
Check the invoice before signing it.
- Continúa repasando los apuntes hasta el último segundo.
He goes on reviewing his notes right up to the last minute.
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Butch Phillipps A gentle soul inside and out,
Your beauty radiates throughout.
Giving comfort with your smile and touch,
Time spent with you is never enough.
...
Through thick & thin you’re always there,
Explaining things no other dare.
The advice you give is very clear,
Some of which is written here.
...
Surround yourself with peace and love,
Always give thanks to the One above.
Surround yourself with family and friends,
For they alone will help you mend.
...
Things don't always go your way,
Makes no sense re-living the day.
Always take the time to pray,
In the calm you’ll find a way.
...
Things happen that we can't explain,
Your beautiful aura will always remain.
Weren't it for you I would be lost,
Thank you for thawing out the frost.
...
Your friendship and guidance has no cost,
A gentler soul you will never cross.
Inspiring people without a shout,
A gentle soul inside and out.
Butch Phillipps
Daily Quote: Life may not be the party we hoped for
but while we are here we might as well dance.
- Anonymous
Linguist Corner-FRENCH: pleine d'idées, d'imagination et de bonne humeur,
(Transl): full of ideas, imagination, and good spirits
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2011
By: Lamont Palmer
Sky makes the scene believable.
Twice the proportions, twice the ice,
At 500 ft, the symmetry
Is the god of piercing blue,
The deity of lonesome liquid,
Pure white and yet sad color
In the cold, in the heart
Of the glacier, and its eyes.
The giant is a testament,
(as giants go: O Goliath)
To be tumbled, to be relieved
Of air in the ice ridden lungs,
Of this temporary hugeness:
A ship of David’s wonder
Who they truly are.
The water, a life outside of pain,
Remembering where a cell rose,
Constant, from one bay to the next,
From one detached chunk on its way
To miracles, to sea homes
Lost in multiple vastness,
In vestibules of cold. Two worlds
Joined under one frozen
Identity; chunks of personality.
(The ones in the know think of
Europa; how close we are, how
Solid the frigid possibilities.)
It is everything
Movable, immovable
And indifference to motion,
Meropia in the moment,
A prayer to see, touching
What is wide but, too, beyond it.
And where are the ones not here?
Alive in the vision:
Eternity as a painting: art to imbibe
Lamont Palmer
Daily Quote: “If there are so many seekers, why are there so few finders?”
-- Eckhart Tolle
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Posted by V. Mahfood - 2010
