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Open Poetry #6
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You Never Saw a Purple Cow?
| Open Poetry #6 |
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You Never Saw a Purple Cow? |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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You Never Saw A Purple Cow? I love the green and rolling hills The forests and the trees They call it Pennsylvania 'Cause Penn held all the deeds He made friends with the Indians He parceled off their land He rectangled and squared it off The trees and hills at hand I was born among the green hills And rivers of this place The Schuylkill and the Manatawny Which Indian names still grace But just past Sanatoga Which means "the crooked hill" The electric company came along And changed the land at will They built gigantic towers And put in nuclear fuel Then publicized some dinosaur prints To show that they're not cruel The power plant sits to the east Just past " the crooked hill" But just a little to our west Waste Management has a fill The mountain has become quite large As high as Sanatoga In a place where Leni Lenape trails Saw the horse drawn Conastoga And along the flowing Schuylkill Near the Indian burial ground Occidental Chemical's Factory can be found We call it "Accidental" Tongue in cheek, of course I would not graze in nearby fields If I were a horse Now just a little to our north A house on Indian Bow Lane Was discovered to have radiation And "Radon" was to blame A brand new revelation National interest did arouse But how can that explain the Purple fields and purple cows If you think this is just a joke Then read our local paper There's no one who could quite pull off A purple animal caper It can't be "Accidental" (That's just a little pun) And the EPA and their whole crew Is having lots of fun And speaking of the EPA They came in rapid haste To investigate a quarry That was filled with toxic waste But they filled it in and smoothed it out Where was the EPA? We know the barrels stayed there Where WalMart stands today When Limerick has a nuclear leak It's a "noneventful occurrence" Occidental's leaks are kept hush hush Because of their insurance They claim the landfill's leak-proof But things escape somehow And Cabot Chemical's "nonevents" Produce a purple cow They say our water's safe to drink But I have a little hunch From the dead fish near the power plant Not to drink our "Schuylkill Punch" That's just another little pun We locals get a thrill And joke about the "Occidents" Around the "crooked hill" So when you come to my house You can feel quite relieved Nothing will affect you Just as long as you don't breath Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 02-18-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Lost Dreamer Member Elite
since 1999-06-20
Posts 2464Somewhere near the Rainbow |
It is such a shame when in the name of progress it seems we lose so much. I enjoyed the beauty of your surroundings aside from the progress. |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
All in the name of progress! The only sacrifice is our land, our health, and probably our future. Sad, isn't it, that the rape of land and nature is of no concern to big government and corporations. This poem is so well written, some humor along with stark reality about a serious problem. Well done! Danny |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
But bringing my own gas mask and drinking water (or Fosters fine lager *G*) would be a small price to pay for your company, Elizabeth. *S* Great poem!! |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Yep, it is a shame what industry has done to this once beautiful land of ours. Great poem, Elizabeth! Hey, take a picture of that purple cow for me, okay!!  Denise |
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Cerenity Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 2637Escondido-California |
A smile came over my face when I read the title of your poem, and could only emagin a purple cow. As I read your poem though I lost my smile as I read the contents. You have taken very hurtful events and made them poetic very nicely done. Cerenity |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
I have to laugh at the last verse there, though I know it's no laughing matter. Humans, always trying to fix things and make them better, when in fact we end up destroying it instead. We think we know so much, but God knows better! We know so little, and when we don't ask for HIS guidance, this is the result! Excellent work Liz! <*\\\>< There's only two ways you can go... One way you can save your riches, And the other will save your soul. Rich Mullins |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Well done Liz!!! I am in awe of your excellent talent as a writer and your capacity for seeing. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Everything in this poem is true. We do have purple cows downstream from Cabot, and there are many "nonevents" which are somehow reported in Florida newspapers long before they are reported here. And we are all wondering what all those sirens are for, the ones that are to warn of a nuclear accident, as we say, "occident". the ones they test at 2:00PM every first Monday of the month. If they ever do go off, no one's going to flee, we'll all just go into a "Monday mode". Am I worried about a nuclear meltdown? As worried as Californians are about "the big one". Thank you for your comments. Liz P.S Please come visit [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 02-18-2000).] |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Elizabeth, when you have time, could you send me a picture of one of those purple cows? I'd love to see one. Even though it is caused by something bad I find it so interesting. Love ya Denise |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Denise, I'll see what I can do Liz |
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Toerag Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622Ala bam a |
Sweetie..I'm an old hippie...I've seen every color animal you can imagine.....and I won't go into details as of "why" I saw all these color coordinated beasts, but I'm sure you know.....LOL....nice poem gal.... |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
True, sad, funny, clever, angering, prophetic...just to list a few adjectives. (I saw the Easter Bunny once...does that count?) Claire |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thanks, Toe, you're right, everything in the sixties was multi colored, but even with this crystal ball of mine, there's so much I don't know about you (though I do know where the psychedelic cows came from) Thanks Liz |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Claire, Didn't see you sneak in as I was posting. Thanks for the adjectives Liz |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
No, I've never seen a purple cow, and I never hope to see one. (Well, maybe I do, but that's off the subject.) *sigh* The shape our world is in today-purple cows, Schuylkill punch, and heaven knows what else! I'd rather they let the land remain as land. Now, what say you we all become Amish?  Elizabeth "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" -The Crucible |
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Wizzard Member
since 2000-02-09
Posts 209 |
 Ok so it`s not a Cow  But it could be in a few more year`s.It`s a shame that so much of our Beautiful land is being destroyed all in the name of"PROGRESS?" Thank you for such an eye opening read Elizabeth.. I look forward to reading more of your writings Today is the first day of the rest of my life. And the begining of a new one. [This message has been edited by Wizzard (edited 02-18-2000).] |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you, Mr Wizzard, you do certainly have a way with graphics. Your compliments are very kind, but I haven't been writing much lately. You are very sweet, Thank you Liz Thank you ,Elizabeth, and I like your Amish comment, They seem to do very well without electricity, in fact they have no need for any of the products or services mentioned Liz above [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 02-18-2000).] |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, You are a wonder and constantly amaze me. Love Sy PS. One hell of a poem. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thanks Sy Wanna come for a visit? Liz |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
No comment that I could make could possibly enhance the words you've already spoken here, Elizabeth - It's mind boggling, isn't it? Well done, my friend... |
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Brent Hotchkin Junior Member
since 2000-02-15
Posts 42Florida,USA |
Well done Liz. You have documented our evolution. We think we're so bright. It is so hard to think about these things that go on in our world. Because we can't do anything about it. It is the ones with the money that make all the decisions. Anyway I really enjoyed your poem. I live in south Florida and the biggest hill in the state is a mile to the west. I have to pass it everyday on the way to my Uni. It smells but not as bad as the waste management facility which is also on the way to school. |
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ESP Member Elite
since 2000-01-25
Posts 2556Floating gently on a cloud.... |
How sad that so much should get destroyed in the name of progress....humans should start to consider that they are progressing in the wrong direction, before it is too late as it for the purple cows you speak of. Wonderful expression of such terrible destruction(does that make sense to you?). Love and hugs, Lizzie "Poetry is the true expression of my soul, it is my ultimate means of communication. It is my rainbow of delight." |
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Cerenity Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 2637Escondido-California |
Hi Liz, Always have loved this poem, I have a picture of four pastel cows in my diningroom and think of you every time I look at it (~.~) Hope life is great with you, Love Cerenity |
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