On Crime and Punishment
the angry young man,
who grew up in poverty,
whose mother worked two minimum wage jobs,
just to give him food and shelter...
who lost her jobs
when the economy fell,
and became sick with no insurance...
the angry young man,
who robbed the convenience store,
and while trying to avoid capture,
killed a young police officer...
who left behind a young pregnant wife,
and a three year old little boy,
left without a daddy....
the angry young man,
in jail awaiting trial...
awaiting justice....
where do we begin?
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Revolution, And Snow
beginning to know...
how Pasternak felt,
long Russian revolution...
gunfire, exploding...
neighbor fighting neighbor,
the poor battling the elite...
for cause, for ideal...
people disappearing,
work camps, Siberia...
unmarked graves...
long harsh winters,
snow like death wrapped
around windows and doors.
wolves howl, primordial call....
in the name of freedom,
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Tears That Jesus Shed # 3
living in broke down cars,
your face as hard as your scars,
waiting for tomorrow that wont come.
wash your clothes in dirty sinks,
your hands bruised, your hunger stinks,
when they come you wont run.
or sleeping in the alleyways,
too damn tired to care or pray,
waiting to stand in line.
bad dope and broken glass,
forget you ever had a past,
trade forever for a dime.
stamp the numbers on your head.
you're just one of the living dead.
one of the tears that Jesus shed....
one of the tears that Jesus shed!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Falling Off The Face (Of The Earth)
falling off the face
of the earth....
going too fast for the curve.
running headlong into a stone wall,
losing my grip on the ledge.
plowing too deep...
standing too close to the fire.
feeling the blade on my fingers,
tasting the poison on my lips.
standing beneath my work,
watching it fall back into my face.
poised on the wrong end of the barrel,
ready to fight, unarmed, outnumbered.
two steps beyond doubt takes faith....
yea, i've been there just like you.
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Iran-Contra
Iran-contra,
Reagon dealing arms
to forbidden Iran...
in hopes to free hostages,
fund Nicaraguan rebels....
Contras, torture, assassinations,
kidnapping, even women and children...
fighting without rules...human rights violated...
overthrow the regime...
and U.S. control expands....
Iran, birthing terror threats,
and nuclear possibilities....
fixed on Israel!
meanwhile, money free and flowing,
jobs up, easy credit...
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Tornado In January!
major tornado damage here
in the western North Carolina
foothills last night!
up to fifty homes, and/or mobile
homes, damaged, or destroyed.
forty degree temps, and a tornado,
in January!
people left homeless, injured, and
lost everything they had... they
need our prayers, and our help!
we take so much for granted... we
complain about how hard things are...
and then you watch your neighbors
lose it all in an instant...
we need to be family, right here
and now... and to learn to be
thankful for the small things!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Address Unknown
morning coffee;
a touch of the news,
goes down bitter....
shoe leather, and trash
blown across the horizon,
pregnant gas pumps heaving....
another napalm morning,
gunpowder and grease,
tiny bodies in flower gardens,
unattended.
sunday school teahers
with bayonets and cell phones,
small childrens fingers curled
around stones and broken limbs.
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Farewell Notes... (Part Two)
no more wars! we cannot allow poverty and hunger to continue!
we have to live in a way that celebrates our diversity. we have
to listen to each other. every word we speak or write, has a cost.
whatever we must sacrifice for the truth is well worth the cost.
question, seek, doubt, try all things for their validity in your lives.
respect each other's paths, but walk your own. keep your hands,
hearts, and minds open. take the time to care, get involved.
my heart and soul are with you all... be at peace, nay, be peace!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Lost Inside Mine
riding bareback
in the moonlight
down across the pasture
to where the woods begins.
we tie the horses,
and make our way down
to the creek bank
you search for dead branches
while i clear a spot
you can hear the owl
the turtle, and the song
the water sings over the rocks
in the firelight i begin
again the long journey
of knowing you
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
That Lives Beyond
shotguns, and ice,
no panties, no ring.
burnt edge of a rose,
barefoot in jeans.
wrinkled, but fire
dancing in your eyes.
the smell of morning
before darkness dies.
the cling and the hold,
mouth, heart, and soul.
the river unleashed,
raging out of control.
the taste of the unnamed,
unseen, and untold.
stardust in my hands
too elusive to hold.
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!