The Need To Be Named...
how do i know to speak of love?
she has taken my body,
and made it a chair.
she broke my legs,
and threw them into the fire,
started by sparks from my own eyes.
she took my soul and named it a wind,
that frightens the timid,
and fills the roar of the lion.
she took my feet,
and made them chapters...
she formed my hands into valleys,
and flooded them with my heart's desires...
she took my breath,
and stirred darkness with the magic
of the simple and the touched....
she took my identity,
and made me nameless,
and beyond the need to be named!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Time, Baby... Just Time!
jail time, heroin time,
back alley shuffle time,
standing in the soup line time....
sleeping in old cars time,
day work, selling blood time,
lost your job, no work time,
lost your house, nowhere time....
get your school in prison time,
radical free thought time,
fighting against the man time...
bum a smoke, a cup of coffee time.
woman done gone, aint coming back time.
food stamps and unemployment time...
kick off your damn chains time.
forgive, and forgiven time...
stand up and fight time,
hands joining hands time...
time, baby... just time!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Dark And Hungry
Dark and hungry,
i grope for your mouth,
swallowing lava burnt air,
lips blistered with prayer.
ducks quacking in flight,
Nickels and dimes in the ashtray...
a song on the radio,
cant remember the name.
hands shake just a little,
unbuttoning your shirt.
a small trail of sweat
between your breasts disappears.
You breathing in gasps,
or not breathing at all....
slide my hand to your longing,
tilt your head, close your eyes...
Grey clouds on the horizon,
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Farewell Notes...
looks like we may lose internet connection after today for a while...
if so, will be back when i can..
in the meantime, live each moment as if it were the only moment,
for it is...
as for the upcoming election, one must vote his/her heart, but vote.
as for me, i will support President Obama, and continue to believe
in the cause of human rights, in dignity and respect for all, and in freedom of speech, irregardless of what they do.
we, the human race, are a family... we will never be at peace until we both understand and live this. we are responsible.
poem by Eric Cockrell
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I Am (Final Chapter)
i am, become...
in closing...
what i wanted to do
with this series was
to expose the heart of
the real America,
to lay it bare,
with all its faults
and weaknesses...
in all its beauty and
simple goodness...
to find a way to unlock
the faith and integrity
of the common..
and call us back to ourselves...
i think i've failed,
but i am human, just like you...
and i want more than anything
to try, to believe, and to change...
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Night Hymn...
there is a wind
that has no name...
there is a river,
without beginning or end.
there is a night,
that fills the heart.
there is a stillness,
that smells like home.
there is a light,
in a window bare.
there is a cross,
worn round the neck.
there is a touch,
in the empty hand.
there is a song,
that fills the cup.
there is a prayer,
that tastes like dew.
there is a heartbeat,
a glimmer in the eyes.
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Old Men Walk Barefoot!
they would cut the wings from sparrows,
and deny the face of the wind.
take the laughter from the small child,
and bury the old man's shoes.
fill the cup with oil,
and burn the pages....
erase the names and the memory
of having been...
but the sparrow flies beyond their reach,
and they cant touch the wind.
the child gives his laughter freely,
and the cup has been turned over.
the pages feed the fire with desire,
and names and memory are written on god...
we who have lived have something
they cant take away...
that we give without looking back!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Fertile Earth
walk with me this fertile earth,
breathe deep, and unashamed.
touch the petal, the thorn,
lie naked on the ground....
know the wind as your lover,
bathe in the rain.....
touch the one beside you,
really touch.... read with
the tips of your fingers....
paint your hunger with your lips
upon her neck, her breasts...
run your tongue deep inside
her thoughts, her secret garden;
suck the darkness from her soul.
breathe light into her longing,
unlock the chains that have her bound....
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The Hand That Loves
the hand that loves,
is weathered and calloused.
long gifted, now trembles,
but just a little.
wipes tears and fights injustice,
buttons the collar of respect.
takes down your hair,
like rain falling on leaves.
bandages the dog's paw,
lights the fire late at night.
turns the pages of the book,
strokes the inside of your neck.
unleashes volcanoes,
opens the door of the cage.
and sprinkles dirt on the graves,
of those that came before...
softly puts down the pen,
and puts out the candle.
for it belongs to the wind,
to the stars, and your heart!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Tired (Soon)
tired.....
of fighting tooth and nail
just trying to survive.
of standing up
and getting knocked down,
again and again....
of feeding one of the hungry
and turning to an empty pot.
of doing the right thing,
and being accused of the wrong.
of staying true to convictions,
and losing it all....
of helping someone up,
finding i dont have enough hands.
of taking the time to care,
[...] Read more
poem by Eric Cockrell
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