American Flags Burning
melted down candles,
boots by the door...
the taste of stone walls
lingers in my mouth.
sunlight sifting through
blinds faded by time...
the sound of birds
breaks the deep stillness.
American flags burning,
an old deserted station...
a rusted Ford up on blocks.
the weight of the waiting,
at the foot of the mountains.
the smell of coffee,
and church bells ringing.
time coiled like a viper,
the hammer, and the truth...
they're cracking eggs at the mission,
a lone sign laying beside the road:
'we are the 99%'...
a police car eases by.
melted down candles...
smoke rising from a vacant house.
American flags burning,
and the body count goes higher!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Burning Flags
they're burning flags again....
sit down stand up protesting,
cracking heads like eggs,
yolk running down on hallowed ground....
they're burning flags again...
soldier boys coming home
to no work, living in cars,
no help, without a country...
they're burning flags again...
your sister died giving birth.
your brother-in-law cant get work,
making meth in the tub...
crying at night 'neath a picture
of Jesus hanging on the cross....
they're burning flags again...
small town football heroes
in prison cells learning
to live outside the law....
they're burning flags again....
and the words of Jefferson
fall in the empty rooms
where justice and equality lived....
they're burning flags again!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Candles
The days of the future stand in front of us
Like a line of candles all alight----
Golden and warm and lively little candles.
The days that are past are left behind,
A mournful row of candles that are out;
The nearer ones are still smoking,
Candles cold, and melted, candles bent.,
I don’t want to see them; their shapes hurt me,
It hurts me to remember the light of them at first.
I look before me at my lighted candles,
I don’t want to turn around and see with horror
How quickly the dark line is lengthening,
How quickly the candles multiply that have been put out.
poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Life Is Beautiful
You plant a rose
And if the rose comes up
You're thankful to God
And when it doesn't you cuss him
You raise a child
And when the child grows up
You got to learn to let go
If you can't learn to love him
But, oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Now I'm not saying only bad news comes
For the people who want it
But you gotta play that music for who's listening
You got to have someone you wanna sing it to
Oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Blue sky cracking and it makes me believe
Oh, hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Close my eyes, see the glorious sunset
Through the windows of a store and I want it
Anyway, if I ever felt haunted
You were there for me
These angry people who are waiting to judge you
Have their own judgment that they'll have live up to
Open your mouth
And if nothing come through
Remember
You're the one that sings
And it's a gift
And life's a beautiful thing
Oh, don't waste it doll
You build a house and if the house comes up
You gotta work on that house
If you want to make it your home
'Cause everything inside that's not something you own
Is what you're taking with you
On the day that you go
And oh, what a beautiful world when we sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Oh, hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
song performed by by Ryan Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Alone, With You
it's not that I'm
afraid
of losing you
there is no reason to explain
unless you're crying,
and I'm alone
still
wouldn't matter
my truth is muted,
deleted from your songs
your sightlines are not shrinking
you just don't see me
unless
it serves you
being alone does not crowd my
thinking
its
being
alone with you
candles burning
vanilla flames
cinnamon fire
slowly heating
melting
will
you see me
alone with you
hearts are burning
blood is rising
pulses pounding
alone with you
candles melting
hearts aflame
pain
searing
blood
rising
r ising
pain
not
dying
crying
al one with you.
it's not easy
knowing
nothing
more than
i need
to know
is it clean
or
is it messy
the truth
hidden
the way we like it
can't last forever
you told me
so
i believed you
wanted to
needed to
don't
need to be
alone, with you
Stone Riddles (Carnivore)
carnivore...
the heart
consumes itself!
revenge...
suicide of
the soul.
bridge...
my body,
your body.
edge...
hard line
we walk!
smoke...
burning leaves,
body time.
need...
i feel
to touch!
picture...
i just
cant taste!
coming...
body waves,
lapping shore.
poetry...
fingers undoing
forbidden buttons.
anguish...
words burning,
your doorstep.
shout...
my heart,
yours deaf!
break...
distance down
by truth.
lover...
shells broken,
eggs running.
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Field Of Mortality
The Field of Mortality
On a field, not far from here, I see millions of lit candles in long rows,
but only at night; in daylight it is a potato patch. A man, you may call
him god if you like, walks among the candles every so often he stops
and with his thumb and index finger snuffs out light; the skin on his
fingers are corned from this arduous work. Behind him new candles
spring up, sometimes he turns and go back waste some of them too.
He is heading for the part where the candles have been burned out,
only the wick flickers. He uses he thumb to bump them off; a spiral of
grey smoke in still air. He is old as time, sometimes he misses candles
that keep on burning, although they have no wick. As dawn begins,
behind the easterly mountain, the field of mortality turns into a potato
patch again, where an old man is harvesting spuds.
poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Real World
Mr. trouble come walkin this way
Year gone by feels like one long day but Im alive
And Im feelin all right
Well I run that hard road outta heartbreak city
Built a roadside carnival out of hurt and self-pity, it was all wrong
Well now Im moving on
Aint no church bells ringing
Aint no flags unfurled
Its just me and you and the love were bringing
Into the real world
Into the real world
I built a shrine in my heart, isnt pretty to see
Made out of fools gold memory and tears cried
Now Im headin over the rise
Im searchin for one clear moment of love and truth
I still got a little faith but what I need is some proof tonight
Im lookin for it in your eyes
Aint no church bells ringing
Aint no flags unfurled
Just me and you and the faith were bringing into the real world
Into the real world
Well tonight I just wanna shout
I feel my soul waist deep and sinking into this black river of doubt
I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside
And when the morning comes baby I dont wanna hide
Ill stand right at your side with my arms open wide
(killer guitar solo here)
Well tonight I just wanna shout
I feel my soul waist deep and sinking into this black river of doubt
I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside
til the morning comes
Ill stand right by your side
I wanna find some answers I wanna ask for some help
Im tired of running scared baby lets get our bags packed
Well take it here to hell and heaven and back
And if love is hopeless, hopeless at best
Come on put on your party dress, its ours tonight
And were goin with the tumblin dice
Aint no church bells ringing
Aint no flags unfurled
Its just me and you and the hope were bringing into the real world
Well into the real world
Oh into the real world
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Burning Love
(words & music by linde)
Lord almighty,
I feel my temperature rising
Higher higher
Its burning through to my soul
Girl, girl, girl
You gonna set me on fire
My brain is flaming
I dont know which way to go
Your kisses lift me higher
Like the sweet song of a choir
You light my morning sky
With burning love
Ooh, ooh, ooh,
I feel my temperature rising
Help me, Im flaming
I must be a hundred and nine
Burning, burning, burning
And nothing can cool me
I just might turn into smoke
But I feel fine
Cause your kisses lift me higher
Like a sweet song of a choir
And you light my morning sky
With burning love
Its coming closer
The flames are reaching my body
Please wont you help me
I feel like Im slipping away
Its hard to breath
And my chest is a-heaving
Lord almighty,
Im burning a hole where I lay
Cause your kisses lift me higher
Like the sweet song of a choir
You light my morning sky
With burning love
With burning love
Ah, ah, burning love
Im just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Perhaps Then... (Not A Man)
perhaps then, i am not a man....
i am the creek hidden
deep in the woods,
singing the hymn of rocks,
and stillness.
i am the gun laid down,
for the last time,
by the conscience of discontent.
i am the cry of the child,
born into a hungry world,
the eyes of the mother,
defying hope!
i am the snail that dances,
the deep growl of the dog,
i am firewood, cut and stacked,
in waiting.
i am the kiss of the chapter,
you read again and again...
i am the crossroads,
devoid of signs.
i am the headstone faded
by a hundred years,
the old chair rocking by itself.
i am the lamp left on,
the door that creaks,
the breeze that knows your hidden name.
i am the tongue unlocking
passions not yet defined,
that you didnt even know you had.
i am boots in the corner,
that dance to the beat,
awaiting feet, as if a lover.
i am a new set of strings,
on the old guitar,
the sound hidden inside of music.
i am the language of birds,
the sign on the forehead.
i am sin undressed and intimate.
i am smoke from the chimney,
of the abandoned house,
the tin roof electric with rain.
i am nothing a hundred times made over,
the crease in the blanket,
the indention on the pillow....
i am the grunt of god revealed,
and the shovel of eternity!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Nails in the Coffin
there's an American flag burning
in a barrel down in a broken alley.
three homeless vets warming their hands,
passing smokes, and a bottle of 'mad dog'.
paint peeling from the haunted porch
of a vacant house; trash blows
across the yard and down the street,
an old dog waits furtively at the door.
and the girl with the needle, and
painted eyes, sprawled naked in the tub...
watching roaches crawl across the floor,
fear struck dreams and the mother rush.
little boy playing in hand-me-down clothes
left out on the sidewalk in the cold.
hungry, and he just dont know to care,
wonders when his mom is coming home.
the devil and the preacher both selling soap,
the far right patriots just selling hate.
the deaf-eared mongers in Washington,
turn their heads and pour another drink!
but 'all is well! all is well! ' resounds,
the caw birds lie on the hypnotic screen.
nails in the coffin, gun in the mouth,
an American flag burning in a barrel!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Buddha Thoughts (Meditation)
emptying the old
woman's bedpan...
sunlight sifting
through dirty blinds.
the cough of the clock,
the body, and stillness!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Candles
i dreamt of candles
shimmering, dainty, romantic
....candles
all aglow lighting my path
melting away longingly
velvet ivory wax
licking the soft soles of my feet
...u came home to me
with diamonds and roses.
i dreamt of candles
ablaze, threating, ominous
....candles
all licking hungrily at my clothes
wanting to consume me
make me one with them
a charred cinder
.....u told me of her
with acerbic finality
i dreamt of candles
silent, suffering, perservering
....candles
all burning no longer a pretty yellow
just icy blue
plotting with precision
to set the stage on fire
....u called me repentent
i answered with laughter.
....'what goes around comes around'...
poem by Wardha Jawdat
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hearts On Fire
We saw the writings on the wall
When heathens ruled above us all
Tormented, we still heard the call
You come to bring us down
Wield the scepter, steal the crown
Time on the throne is running out
Cause seasons change but we are still the same
Event though the cold winds blow were burning like a flame
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Burning for the steel
Hearts On Fire
For years shunned by society
Outcasts, condemned for our beliefs
Our legions grew in secrecy
And now, the time is here
I see the Templars everywhere
The Freedom Call is drawing near
We hold our rebel banners up with pride
The colours crimson and the Hammer is the sign
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Burning for the steel
Solo: Stefan
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire
song performed by by Hammerfall
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Boots
INFANTRY COLUMNS
We're foot--slog--slog--slog--sloggin' over Africa --
Foot--foot--foot--foot--sloggin' over Africa --
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Seven--six--eleven--five--nine-an'-tw enty mile to-day --
Four--eleven--seventeen--thirty-two the day before --
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Don't--don't--don't--don't--look at what's in front of you.
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again);
Men--men--men--men--men go mad with watchin' em,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
Try--try--try--try--to think o' something different --
Oh--my--God--keep--me from goin' lunatic!
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Count--count--count--count--the bullets in the bandoliers.
If--your--eyes--drop--they will get atop o' you!
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again) --
There's no discharge in the war!
We--can--stick--out--'unger, thirst, an' weariness,
But--not--not--not--not the chronic sight of 'em --
Boot--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
'Taint--so--bad--by--day because o' company,
But night--brings--long--strings--o' forty thousand million
Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again.
There's no discharge in the war!
I--'ave--marched--six--weeks in 'Ell an' certify
It--is--not--fire--devils, dark, or anything,
But boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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The Heros Return
Jesus jesus whats it all about
Trying to clout these little ingrates into shape
When I was their age all the lights went out
There was no time to whine and mope about
And even now part of me flies over
Dresden at angels one five
Though theyll never fathom it behind my
Sarcasm desperate memories lie
Sweetheart sweetheart are you fast asleep, good
cos thats the only time that I can really talk to you
And there is something that Ive locked away
A memory that is too painful
To withstand the light of day
When we came back from the war the banners and
Flags hung on everyones door
We danced and we sang in the street and
The church bells rang
But burning in my heart
My memory smoulders on
Of the gunners dying words on the intercom
song performed by by Pink Floyd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Moment Of You
small tiny prayers,
passing thoughts,
a moment of you....
maybe just the sunlight
sifting through the blinds,
the wind blowing a branch
against the windowpane.
the sound of the train
on the distant tracks....
the ticking of the clock
in the dead stillness.
a child laughing and talking,
walking down the road....
a sudden pain in my heart,
that lingers, then is gone.
an empty bird's nest
on the ground beside the shed....
a stray cat begging for food....
small tiny prayers...
clouds in the afternoon sky...
water dripping, an old spicket......
a moment of you!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Miracle for Breakfast
At six o'clock we were waiting for coffee,
waiting for coffee and the charitable crumb
that was going to be served from a certain balcony
--like kings of old, or like a miracle.
It was still dark. One foot of the sun
steadied itself on a long ripple in the river.
The first ferry of the day had just crossed the river.
It was so cold we hoped that the coffee
would be very hot, seeing that the sun
was not going to warm us; and that the crumb
would be a loaf each, buttered, by a miracle.
At seven a man stepped out on the balcony.
He stood for a minute alone on the balcony
looking over our heads toward the river.
A servant handed him the makings of a miracle,
consisting of one lone cup of coffee
and one roll, which he proceeded to crumb,
his head, so to speak, in the clouds--along with the sun.
Was the man crazy? What under the sun
was he trying to do, up there on his balcony!
Each man received one rather hard crumb,
which some flicked scornfully into the river,
and, in a cup, one drop of the coffee.
Some of us stood around, waiting for the miracle.
I can tell what I saw next; it was not a miracle.
A beautiful villa stood in the sun
and from its doors came the smell of hot coffee.
In front, a baroque white plaster balcony
added by birds, who nest along the river,
--I saw it with one eye close to the crumb--
and galleries and marble chambers. My crumb
my mansion, made for me by a miracle,
through ages, by insects, birds, and the river
working the stone. Every day, in the sun,
at breakfast time I sit on my balcony
with my feet up, and drink gallons of coffee.
We licked up the crumb and swallowed the coffee.
A window across the river caught the sun
as if the miracle were working, on the wrong balcony.
poem by Elizabeth Bishop
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Darkness Is Falling
Verse 1:
When darkness is falling and shadows grow long
Its time for the children to sing this old song
It tells of the coming of wonders untold
Forgotten is winter, its fury and cold,
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
Repeat verse 1
When darkness is falling and stars fill the sleigh
The waiting is over and we all know why
Its time for celebrating and having a feast
Because of the tidings that come from the east
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
Hi-ho, hi-ho, well soon see the candles glow
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Eleutheria
My life is perfect
Because I accept it as it is
The sunshine is shining
Because it is what it is
What a beautiful feeling it's bringing
All the birds in the sky are singing
Eleutheria the fire is burning
Eleutheria the tables are turning
A new day is dawning
Because it is time for a change
With new consciousness forming
There comes a new day
Oh we got to got to keep on trying
When the children are cold and alone
And are crying
You got to understand
Eleutheria the bells are ringing
Eleutheria the people are singing
Eleutheria the people are yearning
Eleutheria this world keeps on turning
Turning
What a beutiful feeling
It's bringing
All the birds in the sky are singing
You got to understand
Eleutheria the fire is burning
Eleutheria the tables are turning
Eleutheria the bells are ringing
The people keep singing
The fire is burning
The tables are turning
Got to keep on
Keep on keeping on
song performed by by Lenny Kravitz from Are You Gonna Go My Way
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Monk (1)
and in the half-light of the abbey church,
candles flickering,
a kneeling stillness
for years of days
prayer
so that to be is to pray
to pray is to be and
to be is to love and
to love is to understand for
there are no questions
when silence holds all answers
candles flickering,
a kneeling stillness
poem by Michael Shepherd
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