Homeless
nowhere to go...
from bridge to alley,
maybe a tent.
barrel fire, robbing the trash,
a little something to eat
that nobody else wanted...
panhandle a cup of coffee,
maybe bum a smoke...
hope to hell it dont snow today.
the shelter's full,
the soup kitchen aint open yet....
nowhere to go.
houses with curtains & plates
give way to vacant buildings....
children's voices echo the sound
of rats scurrying in the dark...
no woman, no God...
only an old half-blind
stray dog
following, following....
nowhere to go...
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Always Walking, Never Alone!
always walking, never alone...
be it the wind,
whose voice has comforted me
for longer than i can remember.
be it darkness,
my lover, passion unfolding.
be it the lights in unknown houses,
signaling life to the traveller.
be it the whisper of stone,
and wood aging and holding.
be it the cry of emptiness,
vacant buildings, desolate streets.
be it the smells of food cooking,
of woodsmoke, of flesh on flesh.
be it the taste of rain,
the cold touch of falling snow.
be it the stillness of graves,
row upon row, life upon life.
my god walks with me,
naked in the night.
we listen for the whimper of babies,
the meow of stray cats.
for the sound of the shot,
and the body falling.
for the key turning the lock,
and the creaking of the swing.
for the perfume of the pines,
for the man picking up the trash.
for the heart moaning
low and gutteral in need.
for the sound of the man weeping,
having given up,
and the woman that holds him.
for the prayers of small children,
and the echoes of longing...
always walking, never alone!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Gospel, The Dharma, And The Breath
the darkened streets
haunt and whisper,
lights come and go,
eternity breaks the glass.
and right and wrong,
frozen on the ground...
smokestacks, abandoned cars,
vacant buildings ran by rats.
the hungry hand,
the mouth of poverty.
the addict's needle,
the body in the alley.
the woman beaten,
her face blackened and bloody.
the click of the hammer
on an empty chamber.
and the houses beckon,
with lighted rooms
where shadows move in
a most familiar way.
the smell of food,
and the warmth contained...
never quite reaching
the children sleeping
in the back of the car.
the churches gone dark,
no sound, no action.
down the street the bars
light up the night.
at a corner table,
he sits alone with a drink...
and a book he just opened...
he writes with a pen,
sure that no one can see:
we are the gospel,
we are the dharma...
we died on the cross,
we gave up our kingdoms.
we are the healers,
but the killers...
we are the medicine,
and yet the guns.
we are the hand dipped
in the infected wound...
and yet we are the giver
of that very wound...
both the breath of Satan,
and the breath of God!
from our knees we learn
the gift of flight!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Dont Think Jesus Died For This!
wars, wars, and rumors of wars...
1 in 5 children go to bed hungry.
people still cringe at the color of skin,
and religious people crucify
anyone who thinks different.
unemployment lines not moving,
soup lines getting longer.
shutting down the battered women's shelter,
funding cut off....
food stamps dont pay light bills,
and lovers face discrimination.
the clothes you got at Goodwill,
made in an Asian sweat shop....
dumping oil in the oceans,
the price of gas rising...
and vacant houses arent for vacant people.
everyone talking, nobody listening....
somehow i dont think Jesus died for this!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
As If... (You Never Owned A Thing!)
if you listen at night,
the trash in the alleys comes alive.
there is a whispering
that fills the cardboard boxes.
the cans and bottles play
an unearthly music.
and vacant houses talk to god,
or perhaps the demons of poverty.
the wind stops blowing,
and the stink hangs like a cloud...
the evidence of blind excess!
the bodies of the nameless ones,
rise from the filth of forgotten.
the rats join ranks with stray dogs,
and testify against your indulgence!
soon, probably sooner than you think,
your eyes will be covered with dirt.
and the worms will take what you have hoarded,
as if you never owned a thing!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Need A Woman
Its been raining in the trenches all day long, dripping down to my clothes,
My patience is wearing thin, got a fire inside my nose.
Searching for the truth the way God designed it,
The truth is I might drown before I find it.
Well I need a woman, yes I do
Need a woman, yes I do.
Someone who can see me as I am,
Somebody who just dont give a damn.
And I want you to be that woman every night,
Be that woman.
Ive had my eyes on you baby for about five long years,
You probably dont know me at all, but I have seen your laughter and tears.
Now you dont frighten me, my heart is jumping
And you look like it wouldnt hurt you none to have a man who could give ya something.
Well I need a woman, oh dont i
Need a woman, bring it home safe at last.
Seen you turn the corner, seen your bootheels spark,
Seen you in the daylight, and watched you in the dark.
And I want you to be that woman, all right
Be that woman every night.
Well, if you believe in something long enough you just naturally come to think its true.
There aint no wall you cant cross over, aint no fire you cant walk through.
Well, believing is all right, just dont let the wrong people know what its all about.
They might put the evil eye on you, use their hidden powers to try to turn you out.
Well I need a woman, just to be my queen.
Need a woman, know what I mean?
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Homeless Man In The South
homeless shelter full;
no spot under the bridge,
too much traffic, and the law.
stole some plastic;
set up a tent down deep
in the woods by the creek....
up above the place where
the cows cross... hauled my
belongings, a few clothes,
books, an old rifle, a coffee pot,
and a few utensils...a little food.
built a small fire... thinking.
what to do? steal a car,
make a run for God knows where?
or just sit here watching my
food and coffee dwindle....
crows cawing in a heavy grey sky....
them cows are starting to look....
like survival!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Hunger Is!
broke and busted,
wandering the streets...
with nothing but the clothes
on your back and
the shoes on your feet...
and havent eaten in two days.
the mission's closed,
no soup line today...
and you start staring at the trash cans,
behind houses, behind restaurants.
you watch people walking to their cars,
people going into stores,
hands in their pockets, or
pocketbooks on their shoulders...
just looking for a chance.
numb to the fear, to any feeling,
to the sound of sirens,
to the sound of voices talking and laughing...
and there's no right or wrong...
only then, do you know,
hunger is!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Assad Visits Homs
Those who love their own noise are impatient of everything else. … Our noise, our business, our purposes, and all our fatuous statements about our purposes, our business, and our noise: these are the illusion.
Thomas Merton.
He came to visit today
with cameras firmly fixed
on his perfect
hair.
He came with his selected throng
to acknowledge their
devotion
as he surveyed his
demolition.
Those old buildings were such a blight,
rabid rats, full of the noise
of rebellious children,
but now, city leveled, he can see
how beautiful it all will be.
Bright new buildings soon will rise,
and scrape death from the acrid sky;
and everything will be
first rate!
….but just out of al Jazeera's frame
black smoke pours over
Baba Amr;
incinerated hopes;
dark stain.
poem by Steven Federle
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Full Bug
Mmmm,da yeah!
Mmmm,im tell you now
You corner my dog, it dont let you past,
Got a bad lil woman, gon bite yo ass
Yeah,
Wont let you past
Ah yeah!
Wah!
Ah precious sweetheart,
Woman all you want is good as it can get,oh yeah!
An inspiration,
Girl youre sensational and this gets better yet, ah yeah!
( ah ) well all your dreams of riches, are based on magazines,
( ah ) no this aint television,but its more than it seems
( ah ) 'take those,'need and 'give all,this much you understand
All I wanna give you woman ( oh )
Is the best part of a man,yeah
Lemme show you,
Babe to make the best of what you havent had, ah yeah!
Just remember when you follow through,when the over isnt planned ah yeah!
( ah ) looks just like an angel,but hes just talking trash
( ah ) hell make conversation,but shes listening to your cash
( ah ) 'take those,'need and 'give all,this much you understand
All I wanna give you woman ( oh )
Is the best part of a man,yeah
Oh,mmm,uh,mm,mm
Love that woman,heart and soul
In the grooves,on the go,
You know
Ah yeah!
Yeah you corner my dog,it dont let you past,
Got a bad lil woman, gon bite yo ass
For sure ah
( ah ) looks just like an angel,but hes just talking trash
( ah ) hell make conversation,but shes listening to your cash
( ah ) 'take those,'need and 'give all,this much you understand
All I wanna give you woman ( oh )
Is the best part of a man,yeah
Best part of a man wow!
song performed by by Van Halen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
All The Same!
i am the illegal immigrant,
picking your fruit.
while my children are hungry,
and my wife scrubs your floors.
the young black man in your prison,
the anger of the poor.
i am the books,
you forbid us to read.
i am the Vietnamese family,
whose children speak english.
the young Sioux poet,
whose words sound like tears.
i am the white man's reservation,
and the white man's god....
the sound of the gas pump,
the feet of soldiers marching to death.
i am the grandson of the miner,
who never came out.
the body of the union organizer,
buried beneath rubble.
i am the picket line,
the cold floor of the cell.
i am the old woman who died,
alone in her nursing home bed.
the sound of the church bells,
on midnight's empty streets.
i am the needle and the crack pipe,
the sound of the window breaking.
i am the whistle of the train,
so near and so far.
i am the child adopted,
by two women in love.
i am the mission, the soup line,
and the shelter....
the body in the alley,
and no one cares.
i am the song of America,
i am the wind of freedom.
i am the torch of justice,
the bridge that has no name.
i am the god of many colors,
and all the same!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
[The Trash Can Fire]
The Trash can fire burns worm.
For another dog left out in the cold.
Glistening streets,
where the dark allies meet.
Another dog without a bone.
Once loyal friend to his master.
Now master of disaster.
His only friend is where he roams
and the only home he now knows.
Is there by the trash can fire.
As rain comes down in sheets.
His matted fer soaks to the core.
Steaming his sole, like water on hot coals
He begs by the trash can fire.
The trash can fire burns worm,
little embers that glow in the night.
Def and blind is this dog.
Never will he belong,
to anything but the trash can fire.
poem by Seth Morrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Names Written In Blood
hard nosed old half drunk men,
missing fingers, teeth, and hope.
50 years of working for somebody else,
somebody else's money, somebody else's dreams.
a warm fire, a cook pot half full,
a woman bent on loving,
patient enough to stay.
and the snail trails of children,
grown and gone....
echoes in the living room,
echoes on the porch.
old woman buried,
echoes in the bed....
hard lined old faces,
eyes vacant as distance...
lips bruised with silence,
names written in blood!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
In Exile, , ,
must poets live in exile?
strangers limping to the dance.
streetlights dancing on the lampshade,
thrown into the trash.
in conversations with rats,
sleeping with ghosts in empty buildings.
immigrants without papers,
pawning blood for a drink.
by fires on the fringe,
stirring the stew made of hope.
eyes blackened by the smoke,
laughing with small children.
painting revolution on sterile walls,
sharing bread with mongrel dogs.
lovers without a country,
homeless, going home!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Day After Greed
walking the greying streets,
between the broken down
and vacant buildings....
through the alleyways..
concrete graveyards...
the hint of smoke hangs
in the air.... the stain of soot,
the taste of death... lingers....
i closed my eyes and saw
the bodies... strewn in the street
like trash blown against a fence...
eyes wild, faces contorted, ...
death, and it's brothers and sisters...
storefronts dark and ominous,
gas pumps stand alone like angry
sores, oozing into the emptiness.
great black birds fly, casting shadows
that search for tiny particles of light....
stray dogs roam in packs,
hungry for flesh!
only the sound of the great
oil rigs pumping in the distance....
an old tattered flag blown
by a cold infidel wind!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Open Up Woman
Im beggin forgiveness
But its gonna take a miracle
cos Ive been lyin
She dont wanna know and I think its impossible
Said open up woman
I know that youre sad and lonely
If I could hold you
We could make it again
Listen all you men
Be good and be warned
Hell hath no fury
Like the wrath of a woman scorned
Open up woman
Give me a chance
No more lyin
No more secrets
If I could make you
I would take you away and cover up your sadness
I keep sayin open up woman
But you dont wanna hear my promise
If I cant have you
Then I dont need a heart
Listen all you men
Be good and be warned
Hell hath no fury
Like the wrath of a woman scorned
Open up woman
And give me a chance
Listen all you men
Be good and be warned
Hell hath no fury
Like the wrath of a woman scorned
Livin in silence
Of my own makin
Though she wont show me
I know that her heart and soul are achin
Open up woman
I know that youre lost and let down
Im gonna keep tryin
stead of losin again
Listen all you men
Be good and be warned
Hell hath no fury
Like the wrath of a woman scorned
Open up woman
And give me a chance
Open up woman
Open up woman
song performed by by Nazareth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
What If God......
what if god is a dog,
or a fallen leaf?
the pebble that bruised your foot,
dust on the windowpane.
that old milk cow,
the stall that needs cleaned.
the plow caked with dirt,
the bag of seeds.
the fallen tree,
or the gust of wind.
rainwater in a barrel,
the pile of trash in the alley.
the river rising,
the eyes of the owl.
the upside down bat,
the darkness of the cave.
moonlight sifting through branches,
the leader of the ants.
the word the hand speaks,
when it brushes away tears.
the hatred of the ignorant
that weeps when no one sees.
a cup of coffee,
or a bowl of rice.
the smell of failure,
asking for forgiveness.
the baby bird that fell,
the nest left empty.
the child born,
that no one wants.
the disease that kills,
snow on the ground.
the old bridge that shakes,
the lantern waiting to be lit.
the last page of the book,
that no one reads!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Trouble With The Sweet Stuff
(wanna give it up
Gotta give it up
Cant give it up)
Oh mama oh oh
The moneys run out
And Im a hungry man
Oh mama oooo
You see
I--Im a--hurtin man
I was just a boy
When they told me
God love ya
Youre insane
Here I am
Pistol in my hand
Judge and jury
One the same
I got
Trouble with the sweet stuff oh yeah
I got
Trouble with the sweet stuff oh yeah
And Im never ever gonna shake it
Shake it
Trouble with the sweet stuff
Trouble with the sweet stuff
Bang bang
They shot me down
Caught me
Robbing the bank again
Say Im crazy
Im a desperate man
Nah right (cmon)
Daddys in the junk shop
Alley babe
Tryin to some that stuff
I said
I cant believe it (ooh give it up)
Trouble with the sweet stuff oh yeah
I got
Trouble with the sweet stuff
And Im never
Ever gonna shake it
Shake it
Dont wanna give it up
Dont wanna give it up
Yeah
Shake it
Gotta give it up
Dont wanna give it up
Dont wanna give it up
Trouble with the sweet stuff oh yeah
Mommys in the graveyard
Pushed her oh so long
Baby aint cryin
Cradles cold, long gone
And me mama, mama
Yes when the situation
Breaks down
Youve got trouble trouble
Bang bang
They shot me down
Caught me robbin d bank again
(are you crazy)
Baby oh yeah
Im a desperate man
Daddy, in the junk shop
Alley babe
Tryin to smoke that stuff
And me
Never gonna shake it
Baby yeah
(ooh give it up)
Trouble with the sweet stuff oh yeah
I got
Trouble with the sweet stuff oh yeah
Trouble with the sweet stuff
Baby
And Im never
Never, never, never, ever
Gonna shake it
I want
(dont wanna give it up)
Trouble with the sweet stuff yeah
(laugh) believe me babe
(shake it
Cant give it up
Come on and shake it)
Yeah
(daddys in the junk shop alley babe
Tryin to smoke that stuff oh yeah)
Yeah, gonna shake it
(cant give it up
Cant give it up)
Do you feel pain
The same way I feel pain babe
(give it up)
Breathe the same air
I gotta give it up
(wanna give it up
Cant give it up
Gotta give it up)
Give it up
Give it up
song performed by by Billy Idol
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I Need A Woman
(bob dylan)
Its been raining in my mouth all day
Dripping down to my clothes
My patience it is wearing thin
Got a fire inside my nose
Searching for the truth the way God designed it
The truth is I might drown before I find it
Well, I need a woman
Yes, I do
Need a woman
Yes, I do
Someone who can see me as I am
Give the kind of love that dont have to be condemned
And I want you to be that woman
Every night
Be that woman
Treat me right
Ive had my eyes on you, baby
For about five long years
You probably dont know me at all
But Ive seen your laughter and Ive seen your tears
Now you dont frighten me
I aint no defendant
And you look like it wouldnt hurt you none
To have a man of understanding
Well, I need a woman
Oh, dont i
Need a woman
Bring it home safe at last
Ive seen you standing on the corner
Seen you sitting down in the park
Been watching you in the sunshine
Walking with you in the dark
And I want you to be that woman
Treat me right
Be that woman
Every night
Well, if you believe in something long enough
You just naturally come to think its true
There aint no wall you cant crossover
Aint no fire you cant walk through
Well, believing is all right
Just dont let the wrong people know what its all about
They might put the evil eye on you
Use their hidden powers to try to turn you out
Well, I need a woman
Just to be my queen
Need a woman
Black, white, yellow, brown, blue or green
Riding out with me at midnight
Like two spanish desperadoes
Gazing down upon the futile world
In her cadillac eldorado
We will penetrate the storm
In search of truth that has not been tested
But she better bring along her checkbook
Just in case we get arrested
And I want you to be that woman
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Dont Think Twice, Its All Right
It aint no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It dont matter, anyhow
An it aint no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you dont know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and Ill be gone
Youre the reason Im travlin on
Dont think twice, its all right
It aint no use in turnin on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An it aint no use in turnin on your light, babe
Im on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin anyway
So dont think twice, its all right
It aint no use in callin out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It aint no use in callin out my name, gal
I cant hear you any more
Im a-thinkin and a-wondrin all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child Im told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But dont think twice, its all right
Im walkin down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where Im bound, I cant tell
But goodbyes too good a word, gal
So Ill just say fare thee well
I aint sayin you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I dont mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But dont think twice, its all right
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Realization Of What Seems To Be Detestable
when we meet
i see hallways and
a gate and a hollow alley
and i have not
hesitated to
bribe the guards
and so i had all the ease
getting in
where i am not supposed
to be
because i ought
not to belong there
damp rooms
and dusty curtains
and rusty pipes
faucets leaking
and rats
running on the ceiling
and cockroaches
stepping on
cheese and
bread
flies on cold coffee
and fleas
on the off-white linens
i give in
because you are there
waiting for me
and in this kind
of compromising
situations
i have always been
weak.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!