How Can I Not Know?
how many of my actions
...are shallow graves,
for the children, unnamed,
and unborn....
how many of my thoughts
...are their tombstones,
standing, testifying
in the sun....
how many of my words
...are their epitaphs,
written with the greed
that feeds the self?
how many of my days
....at the expense of theirs,
and how can i not know,
or care?
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Shallow Grave
When I fall in endless sleep
I hope that I'll be buried deep
Let me be the one that fortune favours
Even good children got shallow graves
Throw another clown to the lions
Throw another Joan on the blaze
Cast me away on the cruel calm ocean
and leave me for days and days and days and days and days
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
I won't lie, I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Bless the poor 'cos like the rich
They all end up in a ditch
In this world of fools and knaves
Even good children got shallow graves
The tinker, the tailor, the fabulous five
Nobody gets out of this alive
Chorus
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down, dig me down, dig me down deep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Shallow Graves
When I fall in endless sleep
I hope that Ill be buried deep
Let me be the one that fortune favours
Even good children got shallow graves
Throw another clown to the lions
Throw another joan on the blaze
Cast me away on the cruel calm ocean
And leave me for days and days and days and days and days
I wont lie in this poor shallow grave
I wont lie, I wont lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I wont lie in this poor shallow grave
Bless the poor cos like the rich
They all end up in a ditch
In this world of fools and knaves
Even good children got shallow graves
The tinker, the tailor, the fabulous five
Nobody gets out of this alive
Chorus
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I wont lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I wont lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down, dig me down, dig me down deep
I wont lie in this poor shallow grave
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Example
What we feed to the children
In words, actions, and example
Will later form them in the end
Into better or bitter people.
The attitudes and views we give
Our children will readily observe
Into vessels they are thus received
These things of life they absorb.
Our many words and our little ways
They will influence and they will mold
As we see the youth's passing days
We reproduce the children we now hold.
So with care and with much diligence
Let us all take heed what we say
And with greater watchfulness hence
Guard our thoughts and actions today.
'We teach what we know,
we reproduce what we are.'
-
Copyright Cynthia Buhain Baello
February 27,2010
Philippines
poem by Cynthia Buhain-Baello
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Beware Words Written
words celebrating what is written
beware allure of beauty in words written
seek instead words thoughts not written
words not written thoughts not written
themes not written which need to be written
the importance of the unwritten demands writing
important world needs consciousness needs writing
urgent global necessity issues demands needs writing
actions resolutions policy change harmony restoration needs writing
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
why Socrates did not write....
he believes in what must be said
trusting in the recall of what is important
you should have paid more attention and
kept everything dear inside your heart
he never believes in the written word
he knows that time keeps on changing
and words in print do not, and like
Heraclitus, he had always invoked
that he can never step on the same river twice
i am no Socrates, neither am i Plato
i keep notes, and write, but i shall not always be understood.
i trust in the written word, and i must be foolish though.
i believe in epitaphs and tombstones, the tablets,
the bytes, those that i leave and soon may rise like the dead
must they redeem me soonest
that i can perhaps hope.
the words can go on, without me, i keep on murmuring
may my words protect me, may my letters make you believe my truths.
may i traverse the right path, and forever, not be punished
to be back, here, these valleys of tears, these thalwegs of no return.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Last One Standing
Standing alone,
Above a bottomless void.
You just want it all,
But you’ve forgotten that I’m still here!
A lone wolf in the arctic desert,
The tiger that evades capture.
Fangs and claws,
Razor sharp in the cold clear night.
I think you’d better run now,
‘Cos I’m coming after you.
I’m the last one standing,
And I’m waiting for you!
Would you bleed,
Would you cry,
Would you kill
For your greed?
Would you leave
Those that care
All behind
For all your greed?
Can’t you see me? Last one standing
I’ve faced it all! Last one standing
You cut me down! Last one standing
I’m the last one standing and I’m coming for you!
You tortured innocent,
For you own pleasure.
Manipulating them,
To play with power.
Hunted through the night,
Shaking in the heat.
The tide of fear is rising,
And it’s drowning you alone.
I think you’d better hide now,
‘Cos I’m searching for you.
You know what’s gonna’ happen
And there’s no mean of escape!
Would you bleed,
Would you cry,
Would you kill
For your greed?
Would you leave
Those that care
All behind
For all your greed?
Can’t you see me? Last one standing
I’ve faced it all! Last one standing
You cut me down! Last one standing
I’m the last one standing and I’m coming for you!
No matter what you do,
I’ll always be there,
Watching you,
Waiting for my chance,
‘Cos I’m the last one standing,
And you’re going down!
poem by Thistle Wargul
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Redemption, Revival, Or Epitaphs
rain swept morning...
and all the sins of yesterday
roll down the face of humanity.
redemption, or revival?
the hand finds the heart,
the eyes see the soul,
fear washes away unnamed.
cities built of shadows,
great smokestacks, vacant shrines.
and it's always the voices,
and the faces, struggling,
to be heard and seen!
man imprisoned himself by nations,
sold too cheaply on the block.
murders his mother beneath the wheels,
never hearing her cry.
sacrificing the children
to feed the inner beast.
now we stand naked in the rain...
redemption, revival, or epitaphs,
left by the children's graves!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Please Mr. Gravedigger
There's a little churchyard just along the way
It used to be lambeth's finest array
Of tombstones, epitaphs, wreaths, flowers all that jazz
Till the war came along and someone dropped a bomb on the lot
And in this little yard, there's a little old man
With a little shovel in his little bitty hand
He seems to spend all his days puffing fags and digging graves
He hates the reverend vicar and he lives all alone in his home
Ah-choo ! excuse me
Please mr. gravedigger, don't feel ashamed
As you dig little holes for the dead and the maimed
Please mr. gravedigger, i couldn't care
If you found a golden locket full of some girl's hair
And you put it in your pocket
God, it's pouring down
Her mother doesn't know about your sentimental joy
She thinks it's down below with the rest of her toys
And ma wouldn't understand, so i won't tell
So keep your golden locket all safely hid away in your pocket
Yes, mr. gd, you see me every day , st ....ah choo !
Standing in the same spot by a certain grave
Mary-ann was only 10, full of life and oh so gay
And i was the wicked man who took her life away
Very selfish, oh god
No, mr. gd, you won't tell
And just to make sure that you keep it to yourself
I've started digging holes myself
And this one here's for you
Lifted our girl, she apparently doesn't know of it
Hello misses, thought she'd be a little girl
Bloody obscene, catch pneumonia or something in this rain
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
To My Unborn Children
To my unborn children
To my unborn children
Just remember daddy loves you
Hope the lord’s looking after you
In case god judges me differently
I just want to tell you this
I’ve learned many things, As I’m blessed and still living
Thinking about my past, yeah reminiscing
My mum was a alone, single parent but proud
I love you mum and I’m saying it loud
I’ve only got one life to live
I hope god can forgive me for my sins
I promise I’ll never lie, cheat or steal again
My only friend is pain and misery
Cos of all the agony that certain people gives to me
See my life isn’t great but it'll sure get better
Hope you understand my love letter,
I'm writing you this letter
It’s to my unborn children
Want to let you know that I love you
Please believe that I feel this way
I think about you every day
And I have so much to say
It's hard to face this, cold world on a good day
When will they let us have our say?
I was in an RTA and yeah I'm still breathing
Got to be proof there’s a god if you’re looking for a reason
Can I believe in my own fate
Have to learn on my own now
I want to make it on my own
Yeah I don’t want no handouts
I don’t want any fuss when it’s my time to die
Don’t worry about me
I’ll be up in the skies
Trust me I won’t be feeling any pain
Cos I’ll get to see my unborn children again
I'm writing you this letter
It’s to my unborn children
Want to let you know that I love you
Please believe that I feel this way
I think about you every day
And I have so much to say
Dear lord hear me when I say
Look after my unborn children
Cos I will take over from you one day
Until that day will my children get to feel love?
Better still if you do will you show them enough?
Oh how I wish they were here
Maybe I should try and change
Then my outlook on life would be more tame
I hate this tough decisions game
Every time I look out at the pounding rain
I see their faces staring back at me
And I'm sorry for not being there
Just know your daddy is a fighter, me against the world
Bless the children of his earth
To the Lord when it’s my turn
May I eternally rest in your peace
So I can take care of my unborn children
I would look after them now
I’m stretching up with my fingertips
I’m so close, yet still so far out of reach
I'm writing you this letter
It’s to my unborn children
Want to let you know that I love you
Please believe that I feel this way
I think about you every day
And I have so much to say
To my unborn children, please forgive me
This letter goes out to you to hopefully make you see
That daddy thinks about you daily
mummy and daddy loves you, we’ve got nothing but love for you
Hope you got a good life up there with the lord
One day we’ll be up there with you
Please, please understand
Just know we got love for you
We’ll see you soon up there in heaven
Take care my children, take care
Have fun and be smart
Stay together and you’ll be okay
I know sometimes you look down on us...confused
But hopefully daddy’s thoughts and prayers will help you get through everyday
Cos when I die my spirit will fly determinedly your way
By Jay Basey © 2009
poem by J.M. Basey
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Testifying has helped me understand that one individual's behavior and actions make a difference. That my actions are important to people other than myself.
quote by Anita Hill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
If I may say
Love comes and goes and it rarely lasts these days
That's one of the things that makes me sad if I may say
It becomes more and more difficult to find a true friend these days
That's one of the things that makes me sad if I may say
Too often siblings fight each other for property these days
That's one of the things that makes me sad if I may say
Greed and desire are what many people nurture these days
That's one of the things that makes me sad if I may say
Moral and ethic less and less people care these days
That's one of the things that makes me sad if I may say
Too many dubious actions and decisions I have seen these days
That's one of the things that makes me sad if I may say
With paper-white mind and evil thoughts astray
How much I yearn for my childhood life left behind so far away.
poem by Henry Chen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Words
Words on this paper
Words in my head
Words while I'm texting
Computing
Unsaid
Words between people
Words on the phone
Words upon words
Even when I'm alone
Words from the Bible
I question
Don't mesh
Words from pornography
Making them flesh
Words with flat letters
Written in black
Good words and bad words
You cannot take back
Words that are shallow
Words that are deep
When they're too many
They put me to sleep
Words that I'm writing
And rhyming you read
Whatever I'm saying
There's prolly no need
Words from the alphabet
Words that can't be
When you are blind
And it's Braile that you see
Words that are worthless
And said on the fly
My words or your words
Are most likely lies
Words in a sentence
Wise words or fair
The only words earnest
Are those said in prayer
Written by Sara Fielder © 2011
poem by Sara Fielder
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Despise!
i despise...
the self centered concept
that one group of people,
that one race, or one religion,
is better than all the rest.
i despise...
any system that feeds
the few at the expense
of the many.
i despise...
ignorance, arrogance,
greed, and apathy.
i despise...
the pursuit of money
at the expense of living.
i despise...
narrow minded people
who try to lead
for the good of mankind.
i despise...
indifference, intolerance,
and unforgiveness!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
In An Anonymous Week
If I am not beautiful, nobody really has interests
Or love; and I am quite shallow,
The pittance of an unreturned dove:
You know, you know- all of our graves or quite
Shallow, too- like animal graves,
Like animals shoes; and this is what I have been doing,
Digging up shallow tubs of earth, throwing dirt
Over my shoulders like a dirty curse, and doing it
Without appeasing anyone in the eye;
If I should have to die, If I should have to die, let it
Be little animal tears for me, and distant cars,
And distant echoes of somnolent feet; you know,
I am not pretty, and the way the earth moves, I shall
Be dead in an anonymous week.
poem by Bret R. Crabrooke
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Will Not....
i will not be a part
of your wars!
keep your oil wet,
blood stained fingers
off of my throat!
i will not, by actions,
or inaction, be a part,
of that which furthers hunger
and suffering to pad
the pockets of greed.
i will not kill for profit,
will not march to the drum!
i will not believe in your lie,
nor wave your flag!
i will not cast judgements
with prejudicial blows,
i will not take from the poor,
nor dig the graves...
to bury the children
that you never named!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I gotta have you
Her thoughts, to me serve as riddles
Her slightest actions cost me days to think
Oh you are intricate; it's what you do to me!
You leave me hanging, yet your smile kills me.
I need to see her, yes I am in haste!
Every instance we are together is about to be written,
You vanish with no definite reason,
I stand here longing for answers, waiting for you.
I'm afraid of losing you,
Someone like you, in the first place I never really had.
A man of plans will put words into work,
I just got to have you before the worst.
poem by Art Aquino
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Massacre Of The Unborn
No survive
Unborn child
Cut to pieces
Left without a name
Unwanted because of the problems of humanity
Unspeakable crime
Silent war is the name of the game
Millions are dying in actions of death and pain
Misguided mothers make this happen
Sometimes for a financial situation
Or a sexual mistake
[Chorus:]
Massacre of the unborn
Massacre of the unborn
Massacre of the unborn child
Innocent blood cries in vain
Defenseless lives are slaughtered everyday
They should make a law against this insanity
Unborn corpses are growing in extreme quantity
Premature stage
Slowly destroyed by the human race
[Lead]
Tortured by tyrants
Unjustly demise
Infant children are left to die
Just innocent lives they slay
There is no chance to escape
Murdering is the matter of this case
A merciless torture to take
No one will live, because they won't survive
There's infant dying
Can't you see
That they will not have a chance
Of growing up in this life
[Lead]
[Chorus:]
Massacre of the unborn
Massacre of the unborn
Massacre of the unborn child
song performed by by Incubus
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Imitating
We all have someone we look up to and admire,
And imitating others is something we all do!
Whether we admit it or not,
For life is all about the muse of mankind.
Important thoughts and actions,
Do not touch it if it is not your own;
Important thoughts and actions,
Do not touch me if i am not your wife;
Important thoughts and actions,
Do not use it if it is not your own;
Important thoughts and actions,
Do not use me if you are not my husband;
And like family members and friends,
But i am the muse next door to you.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Abortions Isn’t Health-care
Must one kill children healthy, hale,
If contraceptives were to fail?
Must parents murder children own,
And make the Maker Himself frown?
You need not protect unborn’s health,
But stop the gruesome killings stealth!
No human heart with humaneness
Could kill one’s offspring but caress.
The money wasted is so much;
The world shouldn’t lose its human touch;
This world belongs to unborn too!
Let unborn live like how you do.
Man does not live by bread alone,
But by the words uttered by God;
Don’t force the God of life to moan,
Inviting wrath that turns His rod!
When love of God has given life,
He’ll certainly not give more strife.
No man predicts the things to come,
Life’s woes, like joys, we must welcome.
Life can’t become a paradise
By families cut short in size;
Blessings from God decides success;
Children are living gifts precious!
Don’t kill your unborn children please;
Let fears of rearing in you cease;
Children are human resources;
Rose-plant must have many roses!
Why make the human wombs mere tombs,
When money’s poured to see the moon?
Innocent blood that’s spilt in wombs
Could make the nations accursed soon.
‘Let unborn children live, like you and me! ’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-27-2009
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Unborn children do not have a voice, but they are young members of the human family. It is time to look at the unborn child, and recognize that it is really a young human, who can feel pain and should be treated with care.
quote by Sam Brownback
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!