Lantern
he lit his lantern and
walked out on the porch,
with his old dog
by his side....
he could see the wind
walking through the trees,
wrapped in the stillness
and comfort of darkness...
how long had it been?
25 cents a gallon gasoline,
Marlboros,25 cents a pack!
working all week for 55 dollars....
sawmills, factories, milking cows,
a hoe and a gallon jar of water.
hanging the gears on his old truck...
cold beer, making love all night....
civil unrest and high ideals,
bulletproof, with a taste for danger.
then the children came... working
more for less... till he became invisible....
and the world careened into madness,
enough was never enough....
and all his dreams fell to dust.....
the wings of the eagle rusted.
standing alone, with his dog,
peering into the night....
listening to whispering ghosts....
listening... for the voice of love....
for the sound of his
own heart beating!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Listening
Your skin attached this fragile cliche
Of my broken heart attack
You should swallow your teeth and hang out
Stay for a while
If your heart's still beating it must be the blood
If your lungs are still working it must be the mud
If its still light out than a kick in the ribs
today's worth living
I don't see anything now
So just say what you wanna say
It's kind of funny how I'm not listening anyway
Lights out, I can't stand to hear you scream
While we were making love I was fast asleep
and the night sky better give something up (give something up)
I don't see anything now
So just say what you wanna say
It's kind of funny how I'm not listening anyway
[x2]
Lights out, lights out, lights out, lights out...
Lights out! I can't stand to hear you scream
While we were making love I was fast asleep
If your heart's still beating it must be the blood
If your lungs are still working it must be the mud
If its still light out than a kick in the ribs
And today's worth living, it probably is
I don't see anything now
So just say what you wanna say
It's kind of funny how I'm not listening anyway
[x2]
I'm not listening anyway
I'm not listening anyway
I'm not listening
Listening, I'm not listening
I'm not listening
I'm not listening
I'm not listening
song performed by by Used
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Barefooted
walking barefooted
on broken glass....
playing a flute;
listening, listening,
for the sound of
the Lover's voice....
waiting, for the familiar
touch, for the smell
of the last rose opening
as the wings of autumn
approach.... listening,
for the sound of my own heart,
or the sound of planets evolving;
waiting for the gift of emptiness,
and the dance of flesh on flesh....
walking barefooted
on broken glass....
whispering to the stillness!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Gallon Of Gas
Ive been waiting for years to buy a brand new cadillac
But now that Ive got one I want to send it right back
I cant afford the gas to fill my luxury limousine
But even if I had the dough no ones got no gasoline
I went to my local dealer to see if he could set me straight
He said theres a little gas going but Id have to wait
But he offered some red hot speed and some really high grade hash
But a gallon of gas cant be purchased anywhere for any amount of cash
I can score you some coke and some grade one grass
But I cant get a gallon of gas
Ive got some downers some speed all the drugs that you need
But I cant get a gallon of gas
Theres no more left to buy or sell
Theres no more oil left in the well
A gallon of gas cant be purchased anywhere
For any amount of cash
Two extra verses from long version:
I love your body-work, but youre really no use
How can I drive you when I got no juice?
Because its stuck in neutral and my engines got no speed
And the highways are deserted
And the air smells unnaturally clean.
Its got power-assisted overdrive and carpets on the floor,
But its parked out front just like a dead dinosaur.
And Ill be paying off the bank for 45 years or more.
It should go 100 miles an hour,
But its never moved away from my door.
Who needs a car and a seven-forty-seven
When you cant buy a gallon of gas
Who needs a highway, an airport or a jet
When you cant get a gallon of gas
Theres no more left to buy or sell
Theres no more oil left in the well
A gallon of gas cant be purchased anywhere
For any amount of cash
You cant buy a gallon of gas
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Poet's Dream
i dreamed last night i was walking,
in the company of Robert Bly, and Diane di Prima...
down a stony path in the pitch black darkness.
we walked in silence... listening, just listening.
the wind rustled the tree limbs, sighing...
almost blowing out our lantern.
the spirits of animals, trees, and even the stones
beneath our feet.... testified!
a great haunting wave of peace blanketed us...
and i knew the path we were on to be the right one!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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$10 a Gallon?
$10 a gallon?
For what?
'Does that really matter now?
When it approached
One dollar per gallon...
You should have voiced your concern then!
Not when your pockets have gotten thin.
And deepened to hold more lint!
You want to make cents?
Put these sunglasses on.
Grab a twig from a bush...
And get to begging!
MAYBE...
You might gain some sympathy,
From someone who recognizes you are in disguise.
And they are in the mood,
To share with you their good attitude.
IF they have some of 'that' left! '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Love Rocky Road
I hear those ice cream bells and I start to drool
Keep a couple quarts in my locker at school
Yah, but chocolates gettin old
Vanilla just leaves me cold
Theres just one flavor good enough for me, yah me
Dont gimme no crummy taste spoon
I know what I need
Baby, I love rocky road
So werent you gonna buy half a gallon, baby
I love rocky road
So have another triple scoop with me, ow
They tell me ice cream junkies are all the same
All the soda jerkers know my name
When their supple is gone
Then Ill be movin on
But Ill be back on monday afternoon, youll see
Another truck loads comin in for me, all for me
Im singin
I love rocky road
So werent you gonna buy half a gallon, baby
I love rocky road
So have another triple scoop with me, ow
(oh, make it talk)
When Im all alone, I just grab myself a cone
And if I get fat and loose my teeth thats fine with me
Just lock me in the freezer and throw away the key
Sing it
I love rocky road
So werent you gonna buy half a gallon, baby
I love rocky road
So have another triple scoop with me
I love rocky road
So werent you gonna buy half a gallon, baby
I love rocky road
So have another triple scoop with
*i love rocky road
*so werent you gonna buy half a gallon, baby
*i love rocky road
*so have another triple scoop with
*i love rocky road
*so werent you gonna buy half a gallon, baby
*i love rocky road
*so have another triple scoop with me
song performed by by Weird Al Yankovic
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rape Of The Poor
working 32 hours a week,
minimum wage, no benefits...
to buy third world clothes
from minimum wage Walmart cashiers,
made by Asian children
in sweat shop conditions...
spend the change on
war raped, terror raped,
bomb raped, third world oil...
3.69 a gallon gasoline.
crinkled dollar bills...
'In God We Trust'!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Dead Silence of the Heart
i dreamt of strawberry-rhubarb pie,
and fresh brewed black coffee...
long slow tender sensual sex,
lips hungry for mine.
the sound of rain in the night,
wrapping the earth in stillness.
walking in the frozen sunrise
with my old dog by my side.
climbing Hawksbill on a spring day,
looking down over the gorge in awe.
barefoot, planting a garden,
believing in the sun and the rain.
playing an old Gibson on the porch,
deep rich tones lost in the breeze.
the taste of good bourbon, and a smoke,
paying tribute to the sunset.
standing by the stone in a cementary,
talking without words, still heard.
writing poetry with a shovel,
and a borrowed pen...
flying with the hawk to eternity,
sprouting green leaves
on frozen branches... listening
for the sound of your voice...
in the dead silence of the heart.
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dead Silence Of The Heart
I dreamt of strawberry-rhubarb pie,
and fresh brewed black coffee...
long slow tender sensual sex,
lips hungry for mine.
The sound of rain in the night,
wrapping the earth in stillness.
walking in the frozen sunrise
with my old dog by my side.
Climbing Hawksbill on a spring day,
looking down over the gorge in awe.
barefoot, planting a garden,
believing in the sun and the rain.
Playing an old Gibson on the porch,
deep rich tones lost in the breeze.
the taste of good bourbon, and a smoke,
paying tribute to the sunset.
Standing by the stone in a cementary,
talking without words, still heard.
writing poetry with a shovel,
and a borrowed pen...
Flying with the hawk to eternity,
sprouting green leaves
on frozen branches... listening
for the sound of your voice...
In the dead silence of the heart.
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bulletproof Heart
You want to shoot me down?
Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Ive got a bulletproof heart.
Shotgun, hit and run,
Youve had your fun and you left me stung,
You took my heart for target practice,
And now I know that love shares no justice,
So i, Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Ive got a bulletproof heart.
Here is something you ought to know,
You better pack up and you better go now,
Dont mess with me, no playing around,
Im going to stomp you straight in the. ground
cause i, Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Ive got a bulletproof heart.
Oh i, Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Oh i, Ive got a bulletproof heart.
Finger on the trigger, ready to shoot,
Im kicking you out, not sharing my loot,
Im locking all my closets, Im closing my legs,
No use for you to even stand there and beg.
cause i, Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Ive got a bulletproof heart.
cause i, Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Oh Ive got a bulletproof heart,
Oh Ive got a bulletproof heart. [laughs....]
song performed by by Grace Jones
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Ballade Of The Automobile
When our yacht sails seaward on steady keel
And the wind is moist with breath of brine
And our laughter tells of our perfect weal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But if, automobiling, my woes combine
And fuel gives out in my road-machine
And it's sixteen miles to that home of mine--
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
When our coach rides smoothly on iron-shod wheel
With a deft touch guiding each taut drawn line
And the inn ahead holds a royal meal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when, on some long and steep incline,
In a manner entirely unforeseen
The motor stops with a last sad whine--
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
When the air is crisp and the brooks congeal
And our sleigh glides on with a speed divine
While the gay bells echo with peal on peal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when, with perverseness most condign,
In the same harsh snowstorm, cold and keen,
My auto stops at the six-mile sign--
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
ENVOY
When yacht or Coach Club fellows dine
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when Automobile Clubmen convene
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
Submitted by John Martin
poem by Ellis Parker Butler
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Lonely Autumn
I was walking
listening to nature
while she was talking
suddenly I heard your voice
whispering in the wind
as beautiful as a song
I never wanted to end
I turned around
to hold on to your hand
you were no where to be found
just your name
written in the sand
and your face in a summer sun
that's been gone for so long
Like rain that fell
just the night before
every teardropp had a story to tell
in days of a lonely autumn
where dreams of you only come
(spiritwind-2009)
poem by Spiritwind Wood
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sixty Four Cents Per Gallon
Sixty four cents.
That's all they pay.
Sixty four cents per gallon of gas.
Maybe decades ago...
We too could say.
But today with our 'greatness'
And propaganda that is spread.
A dozen of apples,
And perhaps the cost of embarrassment...
May be less,
Than the price of a loaf of bread.
That's what they pay,
In Saudia Arabia each and every day!
And 'he' who leads this great land of ours...
Was turned away as he begged,
Those he chose as 'friends'.
And they embraced and shook his hand.
Sending him like an annoying child,
Back to his home to play!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Colors Of Human!
hands black as soot,
my feet are red....
my eyes are green,
my hair turned grey.
my soul is Asian,
my spirit Native American....
my hard working dedication,
........Hispanic.....
my people come from Ireland,
and some from Africa....
anywhere where the persecuted,
.... cut and fled!
working in the fields,
the factories, and even the mines....
cutting wood, milking cows,
working for the man.
i am human!
and i'm damn tired
of being used!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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This Road
i took a long walk with Jesus
down a moonlit dusty road...
listening, just listening, to every word.
when we came to the place
where the road forked,
He smiled... and gave me
a match, a candle, and a rusted nail.
this road often empty,
i have come to know...
the voices of stillness,
and the sound of the water
breaking over the rocks.
when the darkness swallows me,
i stop, and light the candle,
rolling the nail in my hand.
and i wait quietly for the moon!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Juanita / Kiteless / To Dream Of Love
Your rails. youre thin.
Your thin paper wings.
Your thin paper wings.
In the wind. dangling.
Your sun. fly high.
Your window shattering.
Your rails. youre thin.
Your thin paper wings.
Sugar box. sugar boy.
Riding in. riding in.
Sugar box. sugar boy.
Handheld candle. sugar boy.
Your rails. youre thin.
Your thin paper wings.
Your thin paper wings.
In the wind. dangling.
Your sun. fly high.
Your window shattered in the wind.
Your coca cola sign rattling.
Resonator.
Homeless trees. gathering.
Outside your window bootleg babies call
To you and lie among the mosquitoes.
That summers fever coming.
Cats are gathering outside your window.
Homeless trees. bootleg babies calling
To you. lie among. lie among the mosquitoes.
Your rails. youre thin.
Your thin paper wings.
Get up in your sun. fly high.
Dangling. dangling.
Your window shattered in the wind.
The sun on your coca cola sign.
Your rails. your thin
Paper wings. paper wings.
Resonator ...
There is a sound on the other side of this wall.
A bird is singing on the other side of this glass.
Footsteps. concealed.
Silence is preserving a voice.
Walking in the wind at the waters edge
Comes close to covering my rubber feet.
Listening to the barbed wire hanging.
There is a sound on the other side of this wall.
A bird is singing on the other side of this glass.
Footsteps. concealed.
Silence is preserving a voice.
Silver chain. thrown away. broken wing.
song performed by by Underworld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Love Working On You
(jim collins/craig wiseman)
You woke up this morning
Changes were taking place
You looked in the mirror
A smile was all over your face
cause out of nowhere
Someone was there
Who dared to climb
Those walls you made
Its exciting, a little frightening
But girl dont you be afraid
Thats just the love working
Love working on you
Thats just the love working
Working on pulling you through
Cant even remember
All the sorrow that you left behind
Its a brand new day
Theres a bright new way
And your tears have turned into wine
You never forget
When your eyes met
Or just how clearly you could see
Where the turns are deep in your heart
That lead you to believe
Thats just the love working
Love working on you
Thats just the love working
Working on pulling you through
All of the while you felt forsaken
And all of the while
Loves been waiting, waiting
Suddenly you see how it could be
If we all only felt this way
And for a while girl you can see this world
Looking through the eyes of fate
Thats just the love working
Love working on you
Thats just the love working
Working on pulling you through
Thats just the love working
Love working on you
Thats just the love working
Working on pulling you through
Thats just the love working on you
Thats just the love working
Working on pulling you through
song performed by by John Michael Montgomery
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fifty Cents A Day
I am an humble Soldier
far from my friends and home,
mid scenes of war and hardships
I constantly must roam,
with many officers over me,
and them I must obey,
and do just what they tell me,
for fifty cents a day.
I enlisted in the army
to help my country's cause,
because I loved it dearly,
and would sustain its laws,
I felt a free man's duty,
his country to obey,
I came not as a hireling,
for fifty cents a day
I enlisted as a soldier.
a free man and a man
To do a soldiers duty,
as best a soldier can.
hope to fight the rebels,
and hate this long delay.
I came to help my country,
for fifty cents a day.
I now must yield to hardships
in cold in storm and rain
perchance with scanty rations
not even then complain
the right of seeking comfort
long since I signed away
my life I am slowly losing
for fifty cents a day.
who send the soldiers to the field
to buy his willing hand,
with promises so plentiful,
of treatment like a man?
twas those who, in two days,
received a larger pay
than does the soldiers in a month
at fifty cents a day
who promised to the soldier,
his wrongs should be redressed
if tyanny or officers
should his right oppress?
alas! the sword may smight him,
or kicked around he may be,
he finds his only redress,
is fifty cents a day
who promised to the soldiers,
if sickness should appear,
good doctors and kind nurses
was ready and was near,
to aid him in his feebleness
as quick as though his pay
was ten times as much
as fifty cents a day.
twas those who wear the shoulder straps
with haughty air of grace,
who look upon the soldier
below the negro race,
who thinks a soldier's duty
is only to obey
his lordship, and be content
with fifty cents a day.
how oft I've seen the soldier,
near tottering to the ground,
seek vainly for some friendly aid,
when it could ne'er be found,
when told he was not ailing,
to go and take his way,
one week would end his suffering
and fifty cents a day.
now, how many of these officers
would be here where they are,
if forced to live like soldiers,
and take a soldier's fare?
how few would take the treatment
even with their liberal pay,
let alone the poor pittance
of fifty cents a day
cheer up my gallant soldiers,
be cheerful, gay, and smile,
we'll do the fighting now,
and the voting after awhile,
and then we'll show oppressors
that they may fell dismay,
who treated us as serviles,
at fifty cents a day.
This poem was written by my great, great, great, grandfather when he was a POW in the civil war. He wrote this during the month of December 1863. I wanted to share this with everyone in memory of him.
poem by Shauna Stoltz
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Few Cents Short
(john michael montgomery)
Looking for spare change
To put gas in my car
But what Ive found
Wont get me very far
Seems lately the low times
Have hit me pretty hard
cause Im a few cents short
From getting to where you are
Im a few cents short
Of holding you in my arms
And a few cents short
Of keeping us from falling apart
Aint it funny how the money
Can change our lives
cause Im a few cents short
From losing you tonight
So I walked to a pay phone down the road
But a few dimes and a nickel is all I had
The operator wants more money
To place my call
But Im a few cents short
If that dont beat it all
Im a few cents short
Of holding you in my arms
And a few cents short
Of keeping us from falling apart
Aint it funny how the money
Can change our lives
cause Im a few cents short
From losing you tonight
Im a few cents short
Of holding you in my arms
And a few cents short
Of keeping us from falling apart
Sure is funny how the money
Can change our lives
cause Im a few cents short
From losing you tonight
Yes Im a few cents short
And Ill be losing you tonight
song performed by by John Michael Montgomery
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stillness Of The Night
Midnight on the hill I heard the thunder fill
The stillness of the night
It hit me like a slap, youre never comin back
From the stillness of the night
It was never black or white, neither wrong or right
Like the shadow of a full moons light
I knew wed lost the track, when I heard the lightning crack
The stillness of the night
Chorus
In the stillness of the night
Thats when well make it right
We can stop the thunder till the light
In the stillness of the night
I know you think you hear, those voices in your ear
In the stillness of the night
But Ive tried to make it clear theres nothing left to fear
Just the stillness of the night
And if you listen hard you might find the reason for your fright
Just the wind is high tonight
And the danger we must face is the anger of this race
In the stillness of the night
Chorus
song performed by by Reo Speedwagon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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