Mailbox!
frost on the hawk's wings,
small face against the glass;
or perhaps just a memory,
black coffee and cigarette smoke.
bare limbed trees walk beside me,
down the path to the road....
mailbox hanging open,
only cobwebs in the damp.
the porch light still on,
like a ghostly lighthouse,
calling back things you've forgotten,
that i go through every day!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
In The Small Things...
it is in the small things that we die,
in the breath of cardboard boxes,
and the silent scream of forgotten things.
in the scent of pine needles fresh fallen,
and the sound of the creek crossing rocks.
in bat droppings, and abandoned nests of straw....
in smoke curled into the candle.
in squirrels' prayers to fading light,
and the sound of tires on an endless road.
in clouds hanging just above the treetops,
in the single chime of the church bell.
in the broom sweeping the floor of the soup kitchen,
in old men telling lies and shuffling to keep warm.
in the baby curled against the breast,
in the letter never finished.
in the faces of god on milk cartons,
in the wino pissing in the alley.
in the 'i love you' that you choked on,
and the silence that replays.
in the coffee pot singing hymns,
and gravestones whispering to each other.
in the empty barracks and unloaded guns,
in the bare limb tree that still believes.
in the thunder of the butterfly's wings,
in the wrinkles on the old man's face.
in the forgotten nails of the abandoned house,
in the footfall of forever's ghosts
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Hears, And Knows!
if the life of loving comes in seasons,
how long will the snow lay on the ground?
i have begun to understand
the whisperings of the crows.....
can fell the ghostly embrace
of bare limbed trees...
the frozen kiss just before death!
the smoldering fire, just outside the body,
thunder out of time, maybe just memory...
only the deep stillness hears,
.............and knows!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Song of the Road
O I will walk with you, my lad, whichever way you fare,
You'll have me, too, the side o' you, with heart as light as air;
No care for where the road you take's a-leadin' anywhere,--
It can but be a joyful ja'nt whilst you journey there.
The road you take's the path o' love, an' that's the bridth o' two--
An' I will walk with you, my lad -- O I will walk with you.
Ho! I will walk with you, my lad,
Be weather black or blue
Or roadsides frost or dew, my lad --
O I will walk with you.
Aye, glad, my lad, I'll walk with you, whatever winds may blow,
Or summer blossoms stay our steps, or blinding drifts of snow;
The way thay you set face an' foot 's the way that I will go,
An' brave I'll be, abreast o' ye, the Saints and Angels know!
With loyal hand in loyal hand, an' one heart made o' two,
Through summer's gold, or winter's cold, It's I will walk with you.
Sure, I will walk with you, my lad,
A love ordains me to,--
To Heaven's door, an' through, my lad.
O I will walk with you.
poem by James Whitcomb Riley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
If We Cant Have You
Hang a picture up on your wall
Tighten all the nails so it dont fall
In this picture, could have been a picture of my face
Something painful, went and took its place
If he cant have you, guess that no one else will
Watch him think a while, smoke a cigarette and smile as I frown
If he cant have you, guess that no one else will
Watch him think a while, smoke a cigarette and smile as I frown
Drink your coffee in the morning,
And at night, go and drink your beer
All along you dont feel so welcome here
And I walk by, and you steer clear
You always said, itd come passionate here
Dont like what you see, you dont like what you hear
If he cant have you, guess that no one else will
Watch him think a while, smoke a cigarette and smile as I frown
If he cant have you, guess that no one else will
Watch him think a while, smoke a cigarette and smile as I frown
song performed by by Whiskeytown
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Buried...
a half a fifth of brandy
sits quietly on the shelf...
a tired old hat hanging
on a forgotten peg.
the flower garden bare,
the windowpane sighs.
the old rusted spicket,
covered by the spider's web.
empty boxes in the closet,
filled with nothing that remains.
wood stacked against the porch,
even the old dog knows.
letters falling from the mailbox,
the ink wet with rain.
my hand buried by the wellhouse,
my heart buried neath the gravel!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
My Fathers House
Last night I dreamed that I was a child
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls
I heard the wind rustling through the trees
And ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin at my heels
I broke through the trees, and there in the night
My fathers house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms
I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each others hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light
I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didnt recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who Id come for
She said Im sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore
My fathers house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
My Fathers House
(bruce springsteen)
Last night I dreamed that I was a child
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls
I heard the wind rustling through the trees
And ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin at my heels
I broke through the trees, and there in the night
My fathers house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms
I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each others hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light
I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didnt recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who Id come for
She said Im sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore
My fathers house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Knew The Smoke (To Be A Prayer)
he said:
'i went four years
without a lover,
trying to do the right thing...
then one day i stood up,
packed my few belongings,
and walked off...
in search of...'
i watched him as he rolled
a cigarette, his gnarled hands
sure and steady...
stared at the light in his eyes,
and the doors...
only he knew what
was behind them.
bought him a cup of coffee,
and shook his hand,
no need for words...
wondered if i'd met Jesus,
or the devil,
or if i was looking
into a mirror!
each path, each call,
is different... each heart,
pretty much the same.
i watched him light his cigarette,
and knew the smoke
to be a prayer!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Second Hand Life
second hand smoke,
Salvation Army shoes.
a crack in the mirror....
empty chamber in the gun.
flat tire on the car...
and the mailbox is empty....
wrong number again,
picking up socks off the floor.
molded crust on the bread,
a bag of coffee, and potatoes....
burnt out burner on the stove,
cobwebs on the ceiling.
too much, too little...
but never enough!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Fluffy
Fluffy, furry buddy
Chewed his leg on the porch
Whyd you do it fluffy, on the porch?
Good dog fluffy, old friend my pal
Fluffys got his buddy on the porch
Penny, shes my girlie, she sits here with me on the porch
Penny looks so pretty on the porch
Penny takes fluffy for a walk out on the path
Fluffy chases the other doggies on the path
But big sister penny get fluffy back on the porch
So me and fluffy and penny were on the porch
song performed by by Ween
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Just Beyond Touch!
your seminal lips,
swollen, quiver....
pajama bound,
light turning on the bottle,
cigarette ashe falling
to the floor....
you smell like me,
25 years ago...
or woodsmoke hanging
in the autumnal chill...
frost on the windows,
the door locked and bolted....
a pair of old boots
sit alone on the porch.
moonlight, and you....
just beyond touch!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Roads To Madness
Most of this is memory now
Ive gone too far to turn back now
Im not quite what I thought I was but
Then again Im maybe more
The blood-words promised, Ive spoken
Releasing the names from the circle
Maybe I can leave here now and, o
Transcend the boundaries
For now Im standing here
Im awaiting this grand transition
The future is but past forgotten
On the road to madness
Times measure rusts as it crawls
I see its face in the looking glass - stop
This screaming laughter hides, the pain of its reality
Black, the door was locked I opened
And now Ive paid that price ten-fold over
Knowledge - was it worth such torment, oh
To see the far side of shadow
And still Im standing here
Im awaiting this grand transition
Im a fool in search of wisdom
And Im on the road to madness
Yes, Im on the road to madness
Im awaiting endlessly
Pounding rhythms echo me
Wont you take me somewhere far beyond the void
And still Im standing here
Im awaiting this grand transition
Maybe one day, oh Ill meet you, and well
Walk the roads to madness
Yes, were on the road to madness
Oh, I think theyve come to take me
I hear the voice, but theres no-one to see
I cant scream, too late its time
Stay on the course to pass
Youll never find the answer
To a place where darkened angels
Seemed lost and never found
Scream to see the light of
Forming figures fast behind you
Lay the past in the wind to spin
And your fate will sail beyond the open plains
Sail with angels onward
Live or die for the chosen one said
Saber sights cast a spell behind you
And they lock in all around
Free the scene insider
Never looking back to find why
Ride a course till the end of time
And youll stand atop the gate
Laying waste in a path recited
Fighting force wont avenge the guided black wing
Oh, electric might poses fright inside me
Seeing light at the end of sight reminds me
Ive passed away
song performed by by Queensryche
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I Have No Body....
i have no body...
i am starlight and dust.
i roam fields and pastures,
and pound city streets.
i haunt the owl,
chase shadows into hiding.
i am the howl,
the wolf cannot speak!
i walk through locked doors,
and blow through open windows.
i am the moan,
that startles your sleep.
i burn in the lighthouse,
and walk stormy seas.
i dance barefoot on pine needles,
leave no tracks in the frost!
i have no body...
i am breath hot and hoarse.
the unseen hand,
that travels your body.
the break of the veil,
that causes you to sit up and cough.
the trembling in your hands,
as you light a smoke!
i am not alive,
yet i am not dead.
i carry no chains,
and leave no memory.
would you name me a dream,
or a secret desire?
i am the mark,
on the inside of your thigh!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Forest Road
The forest road,
The infinite straight road stretching away
World without end: the breathless road between the walls
Of the black listening trees: the hushed, grey road
Beyond the window that you shut to-night
Crying that you would look at it by day -
There is a shadow there that sings and calls
But not for you. Oh! hidden eyes that plead in sleep
Against the lonely dark, if I could touch the fear
And leave it kissed away on quiet lids -
If I could hush these hands that are half-awake,
Groping for me in sleep I could go free.
I wish that God would take them out of mine
And fold them like the wings of frightened birds
Shot cruelly down, but fluttering into quietness so soon.
Broken, forgotten things? there is no grief for them in the green Spring
When the new birds fly back to the old trees.
But it shall not be so with you. I will look back. I wish I knew that God would stand
Smiling and looking down on you when morning comes,
To hold you, when you wake, closer than I,
So gently though: and not with famished lips or hungry arms:
He does not hurt the frailest, dearest things
As we do in the dark. See, dear, your hair -
I must unloose this hair that sleeps and dreams
About my face, and clings like the brown weed
To drowned, delivered things, tossed by the tired sea
Back to the beaches. Oh! your hair! If you had lain
A long time dead on the rough, glistening ledge
Of some black cliff, forgotten by the tide,
The raving winds would tear, the dripping brine would rust away
Fold after fold of all the loveliness
That wraps you round, and makes you, lying here,
The passionate fragrance that the roses are.
But death would spare the glory of your head
In the long sweetness of the hair that does not die:
The spray would leap to it in every storm,
The scent of the unsilenced sea would linger on
In these dark waves, and round the silence that was you -
Only the nesting gulls would hear - but there would still be whispers in your hair;
Keep them for me; keep them for me. What is this singing on the road
That makes all other music like the music in a dream -
Dumb to the dancing and the marching feet; you know, in dreams, you see
Old pipers playing that you cannot hear,
And ghostly drums that only seem to beat. This seems to climb:
Is it the music of a larger place? It makes our room too small: it is like a stair,
A calling stair that climbs up to a smile you scarcely see,
Dim, but so waited for; and you know what a smile is, how it calls,
How if I smiled you always ran to me.
Now you must sleep forgetfully, as children do.
There is a Spirit sits by us in sleep
Nearer than those who walk with us in the bright day.
I think he has a tranquil, saving face: I think he came
Straight from the hills: he may have suffered there in time gone by,
And once, from those forsaken heights, looked down,
Lonely himself, on all the lonely sorrows of the earth.
It is his kingdom - Sleep. If I could leave you there -
If, without waking you, I could get up and reach the door -!
We used to go together. - Shut, scared eyes,
Poor, desolate, desperate hands, it is not I
Who thrust you off. No, take your hands away -
I cannot strike your lonely hands. Yes, I have struck your heart,
It did not come so near. Then lie you there
Dear and wild heart behind this quivering snow
With two red stains on it: and I will strike and tear
Mine out, and scatter it to yours. Oh! throbbing dust,
You that were life, our little wind-blown hearts!
The road! the road!
There is a shadow there: I see my soul,
I hear my soul, singing among the trees!
poem by Charlotte Mary Mew
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Fade to Black
Do you think of me
or am I just a forgotten memory
like the others before
when you look back
do I cross your mind
this love you made so blind
or does it just fade to black
Should I still feel this way
like it was only yesterday
I watched you walk away
As I travel down
this empty highway
I fade to black
Tell me was he hard to find
or did it just come so easy
the first time he made you smile
Do you look at him
to see me standing there
do you just not care anymore
as you watch another day
fade to black
As I drive another lonely mile
farther from you on this dusty road
do you ever miss me at all
baby, just for a little while
while you watch the night fall
in that big open sky
do you ever cry
or just fade to black
So many nights pass us by
still my arms are empty
while he's holding you tight
loving you til the morning light
my love rolls down a one way track
yeah, I look back
you're nowhere to be found
I try to turn around
I fade to black
Do you think of me
girl, how you lost your best friend
or do you try to pretend
I was just a beginning to an end
as you fade to black
(spiritwind-2006)
poem by Spiritwind Wood
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Coffee!
Coffee beans all ground up,
Coffee in my favourite cup,
Coffee black, coffee white,
Coffee dark, coffee light,
Coffee right, to start the day,
Coffee at work, coffee at play,
Coffee midday, coffee at night,
Coffee to sober, coffee to excite,
Coffee weak, coffee strong,
But maybe instead some Lapsang Souchong! ! ! !
TEA! ! ! ! !
poem by Ernestine Northover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
All Saint`s Day
A bleached evening, grey
my memory follows me into the cold
the ice records my steps, and peeks
at my afraid progress.
I lay in humility on the damp earth
a priest unable to bear the face of God,
the trees make a lot of noise, the feel as
important as a kestrel in balance with the sky
my face is a forgotten piece of washing on a line
as stupid as a lonely dancer in the wind.
Nothing can be created, all that is holy has been
turned into foulness, gold and silver behind glass.
poem by Leslie Philibert
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Best Cigarette
There are many that I miss
having sent my last one out a car window
sparking along the road one night, years ago.
The heralded one, of course:
after sex, the two glowing tips
now the lights of a single ship;
at the end of a long dinner
with more wine to come
and a smoke ring coasting into the chandelier;
or on a white beach,
holding one with fingers still wet from a swim.
How bittersweet these punctuations
of flame and gesture;
but the best were on those mornings
when I would have a little something going
in the typewriter,
the sun bright in the windows,
maybe some Berlioz on in the background.
I would go into the kitchen for coffee
and on the way back to the page,
curled in its roller,
I would light one up and feel
its dry rush mix with the dark taste of coffee.
Then I would be my own locomotive,
trailing behind me as I returned to work
little puffs of smoke,
indicators of progress,
signs of industry and thought,
the signal that told the nineteenth century
it was moving forward.
That was the best cigarette,
when I would steam into the study
full of vaporous hope
and stand there,
the big headlamp of my face
pointed down at all the words in parallel lines.
poem by Billy Collins
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When I Am Alone
now i learned
what they want me to understand
when i am alone
at least i need someone to talk to
someone who listens
and when i am as silent as cigarette stick
lighted
at least something knows
where the smoke may go
i smoke now
but not because i like it
it is a necessity
the smoke at least talks to me
and the light in the cigarette
gives me the eye of the
cinder
a word of light
a comfort of flame
in the dark
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Dead Man's Rope
A million footsteps, this left foot drags behind my right
But I keep walking, from daybreak 'til the falling night
And as days turn into weeks and years
And years turn into lifetimes
I just keep walking, like I've been walking for a thousand years
Walk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
If you're walking to escape, to escape from your affliction
You'd be walking in a great circle, a circle of addiction
Did you ever wonder what you'd been carrying since the world was black?
You see yourself in a looking glass with a tombstone on your back
Walk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away in anger, walk away in pain
Walk away from life itself, walk into the rain
All this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
I'm just hanging here in space
Now I'm suspended between my darkest fears and dearest hope
Yes I've been walking, now I'm hanging from a dead man's rope
With Hell below me, and Heaven in the sky above
I've been walking, I've been walking away from Jesus' love
Walk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away in anger, walk away in pain
Walk away from life itself, walk into the rain
All this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
I'm just hanging here in space
The shadows fall
Around my bed
When the hand of an angel,
The hand of an angel is reaching down above my head
All this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain
song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!