Shackles
an old Esso sign,
broken down,
standing in the corner.
empty block building,
windows broke out,
wind whistles through the dust.
an old set of shackles,
hanging on a peg.
two broken chairs,
and an empty coke bottle.
lost on the road
that no one travels anymore.
an old rotary phone...
a tattered flag on the floor.
an old Chevy up on blocks,
black crows flying overhead...
i sit down and light a smoke,
staring at the shackles....
and letting go!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Fallen, Empty, And Broken
fallen soldier
fallen sky
fallen angel
from on high
fallen heartache
fallen soul
fallen man
losing control
empty bed
empty arms
empty dreams
empty heart
empty wallet
empty hands
cant take nothin'
from an empty man
broken promises
broken vows
broken spirit
wont allow
broken fences
broken lives
broken tomorrows
broken nights
fallen, empty, and broken
every road is the same
bent, bruised, and shaken
still numb from the pain
now you dont answer
when i call out your name
fallen, empty, and broken
walking in the rain...
fallen, empty, and broken...
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Dark Southern Skies
faded sign falling down
from an abandoned mill
mailboxes full of
unopened bills
houses with no curtains
old cars up on blocks
all the stores are empty
all the doors are locked
dark southern skies
no one's home anymore
no one hears the cry
no one sweeps the floor
man without work
his woman turns away
dark southern skies
and there's no one left to pray...
empty crib gathers dust
a Bible by the bed
workboots in the corner
with this ring i thee wed
pictures on the wall
dont answer in the night
and empty still looks empty
in the morning light
dark southern skies
no one's home anymore
no one hears the cry
no one sweeps the floor
man without work
his woman turns away
dark southern skies
there's no one left to pray....
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Shackles Of Fear
Shackle bounded
Bounded by shackles
Shackles of fear
They confine these hands
Shackles of fear
They bind these feet
Bound by shackles of fear
My mind is overdosed
My heart it beats slow
My eyes are wide shut
Lord God please
Release these shackles that hold me in captivity
Lord God please
Break these shackles that hinder me
Please God don't let my fear be the end of this journey
I'm shackle bounded
Bounded by shackles of fear
And I fear the release of my bounded shackles
These shackles they hinder me
poem by Brittany Hooks

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Beyond The Veil.....
nothing lives here anymore.
they closed that tiny bookstore,
and the bar on the corner is gone.
the sidewalks swept and empty,
windows covered with dust.
would be lovers ride by radios blaring,
cell phones grafted to their ears.
no one makes love anymore,
masturbation detoxification.
crows hanging on the brick walls,
apartment doors bolted and locked.
caught a meth lab in the church basement,
and they've cut down all the trees.
no one jumps from windows,
babies born in sterile rooms.
tongues lie dormant in desire's mouth,
perfume suffocates the senses.
the threat of rain, everybody scatters,
for fear of getting wet!
cept the old blind man walking his dog,
who sees beyond the veil!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Meetings At Sis' Beauty's Place
she moves swiftly between tables
decorated by empty schooners
and empty bottles of beer manned
by drunks calling for refills everytime
she passes by
behind the coounter,
walled by cases of distilled beer,
she sits listening to yesterday's reminiscents,
the same euphoria, the same fulminations
like broken records
emptying kegs lilke they're drops of tears
falling on vast oceans
or play referee in a feud
over the kings of local football
and utter vile imprecation over her broken chairs,
smashed windows and threatening bottle pieces
awaiting prey
she serves lost-love victims
avoiding all thoughts of alimony
and the retrenched completely falling apart
but that's none of her business
as long as they settle their debts
poem by Stella Sisanda Qishi

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Shattered windows, Colors of white
Across the street is a new house with a room painted red, with no holes of white.
Next to me, a house purple, with its color pealing off, with holes of black and white
At the end of the street, an old house once yellow, what now remains white.
The sound of a hammer building a house, entering a place with a color unknown.
On the street,
Windows covered with ice
Some shine with light.
Some broken
Some fixed
Some lost, out of sight.
A house, two blocks from here.
Shines with lights of yellow, red, and green everywhere.
A wall keeping the wind from blowing anywhere.
The house next door, at the dawn of the day.
Paints its room black, and peals the color away.
The wall crumbles.
The wind blows across the colors of yellow, red and green
Breaks all the windows.
Turns the yellow to blue, red to black, and green to white.
The house two blocks away.
Adds a line of yellow red and green everyday.
To allow the house of blue, black and white to shine for us some day.
poem by Linda ErikssonBique

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City Boy Blues
Fireflies in dogfights
Runnin hot in the heat
Street noise, another bribe
Things too hard to believe--so head out
My hearts in the country
My feets in the city with you
All my friends are eatin sushi
Talkin bad about you know who-who-who
My tongues talkin riddles
But I just cant seem to find a clue
So I take a swig of whiskey
And jump into the saddle with you-you-you
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
Cats in the alley
Rats in my snakeskin boots
All my neighbors think Im crazy
And my girl thinks Im losin my cool-cool-cool
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
I got the city boy blues
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
Dont look to jesus to change your seasons
Its the american dream
Souls of gypsies, road of stone
Cant seem to find no peace--so head out
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
I got the blues, I got the blues, got the city boy blues
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
And I just cant seem to break the shackles of the city boy blues
I got the blues, I got the blues,
I got the blues, I got the blues
I got the blues, I got the blues,
I got the blues, I got the blues
song performed by by Motley Crue

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bless The Broken Road
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
And now Im just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true,
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
song performed by by Rascal Flatts

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Broken Road
The broken road
I set out on the narrow way
Many years ago,
Hoping I would find true love
Along the broken road.
I got lost a time or two,
Wiped my brow, kept pushing through
I couldnt see how every sign pointed straight to you.
Every long-lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were just northern stars,
Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms.
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent
Id like to find the time I lost and give it back to you.
You just smile and take my hand; youve been there, you understand,
Its all part of a greater plan that is coming true.
Every longlost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were just falling stars,
Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms.
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you
song performed by by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Cry By Meena Mustafa
A dusty road lies beyond my imagination
I stretch across the naked earth still
lingering in despair
From every corner I hear a cry,
A broken image before you lies
In the cruel hands of death
Is the streak to kill
People tormented
Broken houses
Empty stomachs
Burning desires...
There is neither a path nor a destination
'cause it's the end of the journey
and strange enough no one knows
when dust suddenly covers you...
poem by Meena Mustafa

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I Remember You
Well theres a colour picture
In my mind.
Of all the places
That Ive left behind.
The broken windows
Where the wind blows through
Empty shells of houses
That have turned to ruin.
Oh - we were so young.
We didnt realise
Just what wed done.
Oh - we were too young.
And I remember you.
You were the back yard boy.
Hiding in the wreckage
Of broken dreams.
Standing by the railway line.
Standing.
Oh - we were so young.
We didnt realise
Just what wed done.
Oh - we were too young.
And all the sweetness
Has been taken out of this place.
So many memories
Are knocked down or replaced.
And I cant stand to see
The shifting time
Taking me further -
Leaving you behind.
(chorus repeats...)
song performed by by Eurythmics

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Broken Down
By simon climie & dennis morgan
Everything was wonderful when you were in my life.
Yesterday we were on a roll, baby, then we end up in a fight.
Everywhere I look, I see problems, where I never seen before.
The cracks in the sidewalk, when I get home my key dont even fit the door.
The moon dont shine, its broken down.
The clouds are crying, theyre broken down.
The car wont start, its broken down.
And this shattered heart, its broken down.
My whole damn world, its broken down.
Since you left me girl, Ive broken down.
Stepped outside into the night, I took a walk around the block.
I stopped by the church that I used to go inside but even that door was locked.
So I came back home, feeling so alone, a light had burned out in the hall.
My tv is broke, said Im out of smoke, theres no one I can even call.
Chorus
Said my whole damn world, its broken down.
Since you left me girl, Ive broken down.
Till you come back, come back to me, Im going to be broken down.
Till you come back, come back to me, Im going to be broken down.
Chorus
I mean my whole damn world, its broken down.
Since you left me girl, Ive broken down.
My whole damn world, its broken down.
Since you left me girl, its broken down.
song performed by by Eric Clapton

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In An Empty Box
This poem was written by my Great Niece Kitty Cotton aged 12 years.
If there is nothing in an empty box,
what do you do?
You use an amazing thing called
imagination.
In a corner of the empty box was,
A long lasting friendship.
A pattern with no end.
A light that will never go out.
In a corner of the empty box was,
A devil, red as blood.
An ongoing argument.
A heart with no love.
In a corner of the empty box was,
A charming prince waiting for his love.
A shimmering diamond, with an everlasting twinkle.
A sea with dancing waters.
As there are only four corners of a box,
this is the last one, and in that corner there was,
A patch of growing love.
A mind with no thoughts.
A bottle with a secret message inside.
There is always a middle of an empty box,
and in the middle there was,
a smaller box.
Which held every thought anyone could think.
© Kitty Cotton
(Ernestine Northover)
poem by Ernestine Northover

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In An Empty Box
This poem was written by my Great Niece Kitty Cotton aged 12 years.
If there is nothing in an empty box,
what do you do?
You use an amazing thing called
imagination.
In a corner of the empty box was,
A long lasting friendship.
A pattern with no end.
A light that will never go out.
In a corner of the empty box was,
A devil, red as blood.
An ongoing argument.
A heart with no love.
In a corner of the empty box was,
A charming prince waiting for his love.
A shimmering diamond, with an everlasting twinkle.
A sea with dancing waters.
As there are only four corners of a box,
this is the last one, and in that corner there was,
A patch of growing love.
A mind with no thoughts.
A bottle with a secret message inside.
There is always a middle of an empty box,
and in the middle there was,
a smaller box.
Which held every thought anyone could think.
© Kitty Cotton
(Ernestine Northover)
poem by Ernestine Northover

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Lonliness (Feels)
lonliness...
feels like,
the train passing,
middle of the night,
long forgotten tracks.
the factory building empty,
set ablaze by anger.
the flight of the crows,
pawprints left by a stray cat.
the tears of a man
when he thinks that
no one can see.
the clouds that bury stars,
the trees that hold up the sky.
the black hand of death
wrenching light from the heart.
the prayer long unanswered.
the echo of your own voice,
the key that doesnt fit the lock.
unmarked stones in a graveyard.
the windowpane covered with dust.
the lone wolf staring,
the letter sent to the wrong address.
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Lonesome Farewell...
lonesome farewell...
wind blown dust,
cardboard boxes in the rain.
the doorknob broken,
the window nailed shut.
empty fields, briars and thorns.
a dead rabbit rotting
on the side of the road.
signs falling down,
tree limbs on the ground.
silence screams, waves of grief!
the smell of want, forgotten lips.
words cling like cobwebs
to the empty walls...
where are you now?
where are you now?
poem by Eric Cockrell

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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

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Spirit Revealed (Number Two)
in every touch almost in passing,
every word spoken without thought.
in every thought that no one can see,
in every darkened corner.
in every sign held up in protest.
in every picket line that
shuts down traffic.
in every stolen car,
every empty house broke into.
in the bag of groceries that will not last.
in the gun put down,
in honest revelations.
in the prayer prayed beneath the bridge,
in the pair of boots worn and wise.
in the job walked away from,
in every stranger helped.
in the fugitive hidden,
and in the hiding place!
in every family on the road,
lifetimes piled inside old cars.
in graveyards swept by silence,
in every piece of wood cut and stacked.
in the rising swell,
and in the dying moan.
in the murmur of freedom,
spilling over the edges.
in the earth tainted by blood,
and in the orphan rose.
in the song of the mockingbird,
in the sunset,
and the untended fire.
spirit revealed...
tongues on hearts.
broken fingers, broken feet,
eyes walking as if the wind!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Jetsam
Foaming wave... aftershave
Plastic comb, brittle bone
Bottle top, building block
Wooden spar, plastic car
Thermos top, can of pop
Salt-stained shoe, tin of glue
Tennis racket, empty packet
Car tyre, coil of wire
Pram wheel, rubber seal
Tar-blacked stone, fir cone
Rusty lid, twisted grid
Chipboard, orange cord
Empty and faded
Bottle of bleach
Almost forgotten
On winter beach
poem by Taimour Arshad Ali

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Look In The Mirror
I look in the mirror
And what do I see
A reflection of someone else
Staring out at me
I see someone I used to know
Someone who used to be me
As I look in the mirror
That’s what I see
One drink led to another
A drunkard I became
Now my poor family
Are looked on with shame
Empty bottles fill every corner
Money I have none
My wife and children go hungry
As I crawl around the floor
As the days grew longer
The worse I became
Bottle followed bottle
Perfecting my shame
I yelled and I shouted
Strange things did I see
But none were more stranger
Than a reflection of me
poem by David Harris

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