The Hanging Tree.... (What Do We Call It...)
down through the woods
to the clearing where
the hanging tree stood...
sometimes you can still see
the shadows of ghosts,
swinging in the hot summer sun...
now the tree has been cut,
and time has passed,
yet the air's still heavy with guilt.
do we know more?
are we more civilized?
or have we just changed trees,
and gotten better rope?
what do we call the young men
sent to die in the oil wars...
the young people stuck
in the gang ridden slums?
the bullied ones who lose hope?
the illegal immigrants who die for work?
the young couple stuck on unemployment
and food stamps?
the elderly couple evicted
cause they cant afford the rent?
the Muslim family afraid to go out at night?
the gay couple in love who cant get married?
the young children without a father?
the millions strung out on pills?
what do we call it,
if we dont call it hanging?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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You Wanted To Know....
the starving child you saw on your tv screen,
the one that made you turn the channel.
the old homeless man who tried to bum a dollar
when you were pumping gas...
whose hands were shaking,
who smelled like trash,
who you made fun of when you left...
the one you gave 50 cents to,
just to get away from...
the young painted up girl you called a whore,
the guy strung out on pills
buying groceries with food stamps...
the veteran who came home
to find his family gone....
no job, no home, he blew his brains out!
the gay boy who slit his wrists,
tired of being bullied.
the old couple evicted broke and sick....
the bodies of women and children killed by the drones,
the young man in prison who just got gang raped.
the disabled woman you cursed when she made your change,
the old man buying dog food who doesnt have a dog...
well, you wanted to know what god looks like!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Who Bears The Guilt.... (In The End)
i close my eyes and go back...
sixties angry churning deep south,
to the old oak tree in the clearing.
where two bodies hung side by side;
one young black man, local,
one young jewish man,
who came from the north to protest.
both stripped naked, badly beaten,
whose sins did they die for?
black and white Jesus's,
neath a guilt ridden limb...
whose crown of thorns?
and who will roll away the stone?
45 years later,
a couple lines in the news.
a young gay man hanging from a rafter.
the victim of bullying and discrimination.
will we never learn?
how many Jesus's?
how many crosses?
in the end... who bears the guilt?
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Saw God
i saw god...
in the small child shunned,
playing alone.
in the pregnant girl scared,
still a baby herself.
in the young man going off to war,
chest stuck out, and knees gone weak.
in the angry young man,
who learns to read in prison.
in the old woman in the empty house,
every wrinkle a chapter of love.
in the stray cat curled
against my leg.
in two young men in love,
kissing on the steps of a church.
in the family living on food stamps,
day work, and faith.
in the addict with the guts
to go into rehab.
in the body in the funeral home
that no one came to see.
in the couple married for twenty five years,
survivors of struggle, passion, and despair.
in the jobless shuffle of the heads down line.
in the old man fishing with his grandson,
in the mother teaching her daughter to pray.
in the poet, the carpenter, the farmer,
the doctor, the garbage man, and the cashier.
in the bride and the groom,
even the murderer and the victim!
in the anger of the protesters,
in the sin, and forgiveness.
in the black, the white, and every color between.
in moonlight pouring through poverty's window....
yes, i saw god...
never entered a church, a temple, or a mosque...
i merely entered the heart
of the living... and touched!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Couple More Years
I've got a couple more years on you, baby...that's all.
I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
And it ain't that I'm wiser...
It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you, baby.. that's all.
I've walked a couple more roads than you, baby...that's all.
And I'm tired of runnin' while you're only learning to crawl.
And you're headin somewhere...
But I've been to somewhere... and found it was nowhere at all.
And I've picked up a couple of years on you baby... that's all.
Now sayin' goodbye, girl don't never come easy at all.
But you've got to fly 'cuz you're hearin' those young eagles call.
And someday when you're older, you'll smile at a man strong and tall.
And you'll say I've got a couple more years on you, baby... that's all.
I've got a couple more years on you baby... that's all.
You'll say I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
It ain't that I'm wiser...
It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you baby... that's all.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
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Under The Tree
my love what can i say,
your eyes so bright,
your teeth so white,
you love so strong,
everything about you,
makes me so happy,
i'm living, that i'm with you,
your the only one baby I love YOU,
don't ever leave me or i'll die inside,
you me spirit your my only love,
and we met under a tree so long ago,
our love just started yes we were young,
but that young love brought us to this,
a loving couple who would do anything for each other,
so you my love will always be my love and under the tree,
we will be at our 50th anniversary.....
poem by Richard Belis
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Cutest Couples
The moon has come
The youngest couple
Was the boyfriend young brother
And the girlfriend young sister
The two couples
Were kiss under
Moon light
Around a lake
The night was
Still very young
The couple went
The eat dinner
After they eat
They went to
See a movie
A romantic one
Later they went
A romantic walk
Through the park
After the guy
Took their lady
Home to rest
After the girl
Go inside but
They inside the guy
Kiss them and said goodbye
poem by Stephanie Pardo
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Young Man
Written by james young
Lead vocals by james young
People say with age there comes experience
But as soon as you are born you start to die
Older men are chosen to speak wisely
But call the child to the sacrificial rite
Who can we get to win the fight?
Young man!
Who can we get to make love all night?
Young man!
Who do we send away to die?
Young man!
I heard a lonely woman cry for a
Young man!
The fire bombs in distant lands are burning
Jarring every synapse in your soul
Life and death are a meaningless profession
Tomorrow brings a horror yet untold
Who can we get to win the fight?
Young man!
Who can we get to make love all night?
Young man!
Who do we send away to die?
Young man!
I heard a lonely woman cry for a
Young man!
Young man!
Young man!
Come home my son
We'll give you a rest
Welcome my son
We'll give you the best
Time's stowaway
The young man
Short are the days
Of the young man
Young man!
Young man!
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Dont Even Know Their Names!
his spirit left his body,
and walked through the hells.
a firm voice spoke:
'keep your eyes open,
look, and see! '
he saw dark skinned children,
their bodies frail and thin,
their features carved with hunger.
he saw women and children,
running from the bombs,
young men gunned down,
in the streets.
he saw the homeless family,
sleeping in a beaten old car,
hoping no one would come
to make them move.
he saw the young addict shaking,
the young woman helpless,
her baby crying in the bare apartment.
he saw the young man sent to prison,
trying to hide his fear,
a fear so strong they
could smell it on him!
he saw the woman who'd been beaten,
the man jobless and angry.
he saw millions of Native Americans,
slaughtered, and left for the crows.
he saw the old couple hungry,
in their apartment with no lights,
and no heat in the dead of winter...
'i cant take it any more,
what has this got to do with me?
i dont even know their names! '
'their names are anybody, and everybody...
they are why you must return.
they are your children, your
brothers and sisters, your father
and your mother...
they are your responsibility!
you must return to finish the work! '
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Prophets Of Profit
in the shadows
beneath the trees,
the men with the long
knives wait;
call them unholy, call them
prophets, men of vision,
men of change...
soldiers of the grey kingdom,
where nothing is revealed.
every starving child,
every bomb dropped
on indiscriminate huts...
every girl baby aborted,
every young boy sent to prison
for his education...
every young girl bought
for an hour, used like a rag,
and tossed aside....
for miles and miles of oceans
poisoned by oil....
for the homeless man
beaten to death by the deputy....
the migrant family terrorized,
the young gay boy found hanging....
the men with the long knives wait...
choosing who will live and die,
who is useful, and who is not...
the judges chosen by
the oil drenched hand....
the prophets of profit!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A moment in time! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Summer at peak;
a young man
in a white singlet.
Summer at peak;
a young girl
in short sleeves.
Summer at peak;
A child licks
Ice cream.
Summer at peak;
an infant
On inhaler.
Summer at peak;
A young couple
Cosy in cinema hall seats.
Summer at peak;
A vendor
Sells lime water.
Summer at peak;
Gulmohar petals
lie limp on grass.
Summer at peak;
Dust haze,
Road rage.
Summer at peak;
beads of sweat
slide on lips.
Summer at peak,
Street wars,
Blame it on heat.
poem by Mamta Agarwal
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Not What You See
Wait a minute baby
I'll be right back
I just gotta talk
To a friend
For a couple of minutes
I see you looking
At the two of us
And what do you see
The oldest couple at the Mayflower
Esther and Me
I push her in the chair
I know she'd walk
If she could
She says "Take your pills"
As if they do any good
I'll bet you think
That what you're looking
At is all we are
Two old people forgetting
The way we were
Sonny, no one is
What they look like
Everyone's so much more
Sonny, no one is
What they look like
And we're not what
You see that's for sure
You should have known her before
You should have known her before
Legs she had legs
That made the guys drool
And her waist was as small
As your neck
And the face and the hair
And the rest of her
And when I look at her now
I still see her young and beautiful
She's my girl and I'm her Joe
And we're not what you see
In a minute baby I'll be right back
I just got some more to say
To my young new friend here
Esther just turned 80 and I'm 83
The oldest couple at the Mayflower
Esther and me
I knew that when I saw her
We were meant to be one
She says she didn't notice me
But don't you believe her
I'll bet you think that what you're looking at
Is all we are
Two old people
Stumbling through the days
Sonny, no one is what
They look like
Everyone's so much more
Sonny, no one is what
They look like
And we're not what you see
That's for sure
You should have known me before
You should have known me before-a
song performed by by Barry Manilow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Just Say No
Attention party people its a APB
that is an all points bulleton from Young MC
now rather your a senior citizen or just a tike
just grab a seat and pay attention as i rock the mic
I wrote a couple of Rhymes and call them just say no
dedicated to the people who are on the go
and when can help you out when you are on the brink
and when you listen this jam can make you think
If you were ever in a situation
with out enough time for comtimplation
all of your friends go in the same way
you feel kind of traped, you dont know what to say
Just say no
'cause better safe then sorry
this is for real, this aint no game or folly
its your life and you only got one
so you better do it right or it will soon be done
You want to be popular, you want to be cool
you want to be the one that every body likes at school
you want to be every thing just for every one else
but you better thing of what you want to be for your self
Every day people livin in the same old mess
hard to be original and not be like the rest
you got to go for what you know, you cant afford to guess
and heaven knows what would happen if you did say yes
so say NO
just say NO
You hear me say NO...no...no...no
Just say NO
kids OD and cause a family greef
over the marajana plant and the coco leaf
over a bunch of pills to try to get their thrills
over a drug you shoot becuase you think it's cute
Over something you smoke, man it aint no joke
over something you drink oh boy why dont you think
over something you snort like you were playing a sport
one day you'll go to far and you'll come up short
Some people out there dont seem to get my point
tellin other crack kills while their smoking a joint
well the point of this song is to tell you the facts
some people die from smoking the tree like they die from crack
Not a drug im particular but drugs in general
their not good for you like a vitamin or a mineral
they come in liquid, leaf, powder, pills, and rocks
to put you six feet under on your back in a box
so say NO
just say NO
did you hear me say NO...no...no...no
just say NO
song performed by by Young MC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Along The War Avenue Of honour
Along the war Avenue of Honour a plaque to a dead soldier nailed to every tree
Brave young men who died in battle their reward for their bravery
They died in the war said to end all wars in the killing fields of World war one
But many wars since and far too many bloody battles and peace in the World not yet won.
Wars started by silly ageing men who send the young for them to die
Ageing men who themselves will die of old age and their twilight years they will enjoy,
ageing males heroes of their people we honour cowards as heroes one might say
The young men will go to war for them and the young men with their young lives pay.
The war supposed to end all wars long over almost nine decades since have gone by
But many wars have been fought since then and war pilots dropp their big bombs from the night sky
But suppose that's what will always happen when we give all of our power away
To silly and ageing male war men who with hair dyes cover their gray.
Along the war avenue of honour long dead soldiers names on every tree
Young noble men who died in battle far from homeland and family
In what was to be the war to end all wars yet we don't have much wisdom to show
For the loss of so many fine young men well over eight decades ago.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Soldier's Tree
They call this tree the Soldier's Tree
It honours one whose life blood was shed
A victim of the First World War
'Lest we forget our soldier dead'.
I read the plaque nailed to the tree
It stated his date of birth and name
A tree to honour his bravery
But to dead soldier what use fame? .
I see he was just seventeen
So young so very young to die
Those who sent him to fight in war
Must share blame for death of the boy.
Fighting more than half a World away
And at the end what was his gain?
Gunned down by one he'd never known
Hope death was quick without much pain.
How can one that you've never known
Ever become your enemy?
Those who send men to die in wars
Of guilt must not be made feel free.
I read the plaque on Soldier's Tree
On war memorial avenue
A lad who died at seventeen
Gunned down by one he never knew.
poem by Francis Duggan
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I Am (Continued)
i am, become...
i am the lonesome wail
of streets gone empty,
of factories deserted,
of shops closed down.
i am the abortion clinic bombed
by the right wing fanatic,
and the baby left with a baby
that she cannot raise.
i am the food pantry,
the mission, the soup line...
my faces used to be your neighbors.
i am the tractor rusted in the snow,
the well gone dry...
i am the young gay couple
wanting so much to marry,
i am the fundamentalist afraid
of anything i dont understand.
i am the heroin addict
on the endless stoop,
i am the black child growing up
in a neighborhood terrorized.
i am the immigrant looking for work,
i am the crops left rotting in the fields...
i am the bedpan changer, the floor sweeper,
and the emergency room nurse...
i am the single mom,
food stamps, and no work...
the young man who drives
the old woman out to vote.
i am the balled up fist,
the set lip, the phallic rose...
i am America exploding!
i am, become...
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Too Young To Die
Written by jay kay and toby smith
Everybody, dont want no war, cos were all too young to die
Many people, all around the world now, seen their brothers fry?
Whats the motive?
In your madness youve made my people cry
So politicians, this time keep your distance
Cos were too young to die
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die.
Whats the answer? to our problems.
I think weve gone to high,
Little children never said a word now, but still they have to die
It wont be long, dancing like we do now,
To put this sad world right
So you dont worry, suffer no more,
Cos were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die.
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die,
You know were too young to die.
All gone when they drop the bomb.
Can politicians reassure? cos here I am pressuming that nobody here wants a war.
Theres so many people praying just to find out if theyre staying.
But lately, stately governments and disillusioned leader,
So full of empty promises but rarely do they feed us,
Put our backs against the wall, or dont we count at all.
Can you decide, are you mesmerised.
Do you know which side youre standing?
Cos when it falls gonna take us all.
Gotta know what were demanding, I never lie, cant hear you cry,
Coming from on high,
Were too young to die!
song performed by by Jamiroquai
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Young Love
J. spinks
Young love - bigger than anything
Youre waitin for a girl to ring
Talkin bout young love
And I dont want anyone else to call your name
And I dont think anyone else could feel the same
(chorus)
I cant stop thinkin about
The way shes holding it out
Im talkin bout young love
Young love - bigger than everything
Shines like a diamond ring
Talkin bout young love
And I dont think anyone else could understand
And I dont want anyone else to be your man
(chorus)
And I dont want anyone else to call your name
And I dont think anyone else could feel the same
Young love - bigger than everything
Waitin for the bells to ring
Talkin bout young love
Na na na na - na na na na na young love
Na na na na - na na na na na young love
song performed by by Outfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Young Ones
The young ones,
Darling were the young ones,
And young ones shouldnt be afraid.
To live, love
While the flame is strong,
For we wont be the young ones very long.
Tomorrow,
Why wait till tomorrow,
Tomorrow sometimes never comes.
Love, me,
Theres a song to be sung
And the best time is to sing while were young.
Once in every lifetime
Comes a love like this.
I need you and you need me.
Oh my darling cant you see.
Young dreams
Should be dreamed together,
Young hearts shouldnt be afraid.
And some day when the years have flown
Darling, this will teach the young ones of our own.
The young ones
Darling, were the young ones
The young ones
Darling, were the young ones.
song performed by by Cliff Richard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In Every Way!
how many people are blind?
how many people are deaf?
how many by choice?
perhaps you still have jobs,
homes, food to eat, medical care.
perhaps you have investments,
a way to retire....
perhaps your family is happy,
and well taken care of...
i hope so for you!
millions of people hurting,
millions in need...
millions of children hungry,
millions who cant get an education.
millions enslaved by poverty,
millions left alone....
people with faces and names.
all of these are normal people.
whatever their language, their religion,
their sexual orientation.
all of these are people just like you.
and many of these have families,
just like you!
is it their fault they're victims?
perhaps they've worked their whole lives.
male, female, young, old.....
all people,
with mothers and fathers....
all people....
and no, America is not free.
the news we watch is tainted.
the truth is hidden from us.
killing people around the world
does not make us free....
books are being banned and burned,
prejudice and discrimination are rampant.
we have forgotten we are responsible for each other,
we have forgotten we are all immigrants here.
there are no illegal people,
all people are just people.
freedom demands equality,
in every way!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Havin A Ball
Written by james young, john curulewski
Lead vocals by james young
Yeah
Now tell me girl
Wont you tell me true
Help me get this out of my head
Now fenny thinks that there aint no stoppin
Until you got me flat on my back
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
Now theres things that I agree with
And things that I really dont
If you think Im free to try something crazy
There aint nothing round that I wont
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
Yeah
Just havin a ball
Just havin a ball
Just havin a ball
Just havin a ball
Now if you want to spend some time with me
If youve got some time to kill
Tell more or else Ill leave this place
Know a couple of a ladies that will
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
Yeah
Just havin a ball
Just havin a ball
Just havin a ball
Just havin a ball
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
You know my number
Just give me a call
You know what Im thinking
Were just havin a ball
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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