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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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
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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White Republican Male Jesus?
White Republican Male Jesus?
what about...
black Jesus, brown Jesus,
Asian Jesus, atheist Jesus,
female Jesus, poor Jesus,
jobless Jesus, prison Jesus,
homeless Jesus, illegal immigrant Jesus?
dog Jesus, cat Jesus,
baby in a dumpster Jesus,
addict Jesus, old Jesus?
gay Jesus, union Jesus,
hungry Jesus, foreign Jesus?
bumming a cup of coffee Jesus?
brother Jesus, sister Jesus?
just bombed Jesus,
food stamp Jesus?
how many bodies? how many crosses?
you tell me!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Am (Justice)
i am, become...
i am the African slave
working in the deep Mississippi sun;
his eyes, his muscles, his back, his heart,
all shouting 'freedom'...
i am the college student,
hanging from a tree
in the sixties south,
who died for his conviction...
i am the minister
who joined the protest for peace,
dignity, and equality,
his face bashed in by the officer's club,
handcuffed in the back of the van...
i am the turning of the seasons
through prison bars,
the watered down coffee,
the tiny cell.
i am the one ridiculed and rundown
by the conservative righteous right,
for standing up for individual rights.
i am the young family left stranded
on food stamps and unemployment checks,
their future teetering...
i am the illegal immigrant beaten
in the Arizona desert,
left to die by the side of the road....
i am the working poor,
the honest and true,
driven to desperation...
i am hard and coiled,
i am America crying out for justice, , ,
i am, become...
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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To Be Young Gifted And Black
(1969) nina simone, weldon irvine jr
To be young, gifted and black,
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black,
Open your heart to what I mean
In the whole world you know
There are billion boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black,
And thats a fact!
Young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
Theres a world waiting for you
This is a quest thats just begun
When you feel really low
Yeah, theres a great truth you should know
When youre young, gifted and black
Your souls intact
Young, gifted and black
How I long to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth
Oh but my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted and black
Is where its at
song performed by by Nina Simone
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To Be Young, Gifted & Black
(1969) nina simone, weldon irvine jr
To be young, gifted and black,
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black,
Open your heart to what I mean
In the whole world you know
There are billion boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black,
And thats a fact!
Young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
Theres a world waiting for you
This is a quest thats just begun
When you feel really low
Yeah, theres a great truth you should know
When youre young, gifted and black
Your souls intact
Young, gifted and black
How I long to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth
Oh but my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted and black
Is where its at
song performed by by Nina Simone
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Christ Became a Spectacle
The Lord was hung upon a tree, to become a spectacle for all to see.
Jesus became that spectacle, on the hill of Calvary to be seen by all.
Christ was left to die upon that hill, left to die like a common criminal.
Soldiers came to seize The Lord, and each one with a club or sword.
Accused of subverting the nation; when He come to bring Salvation.
Accused then sentenced to die, yet, from His mouth came not one lie.
Crucify him, crucify him, was their cry, it was Jesus, they said must die.
Placed on his head with angry scorns, was a mocking crown of thorns.
Accused of what He didn’t commit, yet to their authority He did submit.
Christ was beat and was flogged, and this by one angry religious mob.
Many jeered and spat upon Him, and mocked the One who had no sin.
The very Lord of love and grace, was rebuked and struck on the face.
At Jesus Christ all the rulers sneered, while the angry mobs just jeered.
Insults were heaped upon The Lord, insults that Christ had just ignored.
With a staff He was struck on the head, and this Christ did in our stead.
Rejected and despised by those, who then stripped Him of His clothes.
After they were done their probe, upon Christ they placed a purple robe.
Reverence for God was disposed, as they cast lots for Christ’s clothes.
Although no guilt in Him was found, by these men The Lord was bound.
After Christ was scorn and beat, these men pierced His hands and feet.
A soldier’s spear was thrust in His side, upon the cross where He died.
Abandoned by His closest friends, and left all alone to die in the end.
That betrayal of Judas with a kiss, for us will become an Eternal Bliss.
From men’s temporal evil pleasure, we received an Eternal Treasure.
(Copyright ©11/2005)
Crucifixion..remember me.
BLACK CLOUDS
BLACK SMOKE
AN ANGRY MOB WITH BLACK HEARTS
THE VICTIM, BLOODIED AND WITH MANY MARKS
HIS THORNY CROWN FITTED WITH PURPOSE
THIS MAN FAILS TO BOW TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE
HE'LL NOW BE DISPLAYED ON A CROSS FOR THE MOB TO ADMIRE
THE THORNS THAT WERE IN THEIR SIDE NOW ADORNS THE KING OF THE JEWS
THE MAN CHARGED WITH SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS
HIS THIRST TO BE SATED? WITH A SOURED SPONGE
THAT STUNG HIS NOW SWOLLEN TONGUE
THE TEST OF FAITH THAT FOR A MOMENT WAS IN DOUBT
FATHER HELP ME OUT
HE WAS NOT ALONE ON THAT RUGGED CROSS, FOR ALONG SIDE ONE THEIF CALLED, REMEMBE ME
HIS DISCIPLES URGE HIM TO CAST SOME SPELLS
HE SUFFERED THERE..HE COULD HAVE CALLED TN THOUSAND ANGELS.
poem by Brian Roy Skyers
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Upon the Wall
The first picture is an old black and white of a young couple just started out their life. If you look close you can see all the hope in their eyes.
Next to that hangs a color picture of the same couple a few years older and a baby has been added to the picture, what joy upon their faces.
Now, the next picture is about seven years after that the couples hair has turned slightly grey and the child has grown, but their look of joy has turned to worry I wonder what problem has arose.
Now the next one is the once young child standing proudly in an arm forces' uniform ready to serve his nation.
Then there's the next picture it is a coffin with a flag draped upon it, and the old couple now standing and crying beside it.
I can only imagine that their child now lies in that coffin.
The final picture is similar to first except instead of black and white this has color, and instead of hope the old couple eyes are filled with despair from the harshness of life, and all they have left is the pictures upon the wall.
Jesus's Job!
you took Jesus's job,
and sent it overseas...
always thinking of the bottom line.
and now his benefits
have run out!
you've got an angry
Jesus with a gun,
and a hungry family,
on the streets.
black Jesus, white Jesus,
brown Jesus, red Jesus...
it dont matter,
take your pick...
he's standing in your doorway!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Other Side of You
I say black and you say white
I turn to the left, you move to the right
No matter what I do
I'm always on the other side of you
I'm always on the other side of you
I want to play but you like to fight
I rise in the morning, you hide in the night
No matter what I do
I'm always on the other side of you
Like paralell lines, so near yet so far
Like North Pole and South Pole, we're oceans apart
I'm always on the other side of you
You let go, I try to connect
You always remember, I try to forget
I'm always on the other side of you.
song performed by by Nazareth, music by Manny Charlton (1986)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Only The Good Die Young
The demon in your mind will rape you in your bed at night
The wisdom of ages the lies and outrages concealed
Time it waits for no man
My future is revealed
Time it waits for no man
My fate is sealed
If I cancel tomorrow the undead will thank me today
Fly in the space of your prophets I mock your morality plays
The moon is red and bleeding
The sun is burned and black
The book of life is silent
No turning back
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
Only the good die young
Mistery madman a victim of cruel charade
Some innocent pawn in an end game one more stalemate
Is death another birthday?
A way to kiss your dreams goodbey?
Do the undead live within us?
And look through our eyes?
Walking on water are mirarcles all you can trust
Measure your coffin does it measure up to your lust
So I think Ill leave you
With your bishops and your guilt
So until the next time
Have a good sin
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
Only the good die young
Seven deadly sins
Seven ways to win
Seven holy paths to hell
Seven downward slopes
Seven bloodied hopes
Seven are your burning fires
Seven you desires...
song performed by by Iron Maiden
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Learn To Do It With The Action
Slaughtered by the onslaught of thoughts.
That are deep and hidden,
To leave one feeling guilt ridden.
Don't let them ride your back like that.
Decide right now,
You want satisfaction.
Slaughtered by the onslaught of thoughts.
That are deep and hidden,
To leave one feeling guilt ridden.
Don't let them ride your back like that.
Decide you want satisfaction,
And...
Satisfaction is where it's at.
Some people find themselves getting crazed,
Over things they can't afford to give.
As if they are committed to give and not get.
So they sit and twist their minds into fits.
Some people find themselves getting crazed,
When the holidays of feeding greed...
Come to empty their pockets then leave.
Like a buyer's remorse that's grieved.
Oh no,
Let go of the hold.
It's not worth the beholding.
Slaughtered by the onslaught of thoughts.
That are deep and hidden,
To leave one feeling guilt ridden.
Don't let them ride your back like that.
Decide you want satisfaction,
And...
Satisfaction is where it's at.
Don't allow a guilt to ride attached to your back.
Learn to grab some satisfaction.
Don't allow a guilt to ride like that!
Learn to grab some satisfaction.
And...
Learn to do it with the action.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sit Down Young Stranger
Im standin in the doorway
My head bowed in my hands
Not knowin where to sit
Not knowin where to stand
My father looms above me
For him there is no rest
My mothers arms enfold me
And hold me to her breast
They say you been out wandrin
They say you travelled far
Sit down young stranger
And tell us who you are
The room has all gone misty,
My thoughts are all in spin
Sit down young stranger
And tell us where you been
Ive been up to the mountain
Ive walked down by the sea
I never questioned no one
And no one questioned me
My love was given freely
And oftimes was returned
I never came to borrow
I only came to learn
Sometimes it would get lonely
But it taught me how to cry
And laughter came too easy
For life to pass me by
I never had a dollar
That I didnt earn with pride
Cause I had a million daydreams
To keep me satisfied
And will you gather daydreams
Or will you gather wealth
How can you find your fortune
When you cannot find yourself
My mothers eyes grow misty
Theres a tremblin in her hand
Sit down young stranger
I do not understand
Now will you try to tell us
You been too long at school
That knowledge is not needed
That power does not rule
That war is not the answer
That young men should not die
Sit down young stranger
I wait for your reply
The answer is not easy
For souls are not reborn
To wear the crown of peace
You must wear the crown of thorns
If jesus had a reason
Im sure he would not tell
We treated him so badly
How could he wish us well
The parlor now is empty
Theres nothin left to say
My father has departed
My mothers gone to pray
Theres rockets in the meadows
And ships out on the sea
The answers in the forest
Carved upon a tree
John loves mary
Does anyone love me
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Wild & The Young
Times are changing
Nothing stays the same
For this jukebox generation
Adhere to fashion
Like computer games
Modern day communication
The news hard to take
Will fade tomorrow
They are the strong
They'll survive
The wild and the young
They all have their dreams
The wild and the young
They've got to be free
The sun never sets
For souls on the run
The wild and the young
Yeah
Hah!
Roaring passion
With no guilt or shame
It's accepting education, yeah!
Misbehaving
No regrets, no blame
With a bold kind of sophistication
So close to the edge
And high on the wire
They are not wrong
They're alive
The wild and the young
They all have their dreams
The wild and the young
They've got to be free
The sun never sets
For souls on the run
The wild and the young
Ha!
So close to the edge
And%2
song performed by by Quiet Riot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Salvation
how many Jesus's does it take?
rock n roll Jesus, civil rights Jesus,
sexual Jesus, Baptist Jesus,
Pentecostal snake Jesus...
heroin Jesus, small town family Jesus,
necklace Jesus, tattoo Jesus,
illegal immigrant Jesus...
Jesus on the cross in a drunk tank Jesus,
Marlboro Jesus, county fair Jesus,
pray for Armagadden Jesus...
or just a man,
living one day, one moment,
one bare naked dirty human need
at a time...
with open hands, open heart,
and open mind!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Young Girl
Young girl Abused and broken
Young girl Alone and Frightened
Young girl Worthless and Ugly
Young girl feels so alone
She has no one to hold her
Young girl's father to drunk to even care
The young girl gets beaten everyday
The young girl wanting to runaway
Young girl will not leave her father alone
Like he has done to her
This young girl's teacher has a note
She reads the note aloud to the class
This young girl was beaten to death
No one had the guts to save her
This young girl bruised and dead
This young girl buried in the cold ground
This young girl has no one to visit her grave
No one asked her how she got her bruises
No one even took a second chance
Goodbye young girl fly away into the arms of God
For He loved you and always will
This young girl happy again
poem by Jasmine Kayleen
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Racist: I Have Saw Discrimination
Don't be a hater, a racist, evil
because I SAW discrimination
One day not so long ago a white man walked into a cafe'
and rudely asked a BLACK man to leave the seat
WELL! ! ! ! the BLACKman turned around and started composing one of
the most beautiful but unknown speeches in that time
'Sir when you were born you were pink,
when you're sick you're green
when you die you'll be pale
when you're angry you're red
and when you're hurt you're blue!
When I was born i was BLACK,
when i'm sick i'm BLACK
when i die i'll be BLACK
when i'm angry i'm BLACK
and when i'm hurt i'm BLACK
YOU know that and you dare to make a deal of my color?
That was what discrimination deserves
Everything is done for a reason
And i saw discrimination so i could tell YOU
poem by Golden Heart
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Angry Young Woman
Angry young woman on sunrise strip,
Walking away to the new world.
She left her man, she left her children,
cause she knows she has only one life to live.
Angry young woman with her background on her forehead,
Three children and two abortions.
Played a little piano ten years ago.
And some typing from the college where she met her husband.
Angry young woman in the dark of the night,
Hears her children crying for dinner,
Hears her man shouting for his shirt
And thinks of the first sundays they spent in the park.
Angry young woman, angry young woman,
Theres no way back, so just keep walking.
Leave your past in your raincoat pocket
And when you turn the corner youll see the new world.
Angry young woman, angry young woman,
Theres no way back, so just keep walking.
Leave your past in your raincoat pocket
And when you turn the corner youll see the new world.
(angry young woman, angry young woman,
Theres no way back, so just keep walking.
Leave your past in your raincoat pocket)
(angry young woman, angry young woman)
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Angry Young Woman
Angry young woman on sunrise strip,
Walking away to the new world.
She left her man, she left her children,
cause she knows she has only one life to live.
Angry young woman with her background on her forehead,
Three children and two abortions.
Played a little piano ten years ago.
And some typing from the college where she met her husband.
Angry young woman in the dark of the night,
Hears her children crying for dinner,
Hears her man shouting for his shirt
And thinks of the first sundays they spent in the park.
Angry young woman, angry young woman,
Theres no way back, so just keep walking.
Leave your past in your raincoat pocket
And when you turn the corner youll see the new world.
Angry young woman, angry young woman,
Theres no way back, so just keep walking.
Leave your past in your raincoat pocket
And when you turn the corner youll see the new world.
(angry young woman, angry young woman,
Theres no way back, so just keep walking.
Leave your past in your raincoat pocket)
(angry young woman, angry young woman)
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Im Not Jesus
Dont wear a crown of thorns
Got no holes in my hand
Dont accuse me of that crime
Dont hang me up to dry
Its not me its not me its not me
Dont wanna die for your sins
Got no special powers sacrifise and
Sacrilege hey man, I wanna live
Im not jesus I cant heal you
Taste my blood it doesnt taste like wine
Cant you see this cross isnt mine
Judas must die for what he has done
Satans watching with his gun
Its not me its not me its not me
Father, son and holy ghost
Say your prayers-its your only hope
Twelve apostle cant help you now
Ill be back to stake my ground
Im not jesus I cant heal you
Im not jesus I cant heal you
Dont wear a crown of thorns
Got no holes in my head
Dont accuse me of that crime
Dont hang me up to dry
Im not jesus I cant heal you
Im not jesus I cant heal you
Im not jesus I cant heal you
song performed by by Ramones
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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