From The Desk Of A Renegade Socialist... (Chapter 33) Poem by Eric Cockrell

morning breaks, that they have not taken
from us, for they do not know how.
and all the weary stripes of the night,
the marks of turmoil, the blood stained
sweat, the blow of grieving spirits, and
the weight of the anger, are for a moment
lifted. yet the scars remain.
coffee makes in small apartments, in trailer
parks, in welfare housing, in soon to be
foreclosed houses, in run down diners, in
farm houses, in alone, stinking alone, wanting,
needing, hoping against hope dwellings of the
common all across America.
teachers laid off, or underpaid, in book burning
banning ignorance.... firefighters who cant make
it on what they make. minimum wage cashiers,
nurse's aides, trash collectors..... without a chance.
angry lost kids who need education forced into
military service or prison.
human rights violated, or taken. free speech an
illusion. and the hatred, always the fearing,
discriminating, condemning hatred that they push,
on tv, in the news, propaganda, clothed often in religion
or morality... all to keep us divided, and so not a
threat to their kingdom.

the drug of distant success, keep your eyes on your wants,
what we tell you you should want... turn your face
from your neighbor, take care of yourself.
but our consciences know better. our hearts know
differently. our souls demand the truth. and the truth
is we are one!
one race, the human race. one family, humanity. equal
in the need for dignity, for respect. equal in sacredness.
men and women equal in value. all religions, all languages,
all colors of skin, equal!
and now begins the work of breaking down the barriers,
of extending hands, of breaking the glass of ignorance,
of getting involved.
of assuming the responsibility that is already ours. of
walking naked in the light. of being human. of listening,
and daring to learn from each other. of exploring doubt
in search of the truth. of admitting i dont understand,
the first step of understanding. of knowing the face of
god in every living being. for there is no deeper holiness.
again, of being human.
stand up, and walk! wake up, and live!