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Best Poems Written by Richard Rodriguez

Below are the all-time best Richard Rodriguez poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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A Pack of Smokes

A PACK OF SMOKES



                            A  LITTLE TOKE
                    A LOT OF CHOKE
                         A DEFINITE CROAK

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Thank You Mom

Oh mother oh mother oh motherly 
be,
woe would be the world without 
thee,
you fed us when we were
hungry,
you clothed us when we were
cold,
you cooled us when we were 
feverish,
and you held us when we weren’t 
quite so bold;
so mother oh mother oh motherly
be,
many would be the sorrow without
thee,
you pained at our
losses,
you jocund at our
gains,
you kissed all of our
booboos,
and bandaged all our
sprains;
so mother oh mother oh motherly 
be,
many would be the poorer without

thee,

1
so you never owned new 
shoes,
for that matter nor a 
dress,
your hair was cut by your very own
hands,
so we could have the
best;
so mother oh mother oh motherly
be,
because of thee;
the richer, the wiser, the better are
we.

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Challenger

Seven brave souls
left this place
for a hurried adventure 
into space,
the shuttle that took them 
was monstrous and strong 
and those who built it, 
thought naught 
could go wrong;
but as Murphy would say,
and the fates decreed, 
a disastrous adventure 
it was meant to be,
for all the time spent 
preparing the shuttle;
how easy it was 
to overlook the o-ring
the size of a  chip, 
which lost its integrity 
in the morning nip;
so seven brave souls 
never made to space, 
but in all our hearts 
they found,
A permanent place

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Leaving This Earth

Leaving the earth
an idea with
appeal
to all men of vision
this objective could be
real.
but at what cost
is it to 
be
for the cost will be
far from 
free
the sacrifices cannot be 
measured
to achieve this
fated goal
will cost many of
treasures.
the cost will be more
than monetary means,
it may cost our sanity,
morality and perhaps,
even our souls it seems;
for what will be acceptable
just what will be allowed
when discovering a new planet
perhaps peopled by those
that might be proud.
would our manifest destiny
out weigh their
rights
would our needs and greed
succeed,
in repeating an early 
American plight.
for like Cortez,
shall we conquer?
Shall we abandon our
humanity?
would that be proper?
who should be held 
accountable?
who shall take this
Cause?
before we leave this world
we should consider and
pause;
create a new doctrine
one that would be fair,
for this is proper to do,
for whom ever may be
out there.
for being adjoined,
in a galactic community
of others,
should be our goal.
using ingenuity, integrity;
leaving all thoughts
of conquest at
home.



6

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Fated Love

The first I met you,
        I knew it for what it was
            no misconception, nor loss
                     of thought,
just this loving feeling
sanctioned, 
              by the heavens 
                   above,
now you may pause, 
with good reason
your soul, scarred
by past relations 
that was displeasing,
but I am here to
say,
                                       fate plays this 
                                     way, 
                    I’ll bring you 
                    kindness, friendship,
                          and lovingness,
         every waking day.

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Haiku

Sunrise comes for me
Buildings shade halts it’s progress
Sucky city life


My city sunset
Reflected off the buildings
Awesome to behold


Prey in the city
variety a plenty
Beware the stalkers


She sleeps peacefully
I watch admiring her
She tooted sweetly


Lost is my lover
She lays next to me in sleep
Distance is profound


Here my princess l
Innocent our love
Profound is the gap

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Just An American

JUST AMERICAN



Oh to be called an 
American 
to have that title 
to be that title 
to feel that title
but alas here…
in my land of the free
that title eludes me…
ain’t it ironic
and iconic
that in any other land
of both friend and foe alike
that I am granted the right
to be called just an American
true and true
with no pre amble 
to construe.
but here in my home
I am down graded
by an 
Undesirable
un-satisfiable 
unquantifiable
pre amble…
like Hispanic, African,
Asian or Black
Why that tact…
So I put it to you;
like you…
why can’t it be
in this; my home of the free
that I be called…  
Just an 
American

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Engulfed In Passion

ENGULFED IN PASSION

My truth is my heart
my heart speaks the
truth,
so listen well for grander
Is our youth,
‘twas not long ago
yet so near to dear
that we met on that
silvery beach;
and as we counted the shells,
and the waves in the brakes,
and the stars that were within our reach,
something happened, 
very slight at first;
but something was
definitely there 
as we found ourselves 
engulfed in passion…
and floating on the ocean
Air

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Lost Friend

A friend left this 
place
not to long ago…
he was…
a kind, gentle, endearing
man
with a heart made of 
gold
now some may see it
un-masculine
but I am not ashamed to 
say
that I have had great thoughts
for this man
and loved him in
every way

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Goodbye My Love

Goodbye my love 
                        all thoughts… 
                                        and Visions of you 
                               have fled My mind
                  Only to leave behind
A harsh..
      hollowed out crater 
             In the center of my soul 
                  Leaving me…
                          unconsoled…
                                                                    As your scent fades 
                                                    And memories of 
                               your eyes, 
                        Your face,
                  Your shape 
                              Surrender into shadows… 
Lost, is you; 
   forever more In my 
        Embrace….
          What faustian barging 
             Must I make, to escape
                   This plight…
Of the pain 
           of the lose.. 
                               that will follow me… 
       into the 
       Eternal night….