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Best Poems Written by Tom Fleece

Below are the all-time best Tom Fleece poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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A Drug Addicts Lament

A DRUG ADDICT'S LAMENT

KENSINGTON AVE IS WHERE I FIX
A PLACE WHERE LADIES PLY THEIR TRICKS
BUT UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FEE
KENSINGTON AVE IS NEVER FREE

WALKING NOW I’VE GOT THE SHAKES
GET THERE SOON IS ALL IT TAKES
THE CITY HAS ME IN A RUT
EMPTINESS ROLLS AROUND MY GUT

JUDY’S THERE SHE DOESN’T CARE
FAST EDDIE HAS HIS DISTANT STARE
AND THEN THERE’S ME NOT MUCH TO SEE
I WALK WITH LONG LOST DIGNITY

THREE TIMES I QUIT BUT DIDN’T FIT
WITH PEOPLE WHO SURROUNDED ME
BUT WHEN I GOT THAT SPECIAL DRUG,
LIFE TO ME WAS JUST A SHRUG

I’M SWEATING NOW BUT STILL FEEL COLD
A PART OF COMING DOWN I’M TOLD
I’M SLOWING NOW AND FEELING PAIN
BUT SOON I’LL BE ON HAPPY LANE

KENSINGTON CALLS OUT TO ME
JUST LIKE LADY LIBERTY
GETTING RIGHT IS JUST THE KEY
TO LET MY TORTURED MIND BE FREE

AND AS I THIRST TO LIFT THE CURSE
THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF ME
RETURN I MUST BECAUSE I LUST
TO PUT THAT DRUG INSIDE OF ME

AND AS IT ENTERS THROUGH THE SKIN
IT BECOMES MY SPECIAL FRIEND
BUT NOW I KNOW IT WON’T BE LONG
BEFORE MY SPECIAL FRIEND IS GONE

KENSINGTON CALLS OUT TO ME
IT DRAWS ME LIKE A FLAME
IT SINGS ITS SWEET SONG OUT TO ME
BUT ALWAYS ENDS THE SAME

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1862

1862

TWAS IN THE SUMMER OF '62
WHEN MEN WORE GRAY
AND OTHERS BLUE
WHEN SOUNDS OF MIGHTY BATTLES RAGED
AS WAR BETWEEN THE STATES WAS WAGED

OH WHAT YOUNG MEN WERE WE
FULL OF LIFE AND FANCY FREE
BOASTING HOW WE’D WIN THE WAR
A DAY OR TWO, NOT ANY MORE
AND ON THIS DAY WE START OUR VENTURE
MARCHING TOWARD OUR GREAT ADVENTURE

ALL DAY WE WALKED ON DUSTY ROADS,
THE SWEAT ON BROW FROM HEAVY LOADS
THEN DAYS END ON THE RIVER BANKS
WE FINALLY CAMPED AND GAVE OUR THANKS
 STORIES WERE TOLD AS THE PICKETS PATROLLED

THE SARGENT WAS THERE
SOME GRAY IN HIS HAIR
THE SCARS ON HIS FACE
SO EASY TO TRACE
 
AND SO WAS A BOY
JUST 15 NO MORE
HE ASKED THE SARGENT 
JUST WHY WE’RE AT WAR

THE SARGENT LOOKED UP
WITH A COLD MILKY EYE
AND SAID SON I’LL TELL YOU
AND IT WON’T BE A LIE

THE STARE SO INTENSE
THAT CAME FROM HIS EYES
HIS VOICE STAYING SOFT
HIS WORDS WERE SO WISE

WHEN SOULS OF ALIKE
ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER
WHEN ALL TALKING STOPS
LIKE YESTERDAY’S WEATHER
WHAT ONCE WAS FORBEARANCE
THAT THEN TURNS TO HATE
WILL TAKE A GREAT MANY
TO THE DEVILS OWN GATE

WAR IS A THING SON
IN WHICH WE ALL SIN
WAR IS A THING 
NOT TO BE IN
WAR IS A WORD 
THERE IS NO DELIGHT
TONIGHT WE’LL HAVE PEACE
AND TOMORROW WE’LL FIGHT

TOMORROWS THE DAY 
HE SAID WITH THAT STARE
WHEN BOYS BECOME MEN
 AS SOULS BECOME BARE

YOU’LL KNOW WHO YOU ARE
IF YOU LIVE THROUGH THE DAY
YOU’LL KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
BY THE MEN THAT YOU SLAY

WHO AM I THOUGHT I
ON THAT WARM SUMMER NIGHT
MY SENSE OF IMMORTAL
HAD NOW TURNED TO FRIGHT
 
AND AS IT TURNED OUT
I WAS NOT SO ALONE
A CHILL RAN THROUGH ALL	
RIGHT DOWN TO THE BONE

AND SO THE DAY ENDED
NOT AS IT BEGAN
OUR THOUGHTS NOW SUSPENDED
OUR WILL NOT SO GRAND
NOT ONCE COULD I SLEEP
NOT EVEN A YAWN
IN FEAR DID TIME CREEP
THE MINUTES TO DAWN

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The Story of Boxcar Jack

THE STORY OF BOXCAR JACK

NOT MANY KNOW OF BOXCAR JACK
WHO LIVES ON A  TRAIN GOING WAY BACK
HEARING THE SOUND OF THE CLITITY CLACK
THAT COMES FROM BEAT OF A NORTHBOUND TRACK

WELL BOXCAR WAS A MUSIC MAN
PLAYING HIS GUITAR WHEN HE CAN
STRUMMING OUT A HEARTFELT TUNE 
NEVER STOPPING NONE TO SOON

BOXCAR WAS ALSO A LADIES MAN
HAD THEM SPREAD ALL OVER THE LAND
THEY LOVED TO HEAR HIM SING HIS TUNE
THE RASPY VOICE WOULD MAKE THEM SWOON

THEY’D DRESS HIM UP AND FEED HIM WELL
A HOMELESS MAN YOU’D NEVER TELL
A DAY OR TWO HE’D SING HIS SONG
WHEN RESTLESS CAME HE’D THEN BE GONE

HEADED DOWN THAT SOUTHBOUND TRACK 
HEARING THE BEAT OF THE CLITITY CLACK
DREAMING UP ANOTHER SONG
OF LOVE GONE RIGHT AND THEN GONE WRONG

I MET BOXCAR WAY DOWN IN MACON
LOOKING SAD AND ALL FORSAKEN
I ASKED HIM WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS
WHY THE TEARS, WHAT WAS THE CAUSE?

BOXCAR TOLD ME IT WAS LOVE
A GODDESS BORN FROM UP ABOVE
A GIRL SO SWEET AND SLIGHTLY SILLY
WHOSE MOTHER CALLED HER LITTLE MILLIE

BUT MOMMA TOLD HER HE WAS WRONG.
HE DIDN’T SING THE PROPER SONG
NO JOB HAD HE OR DOLLAR BILLS
TO KEEP HER WARM FROM WINTER CHILLS

SO BOXCAR’S ON A WESTBOUND TRACK
TO HEAR THE BEAT OF THE CLITITY CLACK
A BEER OR TWO HE WASHES DOWN
AND THEN THERE CAME THAT SIMPLE FROWN

AND AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES
THE FROWN TURNED INTO HAPPY SMILES
AND SONGS HE WROTE IN PASSING TIME
OF LOVE THAT HAD NO ENDING RHYME

HE ENDED UP IN KANSAS CITY
LIVING WITH A GIRL SO PRETTY
DANCING IN A SATIN GOWN
SHE LOVED IT WHEN HE CAME TO TOWN

HE NAMED HER IN A SPECIAL TUNE
HE WROTE FOR HER THAT NIGHT IN JUNE
HE TOLD HER THAT HE’D SOON BE BACK
AND THEN HE LEFT FOR THE ENDLESS TRACK


AND NOW YOU KNOW OF BOXCAR JACK
WHO LOVED THE SOUND OF THE CLITITY CLACK
WHO LOVED THE GIRLS AND LIKED TO CROON
ON A TRAIN SOMEWHERE BELOW THE MOON

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THE BIRD

THE BIRD

AS I WAS WALKING ALONG THE  PIER ONE DAY
I PASSED A PILGRIM BIRD
GOING BY I HEARD IT CRY 
OUT A SINGLE WORD

STOP!  SAID HE AND THAT I DID
AND TURNED AROUND TO SEE
A STRANGE LOOKING BIRD
WHOSE SINGLE BLACK EYE
WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT AT ME

HUMAN, SAID HE
THERE BY THE SEA
ON THAT SUNNY DAY IN JUNE
I SEE YOUR KIND THAT WALK THE EARTH
THROWING TRASH AND TAKING WORTH
I SEE YOU DUMP UPON THE LAND
AND ALL THAT SUFFER BY YOUR HAND

I SMELL YOUR AWFUL HUMAN WASTE
THE SMOKE YOU SPEW IS HARD TO TASTE
I SEE YOUR CITIES BLACK AND SOOTY
YOU’VE RUINED ALL OUR FOREST’S BEAUTY
YOU THROW YOUR PLASTIC IN THE SEA
YOU POISON ALL THE THINGS WE SEE

AND NOW YOUR STANDING HERE WITH ME
AND NOT A SINGLE TEAR I SEE
OH HUMAN MAN WHEN WILL YOUR LEARN
THAT WHAT YOU SOW IS WHAT YOU’LL EARN
AND ON THAT FATEFUL DARKEST DAY
YOU’LL THINK OF ALL THE THINGS I SAY

BUT THEN YOU’LL KNOW THAT IT’S TO LATE
YOU’LL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MET YOUR FATE
AND WHEN YOU LOOK UP IN THE SKY 
NO BIRD YOU’LL SEE WITH ONE BLACK EYE

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Old Men Walking To The Sea

OLD MEN WALKING TO THE SEA


OLD MEN WALKING TO THE SEA
GOING DOWN HILL THREE BY THREE
FOAMING MIST AND DISTANT THUNDER
OCEANS DEEP AND FILLED WITH WONDER

PASSING GATE AND ANCIENT TREE
HEAR THE MORNING SEA BIRD SCREE
LIVING LIFE BY SEASON'S CLOCK
WALKING TO THE WOODEN DOCK

FOGGY IS THE GRAYISH SKY
LOOKING CHILLY TO THE EYE
CLOSER NOW WE’LL SOON BE GONE
FISHING WELL BEFORE THE DAWN

DEW SITS ON THE MORNING FLOWER
WAITING FOR THE SUNSHINE HOUR
MUDDY IS THE WALKING PATH
STILL WET FROM THE STORMY WRATH

BUNDLED NETS IN OPEN BOAT
KNITTED HAT AND SEAMAN'S COAT
FRIGID AIR AND SALTY TASTE
ICY FEEL UPON THE FACE

SMELL THE BRINE AND SALTY AIR
SEE THE MAIN MAST CANVAS FLARE
POINT THE VESSEL TO THE WIND
MAKE THE MIGHTY SEA YOUR FRIEND

SUN IS RISING IN THE EAST
FOGGY MORNING MIST RELEASED
CAST THE NET AND SET IT RIGHT
CIRCLE LEFT TO MAKE IT TIGHT

SAYING NOW THE FISHER’S PRAYER
THAT THE MORNING CATCH IS FAIR
THAT THE ENDLESS, LIVING SEA
PROVIDE THE GIFT OF LIFE TO THEE

PULLING NOW AND FEEL THE PAIN
OF THE BONE AND MUSCLE STRAIN
HEAR THE FISHER'S GOD DECREE
YOU TAKE THE BOUNTY FROM THE SEA

AND NOW THE DAY WAS FAIRLY WON
AND NOW THE STORIES CAN BE SPUN
WHEN OLD MEN TALK AS OLD MEN DO
ABOUT THE TIMES THAT THEY ONCE KNEW

SITTING IN THE VILLAGE PUB
SMOKY ROOM AND STEAMING GRUB
RUDDY FACE AND TOOTHLESS GRIN
GRAYISH STUBBLE ON THE CHIN

TALES ARE TOLD AND SOME ARE TRUE
LAUGHTER FROM THE FISHER’S CREW
OLD MEN LIVING BY THE SEA
THEIR LIFE A LIVING SYMPHONY

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A Glimpse Of Paridise

A GLIMPSE OF PARADISE

PARADISE IS CALM AND PEACEFUL
A PLACE THAT HAS NO PAIN
SADNESS HAS NO FACE HERE
EVIL HAS NO GAIN

 STANDING ON A SHADED HILL
THE TREES ARE BRIGHT AND BOLD
COLORS DANCING IN THE AIR
TOO MANY TO BEHOLD

NEARBY THERE’S A RIVER
THAT’S SHIMMERING IN GOLD
AND IN IT SWIMS A TALKING FISH
FROM PROPHECIES OF OLD

IT KNOWS OF MANY STORIES
AND IT TELLS ME MANY TALES
IT TALKS OF LOFTY GLORIES
AND LEAVES OUT ALL THE FAILS

AND BY THE RIVER A TREE
WHOSE MANY ROOTS RUN DEEP
THEY TANGLE THROUGH THE FERTILE SOIL
WHERE MAGIC CREATURES CREEP

AND ON THIS TREE THERE GROWS A FRUIT
WHOSE MEAT IS SWEET AND GOOD
TO EAT IT MAKES YOU KNOW THE THINGS
YOU NEVER UNDERSTOOD

AND BY THE TREE A WINDING PATH
THAT WANDERS THROUGH THE WOOD
IT TAKES YOU TO A SILVER GATE
TO ENTER THERE IS GOOD

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE A GLADE
A PLACE WERE RAINBOWS  HIGH ARE MADE
THEY RISE UP FROM A CRYSTAL POOL
WITH COLORS BRIGHTER THAN A JEWEL

I WALK UPON A RAINBOW'S EDGE
I’M CLIMBING VERY HIGH
I JUMP OFF FROM ITS HIGHEST LEDGE
AND FLOAT WERE ANGELS FLY

LIKE A SNOWFLAKE DESCENDING
OR SO IT MAY SEEM
LIKE THE WING OF A DOVE 
THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL DREAM

MY FALL SLOW DESCENDING
LIKE LOVE NEVER-ENDING
MY THOUGHTS ARE SO SEEMING
 I FEEL LIKE I’M DREAMING

AND IF THERE IS FEAR
THERE'S NONE OF IT HERE
THE JUDGEMENT IS GONE
FOR HERE, THERE’S NO WRONG

I LAND BY A SEA
WHERE THE LONGBOATS DO SAIL
THEY BECKON TO ME
LIKE A COLD GLASS OF ALE

COME WANDER WITH US
THEY SAY WITH A SMILE
WE’LL SING HAPPY SONGS
AS WE SAIL BY THE MILE

THE SUNSETS ARE BRIGHT
THEY LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
COME WANDER WITH US
IN TIMELESS DELIGHT

SO THIS IS PARADISE
A NICE PLACE TO BE
AND WHEN YOU ARE READY
COME WANDER WITH ME.

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God Is Real

GOD IS REAL

LIES ARE TOLD AND INSULTS HURLED
DARKNESS COVERS ALL OUR WORLD
TRUTH IS CURSED AND HATE CONCEAL
THE GOOD MUST ASK IF GOD IS REAL

MEN OF MIGHTY POWER RULE
TO WIN THE DAY THEY MUST BE CRUEL
WARS ARE LOST AND SOME ARE WON
BUT DEATH PREVAILS BELOW THE SUN

THE HONEST MEN ARE TOLD TO COWER
BY THOSE THAT HAVE THE AWFUL POWER
THE PAIN IS GREAT AND MAKES THEM FEEL.
IF GOD ABOVE IS REALLY REAL

BABIES DIE, AND MOTHERS CRY
AND ALL WE DO IS WONDER WHY
IS THERE REASON WHY WE FEEL
TO ASK IF GOD IS REALLY REAL

WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST
AND HOPE SEEMS SQUASHED
YOU DEAL WITH LIFE’S UNCERTAINTY
IT’S OK TO FEEL THE PAIN
WHEN LOVED ONES MEET ETERNITY

AND IN THE NIGHT NO GOD IN SIGHT
YOUR SOUL CRY'S OUT RELENTLESSLY
BUT THEN A VOICE THAT’S STRONG AND CLEAR
TELLS YOU NOT TO BE IN FEAR

THE VOICE IS CALM AND VERY KIND
IT TAKES COMMAND OF SOUL AND MIND
KNOW WITH CERTAIN CLARITY
HIS WORK IS DONE UNERRINGLY
IT TELLS YOU THAT THESE THINGS MUST BE
TO WEAVE OUR HUMAN TAPESTRY

HAVE FAITH AND LIVE WITH CERTAINTY
THAT ALL WILL END JUST PERFECTLY
ONE DAY OUR GOD WILL THEN REVEAL
TO ALL THAT HE IS REALLY REAL