Redemption | Poetry Collection, No.3 by Eric Christopher Jackson
Redemption
Poetry Collection, No.3
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“What have you done in your life that makes it seem impossible to recover from? A crucial mistake? A misunderstanding? A tendency to cling to immaturity? A row of decisions that scream irresponsibility? Or have you committed the greatest sin: Not really doing anything? No goals. No dreams. Believing life & success come easy. You took time for granted & now it feels like your time is up. Wasted. I know the feeling. You wake up every morning wondering: Why am I still here? There’s no purpose, no use, no hope of accomplishing anything. I thought the same. Until one day I realized, I am not here by chance. There is a reason for being.” -ecj
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Available on Amazon.
Excerpts:
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Boys Don’t Cry”
Boys don’t cry
though we have
tear ducts
in our eyes
boys don’t cry
the sign of
weakness
is far from us
boys don’t cry
middle school
high school
dry your eyes
college campus
car accident
addiction too
hard to quit
wife is gone
the job too
not knowing
what to do
rage
scream
abuse
don’t dream
other men
don’t cry
how could I
I want to
but can’t
no one ever
told me
why
February 9, 2015
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Love?”
To know all my secrets
All my failures
The worst parts of me
And love me anyway
When I don’t have the right answers
When I fall flat on my face
When I stumble in the darkness
And love me anyway
When I get old and grey
Lose most of my teeth
Need a cane to walk across the street
And love me anyway
Does this love exist?
Would anyone dare to try?
Or the real question is
When I find her
Would I?
February 14, 2015
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Enough”
I wasn’t tall enough
Or strong enough
I wasn’t brave enough
Or cute enough
I wasn’t rich enough
Or famous enough
I wasn’t enough
For you to love me
And now
I don’t love me either
August 16, 2015
Author Notes: My first Collection of Poetry was about discovering myself. Trying to figure out who I am and how to write my feeling down in a way that, not only people could understand, but that I could understand it. The second Collection of Poetry was like a dam breaking. All of my feelings and emotions crashing onto pieces of paper. There was no rhythm or reason, just an explosion of all the things I wanted to say.
I feel like the third Collection is really the aftermath of all of that. I needed to forgive myself. I needed to move on and redeem the Life I have left. Not a great start, but it could be a beautiful ending. I was seeking Redemption.
…Now… I need to begin my fourth Collection of Poetry, though I continue to ask myself: “Now what?” The Discovery is over. I’ve thrown a tantrum. I have been redeemed. Now, what is there left to say? Where am I?
It’s hard to describe. I feel like it’s time. I’m reminded of a final scene in “The Lion King.” Simba has to take his place in the Circle of Life. He had always dreamed on being King, now, it was time to actually be a King. And being a King feels more daunting than dreaming about it. I have to face my fears. Feeling anxious. Unsure. Asking myself: ‘Can I actually do this?’
Now, it’s time to jump. Hoping that all the preparation, all the hard work, all the persistence and perseverance was worth it. Hoping that my instincts were right all along. It is time to be who you are. Jump…
With eyes open,
Eric Christopher Jackson
