Longer Ago Poems
By Spoon Jackson
Longer Ago is a poetry book written by Spoon Jackson, published in 2010, while incarcerated.
Author's Note: I think it is amazing that I have a book out. There was no sign of my being a poet in any of my schooling, especially in the free world. I flunked all of my English and language classes, and did not pick up reading until I lost my physical freedom. I became a student in life, learning whatever I could, seeking out new things to know and do. This led to my meeting some splendid people, and to reading and studying some fascinating books. I gained a love and appreciation for the arts, for language, and for English. One must love and be love to be real – to walk in your own shoes. I offer these poems of realness with an open heart, mind, and soul. I hope this book inspires you to be you, and to walk in your own realness – to stay real, forever glowing and growing. -Spoon Jackson
Here’s a sneak peek of Spoon’s book, several poems from Longer Ago:
Back Then
Crooks Street, the rails, the field
B-Hill sitting in the middle
the town carved around the hill’s waist.
Kick-the-can on dark nights
Hard to find the hidden
But back then our eyes when open
could see the darkness.
One streetlight in the heart
of Crooks
One store owned by folks
who lived somewhere else.
One people who didn’t know
the world had passed them by
One people who didn’t know
the world beyond the purple
and red clay mountains ran on a faster track.
One people who believed
in the same god
that he stood only above
and blessed Crooks Street.
One sky, but only on
Crooks Street. Some day
there’ll be another Crooks
Not here but in another world.
There will be Crooks Streets
everywhere, where all children
are everyone’s children. Where
people leave their hearts and minds
open like doors and windows.
Find Longer Ago on Bookshop.org, an affordable and moving publication where Spoon writes beautiful works about his life.
How Did I Sin
How did I sin?
I was not born into
sin
I was born out of love.
How did I sin?
I am not Adam
nor the Apple
he bit.
I’ve never been to Eden
nor made my love to Eve
My eyes have always been
open to see
what is and isn’t.
How did I sin?
I was never cast out of heaven
nor have I dwelt in hell.
For I have always
been love
even when my actions
did not show it.
Perhaps I do not
deserve praise
for being born
but surely
I do not deserve
blame.
Send Spoon your very own poems and share the passion of poetry together.
Spoon Jackson B-92377
CSP- Solano
Levell II, Bldg D24, 150
Vacaville, CA 95696-4000