Final Statement Poem by Eric Cockrell

i have reached the age where
i dont care what anyone says
or thinks about what i do, what
i believe, and what i think and
say... i'm going to do it anyway!
and, damn, it's a liberating feeling.
i do however respect other people's
rights to opinions, thoughts, and beliefs,
and their right to be who they are.
i have no use for ignorance, prejudice,
and judgemental attitudes... i follow
no one, and ask no one to follow me!
my only goal in what time i have left
is to enhance understanding, and spread
the hand of compassion. i dont want
anything from anybody but the truth!
i believe in people!