2008: My Writing
Somtimes I need to write
At 3 AM
When the house is
Dark and quiet
Nothing
But the LEDs
Watching
Me work
Often I need music
Sometimes my mixes
Then a single artist's CD
Or random automated all-night FM radio
There are times
My writing needs a boost
From Starbucks or Peets
Soft music and socialization
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Evel Knievel' s Last Ride
Not since P.T. Barnum
Was someone able to
Capture our attention
Get us excited about the egress
Now he emerges
Like a heavenly body
From a distant staring point
Listen to the roar of his bike
As he cranks the handle
One last time
I can see him coming
To reach critical speed
In mid-air - - then clearing the last object
I can't see his landing
He shoots in semi-control
Towards the egress
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A Single Rose
She wants a poem
Read to her by candlelight
While she sits at a small table
This would be sheer delight
She would like live music too
In the background I suppose
A stark white tablecloth with
A single rose
Don't forget the wine
A white wine '03 or '02
Slightly chilled
Will do
This should be a special poem
One she could say is mine
If she only knew a poet
Regardless of the rhyme
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
2008: When You Let Sunlight Work On Your First Draft
We know why the old piece of paper is yellow
It's not because of overuse
With very little written on it
It's been set aside for so long
Not that anyone expected this page
To do anything by itself
He may have had high hopes
When he added a few black lines on white
If he had valued his work
Safely put it away
But it was left exposed
In a corner of the room
Right where the bright morning sun
Not slowed down by the thin glass
Did what he didn' t do
Finished turning the color of the paper
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Crowded
Here I am
My trun to
sit at the
table
I've seen it
happening long
ago when
Perry Mason
was still in
black and white
Who knew he was
gay
I've visualized it
as I've read
books about famous
trials
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
2008: I've Got News For You
Words describing the
Sharp silents sounds
Of a single edged razor blade
Slicing through wrist and vein - -
Blank verse summoning sights
Of dark red blood pumping
Into a clutterd sink - -
Is not poetry.
Expaining the blood stains
While cleaning up the mess
With bandaged wrists the next day - -
Is not poetry.
It may be cofessional.
It may diffuse a fire
That was buring out of control.
If anywhere it goes in your diary.
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Life is truly a ride
We're all strapped in.
When the doctor slaps your behind,
he's ripping your ticket and
away you go.
As you make each passage
from youth to maturity,
sometimes you put your arms up
and just scream.
Somtimes all you can do is hang on
to the bar in front of you.
It is the ride
that is the thing.
I think the most you can hope for
at the end of life is that
your hair's messed up,
you have a smile on your face,
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Lady at the Desk Wouldn't Understand
And it comes to this
Him putting back in his teeth
with one hand
Standing back to me
stall door open in the men's
bathroom at the Central Library
This rainy cold morning
he's just bathed
washed his clothes
repacked all he has
This rainy cold morning
I've been trying my hand
updating my resume
preparing for a job interview
I was able to
sleep in a little
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Vox Clara
This here's his assignment
Solitary confinement
He doesn't feel great
Being ward of the State
In his cell
Ya know he's mad as hell
But he ain't goin' down
For bein' no clown
He's a soldier
State says he's a holder
Ward of the State
'Les he takes the bait
Givin' up no one
It'll never be done
He's a soldier
May never get older
Say he's full of hate
Got that straight
Used a gun
Made a short run
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
At The Speed of Light, What Word Pops Up?
It's not now called evesdropping.
No one is right outside,
Standing under your eves.
Not right now.
Where are they standing,
Standing by, while software
Scans, listens, but does not record,
Until that word is recognized?
Who knows what that word is?
In the fictional movie,
'The Bourne Ultimatum, '
The word was 'Blackbrier.'
That's what popped up the red flags
On all our spies computer screens:
Like someone looked the Old Testament God
In the eye and shouted His name.
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!