CHAPTER 1
NO SINGER
No Singer can ever sing,
No poet can ever write
The way I feel about you darling
The way I feel tonight.
No teacher can ever teach,
No preacher can ever preach
The love you can have for someone else
Like my love is for you.
Let your sweet lips speak the words of love,
The words I want to hear.
Please say I am the only one,
Please say you want me near.
The glow of the sun at noon,
The sounds of a pretty tune
Can never contain the beautiful
Shine of my love for you.
1960
WITH SOLACE MY COMPANY
Last night dear, my tears shed for you
For my breath was stopped, and I was terribly blue;
As my tears fell, I dreamed of the night
When you'd open your eyes, and see my love's light.
Through my drenched lugubrious eyes,
I saw your dark figure, and thought of your lies;
There you stood standing graceful and tall,
But when I moved toward you, you weren't there at all.
My dear love, last night was the night
When I cried and wished everything would turn right,
As I lay there weeping, sprawled on my bed,
With solace my company, as many tears shed.
1961
MOSTLY, I LOVE YOU
I love the sound of a whistling breeze;
I love the sight of Autumn's trees;
I love the buzzing of the bees,
But mostly, I love you.
I love the style of a Chopin's tune;
I love the gold in Summer's moon;
I love the night, adore the noon,
But mostly, I love you.
I love the words of a poet's rhyme;
I love the colors of Spring sublime;
A taste of food, and drink of wine,
But mostly, I love you.
1962
THE GRAND SLAMMER
The pitcher threw, the ball went flying!
"Strike!" was called — Vinny's not trying.
With three men on and two men out
The crowd began to stand and shout,
"Come on Vin, clean up the base!"
For a three-to-two game was quite a race.
The sphere was hurled into the wind!
Vinny swung, his body spinned.
Upon this miss shame reached his face,
A sense of loss, he felt disgraced.
"Vinny babe, it's the very last inning!
Vinny babe, the other team's winning!"
There went the pitch! That ball was fast!
Vin swung with force; he struck at last!
The crowd roared and stood amazed!
The pitcher stood frozen and dazed!
That ball was gone, the job was done;
Thanks to Vinny, the "Series" was won!
1964
REIGN OF LOVE
In my heart upon the throne
There's a seat for you alone,
Where you control my every breath
Far after I reach the hand of death.
And in the luxury of love you'll reign,
Ignorant to sorrow, all joy to gain.
On hand and foot I would you serve
The fruits of happiness you deserve.
And here adoration in its ultimate state
Will fill your needs and promise fate.
My kingdom of love you'll forever own —
Apart of together, you reign alone.
1965
ROBERT 2 (TOSCANINI)
His hair is long and waving;
His tanned face is clean shaven;
His nose is fixed to match his face;
His walk is proud and filled with grace.
His lips are round and worth a kiss;
His smile shows a dimple none can miss;
His eyes are sexy brown and glow;
His voice is sultry, very low.
He's a man I say, I know;
He's a man from head to toe;
He is something I can't bear —
You resist him if you dare.
1965
TROUBLED KAREN
It all began when she cut class,
And Jimmy refused to give her the pass;
Then she decided to go in late,
Now she's in an awful state.
But school is only half her woe —
She's getting a gift from nice guy, Joe.
She thinks it's an ankle bracelet, to boot,
But to reciprocate will take some loot.
Jackie's got a thing to hang on her neck;
Boy, could Karen use a real large check.
Now this is nothing to make you smile,
But getting back to school for a while —
They want to see her mother dear.
Well, there goes Karen's hooky career!
Yeah, sure she's in a horrid fright,
But if I know Karen, all will end right.
1965
THE PARTY
It was for Mary, Ernie and Mark
In a small place after dark.
It meant to be clean, with beer, no more,
When out of nowhere through the door
Bopped thirty-four, each a bottle in his hand;
Now everything would be just grand.
It started where we danced and sang,
Then the liquor flowed and well — bang!
Mary was in the bathroom all night;
Karen couldn't even stand upright;
Joanne was sprawled across two chairs;
Olivia was all weird smiles and glares;
Carmela was happy Pat was there,
Until they strolled out in the air,
Where Pat took care of Karen so well;
Carmela and Jackie (Steve) both fell;
Everyone's guy had found a new girl,
And everyone's head was all in a whirl;
Jimmy was bombed before nine o'clock,
So Joanne walked him around the block;
But it was different at half-past ten —
Jimmy had to walk Joanne around, then;
Tony Butta brought a cute number,
But not for long, he soon dumped her;
Gerard told J. she looked like a tramp,
Her eyes were red, her hair was damp;
Karen looked as if she were dead,
But when the Bulls came, man she fled;
Greek put his hand thru a four inch wall,
But Robbie was walking straight and tall;
Buster was gone, so forget about him,
Carl kissed Olivia when the lights were dim;
Joanne and Greek were out on the grass;
She tried to sleep; he made a pass.
Ziggie was making time with Olivia,
But doubt if he succeeded with her;
Mary came out all bloodshot and pale,
The rest of the night she drank ginger ale;
The guys brought her for coffee instead
To straighten out her spinning head;
Joanne got home about twelve-thirty,
Her hair a mess, her feet all dirty;
Karen raided Betty's pad at two ...
Just a minute, I'm not through;
Karen gave Susie such a slap,
But Bob was there to soothe the rap;
Mark, usually bombed out of his head
Had the job of putting everyone to bed.
1965
R.V. TO WAR
My love don't leave me,
You must believe me
I love you more than words alone can say.
Darling please kiss me,
And say that you'll miss me
And say you'll write a letter every day.
Oh, why must you go
For we don't really know
What in Viet Nam we're fighting for.
Please say it's not so
The war did not grow
And you will stay with me forever more.
1966
A FLOWER
He picked a white flower from its bed.
An ordinary flower whose petals weren't rare.
He fondled its stem with admiring hands.
It was fresh and white and content with the crowd.
It hadn't been craved before.
He held it for a while, smiling.
He said nothing and took it from the rest
And put it in his lapel, kept it there and forgot.
When idle, he'd look to see if it were still there —
Touch it and smile assured.
Now the color's fading, the white's a dingy gray.
The once fresh petals are falling off one by one.
It is not fine anymore; he finds it ugly.
He passes a trash barrel and tosses it in —
And brushes off the remains from his lapel.
He'll soon be looking for another flower —
For his lapel.
1966
SUBWAYS ARE FOR WEEPING
Subways are for weeping
Is what the papers say;
Please don't be sleeping,
You might be going the wrong way.
If you want to go to Broadway
You shouldn't take the B,
You'll have to find the RJ
And then change for the D.
The NX is the Sea Beach super;
The F goes along Sixth;
Yes, we're in a permanent stupor,
But the double R still ends on 95th.
If you want to save a little time
The N's the one to trust;
It goes real fast, stops on a dime,
But you can't mind getting crushed.
When the BB's on the proper track
It seems to run okay,
But if the N's trailing its back
You might not get there the same day.
If you don't mind changing at Pacific
You'll get the train you need;
Although the crowds are quite terrific,
And, you can't avoid the mad stampede.
On a pole you better hang,
Or a sleeve from one in the mob,
Smile at dirty looks from the gang,
And think, "This for a crummy job!"
Yes subways are for weeping,
And I really think it's true;
Just please don't be caught sleeping,
Or you'll end up in Timbuktu!
1966
THE SECOND OF SEPTEMBER
It was the second of September
And I can still remember
When Karen's hair was blond and brassy,
And made her look hard and flashy;
She bought the stuff in a nearby store,
And on that day she was blond no more.
I put the color all over her head,
And remember clearly what Karen said.
"Don't forget the make it take,"
And we took a 500 Rummy break.
When it was washed we fell to the floor.
Karen was a blond no more.
Dear Karen didn't read the label.
So dear Karen was stuck with sable.
1966
A HOPELESS SEARCH
(As requested by a friend)
I've read each book and dictionary
To find the word called "you."
The most lovely were too ordinary
And a trifle less than true.
I'm looking for that certain song
That was written for you alone,
But the melody's trite and rhythm's wrong
And none have that perfect tone.
The precious words of a poet's rhyme
With you a false compare,
And the memorable works of all our time
Near you hold nothing rare.
My hopeless search is at a close,
I've sought everything on earth.
No song, no poem, nor word of prose
Can tell me of your worth.
1967
FOR LIFE AND LOVE
When my thoughts pass on to tears
For life and love in all these years —
For what we've lost and what we've won,
When all is said and all is done.
When my heart is filled with sorrow
I'll have one long empty tomorrow
To face alone what both have planned
Without your voice, without your hand.
I'll think of joy that once we had
And dry my tears and be not sad —
I'll try to catch my shortened breath
And ask of Him a hasty death.
1968
I AM LOVE
With me you will find happiness —
The kind of happiness that makes you smile
during thunderous storms.
With me you will find wealth —
The kind of wealth worth more than silver
and gold.
With me you will find health —
The kind that keeps you going when you
cannot bear another inch.
With me you will find warmth —
The kind of warmth that can mock the
torrid sun of summer.
With me you will find shelter —
the kind of shelter steel cannot dare to
destroy.
With me you will find a world —
With me you will find a life —
Find me, I am love.
1968
YOU HAPPENED INTO MY LIFE
On the highway of day by day,
And on the road of come as it may,
You happened into my life.
When a once deaf Heaven ignored hopeless cries,
And turned its face on tear drenched eyes,
You happened into my life.
When life was only an existing state,
And somewhere, somehow it cursed my fate,
You happened into my life.
When joy and happiness knew me not,
And my story none but a circling plot,
You happened into my life.
When sadness and gloom were my closest friends,
With no real beginning and no true end,
You happened into my life.
1969
FRIENDSHIP
Let us not measure friendship with time or deeds,
Or work too hard to strive for perfection.
Let us not wonder how or where it started,
But travel the road and pray it never ends.
Let us meet obstacles for they will draw us closer,
And let the distance between us be only physical.
Let us call on each other not only in trouble,
But when there is joy and laughter to share.
Let us not twist the meaning of the word,
Or let its tasks be too hard to handle.
Let us be friends.
1969
TO EXIST
(written at Karen's request)
To exist, as if in a sea of emptiness —
Drowning in self-pity, falling
Deeper and deeper into depression —
Locked in chains of nothingness,
Wondering what to do.
And doing nothing but wondering
Stretched out on sands of loneliness —
Being no one, going nowhere.
If I had someone to end this solitude
I'd be alone no more —
Someone to wash away the sorrow,
I'd be sad no longer.
To live in a world without love
Is not to live at all, but only
To exist, as if in a sea of emptiness ...
1970
IN THE MIRROR
In the solitude of thought
With the trembling of your brain
Forced to see within yourself,
With fear of what you'll learn.
Hoping not to meet the one
You've buried all these years,
Seeking false and futile outlets
And pray she won't appear.
Confronted with that being
That's been idle on a shelf —
Don't dare look in that mirror
You might really see yourself.
1972
PANIC
Alone – afraid – tormented –
A friend – a light – nowhere –
The quiet – no sound – solitude –
My heart – still bearing – broken –
The need – the want – unbearable –
The mind – my thoughts – unthinkable –
My life – this state – unliveable.
1973
LOST INNOCENCE
Oh, the ignorance of youth and yesterday
When dreams were small, and the world so far away.
Where life was nothing more than mere hearsay,
Where things like this were games that adults play.
Oh, the innocent years go swiftly by
And we learn to cheat, and learn to lie.
1973
TWO PEOPLE
I am two people.
One cries out for decency,
The other knows nothing decent.
I am two people.
One holds sacred her marriage,
The other a willing mistress.
I am two people.
One clings to a security,
The other dreams of adventure.
I am two people.
1974
EMPATHY
All the pain you feel, my love, I feel too.
All the hurt within you, darling, is inside me.
All the sorrow tugging at your heart, tugs at mine.
I wish I could spare you all your heartaches
And carry the burdens of life for you.
But human power is limited.
All I can do is stand helpless.
Always remember, my love, that someone cares.
Always remember that when you smile again
I will smile with you.
1974
FROM AFAR
Forced to love you from afar
With sadness in my heart.
Not knowing who you really are,
Yet knowing we must part.
Aware that it's a nowhere street
An almost sure dead end.
Thank you for a love so sweet,
Thank you from a friend.
1974
FOR SOMEONE
(At the request of a friend)
It came slowly, strongly, deliberate,
A feeling of need so definite —
To see a face you've seen before
Suddenly become so much more.
To have a man your heart become
Not knowing where it started from.
And the part that is so horribly grim
Is not being able to have him.
1974
THE WINDOW OF YOUR LIFE
With my nose pressed up against
the window of your life,
I stand, freezing, looking in
from the outside,
Watching you take your proper
and righteous place.
I listen, unable to recognize
the frosty voice
That speaks those hackneyed words
of honor and duty,
Knowing that you embrace the one
we labeled 'enemy' —
And fearing you curse the day
we spoke of love,
Unable to accept and understand
the truth, I retreat
And search for a haven to perhaps
defrost a bit —
But I always seem to find myself
back here ...
With my nose pressed up against
the window of your life.
1974
TO MY SON
(At the request of a friend)
My love for you is boundless, my son,
And my heart is wrung in despair;
I want us all to live as one,
You must know how much I care.
I need so much to share your life,
And watch you grow with the days,
But Mom and I live a life of strife,
And must go our separate ways.
1974
