Poetry | john-vincent-palozzi

All poetry copyright © 2014 by John Vincent Palozzi. No reprint without permission.

Good Times

My daddy bought a new TV

fixed the Plymouth so it could run

The broken window was replaced

and now it’s time to have some fun

Uncle Tutti brought the corn

Anut Sarah baked the pies

My momma fried the chicken

and Gramdma swat the flies

good times, good times

Oh children them was the good times

We walked through slush to get to school

had snow ball fights and slipped on ice

When we got home we’d drink hot tea

to wash down a nice buttered slice

We rode our bikes down wooded trails

and sought to find lost treasure

Jimmy always told dumb jokes

which gave us all such pleasure

good times, good times

Oh children them was the good times

We never knew how poor we were

enjoying every day that came

We always had enough to eat

and when we slept we dreamed of fame

Now as I sit and recollect

a soft smile invades my face

I thank God for all my past

and having run and won the race

good times, good times

Oh children them was the good times

Grandmother

Grandmother smiles

looking at her son

“Who are you?”

Old woman

at husband’s grave

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Is this my egg?”

she stares at her dish

“Is this my egg?”

At ten o’clock

she must get out of bed

many pills to take

“When are you coming

to see me?” she asks

as I sit with her

“I can’t eat anymore.

I’m too tired and full.

Is there any pie?”

“Blue skies all the day long

nothing but blueberries

in my song”

Like Any Other Day

Bringing purple eggplant home from market

brown rice, curry, honey

May is mostly sunny and not too warm

thunderous, some nights

There's overgrown branches to be trimmed

weeds to be plucked

When will you join me for dinner

I have a cold bottle of chardonnay

Lady Slipper Orchids bloom

Oranges ripen on thorned branches

Mother does not remember my name

she always thinks it's time for breakfast

Making my bed, though no one will see it

folded towels, dishes washed, mirrors cleaned

Where is the money going to come from

so many bills sitting on the desk unpaid

Mrs. Abernathy said to say hello

she poked her nose over the fence this afternoon

My Wife's Desires

I need to take the horse out with the plow

and bail some hay before the day gets hot ─

so please don't tell me what to do right now

I need to get up early, milk the cow

I know you want me to untie the knot

I need to take the horse out with the plow

The clouds are moving in, I must allow

for time to finish chores that I have not ─

so please don't tell me what to do right now

I look at you and see you raise your brow

I know you want me to remove the spot ─

I need to take the horse out with the plow

for time is ever marching on, and how

my duties, still undone, does stir the pot ─

so please don't tell me what to do right now

I promise that in time I will allow

that your desires I have not forgot

I need to take the horse out with the plow ─

so please don't tell me what to do right now

Haiku

growing on the vine

ripens day by day

fruit for breakfast

long hot days

bring deer down the street

always searching

October

forces feathered wings

to flee

Tito

On a boat from Puerto Rico

mother, father, sister and me

landed in Miami, 1973

At thirteen I had to be in school

at sixteen I had to be anywhere but

City hopping, temp jobs, crashing

I roamed and explored

Birthdays passed unnoticed

years followed years, uncounted

my beard grew long and white

my teeth grew yellow and black

One day I found a big old brown

vinyl recliner setting in-between

two large old pines

A bee's nest in a hollow knot

a lovely quiet little spot

just off a long road west of town

And there I sit and drink a beer

I smoke a cig and watch the road

I wave to cars a passin' by

but never put my hand out

I don't know where my family's at

I don't know where the time has gone

Life just seemed to happen to me

I just seemed to happen to Life