Killings ©Tony Fallon 080618

Killings ©Tony Fallon 080618

Each week in America fifty under twenties disappear

While in all cities most of the citizens walk in fear

How can politicians sit on their hands in silence?

While children are dying because of gun violence

You had a better chance to become a man as a child

If you were living out west when the west was wild

Some advocate more guns must be bought in the gun store

What are we arming the citizenry for another civil war?

Getting drugs off the street must become a crusade

By convincing the young that being a seller is not a trade

So many civilians killing civilians this madness has to cease

If they were dying in a war we would all protest for peace

Colors © Tony Fallon 080518

Colors © Tony Fallon 080518

Did you ever think that colors are one of God’s smiles?

As we travel lonely roads as we travel lonely miles

Reminding us of loved ones who are thinking of us

A dark bird flies before us and settles in a flowery bush

It could have been a blackbird it could have been a thrush

If someone else was with you, you’d have something to discuss

The dark birds and the flowers remind of who you miss

Waiting for your arrival with a welcoming hug and kiss

As you travel on that lonely road you feel fresh and renewed

Next you notice a garden with hundreds of sunflowers

Whose heads follow the sun and are renewed by His showers

As you go on your journey they have all brightened up your mood

When you think of colors you think of animals’ birds and bees

The bright yellow of the canaries the greenness of the peas

We should all be so thankful that we can see this show so clearly

We should all be so conscious that this is just a summer dividend

And that in the days ahead the gloom of winter will quickly descend

Yet we also realize even in the winter summer will return yearly

Poets proclaim the shape and colors of flowers in poetry and prose

But in a million words they can not describe the beauty of a rose

How can they describe the size the many colors and shading

Each summer we celebrate the coming of the orchids and carnations

And we bring an assortment to birthdays and other celebrations

And try to enjoy their beauty because once cut they start fading

Tim the Blacksmith © TonyFallon080318

Tim the Blacksmith © TonyFallon080318

Tim was a blacksmith and farmer and was not known for fashion
Really a farmer for the forge he had little passion
Tim was not a big man he was just two inches over five 
But in the parish we lived there was no stronger man alive
To put Tim down would require a sledgehammer to his crown
And no one ever challenge Tim not even in Roscommon town
He never took a drink in his life even when at the  mart
So it wasn't Tim in the Guinness picture with the horse in the cart
He possibly could have been Ireland's strongest man pound for pound
It takes a whole lot of strength to turn flat iron into round
Many fine days he'd want to go out and save a field of hay
Someone would arrive with a donkey and ruin plans for the day
There is no doubt in the world the next day it would pour down rain
And you could hear Tim curse the donkey at the Knockcroghery train
At the end of the day he'd exit as black as Irish miners
To be ridiculed by some local pensioners and old timers
Mary Anne lived next door to Tim a fine big farmer's daughter
Many days he'd be in the forge and she's bring a glass of water
She was not a great talker but her words were kind and wise
The only thing standing between them was her enormous size
For she stood over six feet standing in her finest Sunday hose
And Tim at five foot two barely topped out at her elbows
To make matters a lot worse she always wore high heel shoes
They made a very odd pair indeed standing there in queues
Sometimes they'd go to a picture show or at Bingo win a pound
But everything was above board there was no fooling round
This half ass romance went on this way for years which was weird
But we all expected they'd marry so no one interfered
When they were in the forge one evening Tim decided to be brave
Said if she'd agree to marry he'd get a haircut and shave
To make it more official and romantic his right knee he bent
She said she couldn't marry him without her parent's consent
He said that in his whole life he had never felt such bliss
And since they were practically engaged "how about a kiss?"
She agree so he stood on the anvil and enjoyed the chore
Which he could not have accomplished if he was standing on the floor
They started to her parents home at a nice leisurely pace
But the thing he couldn't get out of his head was that recent embrace
So he said "Mary Anne I think I'd be somehow remiss
If before I met your father I didn't ask for another kiss"
She said "I'd be untruthful if I didn't acknowledge your need
But there will be no more kissing until my parents have agreed"
He said "you understand you've activated my male chromosome
So I think I'll leave the anvil here and pick it up on my way home"

Longing for Home, © Tony Fallon Sept 2014.

.Longing for Home, © Tony Fallon Sept 2014.

I'd go back in a minute to Ireland; I'm earnestly wishing I was there,
I would gladly fly over the Atlantic if I could come up with the fare.
The weather is changing so quickly I can feel a deep chill in my bone,
The windows and the door are leaky as I face another winter alone.

The future was bright on that day as I bid farewell to the family in Clare,
As I headed off for Inwood in New York and all of the friends I had there.
I'll never forget the excitement in the airport in a new world far away.
But within a week I was so homesick and lonesome I sure didn't like USA.

It was many a day I went to Gaelic Park and played with the home county team
When I was growing up a gossoon in Ireland to do that was my special dream.
And even though it wasn't Croke Park in Dublin I wrote home and told me auld mother,
And I'm sure it impressed the young lads how they now had a famous big brother.

I met many sweet colleens at the dances and one special one from Banteer
She said she marry me in the morning if I'd give up the horses and beer.
But I thought that she was too bossy now I realize she meant me no harm,
For in my dreams I often still see her and I remember her kindness and charm.

And then there was young Kitty O'Shea from Mohill as nice a girl as I've seen
She said she'd love me forever and ever I called her my own Leitrim Queen
I lost on cards often with fellas and on the trotters in Yonkers was gambling.
I spent money like water in Bars and while she was at home I was rambling,

My life style for years and substances I often smoked sure didn't keep me too healthy,
And even though I was always employed I never saved up so I'm not wealthy.
The letters from Ireland kept telling me that a trip home would do me no harm,
All the others had gone to Dublin and England and they would give me the farm

I kept promising that I would visit them but the years slipped by without a trip,
To take off your shoes in New York is a bother and I'd never go on a ship
The parents are gone now God be good to them to a neighbor the whole farm we rent,
Each of us gets a check which I should save but my check very quickly gets spent.

So now I am here in the Catskill Mountains in a trailer that I call my own,
Its not much better that a caravan, but, it has a television and phone.
It has heat and hot water and a bathroom and outside there's a bit of a deck.
The rent is not much and there's some left for food from my social security check

The mountain Romance © Tony Fallon072318.

The mountain Romance © Tony Fallon072318.

You live on Round Top Mountain I live down on the plain
I never get to see you Sally when (ever) there is rain
I do not have a bicycle let alone a motor car
When it's raining heavily I cannot walk so far
If I walk up it would be a river coming down
I might get swept away and I would surely drown

You said if I loved you I would make the trek
After putting on a rain coat and a turtleneck
You said  about the weather I complain and whine
Yet if I begin at seven I wouldn't be there by nine
Your father has a curfew I must be out by ten
To start my lonely journey down the mountain ( once) again

Although I love you dearly (Sally) that is just one hour
It often is a downpour not just a little shower
The last time I walked up I was soaked to the skin
You were in a bad mood (and)we did not engage in sin
To revive I spent over an hour in my own hot tub
I wish half way down the hill there was an Irish pub 

I've been drawing and painting since the day I could walk
And you know I am good I've even heard your mother talk
When it comes to education I am not the smartest
I have one pair of shoes I'm a real starving artist
I'm painting so much day and night I hardly get to snooze
And if I keep walking nightly I'll wear out my (only) shoes

Your father has five cars and you know my zip code
And you could at least drive me to or from my abode
Your father doesn't like me I am not a rich dude
But I treat you like a Queen and I am never rude
You know that if you love me I will never cheat
But I must sell some picture s to get (shoes) on my feet

Going up and down to you is not a boost to my pride 
I often held my thumb up but never got a ride
When (some) drivers saw me I am sure they were spooked
But none ever stopped for me so I felt rebuked
I may have to reevaluate this stalemate (situation)Sally
And find a different girl friend down here in the valley

.Susan’s Challenge by Tony Fallon

Susan’s Challenge by Tony Fallon080218

The Last day I saw her it was very cold
I spent little money on her I was a miser
I wanted her in my family fold
I should not have let her go I should be wiser;
If we had donuts that day we could dunk
We spent some time rolling in the hay
And took pictures of her purple hair of punk
I begged her more than once to stay;
I prayed to God in his Heavenly height
Then the thunder started to roll
She said there’s remorse but no spite
I’ll come back before the Super bowl;
That Sunday you and I once more will cleave
But now you need time to clear your brain
You can hide in your hat but not your sleeve
If I’m going crazy my sanity I must try to maintain.

IN this poem Susan gave me a list of the last words

and a challenge to write a poem.

It was not easy but what ides it creates.

Manners © Tony Fallon080218

Manners © Tony Fallon080218

I’ve just heard you mention

About the greeting exchangers

And the use of worthless pretension

By teenagers who are strangers

With you I heartily agree

I’ve just bought two bags of food

From a girl named Rosemarie

And she certainly wasn’t rude

Yet of etiquette she was devoid

She was acting sunny

I was not overjoyed

She had just called me “Honey”

 I told her Honey was a wee bit out of line

Since we’d never met before

If she called me Mrs. Murphy that was fine

 The next time I came in the door

I could see I’d drawn blanks

Our encounter over I was on my way

She did no say “Mrs. Murphy Thanks”

Just said half hearted “ Have a nice day”