Long Time Coming: Volume Two

By Ed Folino

Long Time Coming: Volume Two is a collection of rhyming poems that are actually mini-stories focusing on life, death, and humor, some real but some pure fantasy.

Eds poetry captures everyday insights through the lens of his own life.
P.L., Former columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Thank you, Ed, for writing My Pittsburgh. I am so looking forward to your next book. L.D., Friend and former co-worker.

Ed has a special knack of making people feel wonderful inside with his words.
L.K., Facilities manager, UPMC.

When I grow up I want to write poetry like Uncle Eddie. T.W., Twelve-year old
great nephew and Eds biggest fan.

Ed has such a gift for words that rhyme. D.S., Writer and editor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450225564

Ed Folino

This is the third book of poetry I have published. I finally admitted to myself that most people don't read poetry, let alone the four-line end rhyme style that I write. I had more than 300 poems sitting in my computer, however, and was urged by my Aunt Sally to publish one more book of poetry. I told my wife that Ithese poems should be read, and to leave them in my laptop forgotten would be a waste. I hope my readers feel the same! I realize that the years are moving on and I have a great more writing to do. I quit drinking more than 22 years ago, and I have recently quit smoking after 57 years. I'm hoping to squeeze some additional years into my life span. I really love to write. Besides spending time with my wife, there is nothing I would rather do with my time. (Oops, I forget bowling.) I have some unusual poems in this book, including some murder mysteries. I have grown as a writer since I published my first book in 2005, and have accepted the fact that I have been rhyming and creating all my life. I feel like I have a new lease on life since I've accepted this fact. Now I am also working on a volume of short stories and my autobiography. I retired a few years ago, so most of my time is spent working on various writing projects. On occasion I also write made-to-order poetry for special occasions. This has proven to be an enjoyable side business for me. I've also written a few poems dedicated to my favorite city, Pittsburgh, PA. Some of those poems have found their way into my local newspaper. I've spent my entire life in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa. There is no greater city in the world, and truthfully I feel sorry for people who don't live here. They don't know what they are missing. I believe that when I die I'll be leaving Pittsburgh, PA on earth and moving on to Pittsburgh, PA in heaven. My brother-in-law calls me the Pittsburgh Poet and, if that's true, it is an honor I carry with pride. So get yourself a cup of coffee or tea, no cigarettes or alcohol please, and snuggle up in your favorite chair and enter into some creations from my imagination. ****************** This info will appear after the last poem in my book. It will be attached to my manuscript. **********************

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 Ed Folino

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ISBN: 978-1-4502-2555-7 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-2556-4 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010906286

iUniverse rev. date: 5/24/2010

Contents

THE LIGHTHOUSE

SECTION ONE:

GENERAL

A BEAUTY IN THE PARK

A-EARTH

A FACE IN THE WINDOW

A JOURNEY FOR THE LORD

A PERFECT WORLD

A VOICE FROM MY MIRROR

AN OSCAR WINNER

ANNABELLE

BG AND ME

BIRDS

CARGO PANTS

CHRIST, CHRISTMAS AND YOU

COLORS

DADDY WILL BE BACK

DAPPER DAN

ESPECIALLY FOR YOU

FAREWELL FATHER

FLAB

FLOWERS

FORBIDDEN LOVE

FRANK

HE’S NOT YOU

HOW’S HE TREATING YOU?

HOW TO WRITE

A COUNTRY WESTERN SONG

I COULDA’

I DON’T WANT TO GO

IDENTITY

IF I COULD

I’M DRIVING A CADILLAC

IN MY DREAMS

IN YOUR SHOES

I’VE LOST A FRIEND

JESUS’ FATHER ON EARTH

JULIA AND JESSIE

LIVING IN THE YEAR 3000

LOST LOVE

LOST MEMORIES

MARÍA AND JOSÉ

MATTHEW

MORE TO CHRISTMAS

MURDER MOST FOWL

MY BEAUTIFUL NEW BABY

MY DAD

MY FIRST TIME

MY HERO

MY MARRIAGE TO BRIDEZILLA

MY NEW FRIEND

MY SISTER

NIGHTS WITH UNCLE PHIL

OVER 65 AND LOOKIN’

PART TIME LOVER

PLEASE DON’T CRY

POCUS

SECOND PLACE

SEPARATE WORLDS

SHOULD I MAKE THIS TRIP?

SIXTY-FIVE (WOW!)

SMILE

(THE FRESH AIR IS GOOD FOR YOUR TEETH)

THANK YOU

THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH MY FAMILY

THE AFTERLIFE ACADEMY

THE ATTIC AND MR. CHAN

THE BIG 250

THE BIG C

THE CANDLE

THE CAR POOL

THE CELL

THE CHEATER

THE CHRISTMAS CARD

THE CHRISTMAS WISH

THE COPIER

THE COTTAGE

THE DAILY SHUFFLE

THE FAMILY SECRET

THE GIRL ON THE BEACH

THE GUNFIGHT

THE HANGING TREE

THE HOT ONE

THE HOUSE

THE INVITATION

THE KID FROM ELDORADO

THE LETTER

THE LITTLE GIRL

THE MUSIC BOX

THE MYSTERY FLIGHT

THE NAUGHTY NUN

THE NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE

THE NOVEL

THE OLD OAK TREE

THE PAINTING

THE PLUG

THE POEM

THE PRESIDENT AND THE KING

THE PROCESSION

THE RED MOTEL

THE ROCKING CHAIR

THE ROOM

THE SCHEME

THE SCOOP

THE SHOVEL

THE SMELL KING

THE STRANGER ON THE SHORE

THE VASE

THE VOICE

THE WAITRESS

THE WHITE DOOR

THIRTY-TWO MORE

TITANTIC

TO BE A CHILD AGAIN

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

TOO MANY CHOICES

TRAPPED IN PARADISE

TWO MOMS

WAITING

WASTED TIME

WASTED YEARS

WE MISS YOU

WEBSTER—A DOG’S DAY

WHERE’S RACHAEL?

WHICH WAY TO GO

WILL I EVER SEE HIM AGAIN?

WILL

WILLIAM OF THE OLD WEST

YESTERDAY AND YOU

YOUNG BILLY

YOUNG MARY

YOUR EYES

YOUR VOICE

YOU’RE NEVER ALONE

SECTION TWO:

MYSTERY

A SUICIDE AT ST. LUKES

JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE

MURDER AT THE FRIENDSHIP

MURDER AT THE LIBRARY

MURDER FOR LOVE

MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN

MURDER ON THE CRUISE

MY JURY

THE BLOODY SHOES

THE KILLER’S FACE

THE KILLER’S HOUSE

THE LADY IN RED

THE MURDER OF MILLY MINES

THE MURDERED BOSS

THE MURDERED MISTRESS

THE MURDERED QUEEN

THE TWIN MURDER

WHO KILLED BIG WILLIE?

WHO KILLED RITA REILEY?

PART 1 – THE VICTIM

WHO KILLED RITA REILEY?

PART 2 – THE MURDER

WHO KILLED RITA REILEY?

PART 3 – THE INVESTIGATION

WHO KILLED RITA REILEY

PART 4 – THE MURDERERS

SECTION THREE:

AUTHOR’S FAVORITES

A BEAUTIFUL PERSON –

A BEAUTIFUL VOICE

A BULLET’S JOURNEY

A SECOND CHANCE

A WRITERS’ DREAM

ALCOHOL

ALONE

AN ORPHAN’S PRAYER

BACK TO MY OLD LIFE

BECKY’S DAD

BEHIND THIS FACE

CHANGING TIMES

DADDYS COMING HOME

DARK GLASSES

GLASS HOUSES

I TURNED AROUND

IS THIS THE DAY?

IT’S THEIR TURN NOW

LIFE

LONELY

MAKE A CHANGE

MENTALLY RETARDED

MY LAST NIGHT WITH THE KING

PERCY

SHOTS FIRED

TEARS

THE BLOODY HATS

THE CHILDREN

THE FRUITMAN

THE GOLDEN YEARS

THE OUTCAST

THE STORM

THESE HANDS

THIS OLD HOUSE

TIME

WHY?

YOUR EYES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

HOW TO ORDER YOUR

COPIES OF LONG TIME COMING:

VOLUME ONE, MY PITTSBURGH, OR LONG TIME COMING: VOLUME TWO

SPECIAL THANKS

I’d like to dedicate this book to my Aunt Sally Edkins. I have two previous published works and was not planning on publishing another one. I had a backlog of more than 300 poems and she urged me to publish one more book. She told me it would be a waste not to share these poems with everyone.

Aunt Sally loved lighthouses. I wrote her this poem for her a few months before she lost her courageous battle with cancer. She passed away two years ago and is surely missed by everyone. She was one special lady.

THE LIGHTHOUSE

Another long invigorating night

listening to the waters of the sea.

The forever pounding force of nature

bringing those raging waters to me.

This lighthouse is my home;

it has become a friend to me.

I could not survive in a real world;

this has become my world of fantasy.

I talk candidly to it every night;

I open up my heart in every way.

I feel much more alive at night;

I now see darkness in every day.

I tell my friend of my past loves,

and how they could have changed me.

But I was incapable of human love;

my loves are now this lighthouse and the sea.

I realize this lighthouse has absorbed my body,

and it has willingly accepted my soul.

I am indeed a part of this huge structure,

and I’m always available for night patrol.

I always dreamed of manning a lighthouse,

monitoring the low and high tide.

I am now living heaven on earth

being part of this lighthouse since the day I died.

SECTION ONE:

GENERAL

A BEAUTY IN THE PARK

Every time I see her,

she flashes a smile my way.

She’s always with her friends.

Maybe she’ll be alone some day.

People say I’m really shy

and tend to hold everything in.

But I’d like to let it all hang out

when she flashes me that sexy grin.

She has a body that won’t quit;

she abounds with style and grace.

And those gorgeous brown eyes

compliment that beautiful face.

She looks like she comes from money;

I think that diamond necklace is real.

And that ultra modern hair style

adds to her sex appeal.

I don’t like her friends;

they look a little snooty to me.

What is she doing with these losers?

She’s a poor misguided beauty.

Well tomorrow I’ll make my move.

I’m going to find a nice oak tree.

I’m going to lure her from her friends and see

if she’d like to share a doggy treat with me.

A-EARTH

The year is 2194

and science has sure come a long way.

They have discovered a mirrored planet;

it is the same as our earth in every way.

I’m looking forward to my journey;

I can afford two years out of my life.

Maybe I will find a woman

as lovely as my wife.

I hated to see her suffer so much;

she had all the pain she could endure.

The discovery of the A-Planet was too late;

it may have provided her a cure.

I know my children will miss me,

but they know I’m going to a better place.

I will be provided with a new identity,

but my wife’s memories can never be erased.

With the troubles here are on earth,

I’m looking forward to a new living place.

Being part of this maiden excursion,

I don’t know what problems I will face.

They were right; it is like my earth.

The Alternate Earth is a great name.

Maybe on this planet I’ll be somebody

and enjoy fortune and fame.

Boy was I ever mistaken;

these planets are so very much alike.

They share the same inept politicians

and like Earth their future doesn’t look bright.

There is war, prejudice and poverty

on a scale of which you would not believe.

It is so terrible on this Alternate Earth,

that everyone here would like to leave.

Thank God I am allowed to return;

this has been one colossal waste of time.

I can’t believe there is a world out there

that is considerably worse than mine.

A FACE IN THE WINDOW

A huge corner house condemned for many years,

it casts an eerie awe, and holds a history of tears.

All but one window is boarded; people tend to get a fright;

when they look up toward the attic, and hear crying in the night.

Mary Roan lived there many years ago.

She died of a broken heart. Why? Most people don’t know.

But I remember it well; it was the talk of the town.

Little Sarah disappeared, and was nowhere to be found.

The last time she was seen was getting off a bus.

They figured she went with someone; someone she could trust.

Everyday at 3 o’clock, look toward the top floor.

There’s a face in the window; an image you can’t ignore.

I’m a retired schoolteacher; I left this town long ago.

I had to leave rather quickly, with my new daughter in tow.

I could have no children, but I raised my Sarah well.

I’m ashamed for what I did, and I will surely go to hell.

Our daughter has passed away; Mary’s spirit can cease to roam.

She can stop looking out the window; her little Sarah is coming home.

A JOURNEY FOR THE LORD

(I wrote this for my parish priest who was

celebrating his fiftieth jubilee.)

It was the fall of 1945

when this young man’s journey began.

An amazing fifty years later and he’s

still ministering to his fellow man.

This journey has been a rewarding one;

staunch determination was his driving tool.

His complete love and adoration for the Lord

were the two things he utilized for his fuel.

Dominic Anania was chosen by the Lord

to spread His teachings to all men.

A major portion of his life’s work was spent

in spreading God’s word through education.

After his many years of informative teaching,

there was a new challenge for this former headmaster.

He was again chosen by the Lord

and assigned as St. Pamphilus’s new pastor.

The people of St. Pamphilus were the winners here;

they were the grateful recipients of this reward.

The love and understanding of his parishioners

have made him a perfect emissary for our Lord.

This young man is older and wiser now;

time is about to bestow on him a well-deserved award.

Congratulations Father Alexis Anania, OFM;

for fifty years of priestly ministry in service to the Lord.

A PERFECT WORLD

I dreamt of a perfect world

free of suffering and pain.

This world was full of sunshine,

but very little rain.

It would only rain at night

which would make for better days.

Great weather makes us happy

in many, many ways.

There was no more hate in this world;

everyone got along.

Peace and harmony were the norm.

There was only right, and never wrong.

Everyone was the same color,

no more prejudice.

It was hard to imagine a world

as wonderful as this.

I knew this was a dream

after I got out of bed.

The forecast called for an all day rain

and in Iraq ten more GI’s were confirmed dead.

We can do nothing about the weather

—that is God’s call.

But as for prejudice and wars,

we must learn to love each other.

That’s a responsibility for us all.

A VOICE FROM MY MIRROR

There is a voice from my mirror;

it talks to me every night.

The voice sounds very familiar.

It’s precise, but also contrite.

I wish I could put a face

to the person who’s talking to me.

Her voice emits love and kindness,

attributes you can feel, but not see.

I feel I can tell her anything,

and often that is what I do.

She knows so much about my life;

I wish I knew who I was talking to.

I’ve asked her many times who she is;

she always says, It is not the time.

She seems to share my memories,

memories that I thought were only mine.

I’m afraid to discuss this voice with anyone,

they might think that I’ve gone mad.

But these poignant conversations

give me the best feelings I’ve ever had.

My mother died at childbirth;

her young life was traded for mine.

Could it be her voice in my mirror?

Could it have been my Mom all this time?

I decided to approach the voice

and solve this haunting mystery.

She said, "Yes, my dear, it is I,

and it is time to set you free."

"Since my death I have guided your life.

I have enjoyed the years watching you grow.

But now that your life seems to be in order,

you will hear my voice no longer, I must go."

My mother knew my birth would cause her death;

willingly she had made that ultimate sacrifice.

Since she would be absent from my world,

she made that mirror my nurturing device.

AN OSCAR WINNER

Our love is like a movie,

a regular Cecil B. DeMille.

This is our finest production

with no one to share the bill.

It’s not like a mystery;

you won’t need any clues.

It’s about two people in love

and the life that they choose.

With God as our director

overseeing every