Three Poems
The Blood of the Gods
Just one grape is so precious and so rare
That has only lived in ever one place.
A lovely Magdalene with long red hair,
On the lips of a dying man she traced.
A wine reserved only for Caesars and Kings,
Poets of Rome praised the Falerian,
About it often the chorus did sing,
Yet the name, buried by historians.
The blood of the gods and the blood of man,
Long ago forgotten just like this wine.
And a myth I will never understand,
Covered long ago by the ash of time.
From Mount Vesuvius and Mount Vulture
Aglianico is still the poet’s lure.
Temptation
Flipping through the latest Hollywood magazine
Gazing at your glossy celluloid dream
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
I suppose I could wish you into my life
Find a red candle and a flame to light
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
A sliver of the moon hanging low in the sky
The acoustic guitar in my room begins to cry
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
Swaying and slow dancing in the hall
Press me up tight and long against the wall
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
Kissing until you bruise my lips
Hands wandering down around my hips
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
The heat of your touch and the palm of my hand
The sweet taste, salty sweat, a delicious man
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
The initial temptation of skin against skin
Invoking waves of delay in me again
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
Perfume of last night lingers low in the air
Your fingers run through my tangled hair
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
We never think twice about proper etiquette
They won’t know, we’ll never forget
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
The pale light of the dawn warms my skin
Pulling me back from where I’ve been
Half a glass of warm red wine,
And a lit cigarette.
How can I become everything to me?
How can I conquer the world?
When I haven’t even conquered
My own hometown yet?
How can I soar to new heights?
When I haven’t ever stepped
Out of the wadding pool just yet?
How can I give you my gift,
My knowledge and lessons,
When I know you don’t want them yet?
How can I ever love you?
When I don’t even know who you are,
I haven’t even met you yet?
How can I give you my smile?
When I have never taken a chance
Quite like that yet?
How can I become everything to me?
When I don’t even really know
What that is just yet?
How can I finally earn my due,
Gain my respect from you,
After so many years of trying?
How do I begin to feel,
And make it real,
After so many years of hiding?
When will I set it right,
And give up the fight,
And begin living instead of lying?