Long Time Coming: Volume One

By Ed Folino

PLEASE READ MY BOOK I sure would like you to read my book.
Don't put it down-it's worth another look.

It's full of poems, some funny, some sad.
It has everything in it, from a homely cowboy to a boy and his dad.

Most are fiction, but some are true.
My main objective was to entertain you.

This little book took a lot of time.
I really racked my brain coming up with all the rhymes.

But it all paid off and I hope that you'll agree.
There are some great ones here-just between you and me.

So tell your friends about me, I'd like to be a star.
And if I sell enough of them, I can buy a brand new car.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 19, 2005
• ISBN: 9780595809516

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

Contents

SECTION ONE

TO MY WIFE, JANET

MARIE

HAPPY WITH YOU

LYING NEXT TO YOU

PROPOSAL

THE ODD COUPLE

THE RING

WORDS OF LOVE

YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY

SECTION TWO

HUMOR

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF WINKY,

AN OCEAN CITY SEAGULL

A NEW FRIEND

COUNT D

COWBOY DAN

HE’S LEAVING

I WANT TO BE IN FRONT

IF I SAID, WOULD YOU?

IF YOU HIT THE LOTTERY

LET’S GET ROMANTIC TONIGHT.

MEMORIES

MY DOT.COM LOVER

NIGHT CLOSES WITH

NO SHOW

PEPE

TALK TO THE HAND

THE FORTY-SEVEN STEPS

THE ICEBREAKER

THE NEW MAN

WHERE’S THE BATHROOM?

WHO ARE YOU ROCKING WITH

TONIGHT?

SECTION THREE

REFLECTIONS

A DREAM

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

ASSAULT

BILLY AND ME

GOD’S MESSENGER

LETTA LOU

LETTA LOU 2

LOST MEMORIES

MEMORIES

MY MIRROR

RAJARAMAN

SUMMER VACATION

THANK YOU, GOD

THE BATTLE

THE BEAUTY OF A ROSE

THE CORNER TABLE

THE KING

THE PONTIFF

THE TREE

THE WEDDING

THINGS I REALLY DON’T LIKE

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

WHO ARE YOU?

SECTION FOUR

RELATIONSHIPS

A GOOD FRIEND

A MOTHER’S GRIEF

ALZHEIMERS

ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?

COMPASSION

GO AHEAD AND FIND HER

I LOVE YOU

I MISS HER SO MUCH

I’D JUST LIKE TO TOUCH YOU

LETTERS TO MY FATHER

LUCY’S POEM

MISS YOU MISSING

MY GUIDE BISMARK

PLEASE STOP CRYING

PROMISES

START OVER?

SENIOR LOVE

THE 42A—A BUS RIDE

THE CLOWN

THE DAD I NEVER KNEW

THEY’RE NOT MY EYES

THREE WORDS

TIME

TWO HEARTS

WAKING UP WITH YOU

I dedicate this first volume to my loving wife, Janet Marie. Thank you for your encouragement, love, and support during our 30 years together.

INTRODUCTION

I know it’s customary to have someone famous write the introduction for your book. But I can’t do this for several reasons. One, I don’t know anyone famous. Second, if I did know someone famous, they would probably want paid to write this and I don’t have any money until I sell some of these books. And finally, this is my first book and I think I need to explain in my own words why I decided to write and publish at this point in my life.

This book and the poetry in it have been a long time coming. You see, I’ve rhymed all my life. I wrote poetry for my teachers in school, for girls I met at high school dances, and for my wedding day (which I read at the reception). Then I got busy with life. I served in the military and generally messed around trying to make a living and have some fun. I had a few jobs and didn’t really take my rhymes seriously. Then there was the battle with alcohol, which I lost for a while, but emerged victorious. I haven’t had a drink in 17 years, but still I found myself too busy to pay attention to the rhymes that constantly ran through my mind. Or maybe I just didn’t take it all very seriously, so I limited my poetry to my answering machine at work and special occasions, like birthdays, holidays and anniversaries.

Then before I reached my 60th birthday, I decided to start writing down the rhyming themes that had been going around in my head all those years. Once I started, I couldn’t stop! The result is my first book of poetry, which in light of my age and life experience is entitled Long Time Coming: Volume One.

You’ll find a wide range of topics in this volume, which I have divided into four sections: To My Wife, Janet Marie; Humor; Reflections; and Relationships. Some were written when I worked in downtown Pittsburgh and saw the less lovely side of urban life. Others were written about my childhood experiences, and still others about family and friends. Then some emerged out of current events or from the silliness of life as I saw it. But all of them are reflections from me, Edward Folino—a poet whose work and creativity were a long time coming, just like this book.

My love and thanks go out to my dear wife of 30 years, Janet Marie. Her love and faithfulness kept me focused during those years when my poems lay dormant