In Other Words: Poems and Musings

By Don Auriemma and Julia Auriemma

The author weaves together a tapestry of human experiences, mapping the contours of our emotions through the profound language of poetry. Each poem is testament to resilience and vulnerability that defines the human spirit, offering readers a mirror to their own experiences and emotions.

This is not merely a book of poems, but a journey through the human condition. It’s an exploration of life’s most intimate moments, a celebration of our shared experiences, and a reminder of the healing power of words. It’s a book that will resonate with anyone who has loved, lost, struggled, and persevered. Step into its pages and find a piece of your own story echoed within.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823014199

Book preview

AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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© 2023 Don Auriemma. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/18/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1418-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1419-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023916880

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This book is dedicated to two men who dared to venture down roads untrod and winding. They were blessed with powerful genetic creativity. Marco Cirincion and Matthew Auriemma inspired all they touched with creativity, passion and compassion. I miss them dearly. They were born to love, lived to love and passed to love still more.

to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, with all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves, let me forget about today until tomorrow…

Bob Dylan

From the Author

I love to write.

I’ve been writing in one form or another, all my adult life. I was treated to critiques and challenges at Rutgers University back in the 1960’s, and I honed my writing prowess during my business career.

I started writing poems about 25 years ago. My readers were restricted to a select group of family members and friends.

You will find my poems to be quite short. The essays are even shorter. I deem wasted words to be an annoyance to readers and me. I strive to think long and write short.

This is my first book. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please be gentle, it’s my first time. But moreover, I hope you can personalize some of the musings and add your personal color to the printed words. I’ve left some pages blank and I hope you’ll find them useful. Use them to react, relate, critique, expound or doodle. Feel free to make it your own. Highlight, underscore, put thoughts in the margins, tear out something you hate. Use it and abuse it. Enjoy your experience as much as I did mine.

This collection could not have been possible without the unconditional support and love of my wife, partner and soul mate. In addition to the countless hours of editing, formatting, critiquing, typing, designing, and gentle recommendations, Pat provides me with the foundation of confidence and happiness that inspires my imagination and being. Without her, I’d find no reason to write.

Thank you to my beautiful granddaughter Julia, for your commitment, insight, artistic talent and loving support. Your sketches illuminate my thoughts.

I am grateful for the conscious and sub-conscious influence of great wordsmiths such as the ageless vagabond Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Harry Chapin and countless others. They have been my mystical companions for decades. Their genius opened windows in my mind.

A special thank you to the talented folks at AuthorHouse who guided me throughout the challenge of publishing this book.

And finally, to all the friends and family who provided encouragement along my journey, thank you, thank you, thank, you.

Contents

From the Author

BOOK ONE

MOURNING LIES

Mourning Lies

Honorable Mention

Sighs Matter

Cap Illustration

Whispers

Ten Excerpts from the Slide Show

Trinity Re-visited

Sequel

Tombstones Illustration

My Thoughts

Like

Wrong Time Coming

J. F. Konfusion

JFK Bust Illustration

Reflections

Italian Morning

Dogs on the Moon

Rabbits and Wasps

Frog and Wasp Illustration

Brain Dump

Q & A

Thru Kate to Me

Rocking Chair Illustration

Tangled Up in Electron Blues

Cell Phone Illustration

In Other Words

Questions

Obstacle Illusion

Now

Hourglass Illustration

My Take

CXXIV Day

Four Fathers

Some Reason

Bagel Shop Illustration

Just Thinking

Lost and Found

Re-ride

I Know Her

Nude Illustration

My Musings

24 Ours

Dropping the Rock

Confirmation Day

Poet Pot

Sounds Like

BOOK TWO

A LITTLE MORE

A Little More

Modern Tymes

A Fool’s Errand

Asian Trilogy

Halong Bay Illustration

Imagery

Storm

Son of a Son

Sullen Angel

Thinking Again

8th and Broadway

Building At 8th & Broadway Illustration

Musings

Dusk Collector

John’s Song

Tiger Re-visited

Nice Guy

Trophy Illustration

Word Association

Losers

Istanbul of Late

Resurrection

Table for One

Table Illustration

Note Bene

Son

Waiters

Masterpiece(s)

The Essential

4 Aces Illustration

Gut Reactions

Unrequited