There’s More to Life than Having a Big Brain
Isn’t that lovely news for you, my boy?
What you don’t have is hardly necessary!
There’s a lot more than insight to enjoy.
Isn’t that lovely news for you, my boy?
If the vocabulary we employ
Hurts your head, why, then, let your skull be wary!
Isn’t that lovely news for you, my boy?
What you don’t have is hardly necessary!
–Tom Riley
Roomier
He bought a more capacious chair—
Which only made his backside grow.
On the edge of unhappy there,
He bought a more capacious chair:
He showed his butt he dared to care.
He knew the things he had to know.
He bought a more capacious chair—
Which only made his backside grow.
–Tom Riley
Inclusive
We’re inclusive – and ain’t that a plus?
We’re inclusive: we’re filling a bus
With our various kinds,
With their bodies and minds!
We’re inclusive – for we include us.
–Tom Riley
Little Wounded Ego
His little wounded ego struck out hard
On behalf of the softness at his core.
His sense of being wonderful was scarred.
His little wounded ego struck out hard.
With the foes in his head he boldly sparred.
His ease he was at great pains to restore.
His little wounded ego struck out hard
On behalf of the softness at his core.
–Tom Riley
The Affianced
(for Margaret Cortright)
Prominent headline: she’s engaged to marry.
Here end so many heartfelt aspirations!
So many dreams are guys obliged to bury!
We little realize the complications.
Girlfriends may offer bright congratulations—
But tongue-tied guys who’ve proved a bit too shy
Imagine horrible self-immolations
That fill with smoke a dark and dismal sky.
The bulk of them will turn to Scotch and rye,
To bourbon and to vodka, for a place
Of dull forgetfulness where they can try
Not to be haunted by her gorgeous face.
Those who run bars rejoice to hear the news:
Now they’ll be selling twenty times the booze!
–Tom Riley
Evermore
They declared they would fight to the end
Before ever betraying a friend.
In a few weeks, however,
They revised that damn “ever”—
And their friend they then ceased to defend.
–Tom Riley
Rest Well
On the cake of life, rest is the frosting.
Who can say what activity’s costing
My poor soul, my poor heart?
My next nap must now start—
For that last nap was truly exhausting!
–Tom Riley
