Piercing Perception

Piercing Perception

Hey, I know who my enemies are!
Though my glasses are lost, I see far.
What I miss doesn’t matter:
Makes me bolder, not sadder.
Ah, is that your smile, friend, or a star?

–Tom Riley

Before a Fall

Before a Fall

I am falling asleep as I write—
For I didn’t get much sleep last night.
Coffee helps for a while
To maintain a fake smile,
But I’ll tumble real soon from that height.

–Tom Riley

How Much You Care

How Much You Care

I’m smiling as you say how much you care.
I have observed the sad reality
of a commitment shaped from utter air.
I’m smiling. As you say how much you care,
I resist every movement toward despair.
I never really had much hope, you see.
I’m smiling as you say how much you care.
I have observed the sad reality.

–Tom Riley

Smile a Lot

Smile a Lot

 

 

(for Karen Swallow Prior)

 

 

My old friend Karen’s sometimes-smiling face
is quite enough to cheer up such as me.
When she refrains from smiling, I agree
that smiling is supremely out of place.
She carries frowns with such impressive grace
that I am elevated just to be
frowned upon. It is glorious to see
her wrath, her doubts, her eyes in any case.
Back when we stood together in the fight,
she gathered up her eloquence to speak
for those who could not speak. And how the light
descended! Her composure was unique.
Today, her words are erudite and right.
If mine have any value, it’s oblique.

 

 

–Tom Riley

Donat Dominilla Subrisa

Donat Dominilla Subrisa

 

 

 

 

 

She’s presenting her hideous grin.

My reaction?  I cannot begin.

     In my belly, there’s bile

     At the sight of that smile.

To have seen seems itself a grave sin.

 

 

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

Smile

The Smile

 

 

 

She wraps her smile around what lives in you—

And pretty soon you’re shopping for a grave.

Her smile is old – but tries to pass for new.

Her smile is distant – but you cry, “Close shave,”

If you escape it.  How should you behave

In order to repel her smile’s advance?

Freedom, of course, is what men’s spirits crave.

Her smile speaks to that yearning: “Ha!  Fat chance!”

Even when she’s in skirts, she wears the pants.

Her thigh-high leather boots are always there.

She lacks grace – but insists it’s time to dance.

For what you treasure she declines to care.

Her smile consumes whatever it confronts.

How you wish you had never seen it once!

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

Mastery

Mastery

 

 

Professional relationships galore

He’s mastered with a smile that few can match.

He’s confident and charming to the core.

Your heart too is a heart that he will catch.

In his brain, he is baking up a batch

Of cookie words to offer to your face.

Cleverly, he undoes the simple latch

That guards your silly soul’s most private place.

But, if it doesn’t work, then the disgrace

Falls not on him, so earnest and so sly:

It falls on you, who find no comfy place

Within to house our warm and friendly guy.

Just like the Holy Family at the inn,

He is excluded.  Buddy, that’s a sin!

 

 

–Tom Riley

Her Smile Lights up the Room

Her Smile Lights up the Room

 

Her shining smile indeed lights up the room–

Much like a fierce bulb burning overhead.

You sit bound to a chair.  Torturers loom–

And promise you will wish that you were dead.

You wish for that in seconds — but instead

Receive hour after hour of searing pain.

You’re long past hope.  You’re long past mortal dread.

Adrenaline is gnawing at your brain.

It’s more than any mere man can contain.

Your every cell is bursting from within.

Through the mist of your tears you look in vain

For mercy — and behold the Devil’s grin.

But wait: that’s not the Devil.  All the while,

It’s been our heroine’s enchanting smile!

 

–Tom Riley