The Lovestruck Coder’s Triolet
If both of us were apps on some device,
I hope I’d be compatible with you!
I hope that nerds would nod and utter: “Nice!”
If both of us were apps on some device,
I hope that we’d be working in a thrice
productively — and elegantly, too.
If both of us were apps on some device,
I hope I’d be compatible with you.
–Tom Riley
Lovely Halloween
I’m sure you’ll have a lovely Halloween.
You have a face, miss, like a zombie’s ass.
You have a figure like a reptile queen.
I’m sure you’ll have a lovely Halloween.
Even behind a stone wall, you’re obscene.
You smile at lonely fiends, but they all pass.
I’m sure you’ll have a lovely Halloween.
You have a face, miss, like a zombie’s ass.
–Tom Riley
Buffoonery
This Trump buffoonery will not impress
the multitudes — as Biden’s version will.
It’s time for GOP types to confess
this Trump buffoonery will not impress
anyone but the base. A sorry mess
the party’s in: his polls are rising! Still,
this Trump buffoonery will not impress
the multitudes as Biden’s version will.
–Tom Riley
Ease
They told him, “Take it easy,” so he did.
How hard the ease advised turned out to be!
Of conflict in his heart he would be rid.
They told him, “Take it easy!” So he did.
His fiery being atrophied, poor kid!
He was a casualty of luxury.
They told him, “Take it easy,” so he did.
How hard the ease advised turned out to be!
–Tom Riley
Negativity
Negative stuff I need to say
Makes me get up and talk to you.
Today will be a lousy day.
Negative stuff I need to say
Tends in its weighty way to weigh
On my internal silence too.
Negative stuff I need to say
Makes me get up and talk to you.
–Tom Riley
Sickness
You’re sick of all the little sicknesses?
Then call upon your head a grand disease!
I heard you flunked your daily Stoic quiz.
You’re sick of all the little sicknesses?
You think you’ll learn what hale and hearty is?
You’ll find disorder very hard to please.
You’re sick of all the little sicknesses?
Then call upon your head a grand disease!
–Tom Riley
Vital Center
You’ve reached the vital center of your day.
It’s time for us, of course, to interrupt.
The freshness of the morning floats away.
You’ve reached the vital center of your day.
You try to say what you have longed to say.
Our response is insistent and abrupt.
You’ve reached the vital center of your day.
It’s time for us, of course, to interrupt.
–Tom Riley
Assembled Frauds
Assembled frauds defeat the truth.
You’re not allowed to call their bluff.
Claiming to serve our troubled youth,
Assembled frauds defeat the truth.
Your croaks of protest prove uncouth.
Your truth is far from true enough.
Assembled frauds defeat the truth.
You’re not allowed to call their bluff.
–Tom Riley
The S List
I made a list of all my sins.
As they passed by, they shook my hand
And greeted me with friendly grins.
I made a list of all my sins—
For self-perfection there begins,
Doesn’t it? On my own demand,
I made a list of all my sins:
As they passed by, they shook my hand.
–Tom Riley
The Morning Show
“I didn’t need to hear the morning show.”
“Perhaps not – but they needed you to hear.”
“To the dawn I intoned a heartfelt no.
I didn’t need to hear the morning show.
Where D.J.’s go, I didn’t need to go.”
“Your sentiment, though vile, seems quite sincere.”
“I didn’t need to hear the morning show!”
“Perhaps not – but they need you to hear.”
–Tom Riley
Flammeus Gladius 