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Michael Rossillio Poem
She sits there slowly rocking
In the chair that's by her bed
Sometimes it gets so lonely
That she wishes she were dead
She knows that now and then
She might forget the time or place
And once in every while
She may not recognize a face
Putting on her slippers
That were right there by the wall
She stumbled from her seat
And started walking down the hall
She passed the nurses' station
No one saw her going by
She eased into the chapel
Where she hung her head and cried
"Where are all my children
They don't visit anymore
And what about my sisters
They've only been here twice before"
"I know they think I'm crazy
At times I think so, too
I never really asked for this
There's nothing I can do"
She reached into the pocket
Of her wrinkled cotton gown
She found the tattered holy card
And heavily knelt down
She used to know the prayer by heart
Then the ilness took control
Now she had to read the words
That filled her very soul
She prayed, "Hail Mary, full of grace"
And a bright light filled the room
A soothing warmth came over her
Dispelling any gloom
"My child, you need not kneel
Jesus knows you've done your best
You've grown so tired and weary
It is now your turn to rest"
"I know you feel abandoned
By your family and friends
But in heaven you're surrounded
With a love that never ends"
"You've sacrificed so very much
Your family always first
Standing by through thick and thin
In good times and in worst"
"Your children surely love you
Your friends have shown they care
I came to tell you all of this
For I have heard their prayers"
"It's difficult for them to watch
This horrible disease
That eats away your memory
And brings you to your knees"
"Today I take my mantle
And embrace you with a love
That I now freely give to you
From the Father up above"
She smiled up at Mary
And took in her last breath
Fulfilling now a life long wish
To die a happy death
Copyright © Michael Rossillio | Year Posted 2011
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Michael Rossillio Poem
I've got fifty-three dollars and forty-nine cents
And I'm aiming on spending it all
I drove in my car
To this dive of a bar
And I'm planning on hearing "last call"
Mr. Bartender, please
You're the one who now sees
How much I''m in need of a drink
I came here to forget
I don't want to regret
And I would like to know what you think
She has left me again
Cause that bitch of a friend
Keeps on filling her head with all lies
So I'll drown in my beer
Since I'm having to hear
Another one of her goodbyes
I'll just leave her alone
Cause I know before long
She'll come running on back home to me
And I try to convince
Myself not to wince
It is what it is, let it be
But inside of my head
I keep thinking instead
What if this time she doesn't come back
What will I ever do
If we really are through
And I'm left with nothing but jack
I had fifty-three dollars and forty-nine cents
Minus six beers and change for the phone
She is meeting me here
For one last bottle of cheer
Now I won't be leaving alone
Confessions to a Bartender
Copyright © Michael Rossillio | Year Posted 2011
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Michael Rossillio Poem
There was no one to talk to
No letters he could send
There was no one for him except
His dog - his only friend
He came home from his job
And started dinner around six
He sat down with his pet
As she showered him with licks
Sometime around eight o'clock
The dog began to bark
Alerting him that it was time
For their walk around the park
People passed them by
And never said a word
No one ever smiled "hello"
No kinds words ever heard
The dog looked at her owner
As if to say, "so what"
Who needs any one of them
Each other's what we've got"
They walked back to the house
And started settling for the night
They then went up the stairs
After he turned out the light
He climbed into his bed
The dog had followed close behind
This was their favorite time of day
When they could both unwind
He asked the Blessed Mother
To protect him and his pet
Laid his head down on the pillow
All his problems he'd forget
He hadn't even realized
As he held back a yawn
That somehow he'd forgotten
That the burner was still on
The pilot light went out
And fumes were filling up the room
The dog had sensed a danger
An impending, fearful doom
She tried to wake her owner
But the man just wouldn't budge
All her barking was in vain
He wouldn't move upon her nudge
Just then a blinding light appeared
The Virgin at its core
She nodded to the dog
And raised a finger toward the door
The dog had found the strength
To pull her master by the sleeve
Dragging him across the floor
And out the door to leave
Once outside the man awoke
His dog right by his side
People rushed to tell him
That he had nearly died
The man could hardly fathom
How this tiny, little mutt
Had pulled a man ten times her weight
Without a scratch or cut
As they walked back in the house
And passed the statue in the hall
The dog had stopped and cocked her head
When she heard the Virgin call
What the owner didn't know
And couldn't see as it unfurled
Was Mary reaching out
To pet the dog and say, "good girl"
Copyright © Michael Rossillio | Year Posted 2011
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Michael Rossillio Poem
The words were not encouraging
Their impact made her reel
She stood in total disbelief
Not sure of what to feel
"This really can't be happening
I feel like I could scream
I know that any minute now
I'll wake up from this dream"
She left the doctor's office
Took the stairs up to his floor
Then briskly walked toward his room
And opened up the door
He lay there in the bed
His face was gaunt and ghostly white
She wasn't even sure
If he would make it through the night
She ran her fingers through his hair
And leaned to kiss his cheek
His breathing was so labored
He could barely even speak
She held his little hand in hers
And said, "I love you, Billy"
He tried to smile and whispered back
"And I love you , too, Mommy"
She told him he should go to sleep
And that she'd be right back
Then headed toward the chapel
As she got her thoughts on track
"God, how could you do this"
She questioned with her soul
"Why would you take him from me
He's only six years old"
"I'll never get to watch him grow
Or see his first school play
There won't be time for him to date
I'll miss his wedding day"
"But most of all, I'll miss his laugh
Those smiling eyes of blue
The way he used to show me
All the things that he could do"
"His birthday is two weeks away
He won't last another year
I promised him a party
But I don't think he'll be here"
She suddenly felt tired
Put her head down on the seat
And as she drifted off to sleep
She felt the warmest heat
Then she heard a female voice
That spoke so soft and mild
"There is no greater love
Than that of mother for her child"
"You hate to lose your son
He's been your child and your friend
But death is not a punishment
Nor is it just an end"
"I know this is the hardest thing
You ever will go through
I understand the pain you feel
For I'm a mother, too"
She left the chapel pew
With feelings swimming in her head
She walked into his room
And saw him sitting up in bed
"Mom, I saw a lady
She was beautiful and kind
And when she took me by my hand
I didn't even mind"
"She told me not to worry
I would still be turning seven
I'll celebrate my birthday
With the angels up in heaven"
He suddenly grew quiet
And she tried hard not to cry
Then kissed him on his forehead
And said her last goodbye
She buried her son Billy
One year ago today
But he is always with her
Part of each and every day
Copyright © Michael Rossillio | Year Posted 2011
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Michael Rossillio Poem
She woke up late that morning
From the fight the night before
She had argued with her husband
About what, she wasn't sure
He left for work some time ago
She never said goodbye
And now she felt a sense of guilt
As she began to cry
The tears cooled down her coffee
And she quickly rinsed the mug
Then took her keys off of the shelf
And gave the dog a hug
Halfway toward the door she saw
A horrifying scene
The TV was still on and showed
Disaster on the screen
She saw the tower burning
And could not believe her eyes
She watched the people running
And she heard their frightened cries
The telephone began to ring
She grabbed it, said "hello"
Her mother on the other end
Was speaking soft and low
"Beth, did you just hear the news
The tower has been hit"
Just then she felt her legs give way
She took a chair to sit
"Mom, this can't be happening
I feel like I could scream
Please say it's not reality
But just an awful dream"
"I better keep the line free
Just in case Dan tires to call"
She said goodbye, hung up the phone
And ran towards the hall
She stopped before the mantle
Where the little statue stood
Then fell down on her knees
And hoped her prayers would do some good
"Please, dear Blessed Mother
Dan's inside that building now
I couldn't live without him
I don't think I would know how"
"I never should have yelled last night
Now he may never know
How much I'd like to take it back
And how I love him so"
The strangest thing then happened
Tears fell from the statue's face
The Holy Virgin spoke to Beth
In sorrrow and with grace
"A heinous thing was done today
So many lives are lost
A vicious plan to get revenge
No matter what the cost"
"Evil has no boundaries
But there is a price to pay
When God brings down his mighty hand
At last on Judgment Day"
"Pray for all the victims
Their families and friends
Ask my Son to intervene
So war and hate will end"
The phone rang once again
This time she heard her husband speak
He said, "oh Babe, I love you"
And the tears ran down her cheeks
"Beth, it was so awful
I could not see my way out
The smoke was black and thick
I had to feel my way about"
"Suddenly a woman
Who I'd never seen before
Smiled as if she knew me
As she montioned toward the door"
"As I approached the exit
I encountered something weird
I reached back to pull her out
But she had disappeared"
Her hand flew to her mouth
As Beth let out a thnankful sigh
She knew the Blessed Mother
Had ensured Dan wouldn't die
Copyright © Michael Rossillio | Year Posted 2011
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