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Best Poems Written by John Bonanni

Below are the all-time best John Bonanni poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Details | John Bonanni Poem

Dancer

Leg warmers flop and fold 
Embracing tender ankles 
Adored by suitors 
Ready to heal with bouquets 
And accolades.

Balanced, extended, 
Moving off air,
Like flowers, forever stretching
Kicking up relevé

Like the aromatic main floor of 
An old department store 
at Christmas.
Their limbs like flowers, 
Forever fragrant.

Copyright © John Bonanni | Year Posted 2018



Details | John Bonanni Poem

Corporate Life

Lead me home,
Away from these fires
And compromises of dreams inside,
Still existing, slowly deteriorating

Make no mention across
The boardroom desk of a 
Yearning heart. Bad form.
Bloody up the forecast.

Wipe clean the plate
For the next green leathered occupier
To present their return on no investment.
Earnings after taxes, depreciated.

With composed discharge, 
Diminish the minions.
Walk away from the policy
And procedure of souls seeking comfort
With tiny voices,
Terminate and restructure, build and repurpose 
In a careful edit. 
Blind copy coconspirators, then press send.

Feed the lion the monthly meat
And while he gorges, hunt for more.
Until you are served up.

Copyright © John Bonanni | Year Posted 2018

Details | John Bonanni Poem

Seafaring Foreigner

Seafaring Foreigner 

In steerage on a steamer with
Figs conceiving in Vesuvian soil 
Hidden in a pot of a sturdy trunk
Made of hope and adventure. Fear of
Sights unseen and joys unbeknownst
Of sons and daughters yet.

Hazy canyons of skyscraping giants 
Overshadow brick row houses
Hard at work, ethnic pride
Shameful bathing, worn-in
Clothing and nourishment
Beyond the return to 
Much worse.

Copyright © John Bonanni | Year Posted 2018


Book: Reflection on the Important Things