- from the back cover -

Each brick was set by someone’s hands. Every pane of glass was snugly fit into a frame.  The steel beams and steps were shaped and skillfully secured in place.  Then people take the shapes of these countless corridors and fill them with life.  A solitary poet is softly singing lilting lyrics outside.

This collection of poems draws from the inspiration of New York City, the reflections of the poet’s personal life, the guidance and inspiration of other artists and presents a new ballad for the 19th Century folk hero Emperor Norton. 

This book is a celebration of poetry written in poetry. This is a book for the poetry in us all. 

- Table of Contents -

For Mom  .......................................…………….        1 

- Ways of Life -

For John Ashbery ..........................................        5

Coach      ........................................................        7

The Players Club    .....................................…       9

Perennial Spring    .........................................       10

Touch Up                ......................................       11

For Marshall Edwin Rosenstein            ....       12

Sometimes All the Time        ......................       15

Landscape of Lyrics, Vineyards of Verse ...       16

Made of Music        ........................................       17

- Lit Figs -

Lit Figs    ..........................................................       21

Song and Circumstance        .......................       22

Proof of Life            .......................................      23

Relatively Stable     ........................................       24

ForMs. Bee            .......................................…      25

Artistry inAlgebra     ...................................….      26

Routine ........................................................……      27

Maps Are Metaphors .................................……     28

This May    ....................................................…..     29

Jig            ..........................................................     30

Always Here           ..........................................     31

- Imaginary Material -

All Essential            ........................................      35

What It IsIs Its Worth          ..........................      36

One is Always Odd    ....................................…      37

Hopeless Poem       .........................................      38

Tiny        ........................................................…..     39

Vagabond Song      ........................................…     40

Voyager  ........................................................……     42

Blue Print of the Sky

Drugs Are a Trap ........................................……..    45

Christmas Tree Song at New Year ............……    46

The Presence of the Past       ..........................    47

The View from my Cave       ........................…..   49

- Emperor Norton in Love -

Emperor Norton in Love       ........................…..   55

- Afterword -

Comments for My Poems?    ........................….  73