Striving For Relevance: Is Usama Persona Non Grata?

Usama bin Laden released an audiotape last week with his usual fiery anti-American rhetoric. What else is new, except that this time the press, and possibly our own government, does not see this as a big deal.

"Since Zacarias Moussaoui was still learning how to fly, he wasn't No. 20 in the group, as your government has claimed," bin Laden said, referring to the man who will spend the rest of his life in the Supermax prison in Denver, Colorado.

Every news report I saw said that "an anonymous government official said bin laden was using this tape to become relevant once again." Well, isn't it a wonderful world for Usama that he shepherded an organization responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 people on American soil a little less than five years ago and he is now struggling for ink.

A couple of days later, I exchanged emails with John Loftus, a former Justice Department prosecutor, and now a commentator, most notably on WABC Radio for The John Batchelor Show. Loftus is always very responsive and has great insight into the War On Terror and this is what he wrote in response to my email:

"70% of bin Laden's core have been wiped out."

Okay, fine.

Yet I have read and heard from such notable terrorism experts as Peter Bergen and Yossef Bodansky that thousands of would-be jihadists trained in terrorist camps in Afghanistan in the years before 9/11 and have scattered throughout the world. So if we never really had a true count of how many trained in those camps, how can we definitively say what percentage of al-Qaeda have been killed or captured.

Loftus continues:

"He (bin Laden) is now a figurehead who loans his name out to guys like Zarqawi." Loftus referring to, of course, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

It appears to me that our government does not have an accurate account of this Zarqawi fellow. I have read that he fought against the U.S. in Afghanistan after 9/11 and lost a leg before returning to his native Jordan. Yet those reports have also been disputed.

The point being is that I really have a hard time swallowing that bin Laden is just a figurehead. The fact of the matter is that he has tremendous influence on many things going on in the world right now and there should be more emphasis placed on capturing or killing him. In addition, it seems as though our intelligence apparatus just can't get it right; 9/11, WMD in Iraq, anthrax attacks after 9/11, the whereabouts of Usama, etc. So I believe that minimizing bin Laden's importance is due to our inability to capture or kill him. Which I understand is no easy task. But it seems as though the trail for the terrorist mastermind is extremely cold. Think frozen tundra!

To underscore why bin Laden should be considered more relevant I will back this up:

For example, the war in Afghanistan that everyone seems to have forgotten about. According to an article in Sunday's New York Times' Magazine section the United States has increased its troop level from 19,000 to 23,000 over the last few months. The United Nations was supposed to take over security operations in the southern region of Afghanistan in the fall but that has been pushed back until the New Year. This due to the fact that Taliban and al-Qaeda forces have stepped up attacks since the start of spring and have been copying the effectiveness of the insurgency in Iraq by using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Would we not be in Iraq if it were not for Usama? Not because Saddam Hussein was directly linked to 9/11, however. But the combination of the attacks of September 11th, 2001 along with the fact that our intelligence apparatus and that of other countries said Saddam had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) which put our national security at greater risk and elevated the urgency to respond.

We all know that the stockpiles of WMD were never found. Some, like Loftus, said they were moved out of Iraq prior to the war and into the Bequaa Valley in Syria. Loftus has said repeatedly that the reason the U.S. has not moved into Syria to uncover this stockpile of weapons is because we are so tied up in Iraq. I'll buy into that. Because we know that Saddam used WMD and what exactly did he do with the unused weapons. Under President Clinton the United State military struck at alleged WMD sites in 1998 but I doubt that those airstrikes eliminated all of Hussein's WMD. If they did I'm sure we would have been told about such a great success.

Also, I put no credibility into any international agency saying that Iraq was clean of WMD before or even after the invasion of Iraq. The reason being, is that the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) said Libya was clean until President Moammar Khadafy admitted to having WMD in 2004 and that he was ending his program. Gee, I guess the IAEA had that one wrong!

Usama for years tried to get America into a fight and was unable to do so for a variety of reasons during the Clinton Administration and the first eight months of the Bush Administration. Remember bin Laden fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s and following the former superpower's departure, bin Laden believed that the Soviets were a "paper tiger" and that the U.S. was not as strong as the Russians, so that made us beatable. Yet, now that he has dragged us into a fight....

According to the Department of Defense website 2,468 U.S. soldiers have been killed in action in Iraq, while 292 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, as of Tuesday.

The issue of illegal immigration has moved to the forefront after years of negligence. But why has the Bush Administration taken on such a touchy issue. The reason being is that the security of our nation's borders has taken on greater importance as a result of 9/11 because we need to know who is coming in and why.

Internationally speaking, Usama and his terrorist organization has its tentacles widespread. For example, according to a Reuters report Wednesday, fighting inside the capital city of Mogadishu has intensified. Islamist militiamen attacked early in the morning in northeastern Mogadishu, and seized several positions previously held by fighters loyal to an alliance of warlords who say they have banded together to fight terrorism. The United States views Somalia as a haven for terrorism. Somalia is a failed state and has had no real authority since the 1991 ouster of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

What about the Sudan? Usama bin Laden was exiled from Sudan in 1996. However, his influence may still be strong in that country.

"I call on the mujahideen and their supporters in Sudan ... and the Arabian peninsula to prepare all that is necessary to wage a long-term war against the Crusaders in western Sudan," bin Laden said in a prior audiotape dated April 24.

What we see in Darfur is again Islamist militiamen, or the Janjaweed, killing the non-Arabs. The government of Sudan has provided arms and assistance and has even been involved in attacks with the Janjaweed. The conflict begun in February 2003 and the number of fatalities has been estimated from 50,000 to 450,000 with two million people being displaced from their homes. According to Reuters most non-governmental organizations use 400,000 as the death toll.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese government is resisting United Nations peacekeepers from going to the Darfur region.

The War on Terror, like all wars, has had success and failure. Capturing guys like Khalid Sheik Muhammad, the man who allegedly came up with the concept of a "planes operation" was a key win. Yet, some will say that we have not been attacked for nearly five years because "we are fighting them over there rather than here." Perhaps, but before 9/11 we were not attacked on our soil for eight years (the 1993 WTC attack) and we weren't fighting anyone anywhere.

Make no mistake I support both the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the point is I feel America is concerned with other issues and sees the threat of international terrorism as being remote.

Terrorists will always exist, I don't believe they can be completely wiped out. Especially since children are taught to kill Christians and Jews in schools throughout the Middle East. But I believe eliminating top leadership like bin Laden is important. The reason being is if America and her allies are successful in this war the terrorists will exist in the same way that Nazis now exist. That is they will become a "fringe element." I believe that the Nazis are no longer a real major concern because they do not and have not had a leader who can band them together and rile them up like Adolph Hitler did and there has not been someone of that ilk to replace him. Thank God for that. Usama is one of those "charismatic" leaders who are not replaced so easily. Of course he uses that charisma for evil but he is someone who can produce a groundswell of support. He also carries a bit of legend behind him. In many of the videos he is seen in he keeps a kalashnikov rifle by his side. The story goes that he took that rifle off a Soviet fighter after killing him while he was leading the mujahideen or "holy warriors" against the Russians in Afghanistan.

So removing a powerful figure like Usama is more than just symbolic. I feel it would be a major victory for the United States and her allies and crucial to our victory in the War on Terror.

Edmonton Waits For Carolina-Buffalo Winner

The Edmonton Oilers will take the much needed break, but hopefully the rest will not last too long. The Oilers were able to send the Anaheim Mighty Ducks home in five games with a win on Saturday night which saw Edmonton kill off an Anaheim six-on-three power play the final 2:18 of the game. Edmonton is now the Western Conference Champion and will await the winner of the Carolina-Buffalo series.
Head Coach Craig MacTavish has commented in recent days that he worries a long layoff might hurt his team as it has done to other teams in the playoffs. Eight is enough for Edmonton, as in eight days before they will play game one of the Stanley Cup Finals Monday night. Either way the game will be on the road.
The flu bug has effected Edmonton a little bit, such as Raffi Torres, and the rest should take away any lingering symptoms.
The Oilers have played 11 games in 21 days and have been backstopped by Dwayne Roloson who has definitely played at a much higher level. In the regular season, Roloson was 14-24-5, however, he has posted 12 wins in the playoffs. Roloson was acquired from the Minnesota Wild at the NHL trade deadline in March.
The Hurricanes lead their series 3-2 and play in Buffalo tonight where rookie Cam Ward will start in goal for Carolina.

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope you had a great weekend! Thanks for visiting my blog and keep coming back!

Compassion Long Gone a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

'Tis only several years ago,
I went up to Kensico,
Laced up my Nike 'blades,
For round and round I would go,
An October day like any other;
Falling leaves,
A gentle breeze.
Yet I stopped on a dime,
For the dam a man would climb,
He was ready to let go,
I suppose his life was of no worth,
Or so he thought since birth,
Thank God for the men in blue,
Who talked him through,
A life in the balance,
Now saved and whisked away in an ambulance,
What pushes man to the brink?
To think of himself so unkind,
Was he a child once left behind,
Some would say he's a whack that fell through the cracks,
A Hollywood Cruiser would say he's nothing but a loser,
And that some exercise would be the proper remedy,
Well, I'm no MD but this I surely know,
His life was rife with pain,
Why is compassion no longer in fashion?
Are empathy and sympathy no longer cool?
Once in school I was told the world I cannot save,
But my real Teacher said;
We are our brother's keeper,
'Tis every life precious,
For life is too short,
To only take each other to court,
The news report says many more dead in Darfur,
Another genocide,
A random homicide,
Terrorism,
Accusations of racism,
Fanaticism,
More lack of compassion,
Only me just wonderin',
Is cashin' in all we're wishin',
For I'm a regular bloke,
Just wantin' less sufferin' for everyday folk.

Edmonton On Verge of Trip To Finals

Nothing is better in sports than seeing an underdog prove the naysayers wrong.
Many of the critics believed Edmonton would not deal well with prosperity heading into Tueday night's game.
However, it was the Anaheim Mighty Ducks unable to overcome the
high octane Oilers losing 5-4.
Toby Peterson opened the scoring for Edmonton in the first period before the run-and-gun team would score three quick goals to open the third period including a blast from hulking defenseman Chris Pronger. Anaheim trailed 4-0 at that point and saw a summer on the golf course staring them in the face. They quickly responded with goals from Sean O'Donnell, Teemu Selanne, and Chris Kunitz before Edmonton's Fernando Pisani put the game away.
The Oilers are now one win away from going back to the Finals for the first time since 1990. They have now won seven straight games in this amazing playoff run.
Edmonton basically got into the playoffs because the Vancouver Canucks and their Head Coach Marc Crawford had a meltdown. The Oilers got the eighth seed and dispatched of the very much favored Detroit Red Wings before beating the San Jose Sharks.
Now, one more win is all it will take for the Oilers to go back to the Finals. They can rest while the Carolina Hurricanes and the upstart Buffalo Sabres knock each other around in what will surely be a long series.
It isn't too clear what has happened to Anaheim since they have plenty of playoff experience with the Neidermayer brothers leading the team along with the great Selanne but right now they are a team completely deflated and look ripe to be picked.
Expect Michael Peca and company will be ready to finish off the Ducks in four games and not give them any life.

My Space a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

My Space,
What a gift this place is,
How we found one another,
Really is of no consequence,
'Tis even better there is no fee,
I come here when I'm feeling happy or sad,
This rock I've sat on when the tide is low,
A place to come when I want to cry,
And no one need know.
We've solved many a problem,
Such great advice you always give,
I don't even need to lie on a couch.
Could just be me,
But I love being surrounded by the sea,
Mr. Sun is here as is the silky sand,
I have walked up and down this land so often,
For exercise, for fun, for peace, even boredom,
Some go to church to gain this sense of calm,
Others sit and meditate,
Alas, to each his own,
However, I take a stroll,
Along this beach in Rye,
A breathtaking view across the Long Island Sound,
Fifteen, twenty minutes is all I need,
Near a sanctuary called the Edith Read,
When I depart my life no longer feels like it has come apart,
My space is oh so reliable,
To bring me to a sense of calm undeniable,
Day or night her beauty never fails to delight,
At night I look to my right,
I see two bridges;
The Throgs and 'Stone,
With necklace lights,
Shone so bright,
Straight ahead is the fictional East Egg,
I wonder if Gatsby is a dinner host on this night;
What is it about this beach that is so right,
Does it remind me of Footprints,
And my Savior's might,
When I'm here I know He is near,
A fiery sunset transforms into a magnificent moonlight,
'Tis a fool who sees this,
And denies the great Lord exists,
My Space, My Space,
Kinder than any face,
Good grief I detest having to leave this fixation,
But am grateful for the brief rest and relaxation.

Old Oilers Still In Charge: Edmonton/Ducks Tonight at 8

It's been a long time for Edmonton fans. The Oilers are now two wins from going back to the Stanley Cup Finals since a guy named Mark Messier skated for the Alberta franchise.

Although guys like Paul Coffey, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and the aforementioned Messier are long gone, two important cogs of the Oilers' dynasty are still very much involved. The Head Coach Craig MacTavish and the General Manager Kevin Lowe; the former a helmetless centerman the latter a keep-it-simple, yet tough defenseman.

With Edmonton going home to face off tonight against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks up 2-0, the experience of their leadership is very important.

Kevin Lowe was second in leadership ability behind Mark Messier (sorry Wayne) on the Oilers, and the same held true when they won their sixth Stanley Cup together in New York. Lowe was able to settle the Rangers down, after New York gave up a goal with seconds left in game 7 which tied the game and sent it to overtime. He was the voice of reason in the locker room which enabled the Blueshirts to keep their composure and come out for both overtimes, winning the game and advancing to the Finals.

Craig MacTavish was also a calm voice of reason for the Oilers dynasty and again with the Rangers in that 1994 championship run. He was always working over the referees trying to get the right calls for his team. He continues to be that way behind the bench for Edmonton. Even saying the team has to pretend like they are trailing 2-0 heading home. In addition, MacT always took the important faceoffs and was a tireless penalty killer.

Edmonton is a Cinderella story in this NHL revival season. The salary cap has allowed them to acquire normally high-priced players like Michael Peca and Chris Pronger. But expect them to not rest on their laurels and at least win one at home. I think this series still goes six but would not be the least bit surprised if it ended sooner. The Oilers love the role of the underdog against a much more talented Ducks team. Similar in the same way the Oilers relished their underdog role against the mighty New York Islanders in 1984. I'm sure Lowe will be able to relay a couple of experiences from those days to his current squad if need be.

Make no mistake, Edmonton has some guys with great experience like Peca and Pronger. In addition, some very talented young players like Radek Dvorak and Raffi Torres.

Tonight though some old Oilers will bring a small market city one step closer to going back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

After School a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

It was so sophomoric
Maybe even moronic.
But what a raucous I caused,
You know being in an all boys school,
Wasn't always so cool.
Like a fool I bought a magazine by Hef,
But wouldn't you know it I got caught by Father Jeff.
I used to think he took too many drinks,
To notice how deft I was,
In concealing this mag that some would say was a dirty rag.
He got so bloody mad he even called my dad,
Fr. Jeff told him his blood pressure was cooking,
For I was caught looking at a picture of a lady in the nude,
Which he thought was extremely rude.
Like a crook I was confined,
But while he was swigging white wine,
I had one eye on the magazine,
Looking at what God made so fine.

No Better Time a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

Don't know if I ever got the chance,
But you have enhanced my life,
And even added some spice.
Thanks for bailing me out of that jam.
For always thinking of me,
Even without a drink.
You always sent me an invitation.
One time you even picked me up,
At Grand Central Station,
Do not think I don't know,
You let me beat you in tennis on our summer vacation.
Hope I never cramped your style,
For your beautiful smile,
You always freely gave to me.
Hope to see you again,
But let me not be remiss,
'Tis no better time than this,
To finally say thank you.

The Perfect Eve a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

I awoke this morn',
No forlorn for good reason.
For there you were standing on the balcony,
Admiring the salty sea.
A statuesque beauty,
You often leave me breathless,
Just looking at you,
So perfect you are,
The fullness of your lips,
A Mediterranean exquisiteness,
To your sexiness.
Loving you is such a splendid craziness,
I'm feeling like I am in a haze,
From your alluring gaze,
Perhaps lost in this maze of love.
My head feels kinda warm,
There's no need for alarm though,
For I know it's my baby's charm,
Just admiring you gives me reason to be alive.
There is nothing in my life,
Like looking at you my little darling,
More beautiful than a seaside sunset,
More gorgeous than a clear celestial evening.
I kissed you under shooting stars the first time,
With the moon smiling down upon us.
Just a glance from you is all it took,
Your look was mesmerizing,
An angelic face with a devilish body,
All dressed up in Victoria's lace.
My irresistible Eve,
The temptation is too great,
The apple I must have,
A bite will not suffice,
I must have all of you,
Come in from the balcony,
Don't say no to me,
Make my fantasy reality.

A Tribute To Who a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

When I was a young boy,
I wanted to be a rock star,
Drive a flashy car,
Sing live for cash,
Smash a guitar like Townshend,
Strum the bass like the late Entwistle,
Drum like the preternatural Moon,
My vision I can see for miles,
Singing like Roger,
Makes the girls smile,
Thanks to you blokes,
I could choke back the crocodile tears,
My fears disappeared.
For love reigned over me,
Because I wouldn't get fooled again,
While riding the magic bus,
Where I'm a substitute for another guy,
An extinguished flame used to do nothing,
But la la la lie,
That was plain with the naked eye,
For this woman told so many f'in' lies,
I used to be so sad about us,
But now I'm a regular happy jack,
Dreaming from the waist,
For I'm a man,
You better you bet,
Or a slip kid if you prefer.
For the kids will always be alright,
A pinball wizard I am,
Tommy, I can hear you,
There would be nothing like playing in The Who,
The girls could see me, feel me, touch me,
For I am quite tired of having to say,
Do you come here often?
But please don't introduce me to Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand,
Although those pictures of Lilly made my life so wonderful,
Even more so would be a world to travel,
To sing my songs aloud,
Always to a large crowd,
For I would be proud to play in The Who,
Do you want to see my tattoo?
It's really up to you,
But first I really need to know,
Who Are You.

The Folly of Melancholy a poem by Sean G. Kilkelly

The folly of melancholy wraps around me,
Like the bandages of a mummy,
Hard to explain,
This mysterious pain,
A dark cloud eclipses,
My bright mood,
Like rain teaming down,
In the land of Eire,
By the way they say,
My ancestors came from there,
I remember listening to a band,
That originates not too far from there,
Mr. Daltrey said no one knows,
What it's like.
Yet I don't need to swing a mic,
To relate this unkindest folly,
That of melancholy,
Melancholy could make,
A trolley driver not so jolly,
The curls of a cute little girl,
Will start to unfurl,
All of a sudden,
My half-full cup,
Is now half-empty,
What a pity,
This folly of melancholy.
Is feeling this bad just a fad?
I went to my physician,
With this question,
And for a large pittance,
I got to explain my dilemma.
Doc you gotta help me,
Well, sonny I know things look cloudy,
So here's a pill,
It can make you rowdy,
So be careful.
Pop a pill,
Drink to silence the world's deafening shrillness,
Inhale a cigarette,
This song and dance,
Is not too pretty,
Nothing like a shiny baguette.
Oh bollocks!
I guess my only hope is a gale strong enough,
To move gigantic rocks,
Will soon come along and sweep away this folly known as melancholy.

Envy For The Devils

The New Jersey Devils. Oh, if only the New York Rangers had their success the last 11 years. Yes, I know the Devs went out without a whimper against the Carolina Hurricanes. But I am talking about overall. This is an organization that is dwarfed by the Broadway Blueshirts in public attention, yet on-ice performance is not even comparable.

I am and always will be a die-hard fan of the New York Rangers. However, I can't help but marvel at how New Jersey has been able to build an organization into a perennial contender winning three Stanley Cups in the process.

The Devs have always done things the right way. Building from within through the draft while adding a couple of key ingredients en route to their success. General manager Lou Lamoriello has always stressed the importance of team and that has translated onto the ice more times than not a team that works hard and is never embarrassed by its performance.

The New York Rangers have started to model themselves after the Devils by purging themselves of their overpriced athletes at the 2004 trade deadline. The Rangers have now drafted well and made key trades for some pretty good young talent. Time will tell if the New York brass intends to follow this model or fall back into their old habits of buying players who make New York their retirement home.

No I am hoping that Hendrik Lundqvist will become Martin Brodeur, that Marc Staal will become like Scott Stevens, that Fedor Tyutin will be the next Scott Neidermayer, that Dominic Moore and Ryan Hollweg will be the next John Madden and Jay Pandolfo. I can only hope.

Otherwise I will have to be stuck looking across the Hudson at more Cups being raised while in New York only more memories of 1994 are played out incessantly.

Thank You New York Rangers

In practically every rink in the National Hockey League this year the words 'Thank You Fans' was printed in the middle of each rink. Well, I have to return the appreciation to the 2005-2006 New York Rangers.

For far too long there has been an unbearable stench inside Madison Square Garden. The circus? No, elephant dung could never equal the smell from poor performances by overpaid athletes that donned the Rangers' sweater since the Philadelphia Flyers swept the Blueshirts in the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals.

I can't say all of the players were bad. There was Wayne Gretzky who gave his all and if only he had a couple of wingers to pass to, things may have been a bit different. Right wing Pavel Bure arived five years too late on a bad wheel. Sandy McCarthy, Todd Harvey, Matthew Barnaby gave 100% most nights. Of course there were the franchise guys like Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Mike Richter who did as well as they could. However, they were also misused by the various coaching regimes at MSG.

But I could go on and on and complain about the effort given by the many players who played hockey on West 33rd and Seventh Avenue. I won't name names but you guys were a disgrace.
Enter the new NHL. Enter the new New York Rangers.

Tom Renney, the Head Coach, set the tone and immediately got right wing Jaromir Jagr to buy into how things were going to get done. The team truly came together from day one. They played hard every night and only a handful of games this year were truly out of it. Normal slumps for the long grind of an NHL season.

Yes, I would have loved to have seen them beat the New Jersey Devils. Sure, they went into a slide at the end of the season which carried into the playoffs. The slump was largely attributed to injuries. An excuse? Hardly, you take three of your best players out of the lineup on any team and tell me it won't matter. Looking at the big picture, however, this was a great place to start.

After a lockout wiped out the 2004-2005 season this edition of the Rangers made the fans believe again. Great young players mixed with veterans who had something to prove equaled playoffs on Broadway.

So many memories from this season such as Marek Malik's shootout goal against the Washington Capitals, Hendrik Lundqvist becoming the King of MSG, the retirement of Mark Messier's number 11 where the late Dana Reeve made her last public appearance serenading Mess.

I look forward to next year but take this moment to thank this year's Rangers. The stench is gone it is now safe to go back inside the world's most famous arena.

Sean's Favorite Links

Support Our Troops:
http://www.treatsfortroops.com

http://www.strikeoutsfortroops.org

U.S. Army Rangers
http://www.ranger.org

U.S. Department of Defense
http://www.defenselin.mil

The New York Rangers Official Site:
http://www.newyorkrangers.com

A Professional Singer for those getting married:
http://www.mauramusic.com

A Great Songsmith and also my neighbor:
http://www.montgomerydelaney.com

My Favorite Author:
http://www.annerice.com

Who Are You:
http://www.thewho.com

Relevant News and Then Some:
http://www.drudgereport.com

Most Comprehensive Coverage of the War On Terrorism:
http://www.John-Loftus.com
http://www.johnbatchelorshow.com

Great Coverage of New York Sports:
http://www.msgnetwork.com

Monica Crowley, a very bright news commentator:
http://www.monicamemo.com

Laura Ingraham pulls no punches:
http://www.lauraingraham.com

No Spin:
http://www.billoreilly.com

A Great American:
http://www.hannity.com

The Weird and Wacky:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com

Poems By Sean G. Kilkelly

Note: A nice lady once told me I should write poetry. I thought, yeah right after I finish my quiche. Well, this is just a start. Hope you like them and OK OK enough with the wisecracks.

Mustang Sally's
Here's my latest diddy about love,
This time about a red-headed dove;
I always forget the year,
Maybe it was the beer;
You used to act so aloof,
Smoking cigarettes under the awning,
Oh your little joke had me yawning;
It was a Friday night,
I was feeling right wanting to get tight;
Just came from The Garden,
Where Mess just beat up Gary Galley,
Now I'm inside the Mustang Sally's;
The music is blarin'' Come Dancin'
A song about the local pally.
This poem now goes sour,
Despite you drinking whiskey sour;
I had a few Amstels a few Jim Beams,
Well it would seem,
Our adolescent behavior,
Made us want to scream;
No longer can we endure,
Each of us acting so insecure,
Our love was once so pure;
But that night you got on the number four,
Babe we both knew we were through;
No words to be spoke,
Just a song came into my memory,
By a folksinger named Montgomery;
He sung about two broken balloons,
Hung up in a tree,
A monument to lovers that used to be;
I think he was singing about you and me.

A Strange Place For Love
What's your hurry honey
No need to race up the Hutchinson Parkway;
Indeed we'll be in my place before too long
No I think it wrong to pull over here;
Well persistent one if you insist,
However, I must say
This place you wish to play
Got me feeling some anxiety
Over your spontaneity;
We better keep it hush hush
Or maybe being watched
Is part of the rush;
Don't know about you
But only in ficticiousness am I an exhibitionist;
But then again with all due respect
What else could I expect
Of a girl from Throgs Neck.

My Evil Visitor or Don't Burn the Candle at Both Ends
Good Evening, sir
My evil visitor
Oh so sinister
Eyes that glow
The size of you I do not know;
Though an immeasurable terror you emanate
How great this displeasure which I cannot escape;
Why oh why
Is all I can cry;
My arms can't move
My legs won't let me get free;
Did you come to take my soul
Or was it my body you wished to steal from me;
I don't know your name
Nor can I make out your face
Was this all a dream
Or was it real and you really did invade my space;
I'd rather not know
If it meant seeing you again
Your presence is not welcomed, sir
My evil visitor.

Hey Jezebel
Hey Jezebel the time has come for me to tell
Oh what a crime our love went to hell;
As smooth as a dove's flight
Oh so destructive your seductive might;
Gee I wish someone told me 'bout you
For on cue the fun would come undone;
How your hold would quickly unfold
After sheer bliss through a sensuous kiss
Oh Jezebel then came your prickly hiss;
The pain from our swoon was a monsoon like rain;
Hey Jezebel we sought a way yet got caught astray;
Once a bond of fond recall
Now after the fall
We are no more
Than a shattered amour.

My Dearest Erotica
My Dearest Erotica,
Your body so sweet like the sound of a harmonica,
The allure of your baby blues send me into hypnotica,
Not to mention the way you play Beethoven and The Appassionata;
Your wavin' blonde hair got me misbehavin'
The nether part of you got me in a dither;
From coast to coast,
I obsessed for what you possessed my seductress;
I'm going to make the most of this trip,
Those succulent lips and bodacious hips,
No wonder I'm feeling so jubilant.

My Dearest Erotica,
Such a high when we were nearest;
Quite more than just lust;
An intense affair,
A love so rare,
I do not dare to care,
That the rarefied air,
Of our tryst will no longer exist;

My Dearest Erotica,
Our love once rose like a great pine,
The sweetest wine I've imbibed,
A libation of great liberation;
No need for weariness just cheeriness,
My Dearest Erotica.

Thinking Of You
Thinking of you, baby
Maybe take a drink over you;
Missin' the kissin'
Wishin' I didn't have to go fishin' again;
Thought this was the one,
But that came before all was said and done;
How lame our decline,
I'm inclined to deny blame;
This serious separation got me delirious,
No reparation needed,
Just heed my call,
Let's end our separation,
And again fall in love without consternation.

Last Call
I hope this is my last call,
Last night I suffered quite a fall;
It's 1998,
Man is it gettin' late,
Here I am again in the bar,
My life not goin' too far;
My familiar corner stool,
The usual fools and jocularity,
I hope this is my last call.

Now it's early July 1999,
No I am not feelin' too fine,
I don't drink wine just beer;
For again I sit in sorrow,
Cheering for a better past,
While fearing tomorrow;
This used to be fun,
When I wasn't the only one;
Now it's just me and the bartender Joe,
Whose gotta know I'm feeling real low;
We split a plate of fries,
While Frank sings Angel Eyes:
"Hey drink up all you people
Order anything you see
And have fun you happy people
The laugh and the drinks on me"
That make me think of you Anne-Marie;
Ole Blue Eyes surmises,
"Angel eyes that old devil sent"
I think it's no surprise I can't pay my rent,
I wish I gave this up for Lent;
By now I should have had enough,
Mr. Bartender I've been thinking it over,
It's time for me to get sober.