West Side Story; The Lover's Tony And Maria. Chino Kills Tony. The Titanic Sinks. And Introducing My Brother Charley, Tom And Michael, My Mother And Me. Poem by James Gibbons

I cried for them this afternoon
knew them since the matinee started
saw them fall in love
at first sight, the world stopped.
Everything was silent at the sight of it.
They looked and were lovers;
later that day on their knees
repeating vows that till today
they saw only in throw away plays.
I cried for them, their lost love
but not for mother whose long life ended
by the Yankee Sluggers creeping disease. What was there to cry about?

As the blue ice calved from glacier slabs, creased iron plates, made orphans and widows
of most aboard but not me or my mother
or the yet unborn twice told tale.

Tony was told she died, frantic with fear
he called out for her but got Chino instead.
Saw her running to him, delirious with fear and joy
he got a bullet instead, tearing threw his back
breaking his heart in half he fell into her arms.
She covered his face with kisses and tears.

What should have been for mother, died without my tears,
for I knew not how to give!
Instead to those I gave tears so freely
but I knew them since the matinee started.

Who cried for my three brothers
Charley, like Marley, dragged his chains around
and spent a life time sawing them off. Michael who fell
from heaven one day, curly hair and welcoming smile,
orphaned by mother who just gave him away.
Brain dead one day in June, rest followed six months to the day.
Brother Tom, large lonesome eyes never saw what the world wondered,
water boarded at age five, he left and never returned.
Last month got cancer and died exactly one month later.
I cried today for the matinee lovers when I should have cried for them.