“When Dealing With A Narcissist”

I make sure
I’m equipped
with two ice
cold beers

It’s going
to be awhile
her self-obsessed
monologue is
endless

I listen as she
rambles on
about everything
from what she
claims to be her
latest achievements
to family gossip
it all goes back
to her

After an hour
I attempt to
mention
the publication
of one of my
poems

It’s dismissed
like a misbehaving
child in the
principles office

I casually finish
my cold beer
raise my
insignificant
body to my feet
and say goodbye
to apathy

I know I’m an author
but this was supposed
to be a day of leisure
I didn’t come here
to write your
autobiography

“Andy Warhol’s Old Neighborhood”

My mother’s plan
to live vicariously
through me
worked like a charm

She named me
after an illustrious
artist of the
renaissance era
unbeknownst to her
jinxing me in return

I used to elbow drop
my Nintendo as a kid
and grew up to have
violent episodes
that took little
persuasion

I think its safe to say
patience is a virtue
I never possessed

Four years is the
amount of time
it took to finish
the Sistine chapel
I’m rarely ‘re-elected
my ex will attest
and prone to fits
of rage during
rush hour traffic

Maybe living in Andy
Warhol’s old neighborhood
would be inspiring
which brings me to
where I’m currently at

Two generations of
failed artists

“All Of The Above”

Routine is
my mother
pounding out
vodka everyday
of the week

Monotony is
me knowing what
to expect when I
attain the courage
to make an appearance

Notoriety is
my mother being
on a first name basis
at the liquor store

Emotional trauma
is me subjecting
myself to her
belligerent behavior

Irony is
my mother saying
she’s learned from
her mistakes
promising it won’t
happen again
only to revert back
To all of the above

  Michael Marrotti is an author from Pittsburgh, using words instead of violence to mitigate the suffering of life in a callous world of redundancy. His primary goal is to help other people. He considers poetry to be a form of philanthropy. When he’s not writing, he’s volunteering at the Light Of Life homeless shelter on a weekly basis. If you appreciate the man’s work, please check out his book, F.D.A. Approved Poetry, available at Amazon.