THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

by William Marr

In the 1990s, the Italian authorities had to close the bell tower to the public and launched a competition for ideas to reinforce its structure and prevent it from collapsing, as the situation was critical. The first intervention, which consisted of adding lead counterweights to the structure, did not solve the problem, so it was finally decided to excavate the earth to reduce the slope of the tower and ensure its preservation. "The rescue of the bell tower allows us to celebrate the 850th anniversary and to appreciate the efforts of our ancestors in the arrangement of the monuments in the Duomo square," the president of the Opera Primaziale, the monument's managing body, Andrea Maestrelli, told the local press. —Euronews, August 8, 2023

 

descending from the tour bus

we knew right away

that the earth was gaining

in its wrestling match

with the sky

 

to help maintain the balance

we all raised our hands

in front of the lenses

strenuously trying to prop up

the tower

 

but the local guide shouted at us

our exertion threatened his Money Tree—

it must neither be allowed to fall

nor be straightened up

William Marr, a Chinese American poet, has published over 30 collections of poetry and several translations.  His recent bilingual (Chinese/English) books of poetry, A Dreamless Night and Every Day a Blue Sky, are available on Amazon. 

SMILE

by William Marr

Smile coach Keiko Kawano teaches students at a smile training course at Sokei Art School in Tokyo, Japan, May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

trapped in masks for three long years

many people

can't remember how to smile anymore

 

should eyes be opened or closed 

how about the mouth 

and should the eyebrows and mouth corners 

be lifted up

or pulled down

 

there’s really no need to spend money 

to find a smile consultant

just go outdoors

and look at the flowers

blooming with innocent smiles

from the ground that was once covered 

with heavy snow and ice

William Marr, a Chinese American scientist/poet/artist, has published over 30 collections of poetry and several translations. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and is included in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China Mainland, England, and Germany. A former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society, he now lives in Chicago.

DRY SEASON

by William Marr

So let me be clear: climate change is an emergency.  —Joe Biden, July 20, 2022

even the shadows

are dried to the bone

their whiskers sparse and brownish

 

with no dewdrops to moisten their throats

birds won't come to the window

to chirp

to waken dreams

to inspire

 

holding a dried-up pen

a poet stares at the blank sky

where not a single trace of cloud

is in sight

 

don't expect

tears of joy

anytime soon

 

 

William Marr, a Chinese American scientist/poet/artist, has published over 30 collections of poetry and several translations. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and is included in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China Mainland, England, and Germany. A former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society, he now lives in Chicago.

2020

by William Marr

during this year
you'd better not
think one thing
say another
do something else

we all can see right through you
with our perfect vision—
20/20

William Marr's poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies.  Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany. He is a former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society and lives in the Chicago area.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING

by William Marr

"Major Trump administration climate report says damage is ‘intensifying across the country.’ Scientists are more certain than ever that climate change is already affecting the United States—and that it is going to be very expensive." —The Washington Post, November 23, 2018

a heart as cold and hard
as an iceberg

our warning hot air
is nothing to him
but a passing breeze

William Marr, a scientist by profession, has published 23 books of poetry and several books of translations. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages. Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany.

WALDEN POND

by William Marr

Sunset on Walden Pond. Photo: John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images. Sediment samples reveal swimmers and tourists are polluting the lake where Henry David Thoreau sought solace in the mid-19th century. —Seeker, April 4, 2018

It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. —Henry David Thoreau, Walden


Shhhh!
don't say a word
you'll startle the birds on the trees
and the fish in the pond

worst of all
you'll draw the attention of the noisy tourists
they will pour over by busloads
to look into your eye
that is now full of human waste
and mearure the shallow depth
of their own nature

William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry,  3 books of essays, and several books of translations.  His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies.  Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany. He is a former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society and lives in the Chicago area.

ECLIPSE

by William Marr

from The New York Times, August 14, 1932

Young at heart
the old sun
once in a while
likes to put on
his mischievous black mask
just to scare
the superstitious jittery
shadows

He doesn’t know
we now keep shadows
safely in a world of virtual reality
where we eat and drink
make love
all without benefit
of a single ray
of sunlight

William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry (Autumn Window and Between Heaven and Earth are in English and the rest in his native Chinese language), 3 books of essays, and several books of translations.  His most recent published work Chicago Serenade is a trilingual (Chinese/English/French) anthology of poems published in Paris in 2015. 

A SORE WINNER

by William Marr




he won
yet he is not satisfied
all the cheering and hailing came from the living
but few, if any, from the dead

so he vows to investigate
how many dead people are really dead
and how many living people pretend to be living

William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry (two in English and the rest in his native Chinese language), 3 books of essays, and several books of translations.  His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies.  Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany. 

TWO LITTLE POEMS FOR TWO LITTLE CHICAGO GIRLS

by William Marr

Black Eyed Peas have joined forces once again to revamp their 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" Sales from the new version of the track will go to the i.am.angel foundation, a non-profit founded by will.i.am with the goal of "transforming lives through education, inspiration and opportunity."

MENARCHE
       
Stumbling on a bumpy sidewalk
a little girl was hit by a stray bullet

Blood gushed from her immature body
Her stiffening mouth had yet to ask girlish questions
of her wailing mother


HOPSCOTCH

Standing in the way
of a bullet’s joyflight
another little girl fell
on a blood-stained pavement

A triumphant smile
crossed her twisted face
as she finally managed
to plant both feet
neatly
in the chalked squares

William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry (3 in English and the rest in his native Chinese language), 3 books of essays and several books of translations. His most recent book, Chicago Serenade, a trilingual (Chinese/English/French) poetry anthology, was published in Paris in 2015. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies. Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany.  He is a former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society and has received numerous awards, including three from Taiwan for his poetry and translations.  A PhD recipient and a retired research engineer, he now resides in a Chicago suburb.

HOME

by William Marr

Art by Banksy

with wings
anywhere can be home

yet all this starving refugee can do
is drag his tired feet on the ground
and watch the shadows
of a flock of flying birds
while fiercely swallowing
his dry saliva


William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry (3 in English and the rest in his native Chinese language), 3 books of essays and several books of translations. His most recent book, Chicago Serenade, a trilingual (Chinese/English/French) poetry anthology, was published in Paris in 2015. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies. Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany.  He is a former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society and has received numerous awards, including three from Taiwan for his poetry and translations.  A PhD recipient and a retired research engineer, he now resides in a Chicago suburb.

FIRE AND ICE

by William Marr

         

for the homeless Syrian refugees

another proof
that the earth is round

after escaping from the burning sky
and parched ground
they found
on the other side
of the globe
the sky and earth
are also burning

with fire of icy flames


William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry (two in English and the rest in his native Chinese language), 3 books of essays and several books of translations. His most recent book is Chicago Serenade, a trilingual (Chinese/English/French) anothology of poems published in Paris this year. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies.  Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany.   He is a former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society and has received numerous awards, including three from Taiwan for his poetry and translations.  A PhD recipient and a retired research scientist, he now resides in a Chicago suburb.