Tag: City of Niagara Falls

Scenes From a Hungarian Restaurant by C. D. Onofrio

Savoury & Sweet Restaurant in Chippawa
Savoury & Sweet Restaurant in Chippawa
Stew Brennand, Tyler Lindsa,y Kyoshi, and C.D. Onofrio performing at Savoury & Sweet Restaurant

little European
Herman Hesse
Maybe Berlin
where Jazz
plays in the club
and the young
women sitting
across from me
conjure visions
of love sweet love
sweetly the piano
plays me into reverie
once I dreamed
this place
once I dreamed
I was Hemingway
shucking oysters
on the Seine
with my pen
and poor finances
doing one of life’s
finer romances
to be in on a conversation
that spans the ages
shaking hands
with humble sages
preparing dinner
playing waitress
“so think with me on this,
how did this moment
come to exist” on somethingness
on nothingness
what’s going on
>behind the scenes
before the singer
begins to sing
imagine what went in
to that note
before this
moment
was composed
“pennies from heaven”
a poor man like me
who might chronically
underachieve
but you know
somedays I’m so sure
somedays I believe
Oh Mary, your faith was so great
“there’ll be pennies from heaven for you and me”

Source: The Author, 2017

Niagara Falls by Alan Dugan

Alan Dugan
Alan Dugan, 1923-2003

We saw it all. We saw the souvenir shops, and sitting
on the mist above the falls, the brilliant signs
saying hotels to love in, cigarettes to smoke,
souvenirs for proof; we give you anything you want,
even towels. Our disgust was as stylized as billboards,
and we suggested to ourselves that even our sympathy
for the ugly people of the off-season was outworn.
But here it was, nevertheless, the ferocious, spastic
enjoyment, the hotels like freight-yards or packing crates,
the lights that murder sight, and the community snicker.
The falls, of course, continued with great dignity.

Source:  Poetry,  April 1947,  p 12.

Italian Angel of Gelato by C.D. Onofrio

 

C.D. Onofrio
C.D. Onofrio playing at Taps Brewery, Niagara Falls

Italian Angel of Gelato
Watching over me
a plea
a very simple plea
don’t you ever change what you do or the way you are
Italian Angel of Gelato
Saint of Christ
Christian Spiritual Warrior
Italian Angel of Gelato
We are a part of something
We didn’t know it until we were
We didn’t say anything,
no formal announcement
no insignia or trademark
or logo

Ice Cream!
Italian Ice Cream – located at 5458 Victoria Ave., Niagara Falls,Ontario

We knew it when we felt it
looking into angelic eyes
high on the holy
and saintly and wise
delving into life’s simple pleasures
and finding God there
sitting back and listening
and finding God there
playing like children
and finding God there
sharing a drink
and finding God there
opening small doors with sophisticated handles
and finding tartuffo as far as the eye can see
the delicate look on the little girl’s face as she touches her tongue
to her first bite of strawberry ice cream
and to know the sort of spirit that went into it
it’s like innocence meets innocence
and when they shake hands
there’s a holy moment subtly happening
hoping that time is a playful little child
laughing with her tongue out
and minding not the least that gelato melts down her chin
she holds her spoon up in the air like a magic wand
waving her elated little hand for mamma
to come and share in her treasure
and mamma looks right into her
and makes a note to remember

(Inspired by Italian Ice Cream and its owners, the Vergalito family)

Source: C. D. Onofrio, 2017

 

The Downtown Falls by Jackie Andres

andres downtown

andres downtown
Queen Street, July 4, 2005. Photo by Alina Rashid. Courtesy of Niagara Falls Public Library

All you councilors gather ‘round
Listen hard and good
Take a vote about downtown
Side the way you should

Recall the hay-day of the city
Now crumbled and decay
Embarrassed by our tourists’ pity
Haste, make no delay

Investors come, and investors will go
Listen hard and good
Give support; we need a show
Side the way you should

Revisit the day of Colonial Tea
Store of Moody stone
Windows decorated all have seen
Choice of what to own

Recall the river of Muddy Run
Past St. Patrick’s Church
Remember when you had such fun
Beneath the weeping birch

Vintage buildings, most are lost
History, memories, craft
Tear them down; reduce the cost
Surely that is daft?

Such a history, glowing, rich
War cries echo far
Niagara’s new polished niche
Help us raise the bar

When we all are strolling down
Sidewalks brightly lit
Victorian brick with painted wood
The city is refit

All you councilors gather ‘round
Listen hard and good
Hear the clapping in downtown
Applause for doing good

@Jackie Andres 20060311