Angels with four legs
Though they may not have wings to fly
Back and forth between the earth and sky.
They never question the reason why?
But, will give of their life, if do or die.

When we’re in trouble they never run or hide
For this I am thankful and full of pride.
They aid and comfort the disabled and sick.
They even employ a special trick.
If the need arises, they will even give your face a lick.
When you come home after a hard day’s work
They just want you to pet them; it’s their only quirk.
For no matter what time you arrive home at night,
They never fail to greet you, what a beautiful sight!

So be kind and loving to the very end.
For this four-legged angel is your very best friend,
And will always remain faithful to the very end.

Copyright © 2004 Joseph P. Martino

Thanks, Mr. Martino, for providing some comforting words in a very depressing situation.

It’s Christmas time in New Jersey, come see and hear,
all the sights, sounds, glow and sparkling of lights so pretty
that comprise the heartbeat, rhythm and sparkle of our
big and wonderful and great cities, towns and villages throughout the garden state.

It’s Christmas time in New Jersey our cities, towns and villages,
are now all adorned in their most glorious dress,
as church elders prepare the baby Jesus creche.

Christmas trees on town halls, stores, homes, lawns and malls are all shining bright.
Gaily decorated in colored bells, tinsel, garlands, angels and lights, that glow and sparkle day and night,
boy oh boy what a magnificent and inspirational sight.

As Santa Clause makes out his Christmas list, making sure no girl or boys requested
toy will be forgot or missed. as Santa Claus extends his warm and welcoming cheerful Christmas
greeting to everyone throughout our great garden state.

Merry, Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to one and all.
For, it’s Christmas time in New Jersey.

© Joseph P. Martino – Poet, Writer – Millburn, NJ

We’re always thankful to have a great contribution like this from Mr. Martino. Feel free to share this entry with your friends!

At Buckingham Palace, view the “Changing of the Guard”…
Loved by one & all and held in high regard.

Make a point to visit Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, on Marylebone…
Later, enjoy a delicious meal and scone.

The London museums and galleries are among the world’s very best. ..
I offer a partial list, I’m sure there’s more that I might have missed.
The Science Museum, British museum, Museum of London, The Victoria and Albert museum,
The National Gallery and the Natural History museum just to name a few…
Art & antiquity in a great and cultural milieu.

Make the “rounds” with your “circle” of friends at Piccadilly…
This at first may sound silly.
Visit the Sherlock Holmes museum of 221b Baker Street…
You will be in for a very special treat.

Catch a play, or “theatre”, as they say…
Maybe even a Shakespeare play.
Oscar was simply “Wilde” about the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Premiering his first comedy, “A Woman of No Importance” in 1893 for all the world to see.
Attend the “National Opera” at the London Colisseum…
Your total opera experience will end on a very “high note”.

The beefeaters greet you while standing guard, at the Tower Bridge…
Ever-vigilant and protective of the Crown Jewels…
Come, behave, but don’t break the rules.
Take in a grand performance at The Albert Hall…
So regal, so “Royal”, you’ll have a ball.

Purchase the finest hand-made custom suits and apparel on “Saville Row”…
Their tailors make a Prince or King out of the average Joe.

You can find, buy and purchase some of the finest quality merchandise
In our shoppes and department stores…
Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason are some of the very best on my list…
There are many other fine world class london stores that exist.
When in Knightbridge, shop at Harrod’s department store…
Who could ask for anything more?

London shopping is not discreet…
You will find loads of shoppers on every street.
Among the more prominent streets and areas. ..
Bond Street, Oxford & Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Kings Road,
Portobello Road and Leicester Square among many, many others.
I cannot begin to name them all…the list would be too thick and tall.

London’s transport, underground tubes, will whisk you around in no time fast…
The tubes and tunnels are deep and were built to last.

From Piccadilly Circus, stroll down toward Trafalgar Square to Whitehall’s government row.
Pass 10 Downing Street and continue along …
The cabinet war room bunkers and allow your mind to conjure up images,
Memories, whispers and echoes of years gone by…
Of Sir Winston Churchill, as he bravely and heroically commanded his World War Two armed forces.

Then on to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey…
While there, make “Big Ben” your compass, landmark and “towering friend”.

London’s hotel accommodations are all quite superb, both modern and classic in design…
Some are so modern and luxurious, they’re hard to define.

There’s a good time to be had in swinging London…
Top-flight entertainment, a most exciting night-life…bring your girlfriend, or your wife.
Plenty of things to see and do…
By day, visit our beautiful parks and the Regent zoo.
Hyde, Green and Regent are the largest, most beautiful and most famous of London’s parks…
There are many other lush and beautiful vest-pocket parks spread across the city to discover, stroll leisurely hand in hand with your lover, and if time allows, the experience will surely inspire your awes and wows.

City of light, many delights, fine pubs, restaurants and great cafes…
To while away your nights and days.

Take a cruise along the River Thames or a ride in the sky on the london eye over the river Thames.
Have a “good” time in Greenwich “mean” time.
Come aboard the clipper “Cutty Sark”…
Now permanently in dry dock along the river bank.
You’ll sing a song of “sixpence” when conducting business at the nearby bustling financial centre… Canary Wharf, an 800 ft. tower of power named Canada Square…
Stands proud & tall, her grace, magnitude and stature is beyond compare.

The Eurostar train leaves from Waterloo station via the Channel Tunnel
To Paris, France, arriving in three hours time…
You’ll find the train clean, tranquil and sublime. copyright joseph p.martino poet,writer,world traveler

And before you leave – let’s go U.S.A. in the Olympic Games!

New world model for medical reform that will not bankrupt a nations economy. how to reform medicare/medicaid programs,prevent hospital insolvency and balance the federal deficit over the long term.

Medicare and the Health care industry world wide is broken.i am mainly addressing the problems. America is experiencing but facets of this plan could be adapted by most other countries. There is also a shortage of doctors, besides the fact that medical students are loaded with medical school debt. There is a long term solution: medical students lacking in adequate financial funds should have the cost of their medical school education paid for by the federal government.. the graduating doctors would not be burdened with school loan debt under this medical reform plan.

This would not be a giveaway or money loser for the federal government. the federal governments would recover all of their initial investment plus, over the long term. Let me explain: By accepting government funding for his/her medical school education, the student doctor would agree to provide free medical office treatment/care to a percentage of poor patient deemed so by the federal government. The doctor’s obligations,time of service and percentage of free patient treatment would be determined by existing federal agencies. the participating doctors as as stipulated for the free government medical school education would not be able to bill the governments medicare/medicaid programs. thus assuring the government of the return of their free medical school investment plus. the poor patients would not have to receive free hospital emergency treatment under this program. hospitals would not be burdened by providing free treatment to the poor preventing hospital insolvency.

The return of the federal government’s initial investment would be through Medicare/Medicaid savings. for what i understand in the United States of America that For every 1% Medicare saves over a one year over the course of 15 years would factor to a total savings of $1 trillion dollars for the federal government. It is easy to understand what the federal government would save as the pool of participating doctors grows. This practice could later be expanded to include the more expensive tests and other medical specialties and providers, such as x-ray, lab and other technical tests procedures and other specialties thus providing additional savings to the federal government. the trillions of dollars saved by the federal government over the long term would balance the federal deficit.

So what do you think about Mr. Martino’s plan? Feel free to use the comments section below to let us know your thoughts. We look forward to hearing from you!

It’s Christmas in New York City, come and experience
the sights, lights and sounds so pretty
That comprises the rhythm,beat and excitement of our
great big wonderful city.

It’s Christmas in New York City, now adorned in her Most glorious dress,
as church elders prepare the nativity scene and the Baby Jesus crèche.

Christmas trees displayed all over town adorned and decorated in
Gaily colored lights,bells,reefs and tinsel that glows and twinkle in anticipation of Kris Kringle

Sparkling brightly Day and night…boy oh boy what a magnificent sight.

Christmas tree stands gleaming bright and tall in department stores, promenades,plazas,malls, lawns, and homes.
In department stores all over town Santa is busy making his list for all the girls and boys presents and Christmas toys.

Saint Nick extends his warmest Christmas wishes to all who visit or call,
“Merry, Merry Christmas to one and all”… Here’s hoping, that on Christmas Day snow will fall.

Merry, Merry Christmas!
For, it’s Christmas in New York City.

The folks who contribute from time to time to JerseySmarts.com are not immune to this crisis. In fact, our own poetic contributor Joseph P. Martino recently sent me an editorial that he wrote about the excessive increases in the tolls. Here is Mr. Martino’s commentary, printed in full, for you to read.

HOW HIGH BRIDGE TOLLS NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE NEW JERSEY,NEW YORK AND TRI STATE AREA ECONOMY
JOSEPH P.MARTINO

The tolls on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and metropolitan transit authority are out of control. To help reduce or defray the tolls — I think Mayor Bloomberg should sell the naming rights to all bridges to a large fortune 500 company.

If sports arenas and stadiums have corporate sponsors or branding why not the verrazano bridge? the bridge is an iconic landmark worth alot of money to a sponsor. the branding contact could run for 20 years and maybe bring the toll down a few dollars. the name ‘verrazano’ would always be retained for exp:(fictitious) the Apex Narrows Verrazano Bridge or, the Verrazano Narrows Apex Bridge.

***i would also suggest an Ezee Pass system where economist would estimate a mean annual cost for round trip travel on the verrazano bridge. REVISED: REGULAR HEAVY BUSINESS USERS COULD APPLY FOR PREPAID DISCOUNT CARD.*****

For example $2,000 dollars a year round trip total toll. the estimated $2,000 dollars could be paid up front for heavy users of the bridge offering the pre pays a discount Ezee Pass, *****card or sticker.the city/state would collect up front interest on the pre payers money.******

Regular rates would apply to non pre pays. i would like to know why 60 cents of every dollar collected from tolls on the port of (pa)new york authority bridges go to finance the world trade center? can we not find another source of revenue and stop penalizing motorist and commercial business? the consumer is further penalized because commercial companies are forced to pass along high bridge tolls to the consumer.

The high Bridge,tunnel and path tolls are anti productive to all, like all regressive tax we have reached the point of no return. as a former Brooklyn,staten island resident now living in new jersey i am forced to rations my motor trips into nyc. formerly brooklyn and staten island residents would drive to new jersey to save on clothing tax but now feel isolated and confined to their home boroughs by out of control high bridge tolls.

**the end result: lost business and loss of tax revenue for the city of new york from visitors from new jersey,Pennsylvania who have cut down on there trips to new york.. people who would normally attend movies, theatre,plays,opera,concerts,ballet, museum’s,sport events,the circus and shop and dine in the city. trucker and commercial business are forced to pass their costs to the consumer to survive the high tolls they are forced to pay.

NYC restaurants and other business like parking garages and lots are feeling the pinch in lost revenue. the total loss of business and tax loss for the city of new york/state will be enormous***. how do high bridge,tunnel and path tolls in the long term really benefit new jersey and new york economy.???????

an exploratory committee! of economist must be convened to figure out the money brought in from higher toll increases as opposed to the overall loss of business and revenue to new jersey and new york. some out of the box thinking is called for.

joseph p. martino
millburn, nj
former 70 year resident on new york city
american writer,poet,inventor,motivator (1937~)

And there you have it – one former New York City resident and current New Jersey resident’s take on the increasing cost of transportation in and around the tri-state area.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy some poetic verse.

I’ll Always Call the Jersey Shore Home
– Joseph P. Martino

What good is family and friends

When you are thousands of miles away?

And when I return home, it’s for such a short stay?

No matter where I happen to be entertaining on a foreign tour,
There’s nothing like returning to my home on the Jersey Shore.

I’ll always call the Jersey Shore home.
Money and fame is just fine,

But being home with my family will always be my immediate quest,
It’s the only way I’m able to set both my mind and body at rest.

For deep down in my soul,
I know that State of New Jersey is one place my heart loves best.

So no matter what world stage I may appear,
Be it Toronto, Sydney, London, Paris or Rome

There’s no greater feeling
Like performing before my fans at Home.

For I’ll always call the Jersey Shore Home.

Copyright Joseph P. Martino

Enjoy!

What memorial day means to me
copyright joseph p.martino

“America land of opportunity, home of the brave and free.
Where the American flag and eagle fly for one and all to see.

Our nations flag ripples proudly in the breeze, from sunny California to the sandy shores of Maine, all across America up to the ocean sea’s.

Many of our brave and patriotic son’s and daughter’s who fought on foreign shores, have now gone to their eternal rest.

On memorial day Americans honors our veterans, they deserve our praise and glory for they are truly our nations best!

Some made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe and free, they paid our future obligations in the name of liberty.

Please do not take for granted the legacy they bequeath, for these brave hero’s never heard the words: ‘run’ or ‘defeat.’

So always remember and shall we never forget, to thank our veterans and active service men and women every chance you get.

That’s what, MEMORIAL DAY means to me.”

COPYRIGHT Joseph P. Martino
Poet,writer,motivator,inventor

I hope that you all have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday.

MIGRAINE NIGHTMARE
copyright by: Joseph P. Martino

I walk silently through the lonely corridors of my mind.
my brain resonates to howling echoes.
I seem to enter and exit endless doors and hallways, but
none that seem to lead in any direction or final destination.

In stutter steps I traverse slowly and carefully along a
darkened path littered with broken fragments of cobblestone.
my chest cavity feels cavernous as an empty canyon on a
blistering summers heat.
my heart beats as rapid as an old railroad clock.

My head feels as heavy as an anvil and throbs with pain.
my tongue as dry and as sandy as a cactus.
a maddening howling wind at my back pushes me forward
in an aimless direction without purpose or direction as
if a tumble weed.

I feel as if I’m cascading into a turbulent sea of insanity,
drenched in perfuse sweat. I suddenly bolt upright from
my pillow realizing I have awoke from this purgatorial nightmare.
such an illusion, devilish delusion, a state of total confusion.
so now I begin another day of drudgery,
another days journey into life’s great unknown. joseph p.martino poet,writer

Thanks again, Mr. Martino!

It’s Christmas in New York City, come and experience
the sights, lights and sounds so pretty,
That comprises the rhythm,beat and excitement of our
great big and magnificent city.

It’s Christmas in New York City, now adorned in her Most glorious dress,
as church elders prepare the nativity scene and Baby Jesus crèche.

Christmas trees displayed all over town, now adorned and decorated in
Gaily colored lights,bells,reefs and tinsel that glows and twinkle in anticipation of Kris Kringle

Day and night…boy oh boy what a magnificent sight.

Christmas tree stands gleaming bright and tall in department stores, malls, front lawns, and homes.
Santa taking note of all the girls and boys list of christmas toys.

Saint Nick extends his warmest Christmas wishes to all who visit or call,
Merry, Merry Christmas to one and all… Here’s hoping, that on Christmas Day snow will fall.

Merry, Merry Christmas!
For, it’s Christmas in New York City.

Another gem, Mr. Martino. Thanks for your contributions and a Merry Christmas to you, too!