William Martin: Author - Actor - Voiceover Artist - Poems

When We Were Immortal

7/1/2023

When We Were Immortal

Our bikes flying down,
A treacherous hill,
Dirt roiling off the wheels.
Rattle and bounce,
Legs absorbing shocks,
Wind watering our eyes,
And we smiled.

A split second of flight,
Leaping from the roof,
Hit ground, tuck and roll.
Ladder shakes and slips,
Scrambling up for another go.
Imaginary “S” on our chests,
Our fists planted firmly on hips.

An unknown concept,
Change.
No, we would always stay that way,
Adventures waiting each day,
And dusk came too quickly,
On the kids’ dirt streaked faces,
Arms circling shoulders,
As we walked together,
And we smiled.

-- William Martin

February 13th, 2016

6/17/2023

Extended Sonnet Number One
(Will Echoed)

Love, forebear allowing me to outlive
thy grace. As it shines before me, I know
radiance brings life, continues to give
so long as thy heart continues to glow.

As petals drift from the flower, my time
passes in expectation of thine own.
Yet deprived of thy life-giving love I
count friendships, count loves, count all time alone.

Thrust off this heavy, mortal cloak I bear,
allowing spirit uncoiled to ascend,
gazing down o’er thy heavenly share
with eyes knowing all and all that transcends.

Yet let not life above prove false in deed,
pulling down death’s darkness that cloaks the day
into a murky loveless sea. My need
for you outlives, out-loves the heavens’ play.

So forebear allowing me to deny,
as it shines before me, your loving grace.
A hollow heart would arc the endless sky
seeking only to glimpse your love, your face.

T’were a burden upon this earth-bound place
and my time upon it an empty space.

-- William Martin

You Are the Poem

6/3/2023

You Are the Poem

You are the poem I’ve always wanted to write,
The story I’ve longed to tell.
Devoid of armored cynicism,
Omitting my trips through hell.

A poem arcing through all emotion,
Showcased in an effortless grace.
Lines crafted with an easy eloquence,
Transcending hearts, time and space.

A poem complete in simply holding you,
A heart held in the warmth of your trust.
The rhyme whispered in soft, warm breaths,
The rhythm felt as sacred blood rushed.

It was to be a poem of soul and of love,
An experience of lives touching lives.
And although pen never caressed the page,
The poem was there within your eyes.

Just waiting to be discovered,
Within the warmth of your loving eyes.

--William Martin

If They Never Knew

5/20/2023

If They Never Knew

We touch so many lives
During a lifetime
How can we not help
But fracture a few?

We try to mend
Before our end
Yet we wonder…

If they never knew
What we knew
How much stronger
Would they be?

Yet we touch them
Nonetheless
And it’s an unkind
Selfishness
A way to give meaning
To the meaningless

We make amends
Toward our own ends
A soundless thunder…

And if they never knew
What we knew
How much stronger
Would they be?

--William Martin

A Pair to Draw To

5/6/2023

A Pair to Draw To

Two jokers,
Wild cards,
Recognizing their mirrored image,
Anxious,
Ready to disappear,
Within the safety,
Of a card-crowded deck,
Hesitant,
To join the Game again.

He wears a coxcomb hat,
While a morion shades her face.
Both are drawn,
To a suit of red.
They contribute,
Yet are out of place.

Both shield surprises,
When they are in play,
Potential pitfalls,
For any who take up a hand.
Yet they too are surprised,
To see a similar self,
And a shared,
Affinity for strong,
Steady,
Beating Hearts.

Their cards bend,
Each bows to each,
Reflections of the self.
Neither of them knew,
Another,
Even existed in this Game.

So let the Jokers revel,
In their discovery,
Delight in seeing Each,
In themselves.

Perhaps they’ll sit out this round,
Allowing the usual cards,
To be dealt,
And engaged in play.

They would only,
Upset the Game,
Pushing against,
The rules,
That players insist,
Must be obeyed.

-- William Martin

The Grandest Art

4/22/2023

The Grandest Art

I watch as you walk slowly past,
Reflections in a looking glass.
I wonder what it is you see,
If I’m still there and will it last,
Or if, in looking, fade too fast.

A shimmering glimpse of the sea,
A depth so pure it frightens me.
Sunlight haloing us as one,
An image that has set me free,
Opened my eyes to what could be.

My battles now have all been won,
Lay down my sword they’re all but done.
Drop to my knees with arms spread ‘part,
Embrace the warmth of a new sun,
It arcs the path it’s always run.

Each day with you I see a start,
Each day with you I see a part,
Of how life joins all together,
How we all share a common heart,
How all of life is grandest art.

Our hearts embrace one endeavor,
One miracle held forever.

--William Martin

Our Hearts Askew

4/15/2023

Our Hearts Askew

Looking up into the bright pale blue,
A silver jet slowly slices the sky.
Leaving a narrow white trail so true,
It must be lonely up that high.

Traffic runs rampant, roaring right by,
Flashing signals tell us what to do.
A hurried, hostile crowd will comply,
It’s somehow lonely down here too.

Try stepping away somewhere fresh and new,
A peaceful place in our mind’s eye.
Away from the steel and glass we grew,
Yet we cannot create the fractured lie.

It’s enough to move a grown man to cry,
We’ve lost our ability to break through.
We’re on the grid amid the greater “I,”
Plugged in and counted –there is no 'you.'

And we all know it’s true.
And there’s no way to deny,
Our minds have led our hearts askew,
Endlessly progressing without asking why.

-- William Martin

The Wannabe Blues

4/2/2023

The Wannabe Blues

Got a Fender Strat on the wall,
A Les Paul hangin’ ‘longside.
PRS? Yes,
I got the best,
But when playin’ my fingers are tied.

Got the rhythm in my feet;
Got the tune in my head.
Lyrics in place –letter-neat,
But for me the blues are dead.

(Chorus)
‘Cause I can’t play guitar,
Can’t even begin to jam.
Can’t play the fuckin’ guitar,
Can’t play it worth a damn.

(Solo)
Scrrreeeeeech! Squaaaark! Twaaaang!
Scrrreeeeeech! Squaaaark! Twaaaang!
Diddley, (stop to scratch my head), Flaaaaang!

They visit me every day,
Hear the blues in my head,
But when I try to play,
They just run away,
Echoes of dirge and feelin’ dead.

Still I try to play what I feel,
Try to play just what I am.
But I know it ain’t real,
--The guitar just squeals--
‘Cause I can’t play worth a damn.

(Chorus)
Yeah, I can’t play guitar,
Can’t even begin to jam.
Can’t play the fuckin’ guitar,
Can’t play it worth a damn.

(Solo, giving it your all)
Scrrreeeeeech! Squaaaark! Twaaaang!
Scrrreeeeeech! Squaaaark! Twaaaang!
Diddley, (stop to scratch my head), Flaaaaang!

Maybe I need a new Tele,
Maybe a wha-wha pedal or two.
Hoping no one will tell me,
My playin’s just no damn use.

(Solo)

--William Martin

As the Rain Came

3/25/2023

As the Rain Came

Seeing those I loved and who loved,
Locked in conflict,
The origins of which, I knew not.
But I watched,
As the rain came down.

Hearing angry voices, heated whispers,
In the blackest nights.
That I heard, they knew not.
But I listened,
As the rain came down.

Learning of raw feelings and wounds,
The growing spite,
That I understood, they knew not.
But I felt it,
As the rain came down.

Time passed as did some I loved,
Leaving scars,
--Thick, raw, tender scars--
The which of, they knew not.
But I still think of them,
Still know the pain,
And I feel it,
As the rain comes down.

I pray they’re now at peace,
Resting in the warmth of peace.
That I miss them, they may know not.
But I do.
And I feel their hearts,
Each time the rain comes down.

--William Martin

Uncle Jack Hangover Blues

3/4/2023

Uncle Jack Hangover Blues

My head pounds to a pure blues beat,
Bile rising to coat my throat.
Skin radiates with feverish heat,
Wading through a full-body bloat.

Try to recall parts of last night,
Mind snap-shutters like flippin’ a switch.
Face cringes as events come to light,
Next mornings are always a bitch.

(Chorus)
It's those hangover blues,
Hammers poundin' in my mind.
Those damned hangover blues,
Uncle Jack can be so unkind.

Smarts, wit, and humor,
Just last night I had it all.
But I already hear the rumors,
Status already takin’ a fall.

Thought I was makin’ an impression,
As I kept on fillin’ my glass.
Eyes now burn with clear perception,
Uncle Jack was just kickin' my ass.

(Chorus)
It’s those hangover blues,
So many regrets filling my mind.
Those damned hangover blues,
Uncle Jack can be so unkind.

Passed out not knowing when,
Passed out not knowing where.
Woke up my mind in a bend,
With a stranger snoring there.

Time to lay low for a while,
Run home and stay in my place.
Avoid others’ knowing smile,
Hide my ugly hungover face.

(Chorus)
It’s those hangover blues,
So many regrets filling my mind.
Those damned hangover blues,
Uncle Jack can be so unkind.

--William Martin