Lily Warren

The Jealous Ones

totally ignore them.
We are fine art and we are poetry.
We are everything beautiful in this world.

The jealous ones--
totally ignore them.
We are boundless and we are timeless.
We are everything beautiful in this world.

The jealous ones--
totally ignore them.
We are commercial free and we are non-toxic.
We are everything beautiful in this world.

The jealous ones--
totally ignore them.
We are fine art and we are poetry.
We are everything beautiful in this world.


The Runaway and the Japanese Piano Bar

At fifteen I placed tong-clutched
ice cubes into Mr.Toyota's glass.
Scotch and water allowed
Japanese business men
to speed on America's highways
without hangover's lag.
Mr. Toyota thought that I looked
too young to be a hostess
at Club Asuka.
But I was adept at changing subjects
and encouraged him to channel
Elvis or Bing Crosby
for a rendition of White Christmas.
In broken English, Sally said,
"You no sing New York State of Mind
--it too difficult to play on piano."
I wondered what her real name was;
was Sally a translation?
Soon I was requested by Mr. Toyota regularly.
(I was a good height for him,
knew when to summon Chu
to remove the ashtray and learned
to sing songs in Japanese.)
We'd duet, then aspire to the dance floor
as he dipped and discussed his disdain
for raising teenagers in the disrespectful adolescence of America.
I had hoped his children wouldn't turn out like me,
or worse--pouring drinks for white businessmen who'd
be far less respectful.


Boys' Trouble

The boys in the band
broke my heart
and abandoned me.
They won their boys game.

The head of the FBI
broke my heart
and abandoned me.
He won his boys game.

The President of the United States
broke my heart
and abandoned me.
What did he win?


About the Author

Lily Warren grew up in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan, but her family has kept a summer home in the Woodstock area for over eighty years. She has an extensive background in the arts. As a child, she performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, Catskill and Florida resorts. She studied at NYC's Turtle Bay music school, the Mannes School of Musica and the School of American Ballet. Lily played "Clara" in the New York City Ballet's "Nutcracker" for over 40 performances. She performed with the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus and at Connecticut's Goodspeed Opera House. Her favorite early credits would include her many appearances on Saturday Night Live.

As and adult, Lily had a re-occuring day role on As the Word Turns as "Miranda"; she's also appeared on Law and Order as "Valerie". Lily's a member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and an MA in Creative Writing. While studying for her Masters at the City University of New York, Queens College, she directed three off-Broadway plays. During this time, Lily began writing poetry and is currently compiling her work for her first book. Other Writing credits include Lily's Leisure Line-her weekly column for the Ulster County Townsman.

Opening Woodstock's Willow Art Gallery has been a dream come true for Lily. After graduating from high school, Professional Children's School in 1992, Lily studied sculpture at the Arts Students League. She later studied at The New School for Social Research and the State University of New York at Oneonta. She's been exhibited in various locations around Ulster County, including Phoenicia's Art Upstairs, the Inspired! Gallery and bookstore and Bruno's.

Willow Art Gallery has been not only a gallery for Lily's friends and family to exhibit their work, but a haven for local Woodstock artists and musicians. She is a member of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, the Woodstock Artists Association and the Woodstock Guild. You can view the gallery online at www.willowartgallery.net and www.willowwnds.com.

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