If it’s true that laughter is the best medicine, then former Hollidaysburg resident Tom Catalano has written the perfect prescription. Catalano’s newest book, “Funny Rhymes About Life!,” is just that — humorous rhyming poems on everyday subjects that adults can relate to.

On a daily basis, we as adults face a myriad of odd, ironic, and sometimes frustrating experiences. We have a choice. Get upset or laugh them off. Catalano encourages us to choose the latter.

The easy-to-read rhymes in “Funny Rhymes About Life!'” make the reader laugh at things like annoying telemarketing calls, never-ending honey-do projects, buying a used car, getting older, stinky breath, procrastination, and of course, love and marriage.

This is Catalano’s 13th book. Although he has published several books of rhyming poetry for children and teens (“Jelly In My Belly,” “Rhymes For Kids” and “Rhymes For Teens”), his latest book, “Funny Rhymes About Life!” is clearly for adults. The poems in this book are clean and non-offensive, but cover topics that only adults will appreciate, like sounding like Rice Krispies when their bones snap, crackle, and pop in the morning. Or falling asleep on the couch watching television. Or being busier during retirement than when working.

Catalano’s other rhyming books of poetry (“Rhyme & Reason,” “Poetry ‘N Motion” and “Verse Things First”) are written for adults and teens, but those books are a mix of sentimental, love, and Christmas themes as well as humorous ones.

“Funny Rhymes About Life!” is exclusively funny poems intended to make adults smile and laugh out loud.

“Life is serious enough without me reminding the reader of it,” the author said. “Sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves and the absurdity of the world around us. I see the humor in stuff most of us go through every day and I write rhymes about it.”

Some adults do not enjoy poetry and Catalano explains why. “Many of us studied poems in school that were long, hard to understand, and depressing. We grew up thinking that all poetry is like that. My poems are none of those things. My poems rhyme, are easy to relate to, and make you laugh. If we studied poems like these in school, I think more adults would admit to liking poetry!”

There are 60 different rhymes in ‘Funny Rhymes About Life!’ They are grouped in the following categories:

n Life Is A Journey…Bring A Map!

n The Funny Side Of Love And Friendship

n The Quirky Side Of Life

n Fine, If You Can Find The Time

n Things Don’t Always Go As Expected

n Scrambled Thoughts, Over Easy

n ‘Tis The Season, That’s The Reason

Writing is more than a hobby for Catalano. It is a life-long passion. He has written more than 2,500 poems, but he also writes fiction. His poems have been published in newspapers and magazines throughout North America and he has read them on television on several occasions. He has been an invited speaker at hundreds of schools, churches, and community events across the country.

Catalano lived in Hollidaysburg while working as director of marketing at Curry Supply Co. He retired from business in 2016 to devote his time to his writing and publishing. He now resides in Tennessee.

‘Funny Rhymes About Life!’ (ISBN 978-1-882646-13-5, Wordsmith Books, $9.95) is available now through any retail or online book seller worldwide. Signed copies can be acquired directly from the author’s website:

tomcatalano.com.