tommy by Thomas R. Thomas (All About My Name Poetry Series)

tommy
by Thomas R. Thomas

Dad was John
his whole life

except when he
was a Marine
in World War 2

a lot of people
with the last name
Thomas are called
tommy

and the Marines
called Dad tommy
and when Mom
married him in 1945
they called her tommy

Mom really wanted
a son named tommy
and after 3 girls
and calling my
brother John

I was going to be
tommy no matter what

so Mom I carry
your name
with pride

AUTHOR’S NOTE ON THE PHOTOGRAPH: This was taken in our backyard in West Covina, California. My parents took a picture of all four of us (my two sisters, my brother, and me) in the same jeans on our first birthday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Thomas R. Thomas is sitting on the couch and reading his book. He looks up from his book and wonders why he is thinking of himself in the third person — silly boy, he thinks. Thomas R. Thomas is scowling at you for thinking his name is silly since it is a good Welsh name, and he is quite pleased that his Mom wanted a Tommy. Thomas R. Thomas was previously published in many fine publications. Thomas R. Thomas publishes Arroyo Seco Press in Long Beach.