My Father Never Called Me Tom

by Thomas M. Pender

 

My father never called me Tom.

He called me Little Guy,

then Grump,

then Bosco,

then Stretch.

Thomas Michael when I was in trouble.

He called Debi Skeeter.

Kristi was Punkin.

Mom was Willard.  She hated it

but loved it.

We never called my father Father.

My father was a Daddy, then

a Dad, then

an Old Fart.  He answered to

Hey You.

Never Father.

My dad told me he loved me in

a million ways except

by saying “I love you.”  I

couldn’t tell him either.  But we knew.

written by t. michael pender  3/8/88

copyright 1988 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.