A World Sized Treasure

 

Friday eve: If a man daydreams his whole life, 
does that make his whole life a daydream,
I think, stare into my cider, listen to Tommy

tell his tapestry of imaginings.

 

Half-drunk, I delight in trying to perfect
another’s friend’s birthday present. I pass Tommy
a plastic toy: a pirate ship on a furrow
of silver glitter waves. ‘Amazing, he’ll love it,’ he says. 

His voice sounds as if he is a child again
but even fiery with shots, his speech is still
dignified, filled with that feigned fatherly wonderment
he’s rehearsed for twelve out of his thirty years.

Tommy saves to do charity work for Cambodia,
a nation I know only from sepia newsreels 
and protest songs. I have heard lyrics that cite
a million bones jutting from blood fertilised soil.

and read how that military junta forced
darkness on civilians who had to wear black.
 - I think even if a man is only as large
as the amount of people he loves, Tommy is world-sized.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

Childrens toys and great causes, all woven together seamlessly; when do men stop being boys, or is there bits of both in each? The pacing here is marvelous, the imagery--"tapestry of golden imaginings", "sepia newsreels/and protest songs"--is wonderful and vivid. Top-shelf writing--a rare mix of craft and heartfelt emotion.

[Marie Anzalone]

Your opening and closing lines stand as bookends to a genuine raw mastepriece here, Sel. It made me think of people I know, many of them now gone, whose impact is/was larger than the life lived. What a beautiful way to express the kind of love these folks have... letting their presence be world-sized. I will be meditating on that thought all day today, I think.

[Judy Ponceby]

This is wonderful. An excellent tribute to Tommy for his contributions to the world. Again, your writing has captured this moment beautifully.

[Emily B]

oh, I don't know, it was such a good old friend, it will take some getting used to . . .

[Jūdan FyreHeart]

You tell the story so smoothly - entirely seamlessly. Such beautiful little images put down to add the other layers about it all.

[LJW]

I sense a huge amount of natural, unfiltered talent here.

[Hedra Helix]

I agree with all below, youre awesome and generous.

[Emily B]

I love your people. The friends you present to us in your poems are so large, they have such wondrous hearts. I feel like I know them. Like I could reach out and touch them. Share an ale after work. It makes me glad to know there are people like this in the world.

[Phibby Venable]

i love the portrait of the man & the images..your work
always has heart and beauty.