Readers Poetry Excellence Series - "Tommy" by Sheree K. Surdam

I ran across a beautiful and spiritual woman recently, local to the New Milford area - a woman who has dedicated her life to helping others through the spiritual healing wonders of nature.  Learning more about her, I discovered that she loves writing, keeps a wonderful blog of journal entries on Tumblr - and has experimented with poetry.  

In the end, Sheree K. Surdam shared this poem with me, and I have to admit, she has a talent for using poetry as a creative outlet for her inner thoughts (and she also has a talent for prose to broadcast her remarkable thoughts).  Here is her beautiful poem, "Tommy".  Enjoy!

In her own words:

"This poem is about Tommy, a man who I believed - for a while anyway - was the love of my life; the final stop on the road of searching, hoping for a true love to last a lifetime. Tommy relapsed on drugs and alcohol after almost 2 decades of sobriety, and was found dead in his home. We were no longer a couple when this happened; I was unable and unwilling to deal with his decent back into addiction. When I learned of his death, I called a friend for comfort. This poem emerged as a result of not just the death of my love, but also that unfortunate phone call."

Tommy

by Sheree K. Surdam

I called her and told her…

He died yesterday

in his house

Half in, half out

of the bathroom

Like trying to decide

on the perfect spot for life

to end

And I wonder which half

was in

which half out?

But I loved him once

And believed

he was the one

The only one really

And here’s the thing

that she said

to my sadness

Said to my tears

that I won’t forget

Not ever forget…

“It’s not like you were

still with him”…

Because you see

It’s not like I ever was…..

 

Readers Poetry Excellence Series - "That Boy" by Leonie Roberts

Today's Readers Poetry series is a tribute to the importance of teachers around the world. Besides a good stable and loving family environment, nothing is more important to youngsters than a good, caring teacher - and nothing could be more damaging than a bad one. I think that after reading this poem, and visiting our poets Facebook page "A Teachers Insight" you'll agree that the world needs more teachers like Leonie Roberts.

Without further adieu:

Leonie Roberts is an English graduate from Liverpool, and is currently a preschool teacher who lives and works in Italy.

She works with wonderful staff and children who give her daily inspiration for her writing.

Last year, Leonie set up a Facebook page entitled, ‘A Teacher’s Insight’, where she posts funny stories and poetry about the joys of teaching young children. Recently, she has published her first collection of poems, which are available on Amazon and for Amazon Kindle.

Leonie is also busy working on some children’s picture book stories, which she hopes to publish in the coming years…watch this space! Coming from Liverpool, Leonie would love nothing more than to return to her home town to promote her work.

To follow Leonie’s Facebook page, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ateachersinsight. Her other work can be found on Authonomy.com, including the stories ‘The Witch Who Wanted To Walk’ and ‘Bianca and the Blue Scooter’. Please note that it is completely free to join this site to review her work and any support would be greatly appreciated.

That boy

By Leonie Roberts

When home time comes I hand him over - he doesn’t want to go
A tear rolls down my cheek because of all the things I know

At night I cannot sleep at all for thinking of that boy
I bet at home he doesn’t own a single book or toy

He comes to school not having ate and never looks his best
I find him breakfast from the kitchen and let him have a rest

He doesn’t want to learn at school, he wants only to be seen
So I try to give him my attention and teach the others in-between

I won’t ask him for his reading book, I know full well it’s lost
He needs a bigger jumper but he can’t afford the cost

Those marks he didn’t do himself, the dirt it never goes
No child should ever have to live, having that boy’s woes

I want to take him home with me to keep him safe from harm
But all I can do is make some calls to try to raise alarm

---Dedicated to all of the teachers out there who always give ‘that boy’ their best.---