https://soundcloud.com/mentalnotes-1/voice
His name was Tommy and his spirit’s alive and well
I hope you don’t mind it’s his story I shall tell
He would be 37 but at the time he was 12
And for many years his life was a living hell.
It’s his father he despised
All his sneaky ways and dirty little lies
His dad was strange in many different ways
What Tommy didn’t know is his dad had full blown AIDS
His dad was in denial; he wouldn’t take any meds
Every night Tommy’s dad would cry then come lay in Tommy’s bed
Tommy was 12, to him a man, he knew this wasn’t right
He’d lay there quiet, he dare not fight
He was 15 and with every fiber he said NO!
His dad looked at him and they both stood toe to toe
Tommy stood strong as his dad raised his fist
This was his life and wasn’t it supposed to be a gift
Life’s meaning erased
And even his favorite pie had a bitter taste
He started feeling strange but he didn’t want to believe
His dad had given him this horrible disease called HIV
Tommy’s life at this point, he felt like he had no say
Because the thoughts and feelings he was having surely made him gay
His father died and he was glad to see him go
He was a constant reminder of this disease and no one else could know
This thing had him tossing and turning all through the night
He was tired and said, Toya, I just don’t have the strength to fight
Tommy let the years pass him by with each passing day
The truth was he was scared and let fear lead the way
He was like a shadow chasing the sun until it disappeared
Tommy was lost and bound to a zillion little tears
Strangely his first semester class did a project on children with AIDS
And he decided to take his life back on that very special day
As he walked through the hospital children marked by sores
Babies in small bubbles; his heart was completely torn
He ran to the bathroom and cried until he hit the floor
He asked God; please tell me what is all this for
I don’t do drugs
I don’t sleep around
And Tommy didn’t want to be gay
His dad was just a real sick man that took his innocence away
For all the children who don’t have a choice
Tommy decided to take a stand and be the children’s voice
He stood in front of thousands and said
My name is Tommy and I have AIDS
And I’m speaking for all the little people who become victims every day
His body’s 6 feet under but his spirit is still alive
And if you’re reading this then his spirit has survived
This is Tommy’s way of continuing to be the children’s voice
This is for all the little people who never had a choice
Thank you Tommy
mentalnotes1 
Latoya, That was truly touching. Poor Tommy suffered so much when he needn’t have. He was loyal to his cruel father and, in some ways, he was more grown up than his own dad. What makes an adult do such a thing especially when he knew what he was doing and the disease he had? I admire you for the work you do. I’m not sure I could be as strong as to cope with what you see/hear every day. What blew me away mostly, though, was your ability to write all of Tommy’s story so cleverly in your poem. I salute you. You are a very inspiring lady. Wow. Thank you for sharing your talent. Chris 🙂
Please don’t fret Tommy is only real in my mind, but thank you so much for reading it ❤
I’m terribly gullible aren’t I? The thing is that you made that so believable that it blew me away. I wish I could be just as imaginative. I should have learned by now. Ha. Credit where it’s due though as you did a fantastic piece of writing. 🙂
I was very moved by Tommy’s story. You are doing him an honor by keeping his story alive and also helping others who have and are going through similar situations. That parents and/or adults or those who are older than a child, take advantage and abuse that child is the most soul destroying experience possible. And to add to that, to give their own child AIDS/HIV is beyond reproach. You are a very talented poet and writer and courageous by telling this story in such a beautiful and emotionally strong way. I appreciate you supporting the cause to bring to light the abuse of children. It is something I am unfortunately all too aware of in my own life. Thank you for writing about Tommy. His story will stay in my mind and heart. I will remember Tommy. He was a brave soul. Thank you, Jennifer
Let me put you at ease, Tommy is not real, he is part of my oversized imagination, I wrote this for an organization. At the time I was seeing a lot of abuse to children on the news and it was close to world AIDS day so my imagination just ran with it. I do know that this kind of thing happens in real life. Tommy is real only in my own mind and I suppose now in yours too thanks for reading and commenting. ❤
I beleived your story because in many places it is more likely to be true then created out of someone’s very vivid imagination. You did a major service to so many people who aren’t able to tell their stories. Reading yours just might help them to open up about their own experiences of abuse. You are an amazing writer. The way you use words is quite powerful. I was moved and could see the horror in Tommy’s story and yes it did feel so real to me. It is better that then to not believe it is real. The last line of your note to me is accurate. If there isn’t any life in your words and the voice you use then there isn’t anything alive in your story. I look forward to reading more of what you have to write. You have the gift. Thank you.
Thank you for your encouragement ❤
This was absolutely beautiful and touched my heart. I know he is only as real as we make him, but Tommy is real to me and his story is something I treasure.
This was absolutely beautiful and touched my heart. I know he is only as real as we make him, but Tommy is real to me and his story is something I treasure.
Thank you friend ❤
A thousand things I wish I could say, but tears just stream in silent defiance … your story was touching and I thank you for sharing and for liking my blog post as well!
YOUR’E WELCOME LIP STICK AND CHAOS, LOVE YOUR USER NAME IT’S VERY CATCHY, SOUNDS LIKE A POEM TO ME (:
This stirred my soul. Thanks for writing this.
You’re welcome, the stirring of souls is the reason I wrote this. Our children are being tormented in so many ways and confused by the worlds, on most days we are the only voice they have 😦
what a sick monster.
Nothing wrong with expressing empathy through voicing interpolation from the collisions of visual, audio, face to face experiences we have everyday with people and life. Our heads need sort through it some how, the abhorrent nature of such offenses and occurrences to youth and children (rather than the denial of what people in the world hide). The problem builds and builds within the person that has suffered, until it gets to the point of overwhelming life, often help is too late, or too little. Reaching out in some way, is better than holding back and not reaching out to help at all. Top writing, Latoya, you captured many of the elements people often deny, unless they have been close to such situations and problems.
Thank you love for your comments I really appreciate them. Yea, this is a sad story (: EVERY VOICE COUNTS!
Beautiful, true, intense, deep… I’m fan of your brain!
HONNNNEEEYYYYY THIS BRAIN IS CRAZY, LOL, BUT THANKS (:
But I enjoy it!!!! You’re welcome! 🙂
Great work… I almost believed that it was true 🙂
I TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT BUT THE TRUTH IS THIS SORT OF THING HAPPENS ALL THE TIME SO I MAKE MY VOICE HEARD (: I TRY ANYWAY (:
this made me teary eyed.., doesn’t even matter if it’s fictional..coz the truth is there are a many “Tommy’s” out there… innocent people inflicted with sickness that they most certainly did not deserve… very touching piece
THANK YOU KZ, YEA I WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE VOICE FOR SO MANY TOMMY’S IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LIKE AND COMMENT IT’S APPRECIATED (:
Ok ….. So I’m kinda in love with you and this page.
I have wrestled with the idea of recording spoken word….and you did it! And it’s perfect.
🙂
Thank you (: go to soundcloud.com and get an account. it is so very easy you get 2 hours of free recording. I have recorded so many pieces and I still have time left and I plan on paying the 32 or 23 dollars after I’ve used my time. I cannot wait to hear your voice and how you will record.
I can be shy.
My muse is the only one who hears the naughtier bits.
May change that though, for the sake of art.
😉
YESSSS FOR THE SAKE OF ART DO IT! (: