Tom’s Poetry, from Back When to Right Now

By Tom Leech

This book, "Tom's Poetry: from back when to right now", is a collection of poems I've written over several decades. Many have been published in anthologies, newspapers and magazines, and my own books. They address five different time periods and themes, starting with early days, e.g. "Growing up," to " Family and friends" to "The world we live in now.". My poems cover a variety of topics and experiences: my youth, relationships, where I lived and hung out, our special San Diego natural worlds, and holidays. They're all in the rhyming class and many are humorous..

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669836711

Tom Leech

Meet Tom Leech Tom is a prolific author, with books covering a variety of topics: enjoying nature, experiencing travel, relaying humorous true tales, and even capturing Santa’s elves Christmas adventures (with wife Leslie). He's obviously a frequent rhymer and his poems have appeared in many of his own books, magazines, and group anthologies, among them The Guilded Pen (San Diego Writers & Editors Guild), Oasis Journal, Ageless Authors, Heart of the Holidays, Toastmasters Magazine, and his Indiana hometown paper, the Garrett Clipper. He was a long-time feature writer with articles covering business, local issues and events. He's a professional speaker and trainer and spoken at universities, conferences, local non-profits and for many corporate events and seminars. His first published book, How To Prepare, Stage & Deliver Winning Presentations, dates back to the year 1982 and was named to Library Journal’s “Best Business Books of the Year” list. The 3rd edition of that book was lauded as one of only two “Top of the Class” books on the subject by Presentations Magazine. He’s author of Say it like Shakespeare: the Bard’s Timeless Tips for Communication Success, an update of the McGraw-Hill 1st Edition which received high praise from many quarters. He captured his ‘round-the world travels to 27 countries in On the Road in '68: a year of turmoil, a journey of friendship. Wearing his weekend hat he is co-author, with Jack Farnan, of Outdoors San Diego: Hiking, Biking and Camping (Premier 2004) and was longtime Editor of the Outdoors Forum for San Diego Magazine. And donning his poet’s cap, he and wife Leslie Johnson-Leech are authors of the children’s tale The Curious Adventures of Santa’s Wayward Elves. For information about all of his books, visit www.presentationspress.com, and to purchase any of his books visit amazon.com. Tom invites you to communicate with him via Facebook, Linked-in, and [e-mail] e-mail.

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 by Tom Leech.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/05/2022

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

844696

Tom Leech's poetry is a treasure trove of gentle recollections, back porch wisdom and sly humor. A gentle volume of poetry, filled with rhyming recollections, back porch wisdom and just plain fun.

Corey Lynn Fayman, award-winning author of the Rolly Waters Mystery series

Tom Leech’s From Back When to Right Now is a glimpse of nostalgia, a wink to the future, and a feel-good dose of down-home humor that makes the puzzle pieces just click together. A very fine read, indeed.

M. Lee Buompensiero, award-winning author of Sumerland

This volume represents the distilled wisdom of a special poet, a friend of astronauts and rocket scientists, a soul overflowing with boundless curiosity. It’s the work of an adventurer with a keen gift of observation and a genius for context. He’s in awe of Shakespeare, seasoned with a pinch of Ogden Nash. Despite his world perspective, he’s a Norman Rockwell using verse instead of paint. He’s an American in Paris who still remembers the day that Harry Truman came to his Indiana hometown. And he’ll make you remember it, too.

Phil Oakley, Author of Telegraph and the Morello Family series of crime novels

CONTENTS

With Appreciation

GROWING UP

Where’s My Front Porch?

Ma, There’s A Hobo At The Door

Tackling Life’s Early Dilemmas

Kids Buying Bonds?

The Iceman, The Milkman And The Mailman

Slidin’ down Milks Hill

It’s Scramble Time When The Soot Hits The Sheets

Shoes? Who Needs Shoes?

Saturday Night With The Monsters

I Never Peed In The Pool

HISTORICAL MOMENTS FROM MY EARLY YEARS

Saturday Bath On The Farm

When Peanuts Blair Was On the Mound

Baldy at the Bat

The Day Old Harry Came to Garrett

The Legend Of Emily Morgan: The Real Yellow Rose?

Pair Up for Fame

TALES ABOUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Strain Behind The Plate

Tom Fleming Moves On

Hot Curl – The Surfing Legend Of Windansea

The Legend of Hot Curl

Ah Those Memorable Beach Hangouts

What’s more awesome than a butterfly?

Great Duos of History

It’s a Trio World

Quartets Abound

Nature the Rejuvenator

Presidio Park: How We Got A Fun Park For Free

The Next Time Around – Transmigration

What’s That Word Again? How The Farm Boy Pursues The Chicks

CELEBRATING OUR MODERN TIMES

The Seven Days Of San Diego Christmas

The Night The Reindeer Stayed Home

Deck the Halls – the Kitchen Calls

The Ode to Murphy

Getting The Straight Poop For Those Special Reserved Seats

Where Does Santa Go?

THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, PLUS OR MINUS

Adding To Your Communication Success: Per The Bard’s Tips

Hawaii Workout: (Oral Exercise)

Golf And English Are Tricky Games

Ode To A Titian Urn (Or Let’s Hear It For The Chamberpot)

They’re Better Than Us – Hah!

With Appreciation

Key to making this set of poetic tales as a book was initially the many connections I’ve had from day one with immediate family and various kinfolk: aunts, uncles, and cousins. Fun poetic tales were regular parts of our family gatherings and chit chats in our small town and country locations back home again in Indiana. Also stimulating my regular poetic outbursts were lots of friends in school and other locales, plus work and fun roundups in more vintage years. So thanks to all those stimulators for these many poetic tales. And thanks to my frequent book content and layout supporter, Patsy Powell Corlett.

GROWING UP

Where’s My Front Porch?

By Tom Leech

From The Guilded Pen 2020 Anthology of

San Diego Writers & Editors Guild

Houses today lack one special pleasure,

They have doors and roofs and maybe a scenic torch,

Driveways, garages and good-looking eaves,

But what’s generally missing is there’s no front porch.

Houses today do make living OK,

Just walk on up the steps and right there’s the front door,

Insert your key and then wander on in,

That’s about the same whether you’re rich or you’re poor.

But a house with a front porch expands your life,

You can sit there and be a loafer or greeter,

Maybe read today’s paper or a fun book,

Or enjoy hummingbirds slurping at your feeder.

Sit on a couch and peruse your own world,

Check out that big old tree