Well Worn Boy

By Leo Murphy

Stories and Poems by Leo Ann Murphy

Growing up in Rural Pennsylvania, and cutting his teeth in Philadelphia and New York city, poet Leo has taken his life and made it into a collection of poetry, a story of his boyhood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leo Murphy
• Release date: Jun 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223877103

Book preview

For my Charles and my kids:

this book is for you.

1.

When I was born, one pink and squirming little boy, the doctor pulled me out of that canal and proclaimed Congratulations Father and Mother: it's a girl!

So I cried.

And I wailed for 6 months.

My mother soothed my nerves with a good drink. A formulation she would mix up and serve on tap. Tap tap is this thing on? Burrrp. How boyish.

Girls can and should have the freedom to belch and squelch too. I have a lot to learn, so young and full of want.

Me and her, (me and me, together) this boygirl, we learned (yes, I learned) to hook a worm on a line early: to reel in a bluegill and smooth back the spiked fin to pull him off. Catch and release, catch and release. My whole life was being caught. Hooked to that barbed prong and never let go. Mind your manners, comb your hair, eye contact, napkin on your lap now, and finish those peas dear! Sigh. All pretty boys