Tommy

Weird Al’s song
“Amish Paradise” reminds me
of the King of the Neighborhood
stood five-foot-six in fourth grade.
He only drank cherry kool-aid
and always managed to round up five

to twenty-five boys
for a quick game of football
in the middle of winter.

He smiled at the girls who, in turn,
giggled and blushed
but I knew he was just a little kid
who grew faster than most.

He winked and flirted with the others
and called me

Heifer
Whale
Ugly
Disgusting

Fat
in front of all the other guys.

But behind the twisted slide
he told me he loved me.