Tom Sheehan
Korean Echo
Tom Sheehan's "Korean Echo" is a poignant reflection on love, faith, and the brutal realities of war. Set against the harrowing backdrop of a battlefield, the poem captures a soldier's final moments in the arms of his comrade. As blood flows like air and death draws near, the simple, heartfelt plea for love transcends the chaos around them. Sheehan weaves together themes of paternal advice, unfulfilled destinies, and the search for grace in the darkest of times. This powerful narrative reminds us of the humanity that endures even amidst the horrors of war.
In The River Thief, Tom Sheehan weaves a poignant tale of determination, love, and the inexorable passage of time. For forty years, English Wells has battled the Pumquich River, determined to claim more land for his modest estate inch by inch, rock by rock. With unwavering support from his devoted wife Miriam, English pushes against the natural flow, believing in the simple truth that hard work yields results. But life has its own currents. When tragedy strikes, bringing a young nephew into their childless home, the rhythms of English's and Miriam’s lives are forever altered. As English continues his relentless pursuit of land from the river, Miriam’s focus shifts to nurturing the boy and finding solace in poetry. A story of quiet heroism, Sheehan captures the enduring spirit of human perseverance and the quiet sacrifices that love demands. Rich with the natural beauty of the river’s landscape and the gentle cadence of a life lived deliberately, The River Thief explores how the simplest desires can drive us, and how the things we build--both in the world and in our hearts--are shaped by time and tide.
From the day he was born, Victor had a secret--a miraculous voice that would surface only once every five years, without warning, and for just a fleeting moment. As if touched by the divine, his tenor was beyond extraordinary, bringing everyone who heard him to their knees in awe. His best friend and loyal companion, the story’s narrator, has witnessed these moments of musical magic throughout their 16 years of schooling and eight years as teammates. Each time, the voice returns like clockwork, leaving no trace in Victor’s memory once the final note fades. Through dinners with friends, unexpected outbursts at church, and under the shadow of war, the narrator chronicles Victor’s incredible gift, grappling with the profound mystery of his friend’s talent. But with every performance comes the fear that one day, the song will be Victor’s last. A poignant tale of friendship, fate, and the unexplainable power of music, "V for Victor" will resonate long after the last page is turned
In Derryside Confessional, Tom Sheehan deftly explores the timeless intersections of desire, innocence, and the harsh realities of war. Set against the backdrop of Derryside, a place alive with youthful energy and lingering shadows, the poem captures the fleeting encounters between soldiers and the town’s women, each longing for connection amidst the tension of duty and desire. Sheehan's imagery is rich and evocative, weaving together the soldiers' hungry gazes, the intimacy of hidden meetings, and the inner conflicts that arise when youthful passion confronts moral constraints. With a haunting lyricism, the poem delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the inevitable reckoning that comes with choices made in moments of longing. A powerful meditation on the human condition, Derryside Confessional resonates with the bittersweet knowledge that peace is often found only in the heart's most private spaces.
In "Sign on a Wall," Tom Sheehan crafts a poignant ode to memory, family, and the enduring echoes of love through everyday objects. Centered on a worn dough board hanging in a cellar, the poem captures the essence of a mother’s care etched into the very grain of the wood. Her hands, once busy kneading dough into life, now linger in the powdery traces that remain. This board is more than just a tool; it is a vessel of history, love, and the passage of time. With delicate yet powerful imagery, Sheehan weaves a tapestry of nostalgia, where every scent, every touch, and every lingering cloud of flour becomes a testament to the quiet, enduring bonds of family and the bittersweet ache of remembrance.
In The Old Man in the Garden of Long Shadows, Tom Sheehan paints a lyrical portrait of Georges Amocine, a man whose life is deeply intertwined with memories and shadows. Georges believes that everything begins and ends in shadows, whether they are cast by time, memory, or the physical world. Sitting on a milk crate in his garden, Georges reflects on his long life, where the boundaries between the past and present blur. From his time in Korea with old war comrades to the loving bond with his wife, Esmel, each shadow carries a piece of his history, a whisper of the past. As he contemplates his mortality, Georges finds solace in the embrace of these shadows, holding onto the memories of friendships, battles, and love. A hauntingly beautiful exploration of time, memory, and the inevitability of life's twilight, this story invites readers into a richly textured world where every shadow has a story and every memory is a brushstroke in the grand painting of life.
In The Boy with the Golden Ring, Tom Sheehan crafts a modern parable of kindness, faith, and the power of small gestures to ignite change. When the baker Connaughton spots a young boy named John outside his shop, hungry and alone, a strange golden glow surrounds the boy's head. This encounter sets off a ripple through the streets, alleyways, and cathedral of a small town, as word spreads of the boy’s mystical light. John, abandoned by his father, finds himself in the care of a kindhearted homeless man named Samuel, and the two are drawn nightly to the warmth of the cathedral. As Christmas approaches, crowds gather to witness the miraculous glow, sparking a silent transformation. In the silence of the church, inspired by John's simple faith and the memory of his father’s generosity, strangers begin to shed their coats, gloves, and scarves to give to those less fortunate. Sheehan's poignant storytelling captures the essence of compassion and the spirit of giving, offering readers a heartfelt reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can illuminate the darkest of nights.
Set against the backdrop of a small New England town during the late 1930s, A Toast to Skink is a heartfelt coming-of-age tale about a boy named Tom and his unlikely connection with Skink Hanscombe, the local town drunk. To the townspeople, Skink is just a harmless vagrant, a shadow slipping in and out of alleys and abandoned buildings. But to young Tom, Skink is much more: a figure of mystery, warmth, and an unspoken bond that fills a void left by the loss of Tom’s beloved Uncle Johnny. As Tom navigates his paper route, encounters bullies, and observes the quiet workings of the town’s adults, he learns to see beyond Skink’s disheveled appearance and alcohol-induced ramblings. Through stolen glimpses and hushed conversations, Tom discovers Skink’s past as a scholar and athlete and the tragic accident that sent him spiraling into despair. With rich prose and poignant nostalgia, Sheehan captures the essence of human connections that defy societal judgments, highlighting themes of loss, memory, and the need for understanding. This touching story serves as a testament to the indelible marks that people, even those on the fringes, can leave on our lives.
In Merry Christmas from Lily Pond in Saugus Town, Tom Sheehan evokes a nostalgic and heartfelt return to a simpler time, where the quiet beauty of nature and the magic of Christmas come together. Through vivid imagery and gentle rhythms, the poem invites readers to walk along the snow-covered paths of Lily Pond, where childhood memories blend seamlessly with the present. Each line captures the essence of seasonal change, from the hoot of an owl to the crunch of snow underfoot, and the shared joys of past friendships that linger in the crisp winter air. Sheehan’s warm, reflective tone brings forth a sense of timeless connection, not only to the natural world but to those who have shared these moments by the pond’s edge. This poem is a beautiful celebration of Christmas spirit, friendship, and the enduring bonds that link us to places we hold dear, making it a perfect read for the holiday season.