Looking for Wilson Tom

Sometimes I hear of people but never meet them, never shake their hand or talk to them. Their name comes up in conversation but their face remains unknown. And then they disappear from conversation, completely. I suppose this happens to everyone, but I find it curious. I knew of Wilson Tom, but not him, himself …

LOOKING FOR WILSON TOM

they say he made smooth jazz
at the corner of Main and Robson
behind the Corner Hotel
where laundry trucks backfire
and cats eat garbage

but no one has seen Wilson Tom
since the last full moon

no one has heard the sax riff
he perfected at sixteen
window open for neighbours and gulls
third floor back where Burnt Billie
now plays country gospel late and fast

an earlier version published in Apollo’s

A Summer Father … Here is poetry … interweaving images culled from a wartime childhood with bittersweet memories of a “summer father”. Lynda Monahan

About Joanna M. Weston

Born in England, she is now living in Shawnigan Lake, BC. She is married to Robert, an accountant, and they have three sons, Andrew Jon Mark ... and two cats, Alice and Chaucer. Joanna has an MA from the University of British Columbia. She has published in numerous anthologies and in magazines in Canada, the US, UK, and New Zealand, such as Canadian Women's Studies, Convolvus, Endless Mountains Review, Grain, Green's Magazine, Prairie Fire, Spin, Wascana Review, CBC Gallery, and many more... Clarity House Press has published several of her chapbooks including: Berry and the Birthday Band (2010) One of These Little Ones (1987) – out of print Cuernavaca Diary (1990) – out of print Seasons (1993) – out of print Watch-night (2005) – out of print

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2 Responses to Looking for Wilson Tom

Hellen Sharp says:

May 21, 2013 at 12:56 am

Joanna – this is Jenny Parry’s daughter Hellen – I’m trying to contact you regarding my mum.

- Joanna M. Weston says:
  
  May 21, 2013 at 11:24 am
  
  Hi Helen, thanks for the connection. Will do.