This second Volume in the “Poetry My Friend” series has
again provided me with the opportunity of commenting not
only on the Author Tom Padula, my husband, but also on the
Poetry selected for this Volume.
Whereas Volume one touched on the themes of Inspiration,
Reflection and School Life... School Life having been a most
significant theme, considering the fact that Tom was a teacher
for most of his professional working life, this second Volume
explores the themes of Love, Marriage, Happiness, Nature, The
Seasons, Sentiments and Life.
Some of the poems in this selection invite the reader into
what is essentially the personal space of our family life and
throws open the doors to experiences and emotions which we
have lived and now share with you. Some experiences are
funny, some are poignant, and some I might say are even
personal, but they all evoke wonderful memories of a past that
we would not change for the world. Take for example the
poem “The Lemons”. I remember one particular occasion when
I believed that our lemon trees had far too many lemons on
them and were weighing very heavily on the branches. So in
a moment of excessive exuberance I picked them all. Every
single one of them! In retrospect I’m not quite sure whether this
brute act of vandalism was an ultruistic act meant to elleviate
the burden of the trees whether I actually had a plan for what
I was going to do with the hundreds of lemons that I had just
picked, all I know is that at the time it seemed like a good idea.
The poet, the part that is my husband, has never let me forget
this incident and now that it is in published form neither will the
rest of the world.
In conclusion, allow me to elaborate a little on who I believe
the author to be. The poet who immortalized the funny moment
of the “picking of the lemons” is also the one who agonizes
about the reckless and thoughtless pollution destroying our
wonderful planet, the romantic who exalts in the beauty of the
rose, the spiritualist who understands and accepts the cycle of
human life and its close connection to the seasons and the
environment. Tom Padula is multi-faceted like a finely cut
diamond. He has a deep sense of right and wrong. He is
offended by unfairness, intolerance and injustice. He is
angered by bullying and arrogance. He is the crusader of lost
causes and an advocate to the weak and he is humane and
humble in his interactions with all people in all walks of life,
whether young or old.
Those of you who do not know Tom Padula personally may
be forgiven for thinking that I am guilty of blind wifely love in
the lauding his merits, but those readers who know him will
know that my comments are fair and just. I am unashamedly
proud of his talents, and would urge the future readers of this
second volume of “Poetry My Friend” to emulate my feelings
and discover for themselves the jewels of sentiments to be found
in this book.
Nella Padula