Pam(ela)
Mostly it’s just Pam
one syllable
beginning with a puff of air
ending with a hum
It has been Pamela
on important papers in my life
birth, baptism, marriage,
driver’s license, tax statements
Only a handful
have ever called out
Pammie
it feels like something from the past
My father wrote to
Pammie
while he did tours of duty
in Viet Nam
A friend
recently deceased
also called me Pammie
I can hear her say it in my mind
I have wanted to change it
maybe to Kristine
but the change never
had the chance to stick
So I will remain Pam
short and to the point
beginning with a kiss of air
ending with a hum of song
Pamela Olson, 2/23/08
This poem was written as a response to a prompt from Poem, a virtual poetry group.
