Shownotes
One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now.
Tony and/or Tonee
Nguyen Minh Tri
The "y" is a hook, a barb in the ground,
A heavy-set anchor, a masculine sound.
It carries the dust of the fathers and sons,
My father and his son.
The weight of the "Tony" who follows/ who runs,
A name like a suit that is tailored too tight,
Designed for the sun, yet afraid of the light.
To them, it’s a letter/ to me, it’s a wall,
A clanking vibration that makes me feel small.
But look at the "e"s: how they mirror, how they gleam
A twin of silver, the space in between.
Tonee is a lift, a soft-rising key,
The "ee" is the breath of the person.
It isn’t a label, it isn’t a chore,
It’s the clicking of locks and the opening door.
How do I tell them the "y" is a ghost?
A version of me that I’ve long demoted.
How do I tell them the "e" is the spark,
The fun and the fire who glow in the dark?
It’s not just a spelling, a quirk, or a claim,
It’s the pulse in my throat.
It’s my name.
It’s my name.
More from Nguyen Minh Tri ↓
- @tonywith2e on Instagram
- @tonywith2e on Substack
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Feed yourself poetry every day.
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One Poem Only submissions are open.
I’m filling the next chapter of One Poem Only and would love to include your work. Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. New this round: if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. No need for a perfect studio recording—just a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space. If you choose this option, you’ll submit your poem and an audio file of you reading it. Submissions close Thursday, July 30. I’ll respond by August 12. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you’re ready to share.
