Thomas Who?

Who are you Thomas Flood

Thomas Floyd

Thomas Fludd

who sired three kids

with Sophie Stuart

Native-Black

mother-shunned

loved or used?

Where did you hide

that you could rise

to sire a child

when sex was desired?

Did your fam'ly know your underside

or had you learned from their wiles?

Irish they say you were.

 Did you speak with a brogue?

I'll never know.

Did you jump ship

to buy a slave

or is your hist'ry fixed

in Virginia's armament?

Your grandchildren

never saw your face

sat on your lap

played at your place.

You never visited

their alleys shacks

their Georgetown flats

their burial plats.

You disappeared Thomas Flood

fled to havens that kept you hid

but ever on their minds.

Your children hardly knew you

though bearing your name.

I've searched  for you

but found no trace

though it was your red

that covered my head

when I was born

your seed that lightened my flesh

making me "yellow" at birth

bringing Mendel's law full-bloom.

Thanks great-great-great grandpa

your legacy has stretched quite far

your hide and seek has birthed a freak

and a burden in my being.