//ABOUT THIS BLOG...
Years ago, I picked up a fascination with names...their meanings...the rhythms behind them. I chose to respond to it poetically.
This blog's a collection of some of the name poems I've written over the years.
ORDER A POEM: If you'd like a name poem written for you or someone you care about, please email me at thenamepoet@gmail.com.
(This name poem was inspired by a friend.)
The Creator
is the greatest make-up artist I know.
He fashioned your third eye
with Egyptian kohl.
Dark kohl
against
bright eyes
smiling eyes
truthful eyes
loving eyes
Never question why He created Darkness,
why He created those days
when your soul cowers
under the weight of the world,
those days when
the only thing sustaining you
is hope...
For in the spiritual laboratory,
when light is compared
with light,
all you see is light
but when light is compared
with darkness,
that’s when you see
its TRUE brightness.
Dark kohl
against
bright eyes
smiling eyes
truthful eyes
loving eyes
There is no need to say
what your name means…
Your eyes say it all.©Copyright - the name poet.
[Maha means 'light' in Swahili - female]
Zion's clearly reflected in your eyes
Happiness has found a new home in you.
Angels told me this:
Kindness will always be your virtue,
Intelligence will be your gift.
Your ancestors are proud of you
Africa is proud
Hear her; she sings for you.
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Zhakiya means 'smart, intelligent' in Swahili - female]
name poem
If water was once turned to wine,
let the wine be a symbol
of all things that are possible
for miracles
are just possibilities
our hearts aren't used to.
You can move mountains
if you choose to
Hold the sun in your palm
if you choose to
Bring dead trees back to life
if you choose
Make the wind follow your every move
if you choose.
You...
can make the clouds form
into the shape of your hips,
make the stars constellate your name,
make the whole world stop
and listen to your pain.
Tell the cock not to crow
and it'll obey
Tell the rain not to fall
and it won't
Think in currencies of peace
and one day,
there will be.
Water into wine:
a symbol
of all things possible.
For miracles
are just possibilities
our hearts aren't used to.
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Ghelila means 'Galilee' (Ethiopian)]
Strength...
rolls off your tongue
in an effortless whisper
as eloquent mouths
are struck dumb
Sealed shut
by the beauty you wear.
Your soul cannot be paraphrased
or your essence pigeon-holed
For bottles were a myth,
genies were born free.
And so you dance in an open field
as liberation rests on your eyelashes
and Summer plaits itself into your hair
And so, you,
brimming with determination,
find the pot of gold
at the end of the rainbow
but take nothing -
realising that a lash
weighs a lot more
A lot more...
And so I, with nimble feet,
dance with you
in that open field
forever holding your unselfish hands
as we whiz round and round
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
'til we're both dizzyyyyyyyy with mutual trust
collapsing in a giggly heap
...of true friendship.
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Grace - Latin origin meaning 'blessing'.]
OF INTEREST: A Child's Name Mug: Grace
There is
a smile,
a gentleness
in her name.
There is
the soft patter
of rain
in her name.
The rain uses the roof
of a thatched hut
as its drum.
Inside,
children sit eagerly
around the old man.
He tells a story
of a bird
with wings spanning
the length & breadth
of India
black feathers
meticulously groomed
by Mother Nature
sight – sharp enough to see
into the hearts of men
and when she flew
oh, when she flew,
the meaning of life
became quite clear.
The gods named her Teleica
for only she had the courage
to pull the phoenix
out of the ashes.
The old man paused with a smile
as the children repeated her name
and listened to her drum softly
on the roof
of their thatched hut.
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Teleica is derived from the Hindu name, Talika. It means 'Bird'.]
I hold you up to the sky
the way our ancestors would
the way I would a piece of precious stone,
emerald green,
gleaming
and marvel at you.
Maybe it was
the old lady
I helped across the road
She smiled at me
like she knew me
maybe
she was an angel
maybe...you sent her
to test me
to see if I'd really love you
the way your future told you I would.
I love you…
it's as simple as that.
How can I not
when your smile melts chocolate,
when I watch you sleep
in complete awe and disbelief
Still, I hold you up to the sky
emerald green
Waiting...
Knowing that,
just like yesterday,
the stars will tell me
you are mine.
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Jada is derived from 'Jade' which means 'Precious Stone']
I watched you sway, sashay, shimmer
Watched you glide, float, fly
towards me
Butterfly - with a human face
I watched angels sprinkle-dust you
with cinnamon-scented grace
Elegance known only to goddesses
Watched them hide the key to their beauty
deep within your smile
knowing that there, yes, it would be safe
like I am - with you
Watched a whirlwind of lilacs
whip past me
and settle in a heart-shaped pattern
at your feet
as Nature placed a rose
behind your ear,
and hugged you and hugged you,
then giggled off into the sunset
Aaah...
alone at last
sway, sashay, shimmer
glide, float, fly
towards me
Sweet butterfly
Gentlest of human faces
The very essence of grace
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Jayne means 'Gracious' in Hebrew]
I am
the first raindrop
the first light
the first tree
Embrace me...
I am
the first whisper
the first thought
the first smile
Revere me...
I am
the first hue-man
the first wo-man
the first mother
Respect me...
I am
Hawa
I am
Africa
Embrace
Revere
Respect
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Hawa means 'Eve' in Swahili]
First there was the sun,
then there was the moon,
then there was you.
Show me, little one
Show me how a ton of stars
take refuge in your belly button,
how you play hop-scotch
with the sun,
skip rope with the moon,
how you direct the lightning
to scissor across the sky.
I’ve seen you touch a fly
and watched it transform
into a fire-fly
I've seen you touch a moth,
watched it burst
into a butterfly
So, show me, little one…
how do you do it?
How do you stretch your light
as far as the four corners of the earth
yet still remain here – with me
shining your light on me
smiling at me
loving me – unconditionally.
©Copyright - the name poet.
[Lucia means 'Light' in Latin]
