The Naming

                       Brenda Bryant

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

THE NAMING

Like your name or like it not

This is where you probably got

The name that you're forever stuck with,

Have really good or rotten luck with.

It will haunt you all your days

In so many different ways.

Was it your Mama's invention?

Does it still cause you great tension?

Is it spelt a bit contrary,

Like  M.A.I.R.Y for MARY?

Are you ashamed of what you weigh

And yet your name says you are 'Fay'?

Does an ancestor, long gone,

Mean that you're called Algernon?

Did your Dad say 'It's a boy!

Let us call him Fauntleroy!'

Names are things with which we're teased.

Few of us are really pleased

With the name that was donated.

If only parents could have waited!

If only Baby, just pre-font,

Could shout 

'This is the name I want!'

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THE ROAD AHEAD

Take a look at a baby's feet,

Fit both inside your hand,

And consider all the miles they'll walk

Across the unknown land.

Imagine step and step and step

Each following the other,

On and on and on and on

As they walk away from Mother.

Those feet will walk on sand-hills,

They'll walk on rocky shores,

On slippery slopes and pavements

And on polished ballroom floors.

Those feet will walk untrammeled

Through the gentle summer grass;

And in heavy boots, maybe, they'll march

As folk see the soldiers pass.

Such fragile things to carry us

On a journey of such length!

Feet! Just bones and skin,

But what enormous strength!

The baby's feet I speak of

May walk till ninety-three!

Then their owners are allowed to say

'My feet are killing me!'

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