More Names

More Names

(“For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘May you have peace.’” Psalm 122:8)

Our love hovers above blue childplay,
for Spring is the echo heart to heart. Each
baby without words, but cries;
each creeper without walk, but moves;
each toddler without way, yet surveys our old
world
like her own possession. The cat fur belongs
to her,
the cake plate belongs on toes and feet,
legs and arms, hair and ears. Smears of chocolate
are her palette and her skin, plus walls and pets
the canvas for investigative creation.

There are more names in our heart than children to share them,
more syllables to attach the next personal pronoun, he or she;
pets do not count…we name them for convenience. But children,
they are named for character and destiny.

Michael, a mirror of God; pure pleasure’s firstborn. The next
might have been Gabriel, if only father’s weighed the names.

Jonathan, the Father’s beloved; joy and compassion’s play. The last,
we thought. Two young men who laughed, debated, and explored
more caves and corners of creation. One with more words for
single thoughts; the other with thoughts unuttered. Bookends
reflecting parents’ love; two sculptures sharpened one by the other.

Sarah, the Princess surprised; (or Amy, or Daisy, or Jasmine;
there were too many authors of her name). “Phillips, party
of five” we heard them say. And soon our heaven had
a center,
the gold ring of our carousel. (She knows it well).

Oh life that has splayed our delight across the continent,
be kind to our beloved. The nest, being empty, disallows the pretense
of any additional names.