Hi 😊
Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that delves into the meaning of your first or last name. [from here]
Well, this is internetville, and I don’t write under either of my given names, so I went with “Jayne” as it’s my middle one. I didn’t really ‘delve’ into it, but I refer to some delving, so that might count?!
Another poet (who is amazing, please go check her out here) and I always have interesting discussions, and one big topic we’ve touched on recently is “religion, beliefs and the levels of tolerance shown around them”. So it made me chuckle reflecting on what my middle name means.
Spot the nod to the Firefly series in the second line, too 😉
“God is gracious” says her name
And here, this woman they call ‘Jayne’,
Walks through her life and meets friends’ pain
And gently holds it.
For who is she to e’er deny
The feelings strewn when life’s awry,
Or callously to walk on by
When she could just sit?
Together with those friends she can
The voids explore, for linings scan,
Phoenix flames help powerf’ly fan
Ride out their shared s**t.
It does occur to me often that God is supposed to have given us women more pain in childbirth, bid us be subservient to men and lots of other patriarchal motifs; but, as a consequence of all that, the connections we form with each other can be very transformative and life-affirming. It is played out over and over again in front of me and I love to, no need to, hear about the machinations, minutiae and momentous faced in other women’s lives to keep seeing the worth in my own struggles when they arise. There is so much beauty and, yes, grace that can be unlocked and tapped into when women share things. Being the bearers of life in so many different ways than “just” giving birth is such a responsibility, but an honour, too. So that’s where I was going in the poem.
Take care of yourselves, as always, and I’ll be back soon with Day 15 😊
Monty X
[pic is from here]
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April 14th, 2021 at 1:54 pm
This is a wonderful poem, & I love the meaning behind it. Thank you for the shout out. 💜
April 14th, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Oh, just realised my colouring of the link to your page didn’t take, so I’ll sort that when I wrest my laptop from the boys! 🤦♀️
Aww thanks 😊 and you deserve allll the plugs X
May 2nd, 2021 at 6:01 pm
The first and the last word in the same poem, well done! 😀 To me it sounds like life is all between the two.
May 2nd, 2021 at 6:21 pm
And in the serialised narration 😉