The Name Is James
James is my name with its historic meaning
An important king bore this name
Carrying it to its royal fame,
One reason why this name I’m esteeming
King James gave us the Bible in English
For which I am so proud
I say the words low or loud
But I could never speak Yiddish.
In the holy writ, more than one person shared
This name so renowned.
Oh, how she loved its sound ,
The name Mama always declared.
My uncle called me by a nickname;
He wanted to call me Jim
But Mama had words with him
She told him that JAMES is my name.
So family and friends, all my life,
Called me what Mom named me,
For that was her earnest plea.
Substitutes pierced her like a knife.
But I had a livelihood and bread to win
There, co-workers gave me a moniker
For which they would prefer—
They called me Jimmy or simply Jim.
Other aliases have been most replete,
Such as Whimpy, and Daneymoco,
Else, a-k-a, Hey You, or Jimbo.
Regardless, I will always come to eat.
For the "WHAT'S IN A NAME?" Contest
Sponsored by Linda-Marie The Sweetheart of P.S.
Copyright © James Tate | Year Posted 2011
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