Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Poet Free verse

What's In a Namesake - Fv

All I know of my namesake
   is a photograph
   
   a young attractive 
   smiling woman
   with long red hair
   holding me

   beside it in my mother's handwriting 
   "...(called after) ten days old"

Grandma says otherwise
That I am named for her sister

   who had a twin
   who changed her name
   from Mavis to Sheila
   to not have two in her class

I looked up my name

   it is Gaelic in origin
   meaning gentle spirit beloved one
  
   to which I add
   denied 


I think I will be Mavis instead



3/11/19

What's In A Name Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Kim Rodrigues

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Frankii Fame March 19, 2019 at 12:54 AM Namesake what a thing it is to be given someone elses name who has already lived a life of memories that those who have named you will always remember when they call you the same name as their sibling....and in my case: given a namesake of 1 person who denied me the name instantly because of her memories, and a new namesake was chosen for me.... and yet our stories emblaze new in addition to being namesakes.... sorry that was winded... Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 19, 2019 at 10:34 PM Ya gotta make it your own I guess ;) xomo!

Timothy Mcguire March 12, 2019 at 8:55 PM I see in your words and poetry that you have the wisdom, courage power of a strong Irish woman. I know for my family had and has many! Wonderful poem! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 13, 2019 at 8:36 AM It's in my blood! A pure Canadian mutt ;) Come next week, everybody in town'll be Irish, the "Irish Village" (pub upon pub Irish themed) will be... insane! Thank you Tim :) xomo!

Andrea Dietrich March 12, 2019 at 6:33 PM wow, a very nice one for reflecting on one's name. Love how you ended it. It's also deep! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 13, 2019 at 8:28 AM Thank you so much Andrea, I appreciate your appreciation of my intended depth ;) you read me well, a poet could not hope for more. xomo

Andrea Dietrich March 12, 2019 at 6:33 PM My mom JEAN has red hair. When I was a little kid I asked her why her hair was pink!! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 13, 2019 at 8:24 AM Pink! Love it, had it ;) I was strawberry blonde as a child, got the ginger skin freckles, I don't look like any of my immediate family, dark hair, brown eyes and olive complexion~ I take after my Great Grandmother, whose name is one of a few on my birth certificate ;)

Agnes Krampe March 12, 2019 at 7:04 AM This is lovely! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 13, 2019 at 8:21 AM Thank you Agnes! xomo

M. L. Kiser March 12, 2019 at 1:31 AM From a numerological point of view; there's a ton in a name. Good luck in the contest. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 13, 2019 at 8:20 AM Ingrigued :) Thank you M.L.! xomo

Jeff Connelly March 11, 2019 at 11:27 PM Jajaja truly A Mavis poem. Your wit is wonderful, and that's the Gaelic. Never to be forsaken Maureen. Thanks. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 13, 2019 at 8:20 AM Thank you my friend, Mavis is such a cool name! I didn't find out her first name till after she had passed. xomo