What's In A Name Poem by Jim Yerman

What's in a name? That's what Juliet wants to know when she sadly discovers the last name of her beloved Romeo.

And as a way of coping…of cushioning the pain…
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." She doth explain.

Like most people I've had a variety of names…which I have happily worn…
James is the name my parent gave me on the day that I was born.

But as I grew up James seemed too formal and one day…on a whim…I made the decision from that day forward that everyone would call me Jim.

Then I married and lo and behold…a father I became….
I was Jim to my wife and Daddy to my children…suddenly I had two names.

And when my daughter married and a mother she became…
I was Jim and Dad and PopPop…now I had three names.

My christened name James was biblical…it had dignity and grace…
but Jim and Dad and PopPop are the names that bring a smile to my face.

Three names I am now called that help to make my life complete.
It matters not which one I hear for they all sound as sweet.

Whatever I'm called my hope remains the same…
that you embrace the person I am…the one who stands behind the name.

So when I'm gone…when I've finally departed this world..this time..this place…
whatever name you remember me by…will bring a smile to your face.

Perhaps that should be our goal in life…our one ambition…our final aim…
I wonder if that's what Juliet meant when she asked…What's in a name? '