You Hold Me

I hear your heartbeat as mine begins

A warm, safe harbor my soul found in you

A new being growing

And you hold me

The lights are bright, the air is cold

They wrap me in a blanket

I open my new eyes and see your lovely face

And you hold me

Joy courses through my limbs

The world holds wonders for a little girl

In the afternoons you read me stories

And you hold me

Each morning I leave you to go to school

I am shy and unsure

Sometimes I come home with tears in my eyes

And you hold me

I question everything

I am no longer a little child

School and boys and trying to fit in…sometimes I get angry

And you hold me

I show you the ring on my finger

The smile on my face says it all

The smile on your face is an answer

And you hold me

I become a mother on a crisp November night

I am happy and tired and perplexed

In your arms you hold my baby, in your sea-blue eyes I see

That you hold me

My life is not exactly what I had planned for

My heart breaks as I confide in you

Although you are miles away, in your heart I know

That you hold me

In every season of sorrow

In every moment of joy

My loyal, constant, abiding friend and mother

You hold me

- Denise Cooper Smith -

I am Ava!

My name is Ava, but so is yours

We’re everywhere, in and out of doors

The teacher calls out, “Ava!” loudly

And five of us turn, answering proudly

“I am Ava!” but so are you

And you, and you, and she, it’s true

I’ve begun to think I’ll change my name

Because of it’s popularity and fame

I might like Tatiana a bit better

Or maybe Amelia, I’ll sign my letter

Not everyone has the name Gertrude LaRue

Maybe Ingrid or Solei or Caroline Pru

I’ve got it!  A name that’s perfect for me

I just came up with it, what luck, what glee!

Are you ready? I want to tell you soon

I know you’ll love it, you’ll gasp and swoon

The best name to come out of my brain

Is Sparkle Bunny Love Heart Rain

Why didn’t you think of that one, Mom?

It’s the greatest name from here to Guam

Starting tomorrow that’s what I’ll be called

No more Ava on the top of my homework scrawled

A beautiful name that suits me just fine

I’ll no longer stand in the long Ava line

No, Sparkle Bunny Love Heart Rain

Is unique, and special and not so plain

So I went to school and tried it out

And guess what, the kids didn’t cheer or shout

They scrunched up their noses, gave me funny looks

That’s when teacher found me behind the books

“What’s the matter, Ava S.?” She asked with care

“I don’t like my name.  It has no flare.”

She looked at me and smiled so bright

“Did you know that Ava means, like a bird in flight?”

I thought it over and then I said

“That’s beautiful, there’s no other name I’d have instead.”

My name is Ava, and so is yours

We’re like an eagle when it soars

When anybody calls out, “Ava!” loudly

I’ll always turn and answer proudly

“I am Ava!”  You may be too

But I love my name and so should you.

- Denise Cooper Smith -