The Naming

Who we really are . . .

I Name you, my Love,
softly, whispering the Truth
of who you are,
not how you seem to others,
not who you have been on this Earth.

I look deeply into your eyes,
invite the Soul to emerge
through the layers of lives,
that you might remember,
and join me in this spectacular Quest.

All the other names fall away
for both of us;
we meet in that suspended Moment
where Truth can be found,
and the Eternal invoked.

Neither of us knew the power of the Naming
until Love entered our midst,
cast away common fears,
exorcized ghosts and demons.

Our true Names define us-
not the mortal clothes we pick out for each lifetime
from some banquet hall filled with
wardrobes and mirrors.

Practicing the Naming,
facing each Other,
our Forms fall away,
the Matter we are made of here
dissolving into charismatic Energy
that dances,
merging, separating,
playful and alive.

Imagine if we faced each One we met
in each passing Moment,
seeking the true Name that lives in each of us.
Unique Names created from the same language,
the same Word,
that created this Earth.

We are different aspects of the same Source,
Light, Sound, and Love,
Beginning, without end.

I Name you, my Love.

Author's Note

Written 7/24/16, as my husband and I sat on the patio. He was lost in a verbal stream on the subject of the names of God, while I wrote this poem. I have always been fascinated by the Earth Sea Trilogy, where I first was introduced to the idea that we have authentic, hidden Names underneath the common name we were given at birth. In that work, true Names are only revealed to those who are trustworthy companions.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

There's a quote.. don't know its origin: 'We are every place weve ever visited, every person we've ever met and... every emotion shared with another's heart. ' Your exquisite words and means of laying them reminds me or rather, magnifies that quote. As to many lives within the present one, why not..'possibility' is only another word, another thought.. another plausibility! You stroke then tuck your words into people's hearts, don't you?

[Marianne Rose]

What a beautiful review, poetic in its own right. I love your insights and reflections, and feel touched by your last thought, so honoring and sensitive. In my young life, when I was a teacher, my mentor told me I had an "iron fist with a velvet glove" with students- that phrase comes back to me from time to time, still pondering it after all these years. Hearts that soften do have a secret place where words and feelings they have heard or read get tucked inside. What an inspiring way to look at this process. Thank you for this gift . . . Another phrase I think that will stick with me on this writing journey. 💜

[Lyn Anderson]

This is a deep, beautiful, serenely thoughtful piece of work. A story within a story, as there is a name within the name. I always believed we kind of choose our own name, and was very adamant to not focus on one name when my children were born. My friend named her baby one name on his birth certificate, yet calls him another name entirely. That's not the same thing as what you are saying here, but it is a similar notion. A wonderful poem to read and ponder upon.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you for your interesting review and the ideas it called you to ponder. Names are intriguing, and I appreciate your comments about the serenity and depth you felt in the poem. I appreciate your reading and reviewing this so thoughtfully.

[Lyn Anderson]

you are welcome

[Ruth]

Wow, a unique poem that stirs the senses in many ways, superbly written! Really grabbed my attention and gave me pause for thought Marianne :)

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much! I'm glad it both stirred your senses and spoke to your mind. Your kind review is sincerely appreciated!

[Bacchus]

this reminded me that God has a special new name for each of us written on a a white stone when all is said and done... that was even before i read your author's note-
see Revelation 2:17, now I have to read the Earth Sea Trilogy- never heard of it!
Thanks- this is beautiful.- Bacchus

[Marianne Rose]

Names are so important in the Bible- from Genesis when God named night and day, to John's Gospel about the Word, to the many names God had describing different aspects, to each of us- I love the idea of true names that are brought forth from the source of love. In Earth Sea Trilogy, people have their true hidden names, and their common names, a little like Lord of the Rings' Strider who is also Aragorn (can't remember the spelling). In Ursula LeGuin's tale, to know someone's true name is to be able to have power over them, if you are a wicked Mage or dragon. An interesting trilogy to read if you haven't before- a lot of symbolism of what one comes across on the path as lessons. Thanks for the great review, and for reading this!

[Bacchus]

so great- going to follow you!

[Davidgeo]

You are a magnificent writer whatever name you take. Spiritual, visceral; but there is a human element that makes this universally appealing to everybody who isn't a total asphole. So well done, this was very much my pleasure to read... high fives and such to you.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you for this amazing review! It is my hope that love is still as universal as it seems with the wonderful reviews this poem has received. I'm very happy the images and message brought you pleasure and appealed to you. Thank you for your wonderful review 💙

[Coyote Poetry]

Beautiful use of words for love dear Marianne.
"We are different aspects of the same Source,
Light, Sound, and Love,
Beginning, without end.
I Name you, my Love. "
I like the way you defined love in the above lines. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you, dear friend. My hope is that everyone gets this last stanza as I know you do. I Name you, the reader, also, my Love. Thank you for your beautiful review.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Marianne.

[Saria Lon]

This had me almost crying! This is such a fascinating idea, I had never heard of the hidden Names before. It's beautiful. That's something that, for me, is always so difficult to write about - the mystical forces underneath, the deeper selves - and you do it so well. Thank you. :)

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much for reading this and letting your heart and mind open to something new! Your work is mystical as well, my friend, surfacing from deep waters- you don't see it always, but others do. I'm very happy you enjoyed this poem, and grateful you stopped to take it in. Thank you.

[Nisreen]

Souls speak to one another
and i guess once you get close enough to your partner
every dissipates and you see a being
for everything they are
forever inscribed into your soul a name of a spirit you know
one that is familiar to every part of you

beautiful

[Marianne Rose]

Yes, it is so much easier when you have years together to wade past all the past experiences and ghosts that obscure seeing the soul. It is a call to the true intimacy we all crave, to see each other soul to soul, and I think it can be done even with strangers as our eyes get used to focusing and searching underneath what we see before us. Thank you for stopping by to explore this with me, and for your wonderful review.

[Baby Ricochet]

What's that old line? What's in a name? Apparently quite a bit. This is a stunning poem. Wonderfully written, balanced and executed. High quality all around. Thank you

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you for visiting- and for the wonderful review. I really appreciate your being so complementary and kind. Thank you!

[Inject Positivity]

Priceless and spectacular!!!

We are all different creations made with different elements in heart... Our identity does not go with how we look outside or what our names imply, it's our soul that bears the truest names of us...

Love is the only thing that can look beyond the level of our fleshy body and see the real beauty of our hearts... Because our creator has given that ability only to love and the lovers...

I bet you know this more as you have amazing husband who has got the most delightful heart... So uniquely designed and presented... What a joy to see you exploring the most precious amazing areas of human life... Love it...

Sincerely
Dhiman

[Marianne Rose]

My dear friend, Dhiman, your words are inspiring and true, and I feel grateful that this poem gave you the chance to speak them. Love is at the core, we are dazzling gems that reflect it, each differently, called by different true names of the soul. Yes, inspiration flies between us, my husband and I. To be human is such a difficult and extraordinary calling. Thank you for your wondrous and sterling review.

[. serah .]

~ i agree with the core philosophy expressed in your words... sans the religious referencing... as i am an atheist... and this post also reminds me of something i wrote about us being "fractions of the same fractal"... which is perhaps a somewhat different way of saying that all human beings are homo sapiens...

[Marianne Rose]

Looks Ike my first comment back got lost - so, sorry for the delayed response. Thank you for your reflections and sharing . . . I always wonder if the spiritual undertones of some of my writing can appeal to people of all beliefs, so you helped me by sharing that we have common ground, and that you can overlook what doesn't resonate with your philosophy. We are all the same species- I think- from the same place. I like your phrase- it carries a sense of being different parts or slivers of the same reflection or whole. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

[. serah .]

~ thank you for being so inclusive... in your thinking... i appreciate that...