Privet Menya Zovut: Hello, My Name Is…
Hello, dear friends, here I am in my total capacity now, and I wish to thank you all
for the support you gave me in April. I couldn’t have done any of that without your
encouraging words. Thank you. Happy May, everyone.
They should have Named me Susannah I wish they'd named me Susannah so I'd cart a song with my name-- a mouth full of cake of buckwheat and happy tears that ceased never-- to boom as I hear them sing me and lady-cry from my hometown all the way over Havana they'd ricochet the world with song --banjo or no banjo-- all the hot, merry good ol' day until they'd sucked out the marrow, bone dry into tomorrow so señoritas made to stroll the town-square for menfolk glee could stay home to work on prose Or Diana, pretty please, like Paul Anka liked to sing-- "Oh, please, stay by me, Diana." Or sweet Caroline, for whom "good times never seemed so good" 'Manda, Rosann, Elvira, Billie Jean? Or at best, a Mary, of hair of gold and lips like cherry. But no, the name my parents gave me is of beauty and grace alone virtues you find in a goldfish, in the gait of a cat, and even in multicolored, noisy birds-- merits that when in front of the town-priest blurts out truths about him and his bar buddies. (I'm looking at you, Fr. Sotti) As a babe, I was plump, pretty, moon-faced but tell me, isn't that how babies should be? whatever the rush was to name me based on charm and my good looks alone when Susannah would have serviced me more So my first name I keep veiled on purpose and use my middle name--Selma, instead only now when I google me for perspective I find they've placed me with the good Rev. King and tagged Alabama to the end of my name. If you've made the trip to my website, or read down to the end of one blog, you'd have seen that indeed, I like me as Selma for to be Selma frees me from thinking me vain To be Selma means to be stalwart as courageous I happen to be seeking out penpals and writing buddies and, like Mr. Rogers, asking, "Won't you be mine?" I'm Selma a reader, writer, learner miracle zealot avid enthusiast and oh, so ordinary. I'd have done well as Susanna or Diana, or even Roxanne Billie Jean or Elvira or Mary with pen in my hand to complement. Selma is who I'll be to you a euphoric resonance of peaceful and complete I like to think of as possessing befitting only me As Susannah, with a banjo or no banjo they'd have sung me nonstop till the weather was bone dry and everyone but me was frozen over from the hot sun so now that you've been informed of my colors, you may take my name, Selma, to Havana. * © 2022 selmamartin.com
Today, may I invite you to take a look at this poem by Mark Wunderlich, appropriately
titled “Wunderlich.” My poem took inspiration from his and I hope that after viewing
what Mark Wunderlich did in his, you can relate to some of what I added to mine. This
fun prompt came about in last year’s National Poetry Writing Month in April. I’ve polished it, and hope you enjoy it.
I also found it very interesting how the naming customs, in Ukraine, are so different from what I know.
Source: Wikipedia The research I found interesting today: Eastern Slavic naming customs are the traditional way of identifying a person's given name and patronymic name in Russia and some countries formerly part of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union. They are commonly used in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and others (see source).
Image by Mihai Surdu from Pixabay
Thanks for reading, I wish you miracles and I Declare World Peace.
I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.
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As I finished reading your delightful poem and comments about other names, I thought of Shakespeare.
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
I do believe that whatever your name, you would still be kind,
“and a reader,
writer, learner
miracle zealot
avid enthusiast
and oh, so ordinary.”
Ordinary or not…your words bring miracles across the globe.
Yes, Shakespeare hoarded wise words that made sense, like that. And you are too kind to quote him for me here. Thanks for your continued support, Kathryn. Thanks for believing in me.
So now the holiday has reached its conclusion: making Friday a work day and then comes the weekend. Gosh, I’m still running, though. I will catch up one day. In the meantime, I continue to wish you miracles, dear friend. Stay sweet. xoxo
I use a nom-de-plume… the writer in me has employed it, the muse in me enjoys it! 🙂
Glad to know, Jules, I enjoy the sound of it too. And like Kathryn (commenter above) said, by any other name you’d be just as sweet. Happy writing, Jules. xoxo
I started with JulesPaige… and I go with that sometimes. Becausee ‘Words are like Jewels on a Page. But folks keep putting the p lower case and seperating the name. Computer programs have no direction for one word names with a capitial letter in the middle 😉 I shall live.
Hi Selma!!
Hiya, Ruth, dear. Thanks, my sweet. Stay lovely.xoxo
Sometimes, my name has been mud! Other times, it has been an expletive. Whatever you want to call me is fine as long as you don’t call me late for dinner! 🙂 <3
Hehe, you are a funny one. I’ll be sure to NOT be late in calling you in for dinner. A three-course meal, of course! Thanks for the fun comment DAP. xoxo Bless you and your lovely heart.
this sings, oh so beautifully, Selma what powerful meaning and truly fitting spirit for all thee above , many blessings to you 😊💜
And many blessings to you as well, Krissy. You are a gem. I wish you miracles. xo
My grandmother’s name was Selma. A fine name. (K)
Grandma’s was? Aww, bless her wherever she may be. My father gave me my middle name. I like it better than my first name which is Jamili: Jamili Selma. Thanks for reading and commenting, K. I appreciate you. xoxo
Hello dear Selma Susannah, both sweet and strong! I found out my parents named me after a country music singer, Diane Lynn, but switched my name to Lynn Diane 🙂
Thanks, Lynn Diane. So is yours… My first name, Jamili, sounds too vain to me. So as a Writer, I prefer to be Selma. Thanks for commenting, my sweets. I bless you. xoxo
Bravo, Selma! A beautiful name and well-crafted and engaging poem!
I’m delighted you found it engaging, my sweet Michele. I totally appreciate your lovely words. xoxo
I don’t think a name defines you, you define the name
So right, so right you are. We give it substance and verve. Thanks, Deb of Nope, Not Pam… I bless you. xoxo
My given name has no meaning whatsoever and was applied in a hurry in case I died in the next hour. When I took Buddhist ordination quite some years ago, I received a new name. Today, I write under the British translation of that name, and nothing has ever suited me better. And for sure, Harmony gives me something to live up to! 😉
Wonderful poem, Selma, and so expressive. Love it! 💕🙂
applied in a hurry?! — because of such a sad reason as you mention? Oh, sweet girl, I’m sure it was well thought of. But yes, sometimes we, the recipients, don’t take to the name very well. Anyway, the name bestowed on you at your ordination is lovely indeed. In every way. And you wear it well: you give Harmony a good name (wink)
Glad you enjoyed the poem. I bless you.
💖
This was so beautiful, Selma! I absolutely loved it and plan to share it with the students in my school’s poetry club. 🙂
Aww, Yvette, you will share? My heart thanks you. So kind of you to do that. I thank you a rainbow and wish you miracles. xoxo
I love this Selma.. fun, charming funny and poignant.
“the name my parents gave me
is of beauty and grace alone
virtues you find in a goldfish,
in the gait of a cat, and even
in multicolored, noisy birds–
“I’m
Selma
a reader,
writer, learner
miracle zealot
avid enthusiast”
And you are very gifted! 💖
You bless me, Cindy. Thanks so much. xoxo
Oh that’s nice to know Selma! 💖💖💖
A beautiful poem, Selma. I particularly liked your last two verses—a perfect way to end this piece 💖. I think names are soo important. We all get given a name at birth – either one our parents have planned during the pregnancy or one that was rushed along once they could see if you ‘looked like’ that name after you were born. I had a name in mind for my son, Tom (short for Thomas), but my daughter didn’t have a name until she popped out. She’s Clare (without the ‘i’ she used to tell people at school). My given name at birth was Jacqueline. I never liked it, and when I became 13, I somehow convinced my parents to shorten it to Jacqui. It still didn’t seem to fit me, if that makes sense. Finally, about nine to ten years ago, I changed it by deed poll to Ellie, and this time, I’ll stick with that as I like it … about time too!
Well, I must say that I love you as Ellie. It’s a beautiful name indeed. And what’s more you chose it. Yay. I like me as Selma too. hehe. Thanks for commenting, dear one. I bless you and wish you rainbows and miracles…
Aww … thank you so much, Selma. That’s a very lovely thing to say, and it’s a great start to my morning too. Hugs for you x 💜💛💚
P.S. I meant to say, I hope that you have a wonderful day too x 💖
This is amazing Selma. I do like my name Jude, but there are a few I would have been angry to receive if my parents had deemed them appropriate. As for the traditional ones, those we have to come to love by force. I love the names you listed. and I’m actively searching for a name for my imaginary daughter.
An imaginary daughter? Hmm, I see… Don’t overlook Selma… there are songs written about Selma and it seems to be a lovely European name. Feel free to christen your imaginary daughter with my name and you can tell her I’m her fairy godmother. haha. Thanks for reading and commenting, Jude. I like your name too. Happy to know you.
hehe, the daughter im manifesting, if, when, or regardless of finding a right partner. Selma is definitely great. I’d like one based on the stars, or on the minerals in the earth.
I’m so sure that whichever name you decide on it will be the best name for your daughter. Yeah… here’s looking at ya’ 👏 🥂 💗
Ha! I like this poetic musing on names. I had no idea that Selma was your middle name and that you were hiding your main name. (Ahh, curiouser!) You might remember the song I posted once for you already. For people from ex-Yugoslavia, Selma will ALWAYS call to mind the girl who was going to university by train and he carried her heavy suitcase for her, and when the time for goodbye came, he could only muster: “Selma, Selmmaaaaaa, goodbye, Selma, Selmaaa, Selmaa, and please, do not lean out of the window.”
Oh yes, I know you sent me that lovely video on my name. I forwarded it to Vesela. She also loves my name. Well, she knows me as Jami (short for Jamili: my first name) but she has come to know me as Selma since I started writing. You know, we don’t always tell our middle names to others; she wouldn’t have known otherwise. hehe.
Well, I hope you’re not tooooo disappointed that this is my middle name. I bless you and thank you for your continued support my friend. xoxo
Selma, you would still write delightfully had you been named Susannah or Diana!
You are a lovely fairy creating everyday miracles with your words! ❤️
You are sweet. Thanks for this lovely compliment. 🙇♀️ 💗
You are most welcome, Selma. 💖
A charming poem, Selma! Selma has fewer letters than Susannah, so over time you save a lot of energy signing your name .:) Cheryl is my given name. I am one of the older “Cheryls” out there. I was always jealous of my younger sister’s name, “Yolanda.” I noticed you mentioned “banjo” a couple of times. I happen to love banjo music, as in New Orleans jazz.
Thanks, Cheryl. I like your name. And it’s true what you say about saving energy. 😜
Banjo. I added it as in the Oh, Susanna Song it mentions a Bango. That instrument is lovely.
Glad for your visit. XoXo
Adore this <3 You embody your name, Selma. And I am so glad we're penpals! 😀