A Twice Named Family
I come
from a family
that twice names
its own.
One name
for the world.
One name
for home.
Lydi, Joely, Door,
Bud, Bobby, Bea,
Puddin, Cluster, Lindy,
Money, Duddy, Vess.
Yes,
we are
a two-named family
cause somebody
way back knew
you needed a name
to cook chitlins in.
A name
to put your feet up in.
A name
that couldn't be
fired.
A name
that couldn't be
denied a loan.
A name
that couldn't be
asked
to go
through anyone's
back door.
Somebody way back
knew we needed names
to be loved in.
