Tuesday, May 27, 2008

What's in a name?

Chelsea: In the English: A seaport; a port of ships.
Compare that with my sister's name which means "very holy."
Most of my life, I had wished for a different name, including but not limited to:
Cassandra.
Melisande
Alice
Penelope
Molly
Guenevere
Genevieve and
Aurora.
I would have even been satisfied with a nickname and tried very diligently to give myself one all through school. Including but not limited to:
Waffles.
Frog
Queen Turky (it's a long story)
Kilshona
Apricot, and
Julio (which, oddly enough is the one that finally stuck!)
Many years later, I met a man. I loved him and he loved me. And then he helped me love my name.
Sea
Out on the sea I earn my keep,
A man just struggling to show
That he's got more inside him
Than many people know.
Gone from home
For what seems like ages
Many memories fade like
Ink on the yellowed pages
of my journal, my writings
Of all that has left traces
On my character and soul
So far from loving faces.
But one thing still remains
Untouched by time's cold hand,
A memory warm and clear,
Though hard to understand.
For in my minds' eye
And always in my heart
The memory's of feeling you
Although we're miles apart.
And through the sun and storms I sort
Through feelings true and deep
And there on reaching my safe port
Know who and what to keep.
I've been forever on this ship
Where sea meets heaven so near
Across the endless blue expanse
To reach my port so dear - my Chelsea.
~Muad'Dib
December 14, 2001
Two days before he proposed. I have never thought poorly of my name since. Though there was a little snag with my middle name. Until this same man introduced me to a certain author. I read one of her books and have listened to many of her ideas. I am now not only proud to be a port of ships, but also to share a name and spelling with a most brave woman.
Since then, I have also been given not only a love for my real name, but also a nickname I can be proud of: Sayyadina. That's just downright awesome!!
This is only a small sampling of the little joys in my life that are brought about by being married to Muad'Dib.

4 comments:

CowboyBob said...

A safe port is to ships, what a nurturing woman is to a man, indeed. Amazingly beautiful poetry. Thanks for sharing.

Bethany said...

I have always liked your name.

Fedaykin said...

A harbor is a place of peace and comfort from the worlds choppy waves. Apt. As for me, Kenneth means fire-born, and handsome. So likewise, a perfect fit.

Ahenobarbus Textor said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inner-dialogue. Mu's poem is beautiful, too!