Baba – my baby name, baby in Irish.
Grandmother in Russian. Babushka.
My grandmother's scarf. Baa baa black sheep.
Ali Baba. Enlightened thief. Either I named myself,
Or my grandparents named me teacher, Baba, holy man, sadhu.
I was called Baba to distinguish me
from my mother, also a Maureen. She hated her name –
but she hated her middle name even more. Helen.
She had a face that moved men to madness.
So she called herself Kelly, after working for the Kelley Girls.
She married a man named Tom Green, then she was Kelly Green.
An Irish colleen. Why Maureen? My grandmother's dead,
I can't ask her why, Maybe Maureen O"Sullivan.
Maureen meant I was in trouble.
from my mother, also a Maureen. She hated her name –
but she hated her middle name even more. Helen.
She had a face that moved men to madness.
So she called herself Kelly, after working for the Kelley Girls.
She married a man named Tom Green, then she was Kelly Green.
An Irish colleen. Why Maureen? My grandmother's dead,
I can't ask her why, Maybe Maureen O"Sullivan.
Maureen meant I was in trouble.
Baba was good baby, loved baby.
Little Mary – little bitter one –from Miriam –
the rebellious dancer who took a timbril in her hand
and all the women followed her with timbrils in their hands.
Seek ye unto the Lord. The horse and rider were thrown into the sea.
Maura, the little dark one. Or even Marinita, little one, she of the sea.
My school nickname was Mo
after the Beatles, Steph calling me Mo.
Oh, you plant the pain in my heart
with your wistful eyes,
girl of my choice, Maureen
will you drive me mad for the kisses
your shy sweet mouth denies, Maureen.
with your wistful eyes,
girl of my choice, Maureen
will you drive me mad for the kisses
your shy sweet mouth denies, Maureen.
That wasn't me.
Viola – violets, the sweet scent edible purple.
My unknown father's mother's name. Shy retiring flower –
and Johanna—God has been gracious, gracious gift of God,My unknown father's mother's name. Shy retiring flower –
or victorious one in Sanskrit.
Hurley – a child of the sea and tides.
A bishop boiled in oil who would not denounce God for Ireland.
Someone once said to name your child
with an astrological balance of elements.
Water controls wood and destroys mental.
To balance earth, fire, air, water, metal and wood
allows the universal order to run smoothly through one's life.
Water controls wood and destroys mental.
To balance earth, fire, air, water, metal and wood
allows the universal order to run smoothly through one's life.
But I am fire surrounded by fire, born on the watered cusp of Scorpio.
I am surrounded by lions, Gemini rising, the twins, the Piscean moon.
I flair, burning bright, then, retreat to the sea.
I am fire. I am most sustained and soothed by water.
Sagittarius, the archer, the centaur, half-man – half beast.
I flair, burning bright, then, retreat to the sea.
I am fire. I am most sustained and soothed by water.
Sagittarius, the archer, the centaur, half-man – half beast.
And I dream in the coinage of horses galloping to the sea.
2/23/1988
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