THE NAMING

The name is a leash
that keeps the wildness in check.
Speaking it,
you draw the ghost of the beast
into the room from however many miles away.

The name splits into words,
ark unloading,
becomes the parents that come into the room
passing all those traps scattered on the floor
to cage our fears neatly,
even in the dark,
put the animals away again,
stuffed
onto shelves.

Now the parents are gone;
words retreat from flesh,
grow into prayers 
to draw God close
so we can whisper in His ear,
breathe the word into God
that will tear us loose from flesh,
render 
us permanent.

—Duane Ackerson

Find out more about
Duane Ackerson's writings at
The Locus Database

All rights to this poem belong to its author.

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