1+1+1+1= Two Names

Heaven has been good to us
from the beginning of our journeys

Honey had her father
guiding her way through music
records at 4
guitars at 8
gigs from the age of 12
always always
holding her hand,
lighting her way:
"Listen to Neil, Missy
do you hear that lyric?
do you hear that music?
now THAT is a fine song writer"
he taught her all he knew
and some of what he didn't know,
he was the most important person in her life
he passed away when she was 30
his name was John

Johnnie

Evelyn
the Big Indian Chief
as she called herself to
all 20-something of us little ones,
the babysitter of the neighborhood
enough love in her
to fill two dozen children
daily,
she was my buddha mama
potty-training me
loving me
disciplining me
never letting me get away with
trouble-making
always good for a rocking in her chair
on her cushy belly of love
big enough to hold three small children
as I've said before
her middle name

Rose

the music teacher in 8th grade
who saw me crying
and pulled me aside
to let me know
I was not invisible
and neither was my pain
she was my first
confidante
she was the one
who took the knives out of my hands
she was the one
who taught me how to fly
her last name

Miller

Honey's brother
not by blood, but
brother by soul
by spirit
he was there during her downs
her ups
before I even came into the picture
he helps us keep privacy
like you wouldn't believe
sneaking us in and out of hospitals
for cancer
chemo
radiation
fertility appointments
OB appointments
pre-labor hospital appointments
hotels
busses
venues
restaurants,
he is
part guardian angel
part body guard,
part brother,
and all
Heaven sent
his name is

Steven

Johnnie Rose and Miller Steven
not one letter is wasted,
not one name pulled
out of nowhere
everything means something

life is a metaphor
and I have given birth
to two
named after
four

who changed our lives forever

blessed be

John
Steven
E. Rose
M. Miller