November 9, 2008 | Ian Bland | Leave a comment The theme this week for Jon’s JVG Radio Method on 3RRR is “Duck“. Ed Bates is responsible for the background sounds. Click to hear today’s poem… [audio:JVG_Poem20081109.mp3] Duck “It’s a boy! The family are proud to announce Arrived a minute past midnight, ten pounds and one ounce The first son and child born to Shirley and Cliff Socrates Adonis Napoleon Smith” Such a name brought with it high expectations Less regard for the lad than their own aspirations A curse and a burden tantamount to abuse Unfazed they titled their second born “Zeus” “Zeus Caesar Genghis Hippocrates Nine pounds five ounces, a brother for Socrates” It became quite apparent, even as a toddler Zeus was less of a walker and more of a waddler As a school mate observed “Clap your eyes on his bum You’d reckon his arse was chewing on gum” With the help of Aphrodite and Cleopatra, his sisters He put corn pads on his cheeks so he wouldn’t get blisters For obvious reasons they christened him “Duck” Given his birth name he made sure it stuck He wasn’t the scholar his parents envisioned Future statesman, philosopher, judge or physician Though he tried very hard he was thick as a plank More of a “Wood Duck” to be perfectly frank “Friendly and happy” chimed his mid year report “Academically wanting but brilliant at sport” Golf he was awesome, weightlifting – stunning! Basically anything not reliant on running Discus and javelin “Duck”really excelled He’d just won the title when he was tragically felled A voice screamed out “Duck”, he assumed a salutation He stood arms raised high to acknowledge the adulation That cry was no greeting but a warning to seek protection A shot put, miscued, was hurtling their direction His face bore the brunt of that errant thirteen pounder Instantly “Duck” was re-christened “Flounder” The moral is names should be chosen with care Lest the weight of our projections prove too great to bear Why pre-suppose the nature of a seed yet to sprout A child who craves to fit in but is forced to stand out The names we bestow remain after we’re gone “Zeus” fathered four sons and he named them all “John” Who needs an anchor, there’s enough toil and strife Your name, like Herpes, is with you for life! If the motive is prestige, independence or fame Then love and support endows more than a name If a non de plume is the direction you’re leaning Ensure, unlike “Duck” it has only one meaning © Copyright 2008 Ian Bland Share this:TweetEmailMoreTelegram