A New Name

DAVE, 1865

 

So long,

so long

I have dreamed of this day.

Now it comes

and my heart is numb.

The others are cheering,

cooking,

making plans.

I am an old man

with no place to go—

a potter with one leg.

But I will be

a man with one name

no more.

I have worked for Lewis Miles

for so many years.

My second name could be Miles,

Dave, David Miles.

What about Drake?

Master Drake

taught me to turn a pot

and turn a phrase.

And the famous explorer

Sir Francis Drake,

that was his name too.

I have decided.

From now on

I am David Drake,

potter, poet.

What a sound!

David Drake,

David Drake

indeed.