The Namer

To each one I give a name;
these beasts and birds
brought before me.
Out of the ground
they rise and come to me, asking
what name they shall be called.
I alone create words,
designate each one.
I am the first poet,
the first, from me all others will come.
And many more namers
will follow after me.
The namers
as well as the words
will live on
only to return to the ground
from which they came.
But I
was the first.

© Michele (Guard) Markley 1998