What’s in a Name

What’s in a name

Especially the name Stewart?

The first thing coming to mind

Is probably a joke.

 

But my name means more

Than you could ever think,

It’s probably my strong point

And not my weakest link.

 

Of course, I looked it up

Because I wanted to know,

Don’t stop reading now

Here’s what my research shows.

 

It says I am “spiritually intense

And can sting or charm”

But please understand, my friend,

I mean no harm.

The name Stewart “brings love

And new starts into life”,

For sure you can see

I’m nothing to do with strife.

 

Add to this “originality

And considerable financial success

Along with much versatility”

To which I can attest.

 

“Always looking for an opportunity

To investigate the unknown,

Looking for the meaning of life”

From what wisdom has shown.

“A unique way of thinking:

Intuitive, reflective and absorbing,

Having the ability to learn easily

And putting a premium on understanding.

 

I might be a little subjective

But I am sure you will be more open

So, I will leave you to judge

Whether these be facts or mere notions.

 

Stewart Russell © April 10, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dirty Food

 

I started the noise

But I was so confused,

It all had to do

With my wife and her food.

 

It was quite similar

To early and late

Like when a man gets home

And when his wife wakes.

 

You must read my poem

About early and late

And see the point there

That I tried to make.

 

But back to the matter

That I started with,

I somehow felt

I had to make that shift.

 

I like my wife’s food

That is a true fact,

If you have tasted her cuisine

You will agree with that.

Out of the clear

I said to her one day,

“No more of your dirty food,

I am not going that way.”

 

She got real vex

And asked, “What did you say?”

I repeated it again

And then walked away.

 

Do not stop reading

Thinking I am insane,

Give me a chance

And let me explain.

 

It is what we say

That doesn’t make sense,

So hear me out, please,

Before you take offense.

When I finished eating

I rest the plate in the sink

And then went to the fridge

For something to drink.

 

Well, I had just sat down

To enjoy the drink

When the wife shouted out,

“Wash the dirty plate in the sink!”

 

I shouted back,

“So you gave me dirty food?”

And she got blue, blue vex

And said I was rude.

 

The plate was only dirty

On account of the food,

But when I told her that

It sure wasn’t cool.

We’ve come to an understanding

It is, “Wash the plate in the sink,”

But next time before you shout back

Take a little time to think.

 

Stewart Russell © September 2019

 

Thimk!

If you saw it at the first

You’d know what it should be,

If you didn’t and you are honest

By now you should see.

I am just asking that you think-

The “n”, and not the “m”

As you read this little note

That I am about to send.

It’s one of those times again

When I have writer’s block,

I sense a need that I should write

But in my mind is not a lot.

I am pushing myself to think

Hence, the title of this poem,

If you saw the “m” up there

You know my problem.

I recall a certain math class

When I was still at school,

On the board a teacher wrote “Thimk”

And I thought that was so cool.

I was one of the first to see it

And I drew it to his attention

Whereupon he changed the “m”

And replaced in with an “n”.

That day I felt very smart

But that was where it stopped,

As you and I very well know

Mathematics is not my slot.

Yes, I heard that “What!”

And I heard that gasp,

I notice I had fooled you too

But that will soon pass.

  

I know very little math

But what I know I teach well,

My spelling is not that great either

But I guess you can tell.

I trust you have thought out

What I am trying to say,

Whatever you can do,

Do it in the best way.

If it is correcting people

Simply do it in love,

Just like our Heavenly Father

That lives above.

Don’t ever be boastful

Or be proud of heart,

This is not a good course to charter

So, don’t you even start.

Instead “think” as you go along,

It’s like thinking on your feet

And if the “m” crops up

Just strike delete.

This is a simple poem,

In which I have not said a lot

But if you saw “think” when it was “thimk”

Then you too had a block.

Stewart Russell © April 2020