Poem about/by/to a namesake

November 5, 2009 7:55 PM

Seeking a poem that relies on the concept of namesaking (ie being named after another person). Maybe in its subject matter, or is by the poet to his/her namesake. It's for my sister, whose daughter is named after our grandmother, to use in a present for our grandmother, so Willa Cather's "The Namesake" is entirely inappropriate (being about a boy soldier!). Could also be a song, or short prose. Ideally a classic poem, ie out of copyright or if not, by someone relatively famous for their poetry. Any ideas?
posted by aeschenkarnos to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

Best answer: Maybe you can find one on this site.
posted by watercarrier at 1:30 AM on November 6, 2009

Best answer: John Greenleaf Whittier has a poem called My Namesake. It's fairly long so I won't post it here, but I believe it's out of copyright.
posted by mattbucher at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2009

Response by poster: Thank you both, I'll send the suggestions on to her.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 1:06 PM on November 6, 2009