Names, places, and shared experiences shape how we see ourselves and connect with one another. These three thoughtful poems explore identity, belonging, and the simple moments that enrich our lives. From the meaning hidden within a name, to the restorative power of nature, to the human desire for connection, each poem offers a unique reflection on what makes us feel at home.

DOES A NAME DEFINE US?

What’s in a name Shakespeare has said,
I asked myself that question just now in bed,
Perhaps it’s so common but given with love,
To remember a grandmother in heaven above,

What is behind a namesake I now do ask,
Giving myself a rather interesting task,
Is it to be associated with a higher class,
To sound wealthy, wise, albeit not crass,

Perhaps it’s been handed down like a junior,
To be seen and heard from generations superior,
Or, to be unusual such as a name like Sky,
Rather popular today to name a guy,

I really don’t know how to answer the dilemma,
Does a name like Rose make a girl even sweeter,
I don’t really like my simple name of Carol,
It only rhymes with the words apparel or barrel,

Whatever we are called we should always know,
It may be changed later as the older we grow,
Feel really good and remember your luck,
You were not saddled with a dumb name like Schmuck.

I hope you’re laughing!!

~Carol Ostrow is the author of Poetry in Motion with Much Devotion

THE PARK

Tune out all the Negativity and Toxicity
Embrace Nature
Her daughters and sons
Listen to children playing
Realize how lucky viewing a blue sky is
Release what was and embrace what is and what will be
Escape and appreciate the gifts around you
At least twice a week,
The sojourn to one of our many parks is a must
Tune into the beauty,quiet,and grandeur
The Park

~Madlyn Epstein Steinhart, author of Beautiful Life, and Found at Last

Where We Go To Gather

I like to see the disassociated screwdriver
and the expired Costco card
with a decent photo,
comingle in the junk drawer,
creating a new category of belonging.

I am fascinated by the swirling alphabet soup noodles
that stir among the lima beans
and then assemble,
eventually almost spelling a word.

I want to be the receptacle
for the raining confetti
and celebratory firework residue
that fuse the sky with the earth,
to mark an occasion.

I want to take Lady Liberty’s stance
residing over landfilled Ellis Island,
and have a birds-eye view
of all the immigrants
who sailed to America
to fill new kitchen drawers,
ceramic soup bowls
and take cover in
colorful, weightless precipitation.
I want to bear witness to
building timeless traditions
where we all overlap,
and where we go to gather together.

~Nicole Freezer Rubens, from her new book of photos and essays, NEW YORK AND NOT NEW YORK