Two last names
One since birth
One since 2011
Horner-Miller
Is it a dash?
Is it a hyphen?
A space between me
That woman
Who needed
Who wanted
BOTH!
I may be small
in stature
but I need a big name
to contain me.
Every time I write my name
I embrace its length
And celebrate.
I live in that space between
A spectrum
Or
A continuum
Horner is my heritage.
Rancher stock
Adventurers
Who chose the plains
Of Colorado and New Mexico
To heal their
Son’s tuberculosis
Who chose something
Different than
Tulsa, Oklahoma
And family close
Who chose the ranching life
A radical difference
Than their
Oklahoma life
Miller is my choice.
My dear husband
Whose name covers me
With his love and shelter
Whose name aligns my
Scattered parts together
Whose name sounds
Like life to my aching heart
A marriage at 59 years old
The one to my soulmate
Friends before the vows
Today I live between
Horner
And
Miller.
A large name for
A large life
I didn’t plan
When I hyphenated!
Three other marriages
Taught me to hold
Onto me!
I just knew it was right
The space between
The link between
Two worlds
Horner
Ranch
Country Girl
Miller
New Mexican
Writer
I’m complete!
Hyphenated!
Copyright©2019 Larada Horner-Miller – http://www.laradasbooks.com