Dear Arthur,
              I have a longstanding problem with my Outlook Express that
means I often get very behindhand with comments so I hope I am not late re
this poem. I found it delightful. You have kept just the right tone,
affectionate but not paternalistic, and the names themselves are such a
pleasure.
 Kind regards,
grasshopper

From: "Arthur" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      New sub: The Solomon Islands Art of Giving Names.
Date: 31 January 2002 10:48

The names referred to in the poem are all genuine Solomon Island first names
of people, teachers and children I met. The Uminao was an inter-island
ferry.


The Solomon Island Art of Name Giving



Some imp of tongues had me laugh with Silence,

walk with Sycamore and talk with Fig;

shout Happy Christmas across a market in July;

dine on rice and tuna with grinning Defence Force Raja

drink a Solbrew with Conductor and his wife the sly Medusa

as the moon rose yellow as a pawpaw and the Uminao slid by.



I have enquired the way from Hickory

played pitch and toss with Dickory

and bandaged bleeding Doc.

I've storied long with Pearl

as his twin, Arboretum, gutted fish

and Emperor smoked a hand roll by the rock.

.

Should I have chuckled at their childish lack of guile

or accepted all with an aplomb that fashioned Empires

and drank a toast with Dignity and Smile?