"Your Name", a Favorite Poem of Wallace Aroet Hale

Your Name

You received if from your father, the best he had to give,
And gladly he bestowed it.
It’s yours the while you live.

You may lose the watch he gave you. Another you can claim.
But remember when you’re tempted:
Be careful with your name.

It was fair the day you got it; a worthy name to bear.
When he received it from his father
there was no dishonor there.

Through the years they gladly wore it. To their fathers they were true.
And that name was clean and spotless
when they handed it on to you.

It’s yours to wear forever, as long as you should live.
Perhaps some distant morning
to another boy will give.

And you’ll smile as did your father, looking down at that baby there.
It’s a good name and a clean name
you are giving it to wear.