These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Name Change

The great-grandpa, who fought and died,
left a bunch of sons to maw,
but one adopted left her side
to call an old salt, his paw.

'Twas after the US Civil War,
a bachelor, sailor, he,
adopted my direct ancestor
to lighten the life for she.

A Haselton, he was at sea,
and Haselton, he on land.
My great a Haselton came to be,
down to this poet man.

Before the Civil War the name
was Currier, you see
now four new generations we came,
to daughter, now of me.

My daughter on a pirate ship,
'twas on a college stage,
an actor, as we come to grips,
full-circle comes the page.

The Civil War, it took a life,
adoption gave a name.
On Earth, we deal with war and strife,
in Heaven ever tame.

On land, they fought as kith and kin,
on sea, the name was new.
The gift of love, its blessings win
when living days are through.

Lines: 28

by Jay O’Toole
on January 8th, 2025