Namely, 23

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2­­

23: morphine: a highly addictive medicinal narcotic drug derived from opium; it is often used as a pain reliever and sedative (from Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams; first known use of word—14^th century)

All opiates are in the news—

An epidemic—fatal one.

So many folks began to choose

Escape from pain—a drug to stun.

For some I’ve loved, morphine was used

To soothe their final, dying days.

But now, so often, it’s abused—

And signifies a dread malaise.