Poems and Stuff

Names and Revelations

My name is

So complex, yet simple.

Chosen for me by my mom out of the Bible.

It could've been worse if my Dad had his way.

But does it reflect my true identity?

I used to resent this name.

The name no one could pronounce.

The name some made fun of.

The name that made me stand out in a crowd,

The same crowd that I just wanted to be lost in.

I used to disguise this piece of my identity,

Like it was a secret I hid it,

Like it was a burden, I was ashamed of it.

How I longed to be a Jennifer, 

Someone simple in name, smile and spirit

Someone who's name wouldn't stand out

And a name that could get lost in the sea of people.

However, this was not me.

I felt like the sore thumb, 

The introvert that no one knew,

Was friends with,

Took advantage of,

An outsider to my species.

Until one day I realized something.

I realized that I am more than just a name.

That a name is not more than my whole identity.

That my name was a puzzle piece, rather than the finished puzzle.

I am a person,

I am unique,

And my name's never confused with another.

I will not lie, I still struggle,

But I will not let myself feel devalued nor 

defined by a single word.

I no longer let myself be defined by a "name"

A name that was given to everyone at birth,

They are all different and individualized.

Yes, some are more common,

But it is not my loss for my "name"

But their fault for lacking in open-mindedness, creativity or culture.

In a world full of wonders, 

The biggest fault they have is to be concrete, singular, and traditional.

Step outside of the box and see me, 

In every form of my "identity."