My Real Name
by Elena Noel
"Today my name is colorful.
Yesterday my name was dead souls.
Tomorrow my name will be lively spirits.
My friends think my name is fire.
The police think my name is burden.
My parents think my name is symphony.
Secretly I know my name is anything
I want it to be."
This poem comes from a compilation book called "Paint Me Like I Am" by Nikki Giovanni. All of the poems within the book are written by teen writers who are part of Writerscorps. I purchased this book back in 2007, when my interest in poetry had just begun. I was 15 at the time and completely lost within myself. I had no idea who I was or who I was going to be and I really did not have a clue where I even wanted to be headed. Part of my time was spent living for myself, and like most teenage girls, most of my time was spent trying to live for and please others. When I picked up this book I was absolutely moved by the caliber of writing these teenagers produced. This poem in particular touched me, because it mimicked the emotions and feelings I had at the time I first read it. I thought it was a good choice for my first blog because it still tells a story of how I am feeling, and the young woman who wrote it so simply encompassed a feeling shared by many. It shows how we as women and as people have the option to decide who we want to be, but are also greatly influenced by those around us. I still read this poetry book from time to time and I am as greatly moved now as I was 4 years ago when I first read it.
I also chose the first line of this poem as my blog address because of how it touched me as a writer and as a poetry lover. I figured it would be a great way to encompass the true meaning behind my blog and my opinions.
