the name you gave me
is a tattoo on my soul.
and i know you went to the studio,
thumbed through the book,
debated and discussed,
argued amongst yourselves:
torn between
the unicorn with the rose
and the steampunk mermaid.
i know this tattoo on my soul
honors a beloved aunt that died
before i was born
or a cultural heritage that means
so so much to you
or a new beginning after years of strife.
i know you think it was a gift,
all this thought,
all this reflection,
to give me the perfect name.
and i appreciate that gift.
but tattoos are things we give ourselves
and mine just doesn’t fit.
Clio 01/13/21