The Names We Bear

Women bear names not their own. 

Photo courtesy of Jack Dorsey and Flickr Creative Commons

We take up our names.

Names of praise,

Names of shame,

Names smeared

Like scarlet letters.

Women bear names not their own.

We wear them

Like tattered shrouds

Because we are

The burden bearers,

The guilt wearers,

The broken heart carriers.

Women bear names not their own.

We strut out the name

Proud and prancing.

Sometimes,

We stuff our name

Under our shirts

But regret peeks out.

Women bear names not their own.

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