They call me __
They call me bobo—dumb
Tanga—stupid
But that is not my name
That is not who I am

They call me lazy
Kawatan, butbuton, liar
But that is not my name
Do you hear me?
That is not my name

They call me *****
****
Home-wrecker
*****
But that is not my name

They call me beautiful
They whistle when they call me
Hoping I’d turn my head
Hoping I’d notice
Hoping I’d respond

They call me hers
They call me as if I were property
As if I belonged
As if I could be owned
Stop it

Stop labeling me
Stop shrinking me
Stop trying to define me
Stop trying to cage me
I am not yours

My name is Ayna Denisse
I go by Neng
My boyfriend calls me Love
I go by my pen names
yndn, eynden, Eindeinne Moon

So call me that
Call me that, because that is my name
Call me that, because that is my truth
Call me that, because that is who I am
Call me that, because I decide

I am not your insult
I am not your judgment
I am not your amusement
I am not your property
I am not your story

Call me what I am
Call me who I am
Call me by my name
Answer to me
Or step aside

Because my name
My voice
My truth
My power
Cannot be erased

I am Ayna Denisse
I am Neng
I am Love
I am yndn
I am Eindeinne Moon

Say it with me
Say it loud
Say it proud
Because that is my name
And it is mine alone