names
dont really say who we are
or define who we are
neither do they say our
deepest thoughts

they are just
letters arranged
in a combination
and scrawled on a piece of
crumpled paper

they are a tag
a label of similarity
a forecast
of sameness

they are not straightforward
it does not live our lives for us
it is not etched in our hearts
but etched on the concrete
cinder block of life

uniqueness and rarity
is lost here
gone in the syllables
of the name

swallowed by the letters.

the poor soul
behind the name
tortured by the burden
of a labeled society

it weakens the heart
it weakens the mind
each and everyday
hope is lost
in sameness

i will break free
i hope you will see
the difference
between me
and the person behind me

im different
and i am me.

(b.d.s.)