What’s in a Name?

Ah!  But are we not the ancient ones--
shape shifters, form shapers, alchemists, dreamers?
Do we not create only to un-create and re-create,
trapping energy in form only to set it free once more?

“I” was born in a human form, trapped--
like a slave with no will and no choice
a name of sorts infused into my child’s mind.

As time would have it, I broke free of some bondage
to human expectations, traditions and common ego,
but for the name I carry weighing me down
with other people’s chains anchored in their past:

Does a name given at birth really define my beingness?
Does it not rather spell a group’s hopes and dreams?
Having re-discovered my ancient powers,
my own true roots anchored deep within the flowing magma;
within the bloodstream of my own sister Earth,
tell me: Do I not have a perfect, appropriate ‘right’
to choose that word, or words, called a name,
which I, only I, can recognize as being ‘me’?

Do I not have the complete right
to present my own identity to the world?
Or, for that matter, my many identities?
In the drama of life, am I not permitted
to play more than one part, from birth to death?

If you think not--whatever your reasons,
then tell me who “I AM”!
Dare to define what I have become
not in this life alone, but including all,
absolutely all!
my experiences as “me”
part of life and part of God:
Yes, dare, when even God would not!

Sharran WindWalker

Archived 02/06/2010