Etymology of My Name


 

Papa is an old man

born somewhere between 

the rugged streets of Nalchik

& a broken-down hospital

in October while

the clouds concealed the snow in their 

pockets

then Russia would freeze over


Two years later he had a sister

six months later she died

her name was Rina


When Naum was born

he did not have a name

he was called the child

his hair was as red as strawberries

after months my parents

named him after their Jewish

neighbor


When Dima was born

my parents were more creative

still, they settled

on Matisyahu

but we never call him that


When Mama was (re)born

as an American

she renamed herself

from Sveta, that which is derived from light

to a barren matriarch

in her old age, Sarah gave birth


When I was born

I was scared of dark spaces

My parents had already been

old enough to be grandparents

even now they aren't


I still call them by their old

names

that they tried forgetting but couldn't

they call me by Dad's dead sister's name

One day it will be mine

Comments

  1. wow Rina this was so fascinating. I feel as if I just took a journey through your life. I love how you get to your part later in the poem and show how you became Rina. This poem really shows how much meaning every name holds, there is a story attached to a name. You humanize names and ideas in a unique way here that I deeply admire. I love how mama was essentially reborn and I found that perspective very creative as her moving to America felt like rebirth. I love this entire poem but my favorite line is in stanza 3 when you say
    When Naum was born

    he did not have a name

    he was called the child
    Here you play with the idea of names even more and show that without a name one is just a child. Also the choice to italicize 'the child' makes it even more impactful truly showing how not having a name means not having an identity. I really loved this poem and it feels like a piece of history, great job Rina.

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  2. This one is a little more flatly told than some of your more intense lyrical poems that your published after this one. It's a serene reflection on one's name, showing a different mode for your work. Still, I think one of the other, newer ones will make for a better discussion.

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