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
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
ReplyDeleteWhen 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.
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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