This name is still an uncertain bird in my mouth,
perched at the tip of my tongue when I reach
for its fragile feathered body.
So small in the hold of my hand
it cheeps, cheeps, cheeps
and I say Finch, Finch, Finch
to the mirror above the sink,
check the windows are closed before loosening
the grip I have on its wings
uncertain if I can make the sound stick.
Write a poem that delves into the meaning of your first or last name.
NaPoWriMo 2021 Prompt – Day Fourteen
Carol J Forrester 
When we got married (almost 2 yrs ago, after our extended {28 yr] cohabitation) we decided that My Beloved Sandra should keep her name, so we both still call her Sandra.
Enjoyed your NaPo today, as usual, Carol!
And as usual I enjoyed your comment Ron, as aways it has brought a smile to my face. My congratulation to you and Sandra, wishing you many happy years of marriage.
[…] by a NaPoWriMo prompt on Carol J Forrester’s site: https://caroljforrester.com/2021/04/15/napowrimo-day-fourteen-my-married-name/ Thanks to her – I wouldn’t have seen it and had the idea otherwise. Oh, and go and read […]
Thank you for the link back. It’s actually the official prompt from the NaPoWriMo site so I can’t take any of the credit, but I really appreciate your comment that I write ‘proper poetry’.
This is incredibly tender and vulnerable. I love it, Carol.
❤
David
You had me at the opening- this is gorgeously woven! I so loved hearing you read at the LIVE event! 💝💝
You had me at the opening with “This name is still an uncertain bird in my mouth”. My last name has gone from Bryden, to Stilwell, to Buttkus, to now Pellegrini. My wife uses her Maiden name, my step daughters used their father’s name until they married.
Well the name was very convenient for the prompt so it has that going for it 😉 I liked hearing you read it tonight at the Live OLN.
So fun! A very enjoyable read. J
This is a delicately feathered metaphor for a new name, Carol, particularly the opening lines, the ‘uncertain bird’ in your mouth. The way you try it out in the ‘mirror above the sink’ reminds me a little of the way we used to write our names with those of the boys we liked in our school exercise books. By the way, Finch and Forester (is it single or double ‘r’?) What name are you going to give your little chick?
Morning Kim, we’re going with Finch for Thea. (Double r in Forrester). Part of the reason I changed my name after marriage was so we would all have the same surname, but it’s still quite odd. There are always people I will be Forrester to however, just as my mum has people who still only call her by her maiden name.
My name changed several times. I like Russell because it’s onomatopoeic – the sound your finches make in the forest!
It’s a strange feeling, taking on a new name, though I rather like mine, I don’t use it for writing. I use my mother’s maiden name, but it’s still her father’s, when you look back.
I can imagine a name change as being hard to process. How can something come to you automatically when it’s been otherwise all of your life? That it happens to be Finch works well with your metaphor, something so hard to grasp when Forrester is so firmly ensconced.
This was enjoyable to hear read Carol. Wonderful poem and wonderful presentation!
I loved hearing you read the poem. There is something about changing your name that is strange to me… but I’m glad you found one that you like.
Thank you Bjorn. Changing my name still seems strange to me, especially as I still use my maiden name for writing. Finch isn’t bad as far as names go though.