Don’t Call Me By My Middle Name Anymore; I Won’t Answer!

/ Portofino
CharleyLaney1956

Charley Laney, Original Mickey Mouseketeer, 1956. Not me.

“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

“It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” ― W.C. Fields

 

I start
my part
my frame
that name

Ten years
fed fears
felt caged
thoughts raged

New home, new school, new friends…

New name!

Mom wars
heart sores
life split
(think o’it!)

Long fight
spell right
Charley
that’s me

Last name still trips many….

0414072227

Me.

∞

dVerse – Poets Pub
I am who I am, but tomorrow, who knows?

Lillian, our barkeep tonight, posted, “For today’s Quadrille (a poem of 44 words: no more, no less – not including the title), create a self-portrait.  Perhaps it will be a snapshot of you in some moment of time. Or a taste of your tastes. Or a glimpse into the conglomeration of you — are we perhaps the ultimate nesting doll? Many of us post photos or images with our poems so in this instance, it could be a recent photo; a photo taken in your sepia days; a picture of something you cherish that in essence tells us who you are; an abstract drawing or a flower or animal or color that you ascribe to yourself. Try to make the image complementary to your words.

So, think about it for a while. Who are you? No one word to include in this prompt….just asking you to create some type of self-portrait that you’re comfortable sharing. Let your words be your palette and make broad or fine brush strokes as you wish. You’re the artist here!”

47 thoughts on “Don’t Call Me By My Middle Name Anymore; I Won’t Answer!”

  1. Charley, I love the look of this visually! I like how this line: New home, new school, new friends… Gives birth to what seems a coming-of-age moment. Something about our personality that likes his/her name spelled right – just doesn’t feel like you if it’s spelled wrong (I’m guessing). I completely understand that!

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  3. Well…have to say I LOVE the Mouseketeer shot! I was a card carrying ear wearing member in those early days. Loved Darleen and Spin and Marty! 😊 We are kindred souls my friend. Always “Lillian”, my parents dropped me off at college and the first person I met I said “My name’s Lill!” Just last year, when I took up writing, I went back to Lillian. Great cameo of you here!

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  5. Charley (did I spell it correctly? tee hee! ) I love the staccato quality to the style and word choices – it plays well with the battle theme of the poem. Your writing is always so very creative – thank you for sharing!

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  6. I started out as Wally and dad was Walter. as we both aged, I grew tired of the name. I demanded to be called Walter, and Dad always said, “Call me Wally!” What’s in a name besides a bunch of letters spelling who you aspire to be! Playful romp here, Charley!

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  11. You showed a strong side to your personality here, Charley, and I’m glad you had the tenacity to fight for what you wanted. Our names do have an impact on us and how the world perceives us. Good for you!

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    • Thank you for responding to the poetics! I hadn’t consciously done that; but I see it now that you mentioned it. I didn’t win decisively with my mom until her last year. That’s where I inherited my… um, stick-to-it-tive-ness. Yeah… that’s what it’s called! 🙂

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  21. As if the “new home, new school, new friends” wasn’t enough!
    There were 4 Michelles in my 1st grade elementary class. The teacher insisted that at least 2 of us use another name (what?!) ..any nickname we could come up with. I was stuck with “Shelly” for years. I remember having to convince my high school friends it was not really my name.

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