It's Just A Name (poem) by Erica Ivory on AuthorsDen

It's Just A Name
by Erica Ivory → (All Poetry by Erica Ivory)

Save

Something I found in the bottom of a drawer.. an oldie..
When I was born they named me Ginger... Like Ginger and spice and everything nice... Not a bad name.. Ginger was a normal toddler She rarely listened she was filled with energy.. Sometimes she hid so she could not be found.. Ginger's Mom got very angry.. Mom was filled with hells wrath.. So she constantly threatened to drown the child in the bath.. This scared the little girl.. Because she knew she had already held her under long enough.. to be one with death.... Eventually she learned to play dead while holding her breath.. She held it all in until it burned her heart and chest.. Until her head felt light.. she knew then she may not survive this fight.. She wished she could cross over.. into deaths warm embrace She wished more than anything to leave this painful place.. When Ginger was in Elementary school.. She met a child named Eric.. A prankster who made her laugh.. Helped her to live with the threat of the bath.. So one day the Mom started to call her Erica.. Erica the rotten seed.. Erica Erica Erica.. Erica the bad.. I can see what your thinking Erica.. never try to hide.. I know exactly who you are.. Evil twins Eric and Erica side by side. So Ginger became Erica in her own mind.. That was what they called her now.. most of the time. Erica.. was a part of me.. so I learned to use the name Learn to let it fit me.. as we are the same.. Then when I was seventeen... I moved far away.. I started a new life.. I needed a new name.. Something.. wonderful.. Something strong.. A name people trust.. A name that says I belong.. Jennie.. Like the girl next door. Now that has been my name for the last ten years or more.. Sometimes I am not sure who is the "real" me.. Perhaps I am one perhaps all three It doesn't really matter I am Who I am.. Ginger Erica Jennie We are all the same.. We breath the same air.. We all laugh the same.. We share the same love We share the same pain.. We are all equally to blame.. Perhaps they should have just named us all Shame.. After all .........it's just a name. ERICA

Reviewed by A PAX

Reviewed on February 22, 2003

Oh Good Lord!!!
God Bless you
your poetry
your life, makes my heart cry
oh my
pax....anita

Reviewed by jude forese

Reviewed on February 17, 2003

excellent poem... has overtones of "The Faces of Eve"

Reviewed by - - - - - TRASK

2-1703

While It's Just a Name, Thank (God) My Mother
Didn't Label Me(My Father) GEORGE__

Thank You For Your Comments__Few People Learn
To Read Between The Lines Of a Good Poem,They Can't Relate so They Berate ...

TRASK

Reviewed by Lady Peg (Reader)

Erica,
the shroud deals deep into the naked soul and carves its lasting pain where no one knows.
Excellent work
Love you

Reviewed by Jack Roberts

Well done Erica.
Jack

Reviewed by Elizabeth Taylor (Reader)

Well written poem about the tradgedies of childhood. The wrong people have children. How anyone can abuse a child is beyond me.
~E

Reviewed by E T Waldron

This is an excellent perceptive poem Erica...sounds like a girl I counseled recently she has five alters, has had 2 integrated.

Reviewed by Susan de Vegter

I taught children who were abused. I have a heart brimming over for one little boy with multiple personalities. I wrote a poem about him and his trials. maybe I'll share it one day as it is personal to me and I keep him close. This makes me think of Antwan. he's with the nagels now and I am relieved that he found peace. This is a tremendous poem for it touches the depths of my spirit.Poets always seem to know what will give us memories. It's a sort of ESP we al share with others. Thank you for this.
Love and peace,
Susan

Reviewed by Bhuwan Thapaliya

Good write!!!

Reviewed by Misty Lackey (Reader)

A neat poem that seems so real and a deep game to overcome the bath into a different name each time. I see this poem as a short story with a good ending.