We can be what we choose
in the den
Girls, boys, women, men -
can be as we please in the den.

I could pick a new name
or another persona-
adopt a new title
pretend nobility
"Lady Sarah" I might style myself
or maybe "The Dragon's Daughter"
I'd be -
or "Fleonious Butteryfly"-
Could that be me?

We can be whom we want
in the den
Girls, boys, women, men -
can change as we please in the den.

Perhaps I might sign myself today
as "Princess Noble Wealthspear"?
I have every right to use such names
translated from my own mundane
for "Sally" is "Sarah" - and Hebrew for "Princess"
"Patricia" a Latin name - means "Nobility" -
"Odgers" my surname - Old English "Wealth - Spear"...
And perhaps I might add
(for some variety)-
"Daughter of Valour" -
(back from the Gaelic)
for once my name was "Farrell".

We can be what we say
in the den
Girls, boys, women, men -
can present as we wish in the den.

I might pick another -
a bold appellation
and style myself "The Poet".
I could do worse -
but oh, I write Verse-
not Poetry (and I know it).
"The Writer" is me
(one among many)
"The Southern Sheila"-
Or maybe I'd be a
"Sally from Tassie" -
too ordinary?
But then -
oh then-

We can be what we want
in the den
Girls, boys, women, men -
can be known as we wish in the den.

But what should I
want with a new pseudonym?
another pen name, more nom de plume?
I use so many
in life already
it's true .

I am Pat-and-George's-daughter
Darrel's-wife
James'-and-Tegan's-mum;
Annie's-sister
Win's-great-niece-
Mrs-Odgers
(Once Miss-Farrell)
Tegan James (who writes romance)
Nicholas Flynn (who takes a chance)
As Edward Cracker I wax historical
As Joe Corella I'm more rhetorical
Theo Georgiou (the Gift of George)
That's some of the men-
and there's Sara Chen -
Anna Mario
and that's not all-
How can I know who I am at all?

We can show what we want
in the den
Girls, boys, women, men -
can be whom we wish in the den.

And so, my friends
In Authors' Den
I choose to be free
to be just me.
Sally Odgers
(take me or leave it)
that's who I am
at the den.