This week, poets at Poe Middle School in Ms. Agboola’s class pondered the story of their names after reading an excerpt of Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
Here’s what they created.
My Name Is
Christian P.
6th grade
Chris
Christian
Christian P
My friends
family
and others
Call me, Christian
Just Christian.
But you
you can call me Christian
that’s all
From when I was born
My name was Christian
Christian
I was going to be named
Xavier
but that changed
Christian
Xavier
wonderful names
My Name Is
Raelyn P.
6th g.
Rae
Raelyn
Raelyn P
My friends and
family who really know
me, usually calls me
Just Rae.
So call me Rae,
because after I tell you
what I’m about to tell you
you’ll either
laugh really hard
or be
very very
confused.
Either way,
you’ll know me
know me.
My Name Is
Zariah W.
6th g.
Some know me as Zariah
or Zariah W
Some choose simply not to refer to me at all.
For others,
the name “friend” is seared into their brains
like Ayden, Amara, and Jordan
Kyla, Londyn, and Kendall
For them it’s just friend.
For you, O’ stranger
just call me Zariah
call me by my name and I’ll call you by yours.
But my dearest
my closet
my family and friends who are like
they call me ‘Z’ or ‘ZZ’
that’s what I like
Zariah, or Waterflake, or ZZ queen.
No matter what you call me
I will always be me.
My Name Is
Evan Smith
7th g.
Evan.
Just Evan.
Only Evan.
Everyone knows.
Not just my mom or dad.
Not just my brother and grandparents
Everyone.
Just Evan.
Just call me Evan.
Just Evan.
Only Evan.
It’s not really that serious,
or that hard.
My name can’t really be changed.
Or with a nicknames.
Gosh.
Evan.
Just Evan.
Only Evan.
