What's In a Name? - The Chicago Poetry Center

What’s In a Name?

What is the story of your name? If you could change it to something else would you? This week we had an opportunity to think about another aspect of our identities by sharing poems about the origin and meaning of our names. Some unique, some often mispronounced, but always a way to tell the world who we are.

9th Grade

My Name Nyrita H.

My name Nyrita

Get it right, I got good grades

And I am strong, I love myself

Am I wrong?

If no one got me, I got myself

Self care is the best, not a test

My name Nyrita and I’m the best,

My Name Danijah K.

Danijah, beautiful as a violet flower

strong like a pack of wolves

As beautiful as piano keys sound

vibrant as Niagara Falls.

Cold hearted like the winter,

but sweet and warm like the summer.

Yes, my name is Danijah

Beautiful woman

That’s what it means.

Originates from Arabia.

My name given to my by

my mom, who saw my future of being

a beautiful woman.

10th Grade

My Name Mariah O.

M is for mature

A is for amazing

R is for responsible

I is for intelligent

A is for awesome

H is for hard working

All these words describe me,

And show who I am

Because I’m responsible, I’m mature

enough to handle my business

I’m’ a hard worker

Because I do it for my son

11th Grade

Rosario Rosario C.

Roses of love

Offering peace to the world

The salvation is the key

It’s all about the the earth

Respecting each other

I’m the name of peace

And love

Only the truth can save

the world