why do feminists
choose to name their daughters after themselves

do they think this an act of rebellion
this passing on of their sir-names

how come
such smart women are so dumb
when it comes to the passing on
of their own shackles

lengthening the chain that binds them

mother
and daughter
on
and on

fools fools i cry
we have no names
no names
my heart keens
for our no-nameness

in a world where
name is all
our dreamtime is denied us
un-named we cannot be

what have i to pass on to my girlchild
her fathers name or my fathers name
in the name of the father
in the name of the son
in the name of the holy ghost
choosing only from the pool of mens naming
what is there to choose between them

i will not be ms father
i will not be ms son
I sure as hell will not be ms holyghost

i will be a mnemonic terrorist
i will be a linguistic guerrilla
i will name myself

come sisters will you join me

let us instigate a vast revolution
let us re-name the entire female sex overnight
let us declare it international womens night
let us dream ourselves names ecstatic and wonderful
vast and powerful
let us wake in the morning to a world made anew with
our dreaming

a world where we walk in no shadow but our own
a world where the sound of our names
makes strong men tremble
still lakes ripple
and dry leaves burst into flame
at the passing of our breath

as we are named so shall we be