What a magical thing, a name seems to be

Perfect and fitting as soon as it’s placed on me

For when I open my eyes, causing smiles to spread

I listen to the joy and loving depths from the word freely said

What scintillating promises, my own word seems to carry

Expectations and secrets that thrash, thrive, and are merry

Wounding themselves around my simply inky curves

Decorating with dignity and countless dreams that whom the title serves

What beautiful jewels, my diamonds on paper give to me

Covered with compliments and affection from all that people see

But as time goes on, and my own gifts strengthen

I am handed another word, or many, that man himself has maken

What exciting adrenaline these letters seem to spark

A new name, a new title, new words that laugh and lark

And a sensation so new, that carries me high up to the sun

With feathers of ink claiming immortality, as they sear under physical fun

How suddenly heavy this revolutionary name seems to be

As failure glints underneath me like an unforgiving sea

Knowing that all depends on bearing and maintaining these giant wings

Assuming a soul of gold and feeling only joy at when the new title rings

But as I am carried, carefully strung, high to our only star

I am taken far too quickly, from the spring to up afar

To a prison of the sky, that strangles me with the danger of death

Of falling back into reality, as it takes my soul’s very breath

But perhaps I can detach myself and dive

Into the icy, unknown waters for a chance to survive

Maybe just to drown, to sink into ashy ambiguity

Or maybe to live and to thrive, swimming without vacuity

For is it better to let myself be scooped and erased

Of my name and its loving ink, for my soul to be defaced

All so that I can shrivel and plunge with a blistering ache

As dust and not the sun, buried for dear society’s sake

By Regina Maricich ‘29 Classics Editor

29rmaricich@montroseschool.org