to be named

We are named from birth
Before we are known
and in the moment
When we seek knowledge
We are asked to name ourselves.
You, seeker of knowledge
Name your path
Place a name in your moment
Of acceptance of how little you know
Of how difficult it is to say what something is
You must name yourself
Something no one
Except maybe yourself
Can know
And in a moment
Of self discovery and change
You must freeze it all in a word

So I do not
I freeze it in two
One for who I was long ago
(Though shades of who I am)
And another for who I am becoming
An expression at once
Of stasis and change

Date: June 7, 2006 5:34:23 PM EDT
Subject: Poem Topic: choosing a Jewish name