tocayo.

i share my mother's name

in the form of my middle name.

my father changed it around a little,

made it sound a little whiter,

as if my italian last name wasn't enough.

but i hold onto that middle name

like a touchstone,

because it reminds me of my mother

and it reminds me that

decolonizing yourself

means relearning 

the many names for yourself

you had forgotten.

yes, you have a first name

a middle name, and a last name. 

but your name doesn't end there.

you're so much more than a paternal last name 

that fits easily into the boxes on government forms.

you also have your mother's last name.

it is not hyphenated, it is not tacked on like an afterthought.

it stands proudly beside all your other names

and flows beautifully against your mother tongue.

tell this to the government worker when they process your ID,

tell this to the college administration when they create your diploma.

make sure to spell your full name out loud, accents and all.

don't let your mouth miss out 

on the language of your full name,
don't let yourself miss out
on your history.