A new poem by Christchurch poet Gail Ingram.

My adopted name

this is not a poem   this is not a poem   this is not a poem   this is not a poem   this is not a poem   this is the wind   this is the wind that scatters lines    this may or may not mean something to an exclusive group who can read lines   who can read lines?   who stops to look at the flowers?   who knows the Māori name?   who knows the scientific name?   who knows their name?   who gave me my name?   what is legal isn’t always right   this isn’t a poem   this is about a flower I didn’t know   this is about growing up   this is about growing into a name    this is about growing into a country   this is not about growing a country   this is personal   hello i’m tauhinu for example   hello tauhinu do you read the wind?   do you read the wind?

The Friday Poem is edited by Chris Tse. Submissions are currently closed and will open again soon.