Shame In The Name Game

Sometimes she would say the name out loud

Hush it when she was in a crowd

And every time she visited QE

Matrons would ask what’s the name of the baby

Eight months in a few days and still

I haven’t been registered, so until

Name is given like the other four kids

The registration department no longer forbids

Here are the names unofficially

Everyone can quietly call me

Names that were chosen by my own mother

A first name of Javan and middle names Jeshua and Isaiah

My mother came at eight years old some 22 years ago

Embraced the Bajan way and at least four times didn’t say no

Got embraced by Bajans, now 4 other kids, 13, 12, 6 and four

All I’m asking is that they treat me like the kids before

My name is not the Riley baby and mummy is not the blame

Every one should stop this Shame In The Name Game