grandmother's china

"What's your name, love?" she asks With a motherly smile Cheery, well-meaning, and kind I stumble and stutter awkwardly for a while She must think I'm out of my mind But it's just not that simple My mind's not so nimble When it comes to identity With every letter I lose I become more confused I can't keep up with every version of me Who am I, who am I, who am I now? I'm grandmother's china in shards on the floor Wish that I would align, then I'd find how To be only a human, And not anything more "What's my name now?" I ask, Putting paper to pen, "I think I've forgotten the sound" I know I've heard the syllables Time and again But now they're nowhere to be found Now they're nowhere to be found Who am I, who am I, who am I now? I'm grandmother's china in shards on the floor Wish that I would align, then I'd find how To be only a human, And not anything more I'm broken and scattered and lost And I know there is no one around To come to pick up all of my pieces I only want to be found What if I don't want a name But what if I want to be known What if I don't want a body But I still want a place to call home Because I'd love to feel like I'm home i'm starting to feel like I'm home Who am I, who am I, who am I now? I learn how to pick my pieces off of the floor Guess that I don't align, but I'll find how To be a human I love, don't need anything more I'm broken and proud, don't need anything more