This poem is about me
or at least, my name
insofar as my name signifies "me"
My father named me Meenakshi
after my grandmother, as per tradition
and called me Meena
after his beloved twin sister
his guardian Angel
I never answered to the name Meenu
it didn't sound like me at all
I loved all the songs with my name in it
Like "Ennadi Meenatchi! Sonnathu Ennachu"
even if the lyrics weren't all that flattering
In Secondary school I was Meena, mostly.
In Chemistry, I was Meenkaski
Bless Ms Tan, who would only call people by their full names
even if she couldn't pronounce them.
I didn't mind. I sounded Russian
My classmates called me Ski for short.
They still call me that.
Meena Akka or just Akka
one of my favourites,
delightfully sounded by a four-year old,
arms around my neck -
made me feel older, more responsible, loved
To my closest friends,
I am Meens
such familiarity,
conveying love, laughter, safety all at the same time
some in the group call me Meenatchi - just to annoy me
but in loving jest
kutty baby
such a horrible name for me
infantilizing, condescending
thank goodness that didn't last
padumosamana baby
hahah
wasn't actually called that
maybe just the once, by myself
but it calls to mind indignance and hilarity!
Aachi at the temple.
At 40 I finally feel ready for this honorific title
signaling belonging to the Chettiar Community
one I hold with pride
Aatha
Aatha. what I call my mother my kids now call me
and I kept telling my husband not to call me that
I was striving to keep my identity as mother and myself separate
The other day,
I labelled a waterbottle at home
"Aatha"
first time ever
it led to this poem!
I am Aatha.
blessed to be. A name I long to hear uttered.
They call me other things too
Aathi, Mummy, Mummy Bear/ Mummy Cat
gets cuter and cuter no?
Mdm Meenakshi Palaniappan, AD
That's me at work
with a title, a modicum of deference from those who call on me
totally unnecessary, but they feel it
Mostly I am called Meena
except in writing class
I am Meenakshi again
and I love it
Meenakshi, for me - no title no surname - calls to mind myself as a writer
So what's in a name?
Different names for different seasons and different reasons
I will grow into more names, surely.
or at least, my name
insofar as my name signifies "me"
My father named me Meenakshi
after my grandmother, as per tradition
and called me Meena
after his beloved twin sister
his guardian Angel
I never answered to the name Meenu
it didn't sound like me at all
I loved all the songs with my name in it
Like "Ennadi Meenatchi! Sonnathu Ennachu"
even if the lyrics weren't all that flattering
In Secondary school I was Meena, mostly.
In Chemistry, I was Meenkaski
Bless Ms Tan, who would only call people by their full names
even if she couldn't pronounce them.
I didn't mind. I sounded Russian
My classmates called me Ski for short.
They still call me that.
Meena Akka or just Akka
one of my favourites,
delightfully sounded by a four-year old,
arms around my neck -
made me feel older, more responsible, loved
To my closest friends,
I am Meens
such familiarity,
conveying love, laughter, safety all at the same time
some in the group call me Meenatchi - just to annoy me
but in loving jest
kutty baby
such a horrible name for me
infantilizing, condescending
thank goodness that didn't last
padumosamana baby
hahah
wasn't actually called that
maybe just the once, by myself
but it calls to mind indignance and hilarity!
Aachi at the temple.
At 40 I finally feel ready for this honorific title
signaling belonging to the Chettiar Community
one I hold with pride
Aatha
Aatha. what I call my mother my kids now call me
and I kept telling my husband not to call me that
I was striving to keep my identity as mother and myself separate
The other day,
I labelled a waterbottle at home
"Aatha"
first time ever
it led to this poem!
I am Aatha.
blessed to be. A name I long to hear uttered.
They call me other things too
Aathi, Mummy, Mummy Bear/ Mummy Cat
gets cuter and cuter no?
Mdm Meenakshi Palaniappan, AD
That's me at work
with a title, a modicum of deference from those who call on me
totally unnecessary, but they feel it
Mostly I am called Meena
except in writing class
I am Meenakshi again
and I love it
Meenakshi, for me - no title no surname - calls to mind myself as a writer
So what's in a name?
Different names for different seasons and different reasons
I will grow into more names, surely.
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