my paternal grandmother’s name was Esperanza
it’s Spanish for hope
I was going to be named Hope
until my maternal grandmother, Fausta, protested
how dare my parents try to name me
after the luxury cigarettes she used to chain-smoke
disappointment averted
I’m glad the name didn’t stick
because I’m hopeless
©️poem by Darlene (BonjourDarlene.com)
Bonjour ! I’ll continue to write about my favorite French-inspired things, as well as books, chocolate, music, movies, and postcards, but to change things up a bit, I will also share a 50-word poem each day in the month of January!
These micro-poems are based on personal observations, pesky intrusive thoughts, and general anxiety about getting older.
I like my first name as it sounds like “darling.” I’m curious: how do you feel about your given name?
Thanks for reading!
This poem is from my poem-a-day series (January 2024).
Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
I like the name Darlene! It makes you YOU! I like my name well enough, even if it’s a bit long 😆 Thanks for sharing your poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading my poem. 😀 Do people call you Becky or Becca for short?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some call me Becca. But I don’t like Becky!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, good to know you don’t like Becky. Becca is cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My father wanted to name me Virginia Dale. His middle name was Dale and my mother found out that an old girlfriend of his was Virginia. So that was nixed. He still got to choose my name and decided on Diana Lynn. It wasn’t until after I was born and named that my mother found out I was named after a movie star he liked. Oh well. The name Diana has always felt like a heavy woolen coat that is two sizes too big but I’ve tried on several others and could not find one that felt more comfortable. I tried to equate myself to a goddess and then a princess but neither felt right. Several years ago, I picked the name Bequia and that feels the most like me. I don’t use it except in my email because I’m known everywhere as Diana. I had a friend who changed her name on her fortieth birthday as a gift to herself. The name she chose fit her to a T and it was easy the start calling her that even after knowing her by the other name for ten years. Maybe I’ll give myself the gift when I turn eighty. Thank you for your poems
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Diana” is a beautiful name and I associate it with the Princess of Wales. I think it’s so empowering to name oneself and I admire how you and your friend have done it! Have you been to Bequia island in the Caribbean? Thank you for reading my poems! 😊
LikeLike
I love your poems. They inspire me to write more poetry.
No I have not been to Bequia yet. It is somewhere in my future. I’ve been to other places in the Caribbean however so I know how beautiful it must be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a great poem/story. Enjoyable to read for sure. 😊
LikeLike