As a child, I was perhaps a little more self righteous and
indignant than I am now. The more people I meet, the more mistakes I make, the
more I come to understand how we’re all just people. I’m not saying we should
just forget every mistake, but if we take the time to try to understand, it can
make relationships easier.
Take names for instance.
I have a unique one: Azelyn. No, not the lion as I’ve said
countless times before and will say countless times again. Many people have
trouble pronouncing or spelling it. It’s Az-lin for those wondering, and the
spelling is actually an alternate spelling to its Hebrew origins, Aslin (meaning:
spared by the Lord). See, it’s not like the Turkish Aslan (meaning:
lion), which I’ve always pronounce Ass-lan. Yet I’ve been called many names
from Aslind to Evelyn to Az. Don’t you dare with that last one. I am not a preposition.
At my latest job, I’m working with new kids and adults on a
weekly basis. I meet people from across the world and there are. So. Many.
Different. Names. The struggle is real. But I try to say them all. I try really
hard. Maybe I don’t always get it right, and when that happens, I’ll ask for
the right pronunciation. And I’ll ask again. Maybe again. Because I know how
hearing somebody say your name right, even if it’s the third attempt, can make
you feel welcome.
Pronunciation
I don’t know this word.
My tongue trips over
the
pronunciation
one more time,
but what’s really frustrating
are the words I
know
but can’t say right.
Why is it so hard?
As a child I found
my nose wrinkle at the scent
of
my name
said wrong
again
and
again
and again.
Didn’t they hear me?
Today I handle new names
like an octopus wrangler
tentative
touching
the syllables
and shrinking back a bit
but
always ready
to try again.
How do you spell that?
***
Let’s chat! What did you think of the poem? Any of my
readers have a unique or difficult-to-spell-or-say name?
Similar posts: Homesick, Thoughts of Place, and Pile of Words
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