Said your name was dog

so you 

spent five years

sniffing and begging.

Said your name is dog

so you

tipped over trashcans and

ate scraps from fine diners.

Said your name is dog

so you were

stray and

mangy. You

were alone and gray.

Said your name was dog.

Said you ain't got no name.

Said dog don't define you.

But it do, don't it, boy?

People is mirrors, see?

They know things by

what they call them.

When they ain't got a word

for what it is you are?

You don't exist.

Said your name was dog.

Said your name was cunt.

Said your name was dickhead.

People spoke you outside your name.

So you were outside yourself.

But I said, "Your name is William.

You is free."