Issue 13, November 1997
Dancing Bear - Poem

I have names
Many names
All of which I respond to
All of which have been misspelled
Jumbled up or confused
I still answer to them
All of them
I even answer to ones 
That are not mine
If it is clear the words are directed to me
And if you are civil
Then
Call me Ishmael
Or Reginald, Sam, Richard -- I don’t care
Done in the right tone
The message gets through
The questions get answers
I have no use for name games
A name is a label
The players in the game 
Small beyond the measure of 
Their infant minds
Speak to my heart
I shall speak to yours
Count to one hundred
If you like
I’ll be right here 
As you uncover your eyes