No Maiden’s Name—A response to Philip Larkins’ poem called “Maiden Name.”

Oh, Philip, how little you understood!

You imagined that a maiden's surname

Was her own, when sadly her womanhood

Was framed by her father's property claim,

And his father's before him, and his forefathers'

For dismissing women as weak was tradition.

Sure given name was to be honored,

But he last name must show a man's dominion.

Even in your verse your mom was buried,

Nowhere in your poem did you mention

The name she used before she was married.

You joined in perverted condescension.

Ah, but maybe I am too harsh on you,

I admit I'm sure you did mean well,

For stuck on a former name was I, too,

'til my own title needed a new spell.

So when the hour came for me to shed

My father's and husband's entitlements,

I pondered the wisdom of it which led

To much toil, and some ambivalence

In a search for names of the many women

From whom I draw my pride and strength,

I rummaged behind some Ricks and Kennys

Alas, to find only broken links.

My grandmother's grandmother, was a brave

Cherokee bride, her name unrecorded.

Her trivial identity was waived;

My search for her name was thwarted.

How can we be remembered forever

When our names have been precluded, replaced;

Our history eclipsed, and ties severed?

How better to ensure we are erased?

Naida Lavon

Sept. 2018

A response to Philip Larkin's poem MAIDEN NAME