Marshall

A poem about my heritage and how my family name was changed to "fit in" with American society when my family left portugal to come live in America

Marshall A family name identifies, in our names we are defined.

Does this mean I am lost?

Who am I?

Where are we from?

Because this name I do not belong.

My family name not mine, our family name lost over the endless seas of time.

Marshall the name of an Englishman. 

My name...my name, carries Hispanic accent, origin...

No our name is that welcomed as an American.

Great grandfather changed our legacy, to benefit his family?

In his mind it was ok to lose our heritage.

Burned and denied, lost and forgotten, all traces of foreign w****s defiling covert in a whitewash veil of superiority.

A culture denied to his children, a history obsolete to his grandchildren.

For us an advantage, our ability to blend. Protecting our family, I understand.

Machado a foreign name during a time this land did not, would not, accept.

Marshall "An American" I am.

Reviews

[Chris]

A well expressed story.

[Coyote Poetry]

On my mother side. They changed their name also for similar reasons. I hold value to my name. It tell me where my family came from. I like the description and story of your name. Both names have value. Thank you for sharing the excellent poem and thoughts.
Coyote