Call me by name, a poem by Professor Ikechukwu Benjamin Ezeohagwu

I

Call me by name,
deign I’m not,
make me not wane,
but keep me sane,
by my name.

II

Call me by name,
feign I’m not,
make me not bane,
but keep me same,
by my name.

III

Call me by name,
title I’m not,
make me not idol,
but keep me mol,
by my name.

IV

Call me by name,
kittle I’m not,
make me not fol,
but keep me vol,
by my name.

V

Call me by name,
trifling I’m not,
make me not chiller,
but keep me thrilling,
by my name.

VI

Call me by name,
frilling I’m not,
make me not chatter,
but keep me fitter,
by my name.

VII

Call me  by name,
dulling I’m not,
make me not fouling,
but keep me freeing,
by my name.

Ben Ezeohagwu won the Onigraffiks Prize for literature (2017).  He is Professor of Graphonomy and Chancellor, African American University, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin and can be reached at Email: benezeohagwu@yahoo.com, www.africanamericanuniversity.org, 08173175540.