I whispered it

you never knew my real name

not my true name

but not because I never told you

I gave you hints

I whispered it when 

we fell silent

I asked to be seen by

looking away, pointing at the

clouds

I asked to be heard

by chanting the words

reciting the stories and dreams

until you looked away

not ready to know, not willing

to participate 

in a reality too nuanced

too distant 

from your piece of earth

too full of floods and fertile soil

and breaking curses

I asked to be known

but without that reflection

I sank back into the waves

and let go