I’m terrible
with names
cuz they are labels
from someone else
while faces
are homegrown
with you
as you travel.
Names define us
in other peoples terms
before we were we
venerating Uncle ‘Bud’
or maybe a movie star
mama watched on TV
while she ironed
or cooked dinner.
Faces are stories
told in lines
and smiles
perhaps with mascara
or a smudge of mustard
from a hot dog
at the country fair
with extra relish.
I’m terrible
with names
but faces
I never forget.
ml’25