Location Exercise
I was looking back on the location exercise we did in class regarding naming and positioning and I was inspired to write the first poem I have written in over two years! I consider this poem my realization of what it means to be able to "pass."
First off, a few basics from the exercise:
My name is Eve. Eve is a Hebrew name. My name means life and original sin. My name was chosen by my parents because my mother saw Eve as a powerful historical female figure. My father is Jewish and, at one time, was an Israeli citizen. He wanted me to have a Hebrew name.
Naming is very important in the Jewish religion. A Jewish person cannot name their child after someone, (a friend or relative) who is still living.
People can place me in the following categories by looking at me: white, female, young, middle-class, able-bodied, and tattooed.
People can rarely tell that I am Jewish, and in this way I am allowed to pass.
Here follows my poem:
No one knows I am Jewish,
(They cannot see it on my face.)
My father always told me not to advertise.
He sits in restaurants with his back to the wall
and his eye on the door.
He wants to spot the gunman when he walks in.
My father tells me not to wear red,
not to make a scene,
and not to draw attention to myself.
He hates the art I wear on my body.
My father is afraid,
and I am afraid because
I fear his experiences have given him reason to be so.
I have privilege and I feel safe
Because nobody knows.