No Name Papers

Why is it so hard to put your name on a paper.

When some cute face smiles and asks, “what’s your name?”

Do you ever forget? Maybe because you’re nervous, but you say it eventually!

Because if you never say it they’ll never know you!

If the founding fathers forgot to put their name on a paper we would not be

free.

If picasso forgot to put his name on his art,

multiple posers

would claim it as their own and the invention and beauty of cubism

would become obsolete.

If Shakespeare forgot to pen his name on his sonnets and plays,

30,000 words would be lost from our dictionary.

I’m not gonna pretend that every assignment you turn in is going to change your life,

but that name you write, changes mine.

Because when I’m sitting there for hours

smiling, frowning, growling, laughing, and yes

even crying while grading

I need a name.

I need your name.