It Found Me
A poem by Alexis Ragan
From the earth,
my name did not come.
Rather, extracted from the
pregnant dream of my restless mother,
sick with the unborn title
for her second child. She shifted
with one, no, two little girls inside
her distended belly— but
it could not be found.
Then, a message from Heaven
extended arms with an answer.
Radiant realm, angel visit—
He said, “Alexis,” she knew
she heard it clear:
I was to be Man's Defender.
Sometime growing up
in the city of oranges and steel,
I became a breed of bird.
Discovered by my mother, aware
we bore the same middle name,
She would chime, “Leigh-bird,”
With the most harmonious ring.
I pinkened, and she smiled.
Ever since, it stayed a thing.
To this day, I stayed her bird.
