Daughters (Symbol)
Shire highlights a gender divide by focusing on daughters within this poem. In fact, there is no mention of sons at all. Daughters symbolize the challenging experiences women and girls have in a patriarchal society. Furthermore, daughters represent the marginalized subgroup striving for identity and success within a dominant culture. Therefore, they are a cultural and historical symbol of resilience. At least, this is what she wants the reader to internalize.
Difficult Names (Symbol/Allegory)
Difficult names are a collective symbol of rebellion and empowerment. Shire tells parents to give their daughters difficult names, which indicates pride in their culture as well as defiance against the status quo. This poem's allegory emphasizes the identity and experiences of Shire herself. She possesses a complex name and understands the hardships that come with it. Yet she has grown to love her name and use it to her advantage.
Parent/Child Relationship (Motif/Allegory)
The motif is the parent/child relationship Shire repeatedly emphasizes. For example, Shire advises parents to give their daughters difficult names within the first two sentences of this poem. She is encouraging parents to help their daughters shape a meaningful, strong identity for themselves, which fuels a healthy bond. This reflects the allegory of Shire's relationship with her parents, as they gave her a difficult name she is thankful for. Although she despised such a name as a child, she appreciates the thoughtfulness of her parents' decision to embrace it.
Pronunciation (Symbol)
Shire highlights the importance of pronunciation within the last sentence of this poem. She shows her commitment to avoiding those who fail to pronounce her name correctly. Pronunciation is a symbol of one's level of respect for Shire. Shire declares her ability to understand how much a person respects her cultural identity based on how one pronounces her name. Furthermore, pronunciation is a symbol of the self-respect Shire possesses. She wants to protect herself from those who don't have her best interests at heart.
Tongue (Symbol)
Shire mentions the tongue within the second sentence of this poem. She indicates the kind of power difficult names should have over the tongue. Yet the tongue is a symbol of power in and of itself. It symbolizes the strength that words have to shape the identity, beliefs, and actions of those speaking or being spoken to. Difficult names that command the full use of tongue stress the need for authority and esteem from others. Fully exercising the tongue is a sign of careful attention and concentration given to daughters with such names.
