Badges of Pride

I am not who I say I am.

I say it does not matter

who people say I am.

Every title I have acquired

is for the purpose of secrecy,

for comfort, safety,

for holding onto the past

like a camouflage.

I wear them as a badge

and polish them off

every once in a while

while I pretend

that they mean something to me.

But they are not who I am,

And it matters to me

Who I say I am.