Farewell to Don, my middle name.
He gave the label long ago,
who bore it first himself, and yet,
the damage done he'll never know.
Through generations old and lost,
a name will take its toll on those
who fantasise their ancestors
have aught to give but olden woes.
A name will hunt you down, and say
that you alone must bear the blame
for those who went before, and thus
it offers nothing else but shame.
I'll say my son deserves my love;
let dead relations pay their dues.
For I'll not bear their curse, nor he;
we'll nevermore wear dead men's shoes.