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Why adopt a pseudonym

Espouse an alt persona?

Well, why does any hopeful superbeing

Veil true self?

A nom de guerre can

Loose quotidian constraints

Lets us be stronger, braver

Funnier, more

Unconstrained

Freed from beskirted dignity

The shadow of

Professional respect

The hobble of

High heels, the

Garrote of the tie

We become our own best selves

At least the selves we’d like to be

This thing we do

This endless practice, angsting over

Every touch, each bout,

Ranks and standings

Indicators

Competitions

Bling

Viewed from sufficient distance, it’s

Absurd

Given all the time we steal from

Families, jobs, responsibilities

You know—real life—It’s

Serious, but not

Better if we cop to that

Embrace the silliness of dressing up in

Uniforms and masks

Embellish it with character that helps us

Play the part

So Tabby, Dormouse

Rabbit

Werewolf, Aardvark, Bear

Take comfort in your camouflaged serenity

Even though your lamé telegraphs your true identity