I am Not a Riddle

[matsunosuperfan]

I am Not a Riddle

I didn't want to play.

Every time, I get named and categorized by people 
who've never met me, and who don't think I even deserve 
a proper name.

What, you don't bristle when somebody calls you Blondie? 
(Well, maybe not, ma'am, if that's why you dyed your hair. 
On reflection, I must admit it does make you more visible.) 
You don't think it's rude, mammal, that you are named 
for having two rounded body parts (which you, sir, don't 
actually have)?

Apologies. I was just making a point. I would not be so 
discourteous.

So, if you will, call me a name that says that I am clean 
and she is wholesome, even if I'm not and she thinks 
"wholesome" means "boring".

Call me a name that says that she chose me for my 
skin color — I'm pleased to be so particularly chosen. 
(My kind isn't racist, except when pressed.)

Call me a name that says that my legs are taut and my 
stride is infinite, but not really, because I'm getting 
a little old and so is she.

Call me a name that says that we met in her youth, 
and that long after we can't get around anymore, 
she'll keep me in a corner of the garage for love.

Call me by my name.

Hey, I think it's mostly just too direct by half, and at the same time, often too vague. I like the no-context dialogue in S2, the rest is kind of a drag. I can tell there are some compelling ideas at work here and the speaker clearly means it, but the language mostly vacillates between coy abstractions (I get named by people who've never met me... I'm pleased to be so particularly chosen... we met in her youth) and frustratingly unattached, if pointed, declaratives (I am clean and she is wholesome... she chose me for my skin color... I'm getting a little old). 

I don't really know what to do with all these statements. Also I find it kinda annoying that the title says "I am not a riddle" and then the poem very clearly presents as a riddle. If this is intentional, the irony didn't produce an enticement for me; it just makes me think the project is either confused or too glib.

Oh, and just a diction note - for me, "call me by my name" is a cliche.