Theodore Lehre
June 2016
that summer i met a girl on inis mór
who told me my name means “god’s gift”
in greek. i smiled my sunburnt smile
and my legs stopped aching from the ride
back to the harbor. all that mattered was
her voice, touching the foundation of me,
finding reflections, in faith-bound hands.
i carry that memory, turned over
like polished quartz in my hands.
i know i nodded, said “i know,” wanted
to say “i picked it, on purpose i chose this,
i know because it’s mine, i know.”
theo of theology, dore of
adoration, from doran, gift.
a theophoric name, derived from
or bearing the name of a god, invoking
the protection of someone, anyone, chosen
for this, a faithless worshipless sacred self.
myselves are holy without knowing
why but sometimes i meet
kindred eyes and we both
witness.
what can that be but handspun holiness,
crafted with calloused,
tired hands in burnt-out kilns, the work
i have put into this ruddy handmade
hardwon self honors
statues i haven’t touched,
temples of transgression,
sentiment redefined.
who told me my name means “god’s gift”
in greek. i smiled my sunburnt smile
and my legs stopped aching from the ride
back to the harbor. all that mattered was
her voice, touching the foundation of me,
finding reflections, in faith-bound hands.
i carry that memory, turned over
like polished quartz in my hands.
i know i nodded, said “i know,” wanted
to say “i picked it, on purpose i chose this,
i know because it’s mine, i know.”
theo of theology, dore of
adoration, from doran, gift.
a theophoric name, derived from
or bearing the name of a god, invoking
the protection of someone, anyone, chosen
for this, a faithless worshipless sacred self.
myselves are holy without knowing
why but sometimes i meet
kindred eyes and we both
witness.
what can that be but handspun holiness,
crafted with calloused,
tired hands in burnt-out kilns, the work
i have put into this ruddy handmade
hardwon self honors
statues i haven’t touched,
temples of transgression,
sentiment redefined.
Dr. Theodore Lehre (they/he) is a queer poet and writer based in Cleveland, Ohio. Beyond writing, they are also a teacher and academic; their research, including their recently completed Ph.D. dissertation, focuses on Irish literature, motherhood, and queerness. Their poetry has appeared in Sink Hollow and the Ohio Bards 2026 anthology and is forthcoming in t'ART Press's Sucking Face anthology. They can be found online at theodorelehre.wordpress.com.
