In 1940, I was born as Maria Josefa Martha Keijsers.
But my sister an oldest brother were good advisors,

Because they were able to sway,
My parents in calling me Jose.

Maria, was in honor of my Mother,
And she agreed the long name could be a bother.

Josefa, after my Father Joseph,
Who had shortened his name too Sef

And Martha, after my Godmother,
Who would have preferred herself to have another.

So this name Jose Keijsers I carried…
Till I got married.

I Was then tickled pink,
To be become Jose Temmink.

But Maria Josefa Martha, my official name ,
Remained the same.

My Dutch passport was Keijsers, married to Temmink
But the emigration officer did not ask or think…

When on October 24 1964 in a blink,
He issued my green card as Maria Josefa Martha Temmink.

There was no one to blame
But I did not like Maria as my calling name

My social security card read Temmink Marie- Jose,
And my drivers license was the same way.

But calling me Marie-Jose soon stopped…
As my second name by most was dropped.

So my name remained Marie Temmink officially,
But Marie-Jose or Jose Temmink by the ones that knew me personally.

Then, a new name in this Dutch passport of mine…
Was entered after I married Frans Verschoor in 1999.

Keijsers, Maria Josefa Martha, married to Verschoor, aka Temmink.
And when passing thru customs I was always required to explain the AKA link

But all I had to show and proclaim…
Was hat my green card was in that name.

Then in 2010 the Dutch government admitted a flaw.
In their passport law.

They would and could no longer display.
A name as AKA.

It was a crying shame
But in my Dutch passport only Keijsers or Verschoor could be my name

They were not willing to consider or re-think
My dilemma when losing my identity as Temmink

The Dutch government is too blame
For taking away my name

My Dutch passport should have been allowed to read Keijsers, widow of Verschoor
aka Temmink

That would have kept everything the same
There was no reason to mess with my name

In the USA I did not exist without Temmink as my name
And only with a USA passport could I keep that fame

I thought about it much
But was not willing to change my name in order to remain Dutch

As a new USA citizen I am glad to have kept my link,
That allows me to be called Marie…Jose,…or… Marie-Jose, Temmink

In this country I feel happy and free
And I am allowed to remain “me “