I have a right not to know Elena Ferrante’s real name* – George Szirtes

2
Stop telling me whatever it is you may be telling me. I have a right to tell you not to tell me.

3
I have the right and you have the right. What we have rights to may be different but let’s pool our rights and make one big right.

4
My right to have rights is being threatened by people who claim they have the right to other rights. Other people are bastards.

5
My rights are constantly threatened by people claiming to have rights. They have no right to such rights.

6
I have the right to stamp my foot. If I am not granted the right to stamp my foot I will stamp my foot. That is my right / my foot.

7
Everyone has the right to have rights. They are right to have rights. It is right to have rights. It is right to be everyone.

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*Article in Guardian to this effect. ‘Stop telling X what to do’ is a favourite Guardian meme to be fully explored another time.

Poem posted with permission of the author. George Szirtes is a British poet and translator from the Hungarian language into English