Identity (noun): the fact of being who a person is. 

What is one’s identity?

Is it a name, a denomination, a moniker? 

But then we’d be an arbitrary strand of letters, 

bound to a meaningless label

we in no way wished upon ourselves. 

What is one's identity?

Is it a word, a term, a phrase?

But then our entire character would be whittled,

our persona, our interests, our life

down to a simple expression. 

What is one’s identity? 

Is it a job, an occupation, a profession?

But then life would be awfully monotonous. 

There’d be millions of students, doctors, lawyers, 

and the unemployed would have no identity at all. 

Unfortunately, we are described through these mechanisms.

We are attached to labels out of our control. 

Our lives can be whittled down to mere words. 

Professions are used to judge and form impressions. 

But who decides who we are?

Who decides who we are? 

Are our titles set by ourselves? 

Or are they a glimpse into our ancestry? 

What is the purpose of a name? 

Why are we confined to a moniker that in no way reflects upon us? 

Who decides who we are? 

Are our traits decided by ourselves?

Or are they formed based on the opinions of others?

How can these thoughts be condensed into fact? 

Who is capable of accurately judging our character? 

Who decides who we are? 

Is a profession an accurate image of our interests?

Or are they merely a means to survive, 

a mechanism to provide for others? 

Are we truly free in our occupation? 

So what is an identity?

Who has the right to determine who we are?