Feeling Fluent

sound is an infant

who mirrors raised brows

and purses its tiny lips in imitation -

child of my mother tongue -

too small to think that language -

complex - takes much effort to learn -

a child of emotion

who sighs and mimics

the responses she see on familiar faces

words toddle forth -

the reach out for support

recorded as Baby's First Steps and First Speech -

Baby's First Playmate learns Spanish at home -

they share nouns and chuckles

get tired and shed tears -

the sobs that betray me have no

tracks or titles - for this language

struggles to speak out

alphabets are children -

they play - trade places - take turns

in patterns that give their voices flight

my Russian instructor once taught diplomats -

when she questions me - Spanish replies - though

it is Cyrillic that makes my cheeks ache -

much like my effort to sniff back

my sorrow - the ability to communicate

just slips away

some people tell me that Russian's a hard one -

then they might say to me - I know a word!

it's always a random one

makes us laugh

yet what I feel inside keeps its name a secret

phrases play hopscotch

and foursquare chalked on pavement -

they swing their jump ropes -

chant out their rhymes -

I know a word but

emotion's a hard one -

I spell out my sadness with sighs

my tutor is patient

with me as I practice -

she provides reflection - holds me steady

as - pursing my lips

I begin to taste understanding