I.
With a smile I remember
the first times I heard dialect:
first in a library forbidden
second between lovers.
“Fünfzehn” becomes “fuchzn”
She held up five fingers as she demonstrated the gutteral “ch”.
I mouthed the syllables and vowels,
exhaling the logic.
Every syllable going against my proper upbringing.
II.
Years later when I confessed to her, #2
that I loved listening to dialect
even in those phone conversations where I really shouldn’t be listening at all,
but was understanding more each and every day,
without skipping a beat, she said:
“I can talk dialect with you.”
I blushed
and declined,
for I knew the power dynamic that would ensue:
Lovers shall never be teachers.
III.
Today, as my ears yearn for more, I wonder:
What ideas exist only in dialect?
What do I miss by choosing the high road?
How much closer would I be to her
if I could speak her language inside a language?
If I ever had to categorize, I would say:
Number 1 was a journey to a bright new world.
Number 2 was a coming Home.
Wed Aug 21, 2013 7:51 pm
EverydayAngelKarie
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 761
Location: Lakewood, CA
hey Eil,
i really like the whole idea behind this piece. writing dialect into a poem is really interesting since dialect is dependent on sound. your descriptions really work and i can hear the differences/details/etc. i'm pretty much on board even though i don't have much experience dealing with language differences. anyway, rambling on.
"What ideas exist only on dialect?"
"How much closer would I be to her
if I could speak her language inside a language?"
this is powerful. for me anyway. i thought it really said a lot about language barriers and how that may affect a relationship. and even though a lot of people suggest that questions should not be in poems these i thought were pretty interesting and added to the poem at the end. in fact, i'd almost like to see the poem end on that last question. <----all my professors would say NO to that but i shall defy their teachings this once.
always,
EDA
Mon Aug 26, 2013 5:59 am
CindyT
Joined: 09 Nov 2012
Posts: 159
Location: Florida
I am right there with you on relating with someone with whom you share major barriers such as language. I have worked with hearing impaired and completely deaf persons (both of whom happen to be Latino) and so I have experienced this on two fronts.
I am not a schooled person in the Arts, so the questions do not bother me. In fact, I think they add impact and levity to the overall scenario you present. For me, it would make it oh so much more interesting and exciting in the getting to know her!
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