My mother did not give me her tongue
And so: from time to time
I borrow it
Tiptoeing around so she doesn’t notice my theft
I know she won’t mind
Yet before entering her space
I wait for her to leave
I guess if she knows that I want it
Crave it
Like it’s my own
She’ll want me to keep it
And that
For me
Is too much responsibility
To be the keeper of this gift
This native blessing
Her mother tongue
Author’s Notes: When you partially speak the language of your parents. You pick and choose its use. It’s relevance.
Creative Credits
Text: Voices by Salome Coker
Visuals: Mother And Child by Angu Walters
