Hi Amie,
I've read this more that once and am finally getting back to it. I hope you check in now and then.
Something that stood out for me is the very thing you seem to suggest to yourself needs changing--I disagree. The narrator is not recording thoughts, reactions via imagery as is often demanded by poetry critics but is offering an insight into who the narrator is in some essential way. I understand the N experiences the father's kindergarten experience probably as related by the father later in life. The N references that experience--feels like that five year old in trying to articulate an important message. I get from the title that the fault lies in misdirection as it would if different languages were actually being spoken as is often the case even if a common language is being spoken. I think this poem could be developed a little more but I love it as is. Thank you for posting it.
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Re: Listen
thanks Tracy, Mark, Indar.
Thanks Linda, I think you were on the same wavelength as me. Probably also subconsciously (though not evidenced in this poem particularly), I was thinking about the fluidity of childhood. He couldn't speak English, and though it was confusing at first (particularly when talking to adults), with other children it was less important. They have fewer barriers. So he just got stuck in playing and within a few months he was speaking English fluently. Complete with Bronx accent
As an adult, it's harder to bypass language. Not impossible, but much harder.
I do pop in (as you can see), but I have a ridiculous workload at the moment, so less frequently than I would like. This week is particularly tough: we are being audited, there are a million regulatory changes, some of my staff are off and I'm having to take up slack, and everyone is screaming, "Me first! It will only take you 5 minutes!" (Yeah, but when you have 200 people a day with 5 minute requests, all of which turn out to be 20-30 minute requests... and it's hard to fit even one 5 minute request when you're with an auditor.. and now I'm with some completely unrealistic auditors having to explain why we don't have to get a counter signature to show we've blown our noses if there is video evidence said nose-blowing... metaphorically speaking of course.) )
Anyway - off to the audit - sigh
Thanks Linda, I think you were on the same wavelength as me. Probably also subconsciously (though not evidenced in this poem particularly), I was thinking about the fluidity of childhood. He couldn't speak English, and though it was confusing at first (particularly when talking to adults), with other children it was less important. They have fewer barriers. So he just got stuck in playing and within a few months he was speaking English fluently. Complete with Bronx accent
As an adult, it's harder to bypass language. Not impossible, but much harder.
I do pop in (as you can see), but I have a ridiculous workload at the moment, so less frequently than I would like. This week is particularly tough: we are being audited, there are a million regulatory changes, some of my staff are off and I'm having to take up slack, and everyone is screaming, "Me first! It will only take you 5 minutes!" (Yeah, but when you have 200 people a day with 5 minute requests, all of which turn out to be 20-30 minute requests... and it's hard to fit even one 5 minute request when you're with an auditor.. and now I'm with some completely unrealistic auditors having to explain why we don't have to get a counter signature to show we've blown our noses if there is video evidence said nose-blowing... metaphorically speaking of course.) )
Anyway - off to the audit - sigh