Howard Firkin
I learnt to speak in several other languages;
I never learnt anything anyone needed to say.
My uncle’s pen [blank] on my auntie’s table.
[blank] morning/afternoon, [blank] night, [blank] day.
I travelled, I worked, I lived in other countries.
I kissed their girls; avoided older men.
I tried to ensure my subject agreed with its verb.
I tried but I failed and gave up travelling then.
Confession: I nodded as often when I was baffled
as when I thought (wrongly) I understood with ease.
It’s possible one day I’ll learn to speak in human.
It’s possible one day I’ll climb back into the trees.
I never learnt anything anyone needed to say.
My uncle’s pen [blank] on my auntie’s table.
[blank] morning/afternoon, [blank] night, [blank] day.
I travelled, I worked, I lived in other countries.
I kissed their girls; avoided older men.
I tried to ensure my subject agreed with its verb.
I tried but I failed and gave up travelling then.
Confession: I nodded as often when I was baffled
as when I thought (wrongly) I understood with ease.
It’s possible one day I’ll learn to speak in human.
It’s possible one day I’ll climb back into the trees.
