For those nonnative to English tongue | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. For those nonnative to English tongue

For those nonnative to English tongue

March 31, 2012
By sarahdcee26 PLATINUM, Palos Verdes Estates, California
More by this author
sarahdcee26 PLATINUM, Palos Verdes Estates, California
22 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" - Dr. Seuss

View profile

For those nonnative to English tongue,
a twist of cordiality, another song sung,
There are moments to choose which one is above,
Decisions of which some know not of.

As she mops the floor with her buttery smile,
I stop my gaze in the mirror for a while
To greet her, one and all the same
In her native language, hold one word feel pain.

Why am I the formal one,
With your life fuller, mine now begun?

They say prejudice is obsolete,
Though funny how the uttered word speaks.

The author's comments:
I am caucasian, though I speak conversationally fluent Spanish. I love the language, and speak it whenever I get the chance. My house up-keeper is from El Salvador, and I noticed one time that she called me tú, the informal "you" in Spanish, and quickly corrected it to usted, the formal "you". This upset me greatly because I feel it is societal pressures that make her believe she needs to treat me as her superior, when she is clearly my equal, and then some.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
Doll House Living
By sgrace SILVER
West Chester, Pennsylvania
sgrace SILVER, West Chester, Pennsylvania
5 articles 22 photos 18 comments
View profile
Poetry
Overcoming Stage Fright
By kiwi12 PLATINUM
Austin, Texas
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
View profile
Poetry
'' FLY ''
By MONKEE426 GOLD
Minnesota, Minnesota
MONKEE426 GOLD, Minnesota, Minnesota
12 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
Live--So Live It To The Fuller

View profile
Poetry
The Voice
By BreLee SILVER
Sula, Montana
BreLee SILVER, Sula, Montana
7 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
what is it?
By stardom21 BRONZE
Suisun City, California
stardom21 BRONZE, Suisun City, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
View profile
Poetry
That Dreary Day
By jessicaah GOLD
Huber Heights., Ohio
jessicaah GOLD, Huber Heights., Ohio
12 articles 17 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I say what I want to say and do what I want to do. There's no in between. People will either love you for it or hate you for it. "

View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.