Please Be My Friend

You are the voice I wish to assimilate
but you can not comprehend the phonemes I attempt
You are the model I seek to imitate
But it just can't all be said
I know inside my brain what I wish to say
but somewhere between the surd and plosive my articulation goes astray

How can I say to you-all the things I have to say
When I'm unable to pronounce the phonetics of your name
How can I convey to you the things I should
When you simply can't understand the sounds I make

You are the voice I wish to imitate
I've got to find a way to communicate the things I know 
I've got to align my teeth and tongue to articulate properly
Perhaps then you'll recognize the thoughts I relate
Hopefully then you'll comprehend the sounds I attempt
Only then could our friendship begin
for it appears that my tongue's a barrier between you and me


( From Mrs Lashoto's teaching a bird to sing-December 1987)