Why Do You Speak in a Language I Don't Understand?
I sit in silence, baffled by the words
That flow so freely from her lips,
I watch her speak to her family
In a tongue I do not comprehend.
I wonder why she uses the local dialect
When I am present, unable to join in
On the conversations that fill the air
With laughter, love, and shared stories.
I long to be a part of this intimate world
But I am relegated to the role of observer,
An outsider looking in on a scene
That is simultaneously inviting and exclusionary.
I want to ask her why she doesn't
Speak the language we both know,
The one that would include me
In the warmth of her family's embraces.
But I hesitate, fearing the answer
And the implications of my question,
Afraid of what I might uncover
About our differences and misunderstandings.
Is it that she feels more comfortable
Expressing herself in her native tongue,
Or does she simply not consider
The impact her words have on me?
Does she realize the distance
That forms between us when she speaks,
The isolation that settles over me
Like a heavy, suffocating blanket?
I wish I could understand her words
And join in the easy banter and affection,
But instead, I am left on the outside
Peering in at a world that eludes me.
I wonder if she knows how much
I ache to be included in their conversations,
To share in the closeness and joy
That seems to come so naturally to them.
I long to bridge the gap between us,
To erase the divide created by language,
And find a way to connect with her
And her family, in spite of our differences.
Perhaps I should find the courage
To ask her about her choice of language,
And reveal my longing to understand,
And to be a part of her world, completely.
I want to know if she has ever considered
The effect her words have on me,
And if she might be willing to make
The effort to include me in the conversation.
I hope that she will understand
The depth of my desire to belong,
And that she will be open to finding
A way for us to truly communicate.
I yearn for the day when I can join in
The lively discussions and heartfelt exchanges,
And when her words will no longer be
A barrier between us, but a bridge to connection.
©fahdfyad
F