The phonetics of feelings

Painting by Kay Ruane

He told me

I taught him

so many things,

specially the difference

between a long i and a short one.

The phonetics of feelings needs

only simple sounds like murmurs.

Words are not necessary.

My last statement, affirmative, whatever

was Ich Liebe dich although

he teaches French.

I had to show him how many languages

my heart could possibly speak.

I sipped my poor German on the rocks.

It caused no disturbance in the air.

Maybe I didn't pronounce it correctly.

German is so guttural and I had many truths

stuck in my throat. Things like:

"Can't you hear me? Can we try again?

Can I survive your blindness?

(Obama is wrong: no, we can't)

Now the only sound I can make

is voiceless.

My vocal cords were brought together

and are closed.

No air could flow through them.

Sounds do not vibrate anymore

in the chambers of heart.

Karla Bardanza

Copyright©Karla Bardanza 2012