Proud To Speak English Poem by Luz Hanaii
Proud To Speak English
I left the Mother Land when I turned ten
With the curiosity of a child my age
To this new country I came
To play and learn her ways
Not a word of English in those days.
I sat for days and weeks at my desk listening
To the teacher speak, words that made no sense.
In class there were only two that spoke like me.
My favorite time was Art, for then I could express
Those talents just as certain as the rest
Each day I sat and wonder what was said
A pretty teacher would come each day
and she'd take me away.
We'd read fun books with new sounding words.
Withing three months one day I realized
I could understand what was being said
I light went on... to my delight, Alas! ... I felt alive!
How happy and surprised to finally realize
I was no longer in darkness but had embraced the light.
That summer time, with confidence in view
as knowledge of this language within me grew and grew.
Junior high came along,
Sitting in math class
with my new confidence
and when the teacher tried, but my name miss pronounced
a girl behind me yelled,
'She doesn't speak English! '...
to which I quickly, in deep pride replied,
'YES, I DO! '
Luz Hanaii
8-25-2010
Great! ! Growing up in a New Land. Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
it's interesting too but I'm not proud to speak.........................(any language) there is no pride, no class, no aristocracy, no civilization, no wisdom in speaking, writing, reading goodly in any language if I'm not the righteous person for the world peaceful humanity harmonically ///
A great poem. So interesting to see how you progressed. Well done.
I can imagine your proud smile proving you can speak English in such a short time. " I was no longer in darkness but had embraced the light." Very well spoken truth, thank you for share, I can relate to this lovely poem, thank you!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/17/2024 11:38:40 PM # 1.0.0.1119
p.s. what is your Mother Land's name, i wonder. i think some people have a Father Land. i'm not sure if one is better than the other. i am very poor at learning languages. i've worked some, since retiring, with literacy 'students', but i was not a great teacher and my students were not very serious about learning, especially two young boys. one would rather play games, and the other was, i think, embarrassed at his inability. : ( bri :)
Mother Land, was Mexico. I could have said Father Land, but for softer poetic sound chose Mother.