A Foreign Language Poem by Allison Barnett

i just dont understand anything anymore
i see my mothers angry mouth
forming hard shapes
that produce such harsh sounds
but i cannot understand a single word
she might as well be speaking a foreign language
i turn from her, right into my older sister
a red swath of fabric is thrust under my nose,
and i can smell the hostility
she waves her hands
as colorful expressions light her face
imcomprehensible sounds fall from her painted lips
before i realize it,
im running, far away
all the way to the bus stop
i find a seat in the far back
and listen mindlessly to the chatter
that pounds relentlessly on my abused eardrums
chinese, korean, spanish, portugese
who knows?
my mind wanders off to happier imaginings
as my body stays seated in class
screaming brings me back to my cold reality
the noise is bellowing from my instructor
i peer, lost in his crimson face
'russian? ' my lips murmur
but suddenly everyone is laughing
and all i hear is what could be german
once again, ive escaped
my swift feet carry me out the door,
around the corner-
smack!
right into a boy
his papers fall like snow
as surprise bursts from his mouth
i kneel and begin apologizing,
but then i stop
he wont understand me either
suddenly his hand stops my frantic gathering.
i look fearfully into his clear sky eyes
'its ok' he whispers
and my jaw drops
i watch numbly as he patiently organizes the papers
then he stands and looks down at me
'well, come one'
i leap up and follow, still mesmerized
i understand you' i say in wonder
'of course, dont you speak english? '
he teases and winks
my lips curl upward, and i stay close