Sonnet: What Language To Learn? Poem by Dr John Celes

To improve a man, languages are meant;
You learn a language that can feed you first;
Learn your mother-tongue to needed extent;
But drink one may only if it doth thirst!

Learn many tongues if you want to progress;
In India, all can’t speak a common tongue;
By knowing languages, you can impress;
But choose one, to talk and sing, from among.

Our Motherland is made of many states;
All Indians are my brothers and sisters;
Through languages, a nation integrates,
And love amidst fellowmen, it fosters!

Man, learn to converse with all your brothers;
Spreading love’s message is what next matters.


(9-29-2000)