“Cut Language!”

(for Stephen )

Wrapping your tongue
round words
Stephen man-
oevering
“spinsters and
bachelors”

how many learn to spell
but never practise
words
my grandson

you will be
wordsman
claiming this English
language
other people’s
anguish

claiming our
patwa

switching easy
when reason calls
“I saw the lightning
leaping through the house
I heard the thunder clap
an Nanny bawl out ‘ Jiizas Krais’”

Children across the wall
offend
and you defend
with “gwe bwai
no bada wi”

didn’t I tell them
everytime
bilingual is the lick?