little minnows swim camp (2005)
I.
im not easy to love: im quiet.
im not talking: mouthing mute.
im talking: not talking.
Muffles in the throat we all call a cough.
When i was barely a walk i became a paddle,
a weak tread against words before i drowned.
a. i could barely speak, barely breathe, barely get the words to say “can i use the
bathroom” in English.… Read the rest