Current Issue/Words/Musings of a Gringa Poet

Claire Cahir - "Musings of a Gringa Poet"

Gringa poet masquerades as teacher in mother/ janitor suit. She spends

most of homework help picking up hot Cheetos and orange rinds from the floor. Not yet accepted by the children, she determines to win them one or two at a time. Like adding words to one’s lexicon. She shows off with one or two well accented phrases. Longs

to learn the language of the children she tutors. Envies the way the words unfurl

from their mouths rapid- fire, while she constructs basic sentences in a way

not dissimilar to math problems she helps them with. Noun + verb + articles + tenses. Sometimes an adjective for flourish. She formulates a brief remark and enunciates

each new word with proper diction and emphasis. But there is no audience. Alone

in the kitchen of the Family Learning Center, she merely practices aloud, to herself,

the response she should have given an hour ago, rather than standing

dumbfounded. For now, she settles for k.p. -until trust bridges the language barrier. Soaping an empty pitcher, she stares out the window at green and yellow and blue

multi-colored buildings in Del Centro. Lentamente. Slowly. For practice

she translates a notice para reuniónes de alcohólicos anónimos

on a door across the parking lot. Addiction knows no language barrier. She thinks

how easy, new languages, if only confined to signs and books. The written word

so much more malleable than human interaction.