Tongue Bifurcation
Mother can’t help you with homework.You know this but you still ask her
Because she likes it when you do.
She gently takes the book and puts
Her glasses on, pretends to read,
Then smiles and hands it back to you.
“You’re much more smart than me,” she says,
In broken English, accented
By this native tongue that we share.
This native tongue, whose shadow bears
A heavy weight on her, which she
Carries almost effortlessly.
This native tongue, whose shadow’s slipped
Its grip on you for some years now
Because of all the books you’ve read.
Because of all the schooling done.
Your friends don’t even speak the tongue
Your mother weaves her language from.
It’s hard to hold two tongues in one
Small mouth. The knife looms overhead.
It’s blunt steel slowly sharpening.
Poetry by Sameen
Written on 2026-03-27 at 13:12
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