The Learners, E.S.L. Poem by Brian Purdy
The Learners, E.S.L.
Probably, they think they have something to say.
How else explain their willingness to display
This welter of misspelled words,
Phrases misapprehended,
Everything like cheese and curds
Undigested. Oh, yes, it could turn
The stomach of someone sensitive to language
- But after years of study they'll learn
(Or so we assume) and we mustn't be cruel.
They'll spend their time in this impromptu public school,
Pouring out their hearts and souls
Achieving a certain level of satisfaction
Like the newest, most raw and half-baked nation
At a meeting where most are extremely old.
They will meet their goals. Just give them time. Be patient.
Once, my friend, we, too, were mostly latent.
Stevie points to an interesting creature in the corner; Why not everything on the chopping block? If the intent is not cruelty but enlightenment? Then again, one man's meat...: Dilemma! or dial-Emma. :) I say your poem about, Poetry Is, 'consuming worlds and drinking oceans' rings true hear. Also, I sure as shoot'n would have difficulty in a foreign language scribing my thoughts down too. Tolerance, vigilance, and empathy come to mind. Nice write. My mind is on overdrive with this one.
Now, to whom do you refer? I am unaware of the derivation of the acronym ESL, however, I confess to being minded of the excruciating works found in unfortunate abundance on PH. I allow some leeway as most are due to trying to work in a second language. However, for those writing in their native tongue and still murdering my sensibilities....well, I reserve the right to keep my powder dry. I enjoyed this piece.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/4/2024 1:59:06 PM # 1.0.0.1119
You must a deeply insightful person Brian. I suppose I lay somewhere in the middle of both you and Martin. I've read some great poems on here that are written in a second language (Yacov Mitchenko comes to mind) that are easy to fill the gaps in, but then there are those that just carpet bomb the site with nothing but journaling and I think Sheesh please just go away so that we can make this a community of real poets.