When you speak with someone in their native tongue

 

When you make that first effort

 

You see their eyes light up

 

Though you may be nervous or embarrassed

 

Or not know how to say that one tricky syllable

 

You feel their pride

 

Their encouragement

 

When you can’t speak your own language

 

You feel cut off from your heritage

 

Like you are missing a part of who you are

 

When you can’t speak to your grandparents in their own language

 

Your own language

 

When they didn’t teach their children

 

Because society told them that English was the norm

 

English was the standard

 

The only thing that was accepted

 

And their children had to learn from outside

 

Had to take the bits and scraps

 

Just to uncover their own heritage

 

What does it mean to be you

 

When you can’t speak your own language?