What I Speak I Sing

What I Speak I Sing

When I was young 

I struggled learning how to read

Words felt foreign in my mouth

I remember lying in bed 

Trying to chew my way 

Through Frank L. Baum’s Ozma of Oz

Every word was hard and confusing

I loved fairy tales 

Told by the brothers Grimm

Listening to fantasy stories

With a dark twist at the end

But reading them was impossible

Like someone had a secret key

To a hidden door

With a lock I couldn’t find

So I stood outside

Banging away at it 

Hoping someone would let me in

I had the fisher price talk-to-me books

With the little device that sat on the page to read what was written

I loved the Disney read and hear books

Stories told on 45s  

With record player that was mine

I loved listening to Tinkerbell ring her little chimes 

Telling me to turn the page

The Fox and the Hound

Alice in Wonderland

Rikki-Tikki Tavi

And Letting in the Jungle

But it was nursery rhymes

That would finally unlock the door

Speaking words

That had rhythm 

Without music

And oh how they sang to me

One two

Buckle my shoe

Old King Cole

Was a merry old soul

And the dish ran away 

With the spoon

And then the rhymes came with music

Twinkle twinkle little star

A B C D E F G

The Grand Old Duke of York

And Mary’s little lamb

I began to sing

Words were music

And music had lyrics

And lyrics were poetry

And poetry is nothing but 

Nursery rhymes all grown up

Now I hear words as sounds

So when I read I listen

And what I speak I sing

Because I finally understand 

What words can mean

Words: ©2021LCR

Image: No Claim