Pour Mon Nounours
he struggled reading the newspaper
every single day
attempting to teach himself english
no english classes
for immigrants back then
made a good job of it too
(with some help from his little granddaughter)
but not quite good enough to attain
the professional advancement
that he deserved because of a thick accent
last night on the goggle box
saw a program on teachers
one sudanese high school teacher's english
was completely incomprehensible
a parent complained
(must be a racist)
and yes i would have too
my grandfather sounded like a native speaker in comparison
enraged i seriously considered hurling the tv over the balcony
but fortunately sanity stepped in and i reminded myself
of the abysmal decline of standards in our culturally marxist
politically correct world and cried instead.
Midweek Motif - Poets United
Rallentanda, your poem reminds me, of my oma and opa, who came to Canada, in June 1952, without being able to speak any English. Sadly, they were never comfortable speaking English, but we, grandchildren, understood them, in their pidgin English-Dutch. Thank you, for bringing back these memories of these two amazing people, in my life.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can imagine that sparked some pain, Rall. Good for your Grandpa, trying so hard to perfect his English. I love the ocean photo on your banner....and the photo of the stump that misses being a tree.
ReplyDeleteOuch! And a vivid picture, indeed. Wow. My grandfather had barely an accent, but I never saw him read English. I wonder if he could? He always had a newspaper with him--but in Yiddish or Hebrew and sometimes Russian.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem a mad world some days. Worse on others.
ReplyDeleteThis is so lively...you reminded me of my grandpa...I used to read newspaper for him when his eyes gave him hard time reading the newsprint...wish the world be a fair one!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a heart-stirring write, Rall I could picture the pain in those closing lines.
ReplyDeleteLife can be maddeningly cruel and unfair. You know I empathize. You do honor to your grandpa with this poem.
ReplyDeleteEverything else aside. you brought to life a memory.
ReplyDeleteA touching story of your grandfather. Unfair, but inspiring. And now the other extreme? A bit of balance from our leaders would be good.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your kind comments.
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute to your beloved grandfather. Well done!
ReplyDelete