Take Me

Take me syllable by syllable
Pronounce me like

Dark
Private
Phonics,

Mouthing every

Single
Slick
Syllable.

Watch me undress
Down to the root of the word.

Touch me like Braille,

Every
Skinny
Letter.

Am I eloquent?
Words are slippery
Aren't they?
Slippery.
Vulnerable.

Write me, letter by letter,
Mark up this white expanse
Until I mean something to you,
Until
I am
An expression
Of you

And take me,

Syllable by syllable.

Copyright © 2001 The President and Fellows of Harvard College.
All rights reserved. Comments. Last modified Thu, Sep 20, 2001.