Spanish Found

Back in elementary, the YMCA

Blue walls boxed us in every day,

Posters talking, made to stall

But still boredom was the loudest of all

So I made new friends from the other halls

Just to show off Spanish in those tight walls

Though English was pulling me close this year

My spanish voice still straggled near

So snack time comes along with trading,

Pulparindo and spice smells cascading

Culture and laughter start igniting one flame

All until Autumn steps in the game

Autumn, her English perfect, she’s proud and poised

She claimed she’s smarter with a fluent voice

Spanish is “pointless” she declared

While I defended alone unprepared

We both grew loud and things intense

My words roaring and losing sense

So I turned to my friends but they looked away

And just like that Spanish was casted astray.

But this isn’t betrayal, just defeat

Because our English was incomplete.

Yet somehow worse than Autumn’s tone

Was knowing I must fight alone

My face growing hot, my vision blurred

I started feeling a stab with every word

Yet in that moment of pain a will was born

A vow that my Spanish will not be torn

Yet even with this new emerged vow

I couldn’t help look at Autumn, and wow.

She has confidence, fluency, and grace

Oh how I wish to be in her place.

But could this American me really belong?

If I keep the language that once made me strong?

Could two voices really be at peace in one frame?

Can I really hold both without any shame?