A Reminiscence of the Language

A light day…

My granny was a little
woman.
She loved to speak in other 
languages:
Italian, French and
German.

And in the Grannies language for their grandchildren:
“my pretty”. 
She didn’t get pension (that was 
the time) and 
our home was thronged with pupils. Surely because of this I learnt
neither one. Or with the guests who
dropped in
often (we lived in the downtown by the tail
of the horse* - they used 
to say so), for having a cup of black coffee.
The coffee
was special – for fortune-telling. She 
“was telling fortune” and they
were telling us. A lot of stories. Surely 
because of this I
know neither one.
Then she started getting less and less and
slender.
One night my mother told me,
“Go to see her…”
A thin, transparent leaf.

Now surely she’s telling the fortune and
is speaking only in the Grannies language
for their grandchildren:
“my pretty”. 
...................................................
*”the tail of the horse” is slang for the Historical Monument Tsar Osvoboditel (tsar liberator) that indicates the downtown of Sofia; more on the monument can be read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Monument-Tsar-Osvoboditel-1912.jpg
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Ramsdale Avatar
August 1, 2011 at 6:34 PM
A winning congratulations! Caryl
Sweetheart Avatar
August 1, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Congrats Bozhidar on your terrific third place win with this true treasure poetry entry luv..
Pangelov Avatar
August 1, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Thank you, Linda. Very nice. The poem is a translation from Bulgarian. You can hear the original broadcast on Bulgarian National Radio. Read columnist for the Arts. http://dictum.mediabg.eu/?p=3114
Brown Avatar
August 1, 2011 at 3:05 PM
Congratulations on your placement in my latest contest Bozhidar. It was very hard choosing the placements as I loved them all. Have a wonderful week. Love, Carol
Pangelov Avatar
August 1, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Thanks Carol for the nomination. You can hear the original poem in the Bulgarian National Radio in the implementation of a culture columnist. http://dictum.mediabg.eu/?p=3114
Brown Avatar
July 29, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Thank you for supporting my contest Bozhidar. Love, Carol
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace