Freddie Robinson Jr. Poet Bio

Webster Say What

When I was a little boy,
I brooded day-to-day
Ever since I found out
I had my native tongue
violently taken away
Swore in my heart,
I would make my own language — 
words only I knew the meaning of
Take the opaque warrior’s vocal signs,
and put an X for unknown
at the bend of the translation dead end  
Smiley slave pretzel thoughts:
ice cold frowns twisted into warm oven grins
Webster catalogued the words which others made up,
mine’s no different ... no, not much
Nish told, vak tales
Denchie pose, talimaduchi farewells
Did you understand
any of those ... did you comprehend
the words I chose?
They are my linguistic jewels — 
family owned ... orally ghetto grown
They are Robinson Coolsoul approved:
Webster say what!
Welcome to the zizi Thunderdome

♡Like0

Share 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

Gershon Wolf March 9, 2018 at 1:33 PM Vos hartsach, meyn teyere fraynd?! Dos poem iz a gantze mechaye! Ich leyn; ich tracht; ich lach a bissele...Tsu er a groyse schreiber un a groyse talent, meyn Freddie. Ich vil noche un noche poesia! A sheynem dank!! Af tseloches! A bie gezunt, Gershon...P.S. btw, I went to the same school as Webster!...and if you didn't understand the (terrible!) Yiddish, let me know. I'll translate. :)

Carole Duet March 8, 2018 at 11:23 AM What an interesting poem, Freddie! It was really a delight to read.

Vijay Pandit March 6, 2018 at 3:24 PM The sentiments to preserve and appreciate language unique and personal are quite evident in your poem. Though I didn't understand special words uniquely known to a family..I gather they mean a lot, as they should, Freddie. This is likely true in so many cultures.