(N.B: ‘learnt’ is one valid British English spelling, though ‘learned’ is more commonly used. I needed a sharp edge in the word that ‘t’ gives. )
I have learnt to speak;
I have learnt to speak in silence when my voice was gone,
in mimes, memes and gesticulations with one arm,
I have learnt to speak in rhythms when my limbs were
free,
I have learnt to speak within the forms my body allows me,
I learnt to speak again,
again,
again,
again,
past the point of voicelessness, immobility and pain,
I learnt to speak on stage, on tv interviews,
I learnt to speak in poetry and its lover, prose,
I learnt to speak of mystery,
of histories,
of laws,
I learnt to speak of policies,
injustices,
just cause,
I learnt to speak in stories
And let them sew accord,
I’ve lost my voice, then been united with my words,
I’ve spoken into silences when no one heard,
I learnt to speak when language was jumbled up inside,
I learnt to speak; to orate; to argue; to confide;
if and when
my voice is gone
as voices one day do,
when they speak of all I’ve done
I hope they’ll say this too;
I learnt to speak.
Antonia Sara Zenkevitch