til Ollie og Louie

Passive comprehension
means you can understand what’s being said
but not reply in kind
however much you want to
I have to practice the placement of my tongue
as often as I get giddy over seeing the traces
of what remains in mine from yours.
All that seafaring, riding forward until you hit something solid.
My language is the true invader
Something I still find shameful.
The transliteration of do you like this is
Can you well suffer this?
Oh, I understand.
I’m nowhere near fluent
but I hope I can be just far enough ahead of you
that you know I’m there
that you don’t have to look back
as your mother takes you in her arms
holding you through the air with the same tenderness
she did as she grew you in her own waters
Jeg skal, jeg vil, jeg må