from Shopping

The flavour of words comes back slowly,
The shy feeling for sentences,
If only after stumbling
In surprise over asking for five rolls.

It’s all so obvious:
What could be more German
Than that cream cake, Torte,
Yet it sounds artificial.

You cannot yet join
In the easy chatter, self-conscious
Even of saying thank you
Too often, pronouncing it well.

You want to participate:
These are rather dear, that’s a bargain,
Those sausages look just right;
Like a child trying your mother’s tongue.

Your mind opens the gate,
Lets phrases through readily,
The weight isn’t right, though,
Too little homely friendliness.

So easy to get lost
In the taste and tangle of a language
On a shopping trip for five rolls
And some meat in your own language.