Tongue (in English & Russian)

On my inability to express myself in my own first language...

Язык 

 

When the heart screams and the lips mumble

Никто не умеет переводить.

No soul can interpret.

When the tongue stumbles and

is inadequate

Why speak?

Почему же?

Inside this mute and misplaced chest,

Сердце и душа, которые хочат сказать все,

И сказать ничего не могут.

When the body is here and the heart elsewhere,

the mind is nowhere at all

Говорить невозможно.

Говорить нельзя.

A tongue is of no use

When it cannot pronounce the words of the heart.

Author's Note

Thoughts on the mix of languages?

Reviews

[Sydelle Houston]

The mixing of the two languages is unique, but I don't know if it's necessary. Had to read it twice to make sure I got all of the English. I like your poem, but can't understand Russian; so I think you could put the poem in all English first and all Russian after it. In my opinion this will keep people from the distraction of selecting what they can comprehend.

[Poeticpiers]

words are a poor means of communication. A smile a handshake are universal so smile