m o n i q u e

When I was very young, I had a speech impediment.

m.

I could not pronounce many letters.

o.

When I got older, although my speech had been corrected,

n.

I’ve always struggled with self-consciousness about my pronunciation.

i.

I took theater classes.

q.

I’ve been told I articulate beautifully.

u.

but I’ve still struggled.

e.

And with my hands,
I never learned to speak,
Beyond the letters of my name,
A lack of time maybe,
a lack of necessity?

But my hands have always wanted even less attention than my speech.
I bite my nails,
and cuticles,
When I feel nervous.
Don’t look too close.
Don’t listen too closely.

My speech was corrected
when I was very young.
But my communication skills
are still
a work in progress.

xx monique