SHY LANGUAGE

Afraid to speak up
in class
Juan a student tells
me he feels as an alien
not speaking a perfect
English,
I tell the boy not to be shy
for he has a contribution
to make in any language
it was as if the ice broke
on the pond outside
as he slowly began to speak,
knowing any indifference to joy
or any interference
of prejudice was not right
and all expressions,
nightmare words
or glances of cruelty,
busy body behavior
or making fun
would now be gone
and after class
Juan was seen ice skating
and laughing on the pond
with the rest of the class
true to our Savior.