My Language

Yo soy hispano

I am Hispanic

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Raised as a heterogeneous mix of America and Guatemala

Mis palabras se mezclan tan profundamente

Accents are heard in both English and Spanish

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Speech therapies and language tools could not subjugate my mispronunciations

Presentations and speeches only exemplify my accents

I interchange mis palabras, causing confusion para otros

Yo trabajo to persuade my tongue to pronounce cada syllable

Through my speech I am easily identified as gringo

I long to be accepted into mi raza

Through my speech I fail to express my thoughts in English

A veces solo encuentro las palabras en espanol

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Tone, hand gestures, facial expressions and volume shatter this dilemma

My hands tell my story

My face shows my plight

My voice conveys significance

Poetry allows my words to be spoken as they are, not as others want

I tell my story through my broken, mixed language that is mine and mine alone

The stage is where you can hear my true voice

Some may not understand my words, but they feel my emotions

Poetry is where my passion and sentiments are pervaded into the minds of my audience

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Mis palabras son strong y relucientes when recited

COMPLETE ENGLISH VERSION

I am Hispanic

I am Hispanic

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Raised as a heterogeneous mix of America and Guatemala

My words are so profoundly mixed

Accents are heard in both English and Spanish

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Speech therapies and language tools could not subjugate my mispronunciations

Presentations and speeches only exemplify my accents

I interchange my words, causing confusion for others

I work to persuade my tongue to pronounce each syllable

Through my speech I am easily identified as gringo

I long to be accepted into my race

Through my speech I fail to express my thoughts in English

A times I only find the words in Spanish

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

Tone, hand gestures, facial expressions and volume shatter this dilemma

My hands tell my story

My face shows my plight

My voice conveys significance

Poetry allows my words to be spoken as they are, not as others want

I tell my story through my broken, mixed language that is mine and mine alone

The stage is where you can hear my true voice

Some may not understand my words, but they feel my emotions

Poetry is where my passion and sentiments are pervaded into the minds of my audience

My words are fragmented and discolored when spoken

My words are strong and radiant when recited