By Noor Younis
I never knew my mother tongue
listened to it clatter on lips like songbirds
punjabi that drips nectar into eager hearts
I watch through stained glass
to dream of holding hands with her
but I will always be yearning forever
to taste the sweet nothings
as I am left with the ashes of all that would never be mine
urdu and I greet each other coyly
waltz around each other
unfamiliar with the way my tongue should prance
words that are housed strangers in the cage of nervous teeth
a hasty breath
and my voice that dare not to make its presence known
I abandon her like a foolish friend
leave her behind as I attempt to mold into the world around me
secretly looking for her to comfort my uneasiness
and now I am just a vessel of shame
words that could not settle themselves into awaiting bones
I am stuck watching from afar
what strange unrequited love
a language that loved me in a way that will always feel familiar
the last embrace of my nano
a child’s yearning that will never be fulfilled
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In the writer's words: "I am a Pakistani-American writer who has been writing for around 10 years with a great love for poetry. I love to incorporate my South Asian background in a lot of my pieces because it is important to me for readers to be able to resonate with pieces and see themselves in the ripples of my words."