First Forgive

First forgive the necessary
nerve it takes to speak,
and understand that
though it pique, provoke
or anger, it is human language:
bang and whimper,

too peculiarly engaged
in the impossibility of saying
what is meant, or knowing
anything beyond the echo
of its spent syllabic
ministrations – thin and static-y

as they will always be –
to offer much defense of what
or how or why it thinks
it’s making sense. Me, I’ll listen
for its melodies and beats.
And not expect repeats.


.