Immersion.
A million miles he marched for her,
gum drop rubber boots and a ghibli poncho.
He smiled his way through language barriers,
and stumbled through a mystery of tradition.
Bow here. Use your hands. Clap twice. No eye contact.
For her he grew roots upon his heels-
and made a home for them upon his palms.
He swallowed the unfamiliar dipthongs,
like soup. like life. He clicked his tongue upon his teeth,
a cacophonous offering into the atmosphere.
For her he gave her a million stars on parchment,
I love you. Within the confines of her own tongue.
After a million miles of vowels and consonants,
he has finally arrived.
