Would you stop speaking to me in English?
I would prefer that you use another language,
one that I do not understand—perhaps yours?
—and synchronously display English subtitles.
The separation helps me, embarrassingly.
It keeps my mind from squashing
the wonderful moving shapes
that you speak.
It lets them in,
shiver with meaning.
It is also a little
excuse for me
to avert my eyes.
I am sorry.
I am working on the problem
of returning the favor.