I Brought the Wrong Words Back
Ana Gardner

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I've been away from home too long.

I've made a new home and I learned their words
And brought their rudeness back when I returned:
Sipping from my glass without toasting my host first,
Asking “what do you do” instead of who you are
Like I'm looking to hire you before the first course is served.

“Where are you from” came off my lips easy as hello.

I forgot you're from the same place everyone's from, the same place I'm from,
Everyone here is from the same place and none of us are strangers
But I make stranger noises, trying to wedge myself
Back into home with my wrong questions and new words.

​I brought the wrong words back and they won’t fit,
And now I need a dictionary all over again.