Speaking in tongues

Speaking in tongues (19th May 2008, 1.47pm)

We both speak English, don’t we?
I appreciate the generation gap may be
Too wide to straddle, especially in those jeans
But I’m experiencing an unexpected language barrier
Are we too stupid to gather the gist of each other?
Make links between words with similar themes
Make sense of pidgin and slang and double meanings
However unintentional and funny to each of us they may be
I just offered to give one to a Year Eleven boy
I meant an exam question; his mind slid somewhere else…
Are we having an issue with body language?
You, slouched in your chair with your hand
Struggling to hold your head up
Me, standing in front of you with
My hands on my hips, ready to tell you off
For just being yourself (youth)… Read my lips:
Believe me; I understand where you’re coming from
It’s these tiny social injustices, these
Nuances, influences, positions, responsibilities
It’s a respect thing, that’s a word they’re fond of nowadays
You see, back when I was your age
A whole ten years ago, Jesus, that’s a decade
That seems like yesterday, I was the one doodling in biro
Staring out the window, unable to concentrate
Isn’t it ironic? What a funny Fate
But I’m sure when I was your age (patronising, isn’t it?
Listen as I revel in it!) I understood:
We’re not speaking in tongues, we’re just
Being deliberately obtuse, innit? Ain’t that the truth?