SAL/ON

A Blog of Seattle Arts & Lectures

“Dos-Minds,” by Daniel Chamale

Que significa ser bilingue
A lot of people think, it can be easy
La dificultad sigue
Want to practice on a daily basis

I just wanted to talk to them
Nomas una conversación
I want to hear their stories
Porque no tomas el acción

Why don’t you study?
Porque te cuesta
Your family came to this country from
El país de Guatemala

Every time I talk I can’t speak
No quiero ser juzgado
I tell myself I can’t read
Mi Español es muy, muy malo

One conversation
Y otro
One of judgement
Y el otro de decepcionante

I’m trying to practice
Y porque no lo haces?
I’m trying my best
solo los viernes?

You have a point…
¿No quieres hablar con ellos?
I hope I have enough time
el año que viene serán mayores

Please stay so I can hear your stories
quiero escuchar a todos…


Daniel Chamale wrote this poem while a 9th Grader at Evergreen High School, with WITS Writer Raúl Sánchez. Daniel read his poem at our 2019 WITS Back-to-School Luncheon to support our Writers in the Schools program on October 2, 2019.

Posted in Student WritingWriters in the Schools