Sam but different
Ha’in, fae da start, mair as ee wye o spaekin,
o makkin sense o things, we learn ta fit
whit we say ta whit’s lippened. Takk pity apö dem
at’s born ta wan tongue: dem at nivver preeve
maet fae idder tables. Raised wi twa languages
is unconscious faestin: twa wyes o tinkin.
Een extends da tidder; can shaa wis anidder wirld
yet foo aa wirlds is jöst da sam, but different.
Translations of this Poem
Same but Different
Having, from the start, more than one way of speaking,
of making sense of things, we learn to fit
what we say to what’s expected. Take pity on those
born to one tongue: those who never taste even a morsel
from other tables. Raised with two languages
is unconscious feasting: two ways of thinking.
One extends the other; can show us another world
yet how all worlds are just the same, but different.
About this poem
This poem featured in To Learn the Future: Poems for Teachers edition 1.
