The Man whose Voice Has been Taken from His Throat
 Naomi Shihab Nye--1952

remain all supple hands and gesture

skin of langue 
fusing its finest seam

in fluent light
with a raised finger

dance of lips
each sentence complete

he speaks to the shadow
of leaves

strung tissue paper
snipped into delicate flags

on which side of the conversation
did anyone begin?

wearing two skins
the brilliant question mark of Mexico
stands on its head
like an answer