Boy, Fear!

I was speaking to a boy one day and he told me
his biggest fear was a person
who could not make everyday conversation.

But he didn't know
that I used to be mute.

What can you learn from silence?
The sciences of motion!

When I first came to America, I didn't speak for a year.

Not a single word left my throat.

And as soon as I was out of the eyeshot of other people, I would spread my teeth from ear to ear.

And then, I spent six months cracking pecans.

It's true that I walked out of high school to crack pecans.
Now you must listen to me when I say that this was an absolute necessity!
The same hour every day, I'd go out and pick pecans from a tree, and
after a while, invested in the purchase of a hammer.
And so I'd crush open the pecans and eat them as I did:
pick, crush, eat. Pick, crush, eat.

And then slowly, I began speaking again.
But sometimes I feel the need to go and listen to the trees,

because I don't understand the language of the people around me.
I think I have pica because

the other day somebody asked me what my name was
and I did not know the answer.
Pi-ca
Pi-ca

And so when I think of this boy who told me his biggest fear,
I was afraid,
and I have been afraid.
I think he knows!

And when I speak of these unspeakable things,
people look at me in absolute seriousness with a hint of consolation for the madness,
and I really must do my best not to snort,

because I don't take myself seriously at all.
And when you do, I take a step back and give her a scrutinizing look-over and then bow.

Aye, sir!
Chief Azra!
I'm at your service!
Wait, who? Is that me?

Ha-ha!

...

And when all that is over, there really is one thing I always do!
Yes, yes, yes!

I dance with you!
Right foot left, left foot right,
and then I pull you into an effervescent whirl

when you least expect it!

Ha-ha! I really am mischievous indeed!

And I think that's why I'm forgetting my name—
because of the whirling!

The constant, constant whirling!

But what else can I do?

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

Do, do, doo!

My, oh my!