Conjunction: a poem for two tongues.

Recordare:

to remember

   For you, father, even after
   thirty years in America,
   Pittsburgh is still Bittsburg,
   New Jersey is New Cherz,
   garbage is carpage.

lo recordo:

I remember

   Driving with you
   through Southern California
   in our squeaky red truck
   you would have the radio blaring
   a Tijuana station,
   R-r-radio Calli,
   and you would say,
   they had Italian
  stations in Bittsburg.

Tu redordi:

You remember

   When you heard Spanish
   or Portuguese in the park
   you would stop,
   speak Italian to them,
   any immigrant a brother.
   Afterwards, I would ask
   what you talked about.
   You would say,
   I didn't understand them.

Noi recordiamo:

We remember

   Home from college
   on break I would try
   my book-learned Italian.
   You would wince,
   reply in English.