Do You Speak English?

                                     

     In Amsterdam, the man at the hostel counter nods and says,

     Yes, I do

     In Luxembourg, the man at that hostel counter, smiles and

     Says, yes

     In Paris, the woman looks slightly perplexed, but says

     A little

    In Stuttgart, the woman says, of course

    In Zurich, the man says: as you wish and then,

    when I offer Euros for post cards, he says:

    Only Swiss francs here-We are not part of the European Union, or the UN!

   In Florence, the woman at the hostel counter says; I will do my best…

   In Genoa, the woman at the hostel counter speaks first, in English

   So I do not ask

   In Barcelona, the boys at the hostel counter speak English with barely

   Traces of accent, even though they are from Norway and Hungary

   Every time I get lost (which is often, in train stations and in the bus systems)

   I ask: Do you speak English?

   Because that is a Rick Steves tip I believe valuable

    Luckily I find many who can, only a few who cannot

    Or as in Paris, will not for their own petty reasons

                                   

    Kudos to Natasha, a Russian woman who goes out of  her way to help me

   find my hostel, gestures & smiles

    No language to join our conversation

    It is in Florence and she has only the hostel address I show her

    She recruits an Italian boy who speaks English to direct me where to go

   then walks with me for miles

   When we find the road in, it is uphill and long

    She flags down a couple from Eastern Europe,

    Who offer to drive me the rest of the way

     When I offer Euros for her trouble, she shakes

     Her head ‘no’, then hugs me, kisses my cheek

     And walks away

     Natasha speaks no English, but she communicates

     Very well…

                                   Backpacking in Europe,  August 2012.

 (previously published in the Ghost Town Poetry anthology, Volume Two 2004-2014.)