The English U

I’ll preserve the U
Preserve the English U, for you
For you because you always knew where it would be

I want to save the U
Safeguard the English U, for you
For you
Because I need
I need to find the you
You wanted me to see

I want to know the comma
Though I neglect to honour
Every breath implied, uncertain of its need

Happenchance I am wanton
Misplacing or forgotten
You were always sure to tell me
What to read

I am made quite otherwise it seems
A criminal to grammar
To apostrophe - the hammer

All that you made matter as to dream
Read to me, I’m always listening

I wish to spell correctly
To spell is elementary
And that I fail is not to disagree

I’m pretty sound with tenses
With when and which and whences
But the order of the letters are degrees

I am made quite otherwise it seems
A criminal to grammar
To apostrophe - the hammer

All that you made matter as to dream
Read to me, I’m always listening

You kept beautiful words in soft carbon pages
As beautiful worlds went missing in stages
Scattered in sandstorms and stolen in rages
A cache of books inside your pillow cases

Read to me, I’m always listening