Blush

I tried to say it right.

Stress, syllable, inflection;
my meaning had escaped detection.
Rigors of learning to speak Chinese;
brush a little blush on me.

Tone, accent, elocution;
my saying was poor execution.
New languages are far from a breeze;
brush a little blush on me.

I fancied an old Chinese restaurant;
I ordered entree.
In Chinese I offered my compliments;
O what did I say!

(I opened my mouth with pure confidence;
  my tongue was so strong.
  I figured I’d bridge different continents;
  yet I was so wrong.)

Fierce glare of angry waiter;
my bad--call me an instigator.
While grinning I told him he had fleas;
brush a little blush on me.


20 Lines
Writer’s Cramp Winner
10-12-14