How to Speak by ANNIE REINER

Speak where words stalk like animals and you are the prey. To those who need mothers, speak; to criminals, to babies and to yourself, speak like the trees, speak knowing it doesn’t matter what you say, it’s the music, the juice, the love and hate they try to mate but stay on either side of their own lines and you in the middle speaking. Speak of where you are, where you are is where you’re going; speak your parents on their own road driven by passion; speak loud and clear though words come apart like water, the sun shining through them. And then stop speaking. From “Mind Your Head” (Wilshire House, 6148 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90048). 1990 by Annie Reiner.