THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

speaking in tongues

SECOND LANGUAGES

Africa has the most diverse language roots(largely Niger-Congo based)-

Lingala,Hausa,Banyu,Pulaar,Bambara,Isixhosa,Kiunguja,Kalanga,Shona,Lingala,&Fang

Colonialism has imported Arabic,French,yet indigenous languages still hold sway
We know Canada's second language is French,and USA 's is Spanish
but did you know Mexico's second language is Uto Aztecan(Nahuatl)?
Spain's second language is Catalan.Australia's is Mandarin.
Russia 's Tatar&Turkic.China's Cantonese.India's Bengali.Greenland?Danish!
English is the world's fave second language,followed by Spanish and Russian.
Underneath all nationalism lurks language imperialism
French Academy condemns Americanisms.English would not allow Gaelic .
Many peopel have learned second and third languages for commerce and survival.
Ask Ukraine,Scotland,Ireland,Catalonia...beneath proscribed speech
new and old tongues mutter CULTURAL INDEPENDENCE..