missed the meaning, but got the feeling

The author unexpectedly immigrated to Poland in 2023, staying there in order to be in his young son's life. In Poland, he was forced to navigate the family court system there to remain being the active father he always had been, but without any support from friends or family. Despite being a long-time language lover, the author struggled under this weight. He was overwhelmed by the need to learn the native tongue, but made efforts irregardless. Those efforts were varied, and sometimes experimental, but always led with love and curiosity. He became an English teacher, creating lesson plans for preschoolers, befriended interpreters and bilingual families, and even supported global language learners through exchange on the internet. The author began this collection of poems to capture his lessons from the ongoing journey and touch on the needs that are core to us all: the need to connect, to be understood, and to communicate.

At first, these poems were just that: a reflection of what parts of his experience he felt universal, helping him confront the daily reality of his loneliness in this foreign country. But after being shared, the poems became a tool for language-learners. The recordings he made sparked students to make their own in response, and he shared his praise and gave feedback on accent, pronunciation and tone. These exchanges enabled the sounds of those needing to connect to be felt, heard, and understood, supporting everyone's goal to, without barriers, communicate.

Today, they are now shared with you.