Riddle

We are animal cries,
groans the body makes,
the shrill keening of grief,
pain and rage howled out,
grunts of satisfaction,
someone crooning to her young.
We're animal cries becoming
human, five daughters
of your mother tongue.


[Answer: Vowels]



"Riddle" from Relearning the Dark by Nan Fry. Copyright © 1991. Reprinted by permission of the author and Washington Writers' Publishing House.

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