Hear About A Polyglot's Day, Dia, comical poem number 366 by Angela Lansbury

I learned to speak in fluent French

And 'useless' Latin when at school

I passed A level, with effort

No fool, I learned the words and rules

And then I met a polyglot

His languages, not four, but eight!

For years I dreamed of my hero

But thought for me it was too late

Than along came Duolingo

And Google hit and miss Translate

What great joy, I started German

I learned, it is never too late

Each day I learned twenty new words

'though each day I forget thirty

Each day I learn to say, It's new

Can't say, It's old, dear, or dirty

I'm learning twelve new languages

Sometimes get a bit confused

I learn a lot of obscure words

Practise tenses I've never used

Yet I am learning every da y

I say all new words twice out loud

Ten words I read but cannot say

Of that I am extremely proud.

I'm always keen to add some more

New languages are what I seek

I want to add Esperanto

To my list of those I can't speak.

Acquaintances are so impressed

Just when I open with hello

In lots of foreign languages

Tell waiters yes, (but can't say no).

I say what I know how to say

Hello, Hallo, ola, bonjour

The latter is French for good day, 

Of that, at least, I'm almost sure

They think because I know two words

I must be very brainy

At least I've got something to do

Like cross words, when its rainy.

I'm learning twelve new languages

Yes, strangers are impressed

Learn one new word, then confuse two

Before I'm even dressed.

When people ask, how many

I have a good reply

"How many can  you really speak?"

I smile and reply, "Why?"

"Are you glad you've met me?

Please remember my name

Just read my blogs and learn new words

Then you can do the same

"Alas you will not understand

Those who speak too fast

But sighing, 'I can't speak one word,'

Is in your long lost past."

You stare excitedly with me

Look in the same direction

On hearing, "Look, you look it up!"

Fun spreads like an infection

And if you are not understood

And you do not know why

At least in 12 languages

You quickly say goodbye.

I cannot teach you many words

I won't confuse with thirty

Just adios, and hej hej

Au revoir, arrivaderci.

-ends-

The last verse last two lines say goodby in Spanish, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian, French, and Italian.

Please share links to your favourite blog posts.

The poem title contains the word dia, Spanish for day, a pun on the English word dear, addressing the reader as dear, which sounds the same. Hear and dear rhyme, which is a clue. Dia is actually di-a, but near enough.

Comic and tragic sound the same. Strictly speaking,