Almost Verbal

Caleb orates. Besides “da,”
Used for “dog” and, maybe, “dad,”
None of his syllables are intelligible.

And yet his phrasing is natural,
His focus steady,
His volume unsurpassed.

We are yet in the period of grace,
Where he does not expect to be
Understood, and so he practices,

Without the tantrums that come
Later, when the thwarted expectation of
Minds meeting overwhelms.