It’s said you have to split its tongue
When the myna is very young
Before you can teach it to speak.
At first it wags its yellow beak
While emitting a stifled squeak.
The patient teacher says one word,
And then to unconfuse the bird,
Repeats it many times, mimics
Himself, until the bird’s mind clicks
And its forked tongue repeats the word.
It can learn any human sound
As long as it's kept in its cage.
It dies if released from that cage
Into worlds of confusing sound.
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