The English Accent

You wanted to speak with an American accent
inspired by your heroes Marilyn Monroe
Katherine Hepburn, and the Fresh Prince
of Bel Air.
But when you spoke English, to my delight
your accent started to sound like mine.

Although you still twanged of Denmark
it was when you used harsh vowel sounds;
words like bubblebath
and monkey
that you sounded like the girls in the factory
down the road.

My friends loved to hear you talk of Copenhagen
the colours of the sunset
the tastes of the coffee,
while I loved their faces
when you spoke of Sheffield United
and how you liked to spend all day
in Baker's Oven.

You taught me a new Danish word
every day we were together
the last word I learnt was svanger
meaning pregnant.
I never saw you again.