Forgotten language

Forgotten Language

Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the houseflyin my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questionsof the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dyingflake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?

by Shel Silverstein