The poem
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 housefly in my bed. Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets, And joined the crying of each falling dying flake of snow, Once I spoke the language of the flowers... How did it go? How did it go?
I think it is an ok poem, but Shel has done better
forgotten language
I think that the speaker was once inspired by the universe, but has forgotten how to communicate with it. The speaker used to be able to talk to the world, but for some unknown reason, forgot how. I think the speaker is inspired by the world and longs to be able to speak to it again.
Poets pshycology
I think that while writing this poem poet was being mad beacuse.
without being mad no one things like this