I am sometimes obsessed with

My grammar, being very careful with my pro-nun-ci-a-tion,

Plus I need to e-nun-ci-ate so

People can understand me and not say huh?

Sometimes, for a terrible moment,

I let my guard down,

And tumbling like something I wish to seize back,

The word escapes me.

My book-a-weekend brain cries out,

My world topples flat for a second,

My mouth shapes the word, so horrifyingly quick–

I say it–

“Y’all.”