Forgotten Language, by Shel Silverstein

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?