Deaf Poems
- WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE DEAF?
- DEAF EYES
- I LIKE TO BE DEAF
- I HEAR YOUR HAND
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People have asked me.
Deaf? Oh, hmmm, how do I explain that?
Simply, I can't hear.
On, it is much more than that.
It is similar to a goldfish in a bowl.
Always observing things going on.
People talking all the time.
It is being a man on his own island
Among foreigners.
Isolation is not stranger to me.
Relatives say hi and bye.
But I sit for five hours among them.
Talking great pleasure at amusing babies.
Reading books, resting, helping out with food.
Natural curiosity perks up
Upon seeing great laughter, crying upsets.
Inquire only to meet with "Never mind",
"Oh, it is not important,"
Getting such a summarized statement
Of whole story.
Supposed to smile to show the hanppiness.
Little do they know how truly miserable I am?
People are in control of language usage,
I am at loss and real uncomfortable!
Always feeling of being an outsider
Among the hearing people
Even if it was not their intention.
Always assume that I am part of them
By my physical presence, not understanding
The importance of communication.
Facing the choice between the Deaf Camping
Weekend and Family Reunion.
Facing the choice between the family commitment
And Deaf friends,
I must make the choice constantly,
Any wonder why I choose Deaf friends?
I get such great pleasure at Deaf Clubs,
Before I realized, it is already 2 a.m.,
Whereas I anxiously look at the clock
Every few minutes in the family reunion.
With Deaf people, I am so normal,
Our communication flows back and forth,
Catching up with little trivial, our daily life,
Our frustration in the bigger world,
Seeking the mutual understanding,
Contented smiles and laughing are musical.
So magical to me
So attuned to each other's feelings.
Truly happiness so important.
I feel more at home with Deaf people
Of various color, religious, short or tall,
Then I do among my own hearing relatives.
And wonder why?
Our language is common.
We understand each other.
Being at loss in control
Of environment, that is, communication,
People panic and retreat to avoid,
Deaf people are like plague.
But Deaf people are still human beings
With dreams, desires and needs
Have belonged just like everyone else.
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All eyes are myth.
Who understand the mystery of eyes?
You have to be entirely deaf
to acknowledge our myth making eyes.
Our eyes are complex vision
different from the hearing world's eyes,
We live in a world of complete silence;
being in a deaf person's eyes all is myth.
In a deaf person's eyes is the imagery
of sound made beautiful,
in deaf eyes the music is
rhythm, beat, is feeling.
Our eyes are our ears,
our hands are our voice,
in deaf eyes our hands
are a magnificent voice
with the beautiful motion
called "sign language."
In deaf eyes are pride;
living in a deaf person's world,
no hearing world can describe
what's in deaf eyes!
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I was born deaf and I like the way I am.
When I am sad I hear nothing to cheer me up,
no music, and no company.
I can't hear the birds chirp in the morning,
neither the droplets of early morning dew.
I can feel, look at the sky, it's the color of love
Love brings us together, I can communicate,
even though I can't hear I use my imagination
like if I were hearing,
deafness makes no difference.
I am deaf,
I accept it and I won't change it.
Love mends your heart,
I am deaf but the rest of me is like you!
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Hey there friend, you’ve got a hand
Help me see what you say to me
Don’t hide your hand
My ears are closed, I cannot hear
But we can share the world, don’t fear
Just lend a hand.
Lend a hand and I can show you
How to sing words in the air
You can share my world of silence
God gave us a dream to share
I’m reaching out to you
There’s so much we can do.
Before you knew, I walked with you
Until today you turned away
See what I say
The world that you are hearing now
Is the same world that I see
Reach out your hand, I hear your hand.
Lend a hand and I can show you
How to sing words in the air
You can share my world of silence
God gave us a dream to share
I’m reaching out to you
There’s so much we can do.
They call me deaf, but I can see
Birds singing, and breezes in the trees
And children laugh
My world is lonely without you
Just look at me and smile
And clasp my hand in yours.
Give me your hand and learn my language
You can speak signs in the air
We can reach for the stars about us
I’ve so much I want to share
I’ll share my life with you
God can make dreams come true. |
Deaf Links
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American Sign language click
Learn about Deaf Culture click |
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