Keyboard and Measuring Tape (Two Poems)
Keyboard I long to impart words all my own, but his stubby fingers do the talking. He’s way too dull. I’m kaput from input. I’m a punctual email, a simple “thanks,” a click on “send.” Or I’m saved for later. I’m lucky if he fires an angry note to his boss. The sharp jolt of [...]
The Republic of You
Do you think it shocking that when I turned eighteen I found my vote never existed no of course not why because according to the republic of you i’m an unfit child I’m an unfit mother Do you think we didn’t notice how ironic it’s a corporatocracy that ordering at a mcdonald’s is much [...]
ventriloquist dummy
She said it sounds funny when you say that Say it again And it made her laugh So I said it again that funny sound He said no that’s not how you say it The ‘g’ is silent And he said you have a beautiful voice And when I said what I said they [...]
Signing Hands Across the Water
Signing Hands Across the Water An International Festival of Sign Language Poetry from the United Kindom and the United States On March 16th – 18th 2012, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, USA, celebrates sign language poetry. Sign language poets from Britain and America will come together and explore this rich and beautiful art form with members of College, the [...]
Speech Therapists I’ve Known
Can’t remember one Too many to remember All had their hands on my throat Saw their tongues Too many times One had huge boobs With last name “Hay” Sign name looked strange Too much like ‘roll in hay’ Another one was from Jersey With last name Tague Learned ‘ue’ was silent Speech is so [...]
I am a…… Success!
I am an Oral success. At around two and a half years old, I started talking. I started to learn to read at four years old. Today I can (if I so choose), order a hamburger at McDonald’s without having to repeat myself. I can speak to family, friends, and strangers, and they can understand me [...]
IN SEARCH OF DEEP SIGN 7: death people
There is a child somewhere who has not heard of death. There is always a child who has not heard of death and always a child breathing who does not think of stopping breath, or even that it could be stopped, making a rhythm of despair. Subtle, yet textured in their ignorance they are [...]
i was a deaf child
i was a deaf child. It was me Stumbling, Somewhat confounded By the towering blocks of An invisible maze that i Physically slammed into With your every determination It was my young, blank-slate life That you painted bitter, Folded into neat perfection And tucked away on a dusty shelf In a cabinet that you [...]
Sheldon Avenue
It was nice and sunny on Sheldon Avenue Then a black family moved there The girl Wilma was nice and became my sister’s best friend and we gave her a neat name sign like wine But Wilma’s little brother was a pest Every day he ran up to us and made faces and beat [...]
Spleen Gone Blues
I met her in a bar. Her drink was almost done. Irony was hoping that I would be the one. So I slide upon the stool and I say my pick-up line. I say “Baby how ya doin’?”” She says “Baby, you’re fine!” Well wow, whoa, it was Halloween! Who would’ve thought she’d be [...]