Poetry
Beautiful, haunting poems on deafness.
Ode to a Deaf Child
One day I saw a little child as lovely as a flower,
She danced and ran, she jumped and turned …
I watched her for an hour.This child of God was all the things I’d want my own to be,
Magnificent of heart and limb a curiosity.But when God made this little one he didn’t give her sound,
He left her in silent world where quiet is profound.A deep abyss, a lonely world, away from all who hear,
To never know the voice of man in happiness or fear.And as I watched her hands make pictures in the air,
A silent unknown rhythm that I could never share.For in this world of silence the hearing rarely go,
Because they lack the picture words it never can be so.This causes me to wonder about the world of sound,
What is it that we’re missing where the silence is profound?And then I knew the answer, it suddenly was there–
To live and love together means people have to share.Thus in the world of picture words where pretty symbols flow,
The meanings of I LOVE YOU is there for all who know.And so I guess the world of sound will stay a world apart,
Until it learns the picture words, it cannot share the same heart.- Philip A. Bellefleur, Ph.D.
The world of silence is actually very attractive in the context of the absurd noise levels in today’s society. That’s why when I am on my own, I choose silence over sounds. I run in the quiet of dawn without any hearing aid to simply soak in the gift of silence God has given us. For most hearing persons, the only silence they can ever look forward to is when they sleep for the night. Ever wondered why sleep is necessary? Perhaps it’s just the balance that we all need.
The world of silence is not as frightening as it seems, especially for those who cannot live without a minute of sound. It gives one clarity of mind and focus. Try diving/snorkelling sometimes. Enjoy the beauty of creation without sound, or I should say without noise. It’s beyond words.
In the hearing world, the irony is that sometimes the main message in a conversation gets lost in all the words and noise. Personally, I think the most direct & impactful way one can communicate is heart to heart. Focus on each other in entirety, not just on the words used.
God bless,
Thomas
Comment by Thomas Tan — August 14, 2006 @ 9:38 am
It’s a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it.
Comment by Cliff — August 14, 2006 @ 9:03 pm