A BEAUTIFUL SPEAKING VOICE

[Sue Littleton]

The four young people stand close together,
two boys, two girls, bright eyes focused on each other,
conversing merrily.

Above their heads the spring sky bends like a blue hoop
decorated with goose down ...
I am near enough now to be caught by the silence.
As I watch, their hands take flight, fingers moving expressively.
I observe the dancing motions of communication
and then I note that one of the two young women
moves her hands with an incredible natural grace
that leaves me transfixed.

There is a brusque elegance to all their gestures,
this special language for those who do not hear –
yet this one person's eloquent gesticulation
is as distinct from the others as is one speaking voice
from another among the hearing.

I recall that some deaf people call sign language “wind milling” –
surely this young woman’s signing would be more like “wind singing”...
a field of yellow wildflowers basking in the sun,
a white-winged crane slowly lifting itself
from the wave-caressed shoreline,
neat gray mud swallows darting to their nests beneath the bridge
in the spring.

If there are beautiful speaking voices
among the hearing,
surely there are beautiful “speaking voices” singing, signing
among the deaf as well.
I am filled with gratitude
that even in my ignorance of their language,
I have been granted this small window
into the rare beauty of their communion.


Posts: 1165
Joined: July 3rd, 2010, 5:13 pm
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Real Name: Sue Littleton
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[joel]

Ah, Sue. <sigh> What a dance, what a communi(ty)cation!

[Sue Littleton]

Thank you, Joel, dear friend -- I reiterate, I am delighted she said YES -- what a wonderful swirl of emotion you poured forth in that post! I am so happy for you, Joel, you cannot imagine!

I will be needing an address to send you books. How many do you want? The poem is at the first of the book, and it is as beautiful in Spanish as it is in English.

mujermaiz@yahoo.com

♥♥♥

[creativesoul]

beautiful really- i am so touched, and going deaf, thank you for making learning to sign a happy thing
well done!

[Sue Littleton]

Thank you, Creative Soul -- I could ask for no better praise! Sue♥♥♥

[martinanewberry]

Lovely poem! I liked it very much!

[Sue Littleton]

Thank you, Martina! Sue♥♥♥