A poem called "Thoughts of a Deaf Child"

This is a poem I found a while back. It is very sad.

My family knew that I was deaf
When I was only three, and since then fifteen years ago
Have never signed to me.
I know when I’m around the house,
I try and use my voice,
It makes them feel more comfortable;
For me, I have no choice.
I try, communicate their way-
Uncomfortable for me.
My parents wouldn’t learn sign
Ashamed or apathy?
I never cared about the sound of radios and bands;
What hurts me most is, I never heard
My parents’ signing hands.

Stephen J. Bellitz, Reprinted from Senior News, July 1991

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5 comments
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  1. JohnABC on March 19th 2007 at 1:03 am :

    Wow I did sign this poem in ASL so you can CLICK HERE

  2. Steve on March 19th 2007 at 4:48 pm :

    Hi John.

    Thanks for dropping by!

    I never realised this poem was so widely known about – since I posted this I’ve noticed several different copies of it on forums and blogs. Still, it is a great poem – very emotional and moving.

  3. lESly on November 5th 2008 at 4:50 pm :

    thiS pOEM AlWAyS MAkES
    ME APPRECiAtE thE fACt
    thAt iM iN A fAMily thAt CARES

  4. Ashley B. on January 11th 2010 at 11:42 pm :

    I as well didn’t know that this poem by Stephen J. Bellitz was widely know.
    This poem has a lot of meaning to it and I like it very much, so I’ve decided to
    do an interpretation of this poem for my high school class :)

  5. Steve on January 12th 2010 at 8:53 pm :

    Hi Ashley,

    Thanks for dropping by and good luck with your interpretation.

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