Deaf & Dumb

ARTWORK:  These poems originally written to the art of Jessica McCallum for her JM Exhibition at His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, 2009.

‘DEAF’



I see your mouth, your lips,

your tongue moving,

pointed in my direction,

shaping words I cannot hear.

I know you are expressing

love with your eyes and hands,

signing our future, sealed

and stamped in ruby red wax

– declared! I try to do the same

but cannot recognise your words,

only feelings.



'DUMB'



I won’t question because I can’t – I will show you

I know you, I feel you, I see you but can only grunt

and grin with love – music for your eyes even

though the world may frown at the ugly sounds you

cannot hear. No need to speak, I declare our love

with every tentative press of flesh – a smile which

steals the words and hope you can read me clearly

– hear the vow I cannot say.



Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

#poetry #deaf #dumb #jessicaMcCallumartist #feelings #canthear #cantsay #struggle #words