What Is It Like To Be DEAF?

Angel · 10-13-2005, 04:52 PM

" What is it like to be deaf? "

People have asked me.

Deaf? Oh, hmm... how do I explain that?

Simple: I can't hear.

No, wait... it is much more than that.

It is similar to a goldfish in a bowl,

Always observing things going on.

People talking at all times.

It is like a man on his own island

Among foreigners.

Isolation is no stranger to me.

Relatives say hi and bye

But I sit for 5 hours among them

Taking great pleasure at amusing babies

Or being amused by TV.

Reading books, resting, helping out with food.

Natural curiosity perks up

Upon seeing great laughter, crying, anger.

Inquiring only to meet with a "Never mind" or

"Oh, it's not important".

Getting a summarized statement

Of the whole day.

I'm supposed to smile to show my happiness.

Little do they know how truly miserable I am.

People are in control of language usage,

I am at loss and really uncomfortable!

Always feeling like an outsider

Among the hearing people,

Even though it was not their intention.

Always assuming that I am part of them

By my physical presence, not understanding

The importance of communication.

Facing the choice between Deaf Event weekend

or a family reunion.

Facing the choice between the family commitment

And Deaf friends.

I must make the choices constantly,

Any wonder why I choose Deaf friends???

I get such great pleasure at the Deaf clubs,

Before I realize it, it is already 2:00 am,

Whereas I anxiously look at the clock

Every few minutes at the Family Reunion.

With Deaf people, I feel so normal,

Our communication flows back and forth.

Catch up with little trivials, our daily life,

Our frustration in the bigger world,

Seeking the mutual understanding,

Contented smiles and laughter are musical.

So magical to me,

So attuned to each other's feelings.

True happiness is so important.

I feel more at home with Deaf people

Of various color, religion, short or tall.

Than I do among my own hearing relatives.

And you wonder why?

Our language is common.

We understand each other.

Being at loss of control

Of the environment that is communication,

People panic and retreat to avoid

Deaf people like the plague.

But Deaf people are still human beings

With dreams, desires, and needs

To belong, just like everyone else.

By Dianne Kinnee

Teresh · 10-13-2005, 05:09 PM

Wow. Just wow. Profound. Very True. If you are the author, you are now my hero. If not, you are still my hero for posting it.

JeepGirl · 10-13-2005, 05:22 PM

I second that! Great posting!

Angel · 10-13-2005, 05:40 PM

Actually I didn't write this, I got this from a friend of mine thru email, and I decide to post this in AD to share with you guys!..

Thanks girls! I'm glad you like it as much as I do

....

sequoias · 10-13-2005, 05:58 PM

Great one there! It's very true how we feel!

Cheri · 10-13-2005, 06:06 PM

I like it, I love it, I................. You know what I mean.

SherryCherish · 10-13-2005, 06:21 PM

nice.. Angel

I always tell them, *put ear plugs in ur ears* it alike forever and all day, u couldn't hear, that how deafies re alike. LOL (sound like harsh huh?)

GalaxyAngel · 10-13-2005, 06:36 PM

Diffculties say to people... Why people care ask Deaf people dumb question...

but doesn't mind at all.. Give them answer simple and open understand..

I'm feel great being your comment! (Angel's 1st post thread).

Miss-Delectable · 10-14-2005, 08:00 AM

Very precise. I have read this some years ago and I agree.

Liebling:-))) · 10-14-2005, 09:55 AM

Very TRUE!!!! I'm going to forward this to my British friends...

Tousi · 10-14-2005, 12:21 PM

Angel, any clue as to who wrote this, and when? It's pretty powerful, to say the least! Thanks for putting it up

Roadrunner · 10-14-2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

Angel, any clue as to who wrote this, and when? It's pretty powerful, to say the least! Thanks for putting it up

Tousi, indeed, it's not only powerful, but the stark truth of what the majority of Deaf/Hoh/CI individuals go through constantly--

As for the author of this poem, I 'googled' it and here's the link , also, ^Angel^ did have the author's name at the end of the poem--

Thanks ^Angel^ for sharing this with AD'ers and it's a great piece to not only share here, but to pass along to our 'hearing' friends, families, etc. and perhaps give them a chance to rethink how they can correspond with us on a daily basis, being moved and touched to a point of making our own world no lower than the level that some hearing people might regard 'us' as....

Peachy Lady · 10-14-2005, 04:25 PM

I really like the poem so much too cuz I can identify myself with that poem. I sent it to some of my good friends and Angel including. Thanks so much for posting this poem, Angel!

10-13-2005, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Angel ♥"Concrete Angel"♥ Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 19,088	What Is It Like To Be DEAF? " What is it like to be deaf? " People have asked me. Deaf? Oh, hmm... how do I explain that? Simple: I can't hear. No, wait... it is much more than that. It is similar to a goldfish in a bowl, Always observing things going on. People talking at all times. It is like a man on his own island Among foreigners. Isolation is no stranger to me. Relatives say hi and bye But I sit for 5 hours among them Taking great pleasure at amusing babies Or being amused by TV. Reading books, resting, helping out with food. Natural curiosity perks up Upon seeing great laughter, crying, anger. Inquiring only to meet with a "Never mind" or "Oh, it's not important". Getting a summarized statement Of the whole day. I'm supposed to smile to show my happiness. Little do they know how truly miserable I am. People are in control of language usage, I am at loss and really uncomfortable! Always feeling like an outsider Among the hearing people, Even though it was not their intention. Always assuming that I am part of them By my physical presence, not understanding The importance of communication. Facing the choice between Deaf Event weekend or a family reunion. Facing the choice between the family commitment And Deaf friends. I must make the choices constantly, Any wonder why I choose Deaf friends??? I get such great pleasure at the Deaf clubs, Before I realize it, it is already 2:00 am, Whereas I anxiously look at the clock Every few minutes at the Family Reunion. With Deaf people, I feel so normal, Our communication flows back and forth. Catch up with little trivials, our daily life, Our frustration in the bigger world, Seeking the mutual understanding, Contented smiles and laughter are musical. So magical to me, So attuned to each other's feelings. True happiness is so important. I feel more at home with Deaf people Of various color, religion, short or tall. Than I do among my own hearing relatives. And you wonder why? Our language is common. We understand each other. Being at loss of control Of the environment that is communication, People panic and retreat to avoid Deaf people like the plague. But Deaf people are still human beings With dreams, desires, and needs To belong, just like everyone else. By Dianne Kinnee __________________ "When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is brought in our life, OR in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller

10-13-2005, 05:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
JeepGirl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: In the South Posts: 6,343	I second that! Great posting! __________________ ""When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us""

10-13-2005, 05:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Angel ♥"Concrete Angel"♥ Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 19,088	Actually I didn't write this, I got this from a friend of mine thru email, and I decide to post this in AD to share with you guys!.. Thanks girls! I'm glad you like it as much as I do .... __________________ "When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is brought in our life, OR in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller

10-13-2005, 05:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
sequoias Subaru rules! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The Evergreen State Posts: 12,771	Great one there! It's very true how we feel! __________________

10-13-2005, 06:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cheri Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,022	I like it, I love it, I................. You know what I mean. __________________

Today
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10-13-2005, 05:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Teresh Search for Truth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,078	Wow. Just wow. Profound. Very True. If you are the author, you are now my hero. If not, you are still my hero for posting it.

10-13-2005, 06:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
SherryCherish "Can't Hear but Can See" Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: somewhere in USA Posts: 4,549	nice.. Angel I always tell them, put ear plugs in ur ears it alike forever and all day, u couldn't hear, that how deafies re alike. LOL (sound like harsh huh?) __________________ Have a great 2007 year!

10-13-2005, 06:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
GalaxyAngel That's me! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alberta,Canada Posts: 13,541	Diffculties say to people... Why people care ask Deaf people dumb question... but doesn't mind at all.. Give them answer simple and open understand.. I'm feel great being your comment! (Angel's 1st post thread). __________________ Parent's proud our children.

10-14-2005, 08:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,854 Blog Entries: 3	Very precise. I have read this some years ago and I agree. __________________

10-14-2005, 09:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
Liebling:-))) My 3 darling princesses Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 27,021	Very TRUE!!!! I'm going to forward this to my British friends... __________________

10-14-2005, 12:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 8,238	Angel, any clue as to who wrote this, and when? It's pretty powerful, to say the least! Thanks for putting it up

10-14-2005, 04:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
Peachy Lady Not from Georgia. Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,112	I really like the poem so much too cuz I can identify myself with that poem. I sent it to some of my good friends and Angel including. Thanks so much for posting this poem, Angel!

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