poetry jam and good news

rjr2006

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Last week, I decided to be participated in Poetry Jam at my high school for extra credit in English, and I picked 2 poems related to deafness. I was the first to be volunteered to speak the poems then the leader of the Poetry Jam started to cry since she understands how I feel about being deaf and lonely in the hearing world. My English teacher said, "I am your friend" and a science teacher kissed me on the cheek. Hearing students told me that I did good job and I noticed that some people started to say hello, what's up to me in the hallways.

Next day after the Poetry Jam, I was informed that I got A- in English, because I did well on "flushing your brain" (means that I expressed my own thoughts and opinions smoothly) and my teacher said that I worked very hard during last 4 weeks so I deserved the grade. I also did an oral presentation on Helen Keller and the class was very impressed in how I wrote very well.
 
cool.. I am going to a local poetry slam in Phoenix, Arizona this Wednesday. Can you please post the 2 poems you used for your reading?
 
certainly! here are the poems.

A Silent World
by Izabella Lewandowski

Picture me standing alone, in a dark dark dungeon, a place with no way out.
No one has the heart to free me from such a deep, sorrowful, lonely hole.
Treating me unkind. As if I am dirty, dumb, and not worthy.
Everything's a confusing puzzle, a place no one would want to be in.
Just for a second I thought I felt someone's footsteps to the rescue...
Well that was only my stupid imagination wanting to be saved.
Oh wait! There's a light coming through, I havent seen the sun for such a long time.
Maybe someone wants to be my friend. Maybe somebody reaches out for me.
Before I took a step, they shut the light out on me. Their careless laughter
roaring. Feeling hundreds of miles away, thousands and thousands of
knives coming, attacking me.
I'm screaming inside, hello? anyone? help me here!
It's sooooo lonely here. Rainfall rolling down my cheek.
No one wants to be my friend... is it because I can't hear?
I'll change, I PROMISE!
I'm so terribly sorry I can't speak beautifully like you all can...
I'm trying; I'm asking for your patience.
Oh please accept me for who I am... not for what I DON'T have...
Hello Anyone?
I'd do anything to have a friend.



What is it like to be Deaf?

Author: Unknown

What is it like to be Deaf?
People have asked me.
Deaf? Oh, hmmmm, how do I explain that?
Simply, I can’t hear.

Nooo, it is much more than that.
It is similar to a goldfish in a bowl.
Always observing things going on.
People talking all the time.
It is like a man on his own island
Among foreigners.

Isolation is no stranger tome.
Relatives say hi and bye.
But I sit for five hours among them.
Taking great pleasure at amusing babies.
Reading books, resting, helping out with food.

Natural curiosity picks up
Upon seeing great laughter, crying, upsetness.
Inquiring only to meet with a “Never Mind”, or
“Oh, it is not important“.
Getting a summarized statement
Of the whole story.

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 a 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 a Deaf Camping
Weekend or 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???

With Deaf people, I feel so normal,
Our communication flows back and forth,
Catching 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 avoidance,
Deaf people are like the plague.

But Deaf people are still human beings
With dreams, desires and needs.
To belong, just like everyone else.
 
I have read "What is it like to be Deaf?" before.. :) But I never read "A Silent World".. That's a really good one!

I write my own poetry. You can check them out somewhere in the Creative Writing forum.
 
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