You have to be Deaf to understand

Kalista

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You Have to be deaf to understand the deaf
What is it like to "hear" a hand?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to be a small child,
In a school, in a room void of sound --
With a teacher who talks and talks and talks;
And then when she does come around to you,
She expects you to know what she's said?
You have to be deaf to understand.

Or the teacher thinks that to make you smart,
You must first learn how to talk with your voice;
So mumbo-jumbo with hands on your face
For hours and hours without patience or end,
Until out comes a faint resembling sound?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to be curious,
To thirst for knowledge you can call your own,
With an inner desire that's set on fire --
And you ask a brother, sister, or friend
Who looks in answer and says, "Never Mind"?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What it is like in a corner to stand,
Though there's nothing you've done really wrong,
Other than try to make use of your hands
To a silent peer to communicate
A thought that comes to your mind all at once?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to be shouted at
When one thinks that will help you to hear;
Or misunderstand the words of a friend
Who is trying to make a joke clear,
And you don't get the point because he's failed?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to be laughed in the face
When you try to repeat what is said;
Just to make sure that you've understood,
And you find that the words were misread --
And you want to cry out, "Please help me, friend"?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to have to depend
Upon one who can hear to phone a friend;
Or place a call to a business firm
And be forced to share what's personal, and,
Then find that your message wasn't made clear?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to be deaf and alone
In the company of those who can hear --
And you only guess as you go along,
For no one's there with a helping hand,
As you try to keep up with words and song?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like on the road of life
To meet with a stranger who opens his mouth --
And speaks out a line at a rapid pace;
And you can't understand the look in his face
Because it is new and you're lost in the race?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to comprehend
Some nimble fingers that paint the scene,
And make you smile and feel serene,
With the "spoken word" of the moving hand
That makes you part of the word at large?
You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to "hear" a hand?
Yes, you have to be deaf to understand.


Written at 1971 by Willard J. Madsen, professor of journalism at Gallaudet University.
 
Thank You!

I remembered that one many years ago! It is still good today.
It shows how audists oppress us...

thanks!

:cheers:
 
**5** I agree with this poem. It s perfect honestly description of Deaf people like me. Thank you so much! I love to read it over and over that makes my day and me smiling for who I am being deaf, myself. :cheers:

Thanks again! ;)
Sweetmind
 
I have seen that poster at Deaf school before and it still is true today.
 
I have always enjoyed reading poems that are related to the "Deafness" or "Deafhood". It shows how much things has still been carried on into the daily basis. Here's one that I would like to share -

"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.

--Dianne Kinnee (Switras)
 
I am hearing and that made me think about things. You know somtimes my girlfriend asks me to sign what did they say and i say dont worry about it. Now I will never do that again. That almost made me cry!
 
Thanks for sharing this poem. I should share this with other hearing people I know. Though I am a hearing person myself, it explains what my fiancee has told me in the time I've known her.

My favorite part was the one about signing.... The beauty of signing is just amazing...makes me glad I took the time to learn it! :cheers:
 
SB_GB_4ever said:
I am hearing and that made me think about things. You know somtimes my girlfriend asks me to sign what did they say and i say dont worry about it. Now I will never do that again. That almost made me cry!
Yeah, that's a VERY common mistake. I never said that to my fiancee. I always told her about it (by telling the other hearing person "Just a minute please") or, if I absolutely had to, I'd say "I'll explain in a minute, OK?" if it was soon. I often tell the other person to slow down and repeat it, too, especially if I missed it myself... :roll:
 
Kalista said:
You Have to be deaf to understand the deaf
Yes I does have this poem long time ago and still have it here in the box somewhere, I got it from the girl at work over 20 years ago .. she handed this poem to me ... said she does to believe it and she is hearing . bless her.. I keep it as treasure and never forget this girl ...

It does to be true in the other poem from Jolie77. thank you for sharing it with us here ..

Have a nice weekend .. :wave:
 
I guess I never really thought of it that way. I am making my major in college Sign Language Interpretation and I have made it a habit to attend the deaf services as often as possible. I have to say, there are times where I feel like I need to depend on someone who knows the language. I would say immersion is the best way to learn it if you have the ablity to receive it. Thanks for the poem.
 
I love all poems that Deaf people wrote it.. They are actually right about the true feelings that we accept/ adapt ourselves. I agree with them all the way.

It s perfect poems for everybody to read that might help them understand it better and change their attitudes that I am hoping for. ;)

I do love read it over and over that makes my day as always. That's a real positive outlook about Deaf people in our Deaf community. ;)

I love you all ;)
Sweetmind
 
The poem is beauitful! I enjoy reading that poem and expressing them with feelings about being deaf. I think and hope some hearing people will read deaf people's poems and realized who we are and how we feel as a deaf person and not try to change us to a hearing person that we are not. We not ashame of who we are being deaf. Being deaf is just a handicap, not a curse. :)
 
Let's change the word, "deaf" to hoh, then let's talk about hostility from both deaf people AND hearing people!:eek2:
 
Well, I'm HoH but very proficient in ASL so no problems there...bring it on. Lol!
 
It shows how audists oppress us...

Please.. Enlighten me on this.. I'm at a loss

Let's change the word, "deaf" to hoh, then let's talk about hostility from both deaf people AND hearing people!

Pek1, good post..
 
Kalista and Jolie77...great poems!!! Thanks for sharing them with us. I am gonna share them with my friends and family.

In relation to the poem u shared, Jolie, I had to make a choice to sit with my deaf friends or my hearing in laws and cousin at my recent BBQ party. Of course, I chose to sit with my deaf friends cuz I felt it was MY turn to really enjoy a gathering for real on MY terms. My husband's mother asked him what was wrong with me cuz I didn't sit with his family at all. They chose to sit away from my deaf friends on the other side of the backyard so they made that choice but doesn't mean I have to follow it. Would be nice if everyone sat together but it was the hearing people who made the decisiion to move away from us to sit among themselves. I thought that was kinda rude of them but instead they thought I was rude for not sitting with them. Go figure but the funny thing is I laughed when my husband told me what they expressed to him about me. I stopped caring about what others think of me a long time ago.
 
Kalista and Jolie77...great poems!!! Thanks for sharing them with us. I am gonna share them with my friends and family.

In relation to the poem u shared, Jolie, I had to make a choice to sit with my deaf friends or my hearing in laws and cousin at my recent BBQ party. Of course, I chose to sit with my deaf friends cuz I felt it was MY turn to really enjoy a gathering for real on MY terms. My husband's mother asked him what was wrong with me cuz I didn't sit with his family at all. They chose to sit away from my deaf friends on the other side of the backyard so they made that choice but doesn't mean I have to follow it. Would be nice if everyone sat together but it was the hearing people who made the decision to move away from us to sit among themselves. I thought that was kinda rude of them but instead they thought I was rude for not sitting with them. Go figure but the funny thing is I laughed when my husband told me what they expressed to him about me. I stopped caring about what others think of me a long time ago.

Good for you!! :thumb:
 
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