Deaf American Poetry: An Anthology

deaf again

Mervin D. Garretson 158 deaf again he was a deaf teacher of deaf children at the Mary Magdalene Oral School a deaf professional, proudly he taught in his shining patent leather shoes his grey pin-striped suit, paying his dues, hiding behind his insecure deaf smile in his ultra-oral environment. sometimes he did find himself excluded from conversation he could not hear but that wasn’t intentional, you understand. they didn’t really expect him to grasp all that was said, you know, but he was there and sometimes he wondered, were they aware? he was all alone after school, of course, (indoors he’s deaf, and just as deaf outdoors!) a neat piece of furniture, branch of a tree? was he trying to seem instead of be? but he was doing a great job of teaching at the Mary Magdalene Oral School a great job of reaching each little child. a good oral model, no bystander, he served without fuss, the great pretender! he resigned last week . . . we wonder why? back to the liberating world of sign, where no one had to rationalize, no more vacant, apologetic eyes, no more somber suits, no more sick smile, no more being polite, mouthing all the while! no more parading in shirt, tie, and coat and no more trying not to rock the boat. ask him why . . . ask him why . . . and he’ll say: never again, if again live again, deaf again, back again to life. whole again, back again home again, Deaf again, home. ...