Deaf American Poetry: An Anthology

Pawns

Clayton Valli 181 Pawns Translated from American Sign Language by Raymond Luczak in memory of John D. Smith and Sam Edwards On the neat black-and-white squares of land, The Kings, Queens, Bishops and their horses Stood in their own castles, quibbling and quibbling About nothing. At last they agreed and looked over Their not-so-important pawns to be taken away Ruthlessly. Stunned, the pawns all gathered around In private for support and exchange of needs. Yet in their midst, one by one they died. The pawns went up to the Kings, Queens, and Bishops To try, desperately, reasoning with them. They were lost in their own world, still quibbling And quibbling among themselves about nothing. The pawns rallied each other for support, But still one by one of their own died. One of them on one side was a Deaf friend With a colorful skull cap, a stud earring, and a moustache Expressing peacefully, “Death is beautiful.” One of them on the other side was a Deaf friend With purple-dyed hair, a sleeveless shirt, and a moustache Saying joyfully, “Life is beautiful.” From both sides their lives immortalized In quilts revealing their names: Sam Edwards and John D. Smith. Their quilts joined with many others on the lawn While files of people streamed past ghosts, Mingling death and life. How beautiful. Clayton Valli 182 The Kings, Queens, Bishops, and horses still quibbled, In their castles with their flags, about nothing. The pawns ceased trying to fight with them, Looking instead at the flags on both sides waving. A Deaf pawn came forth and began signing those star-spangled banners, so beautiful and high . . . Shall they all be stitched into the quilts, too? Is that so beautiful? ...