Reflection on Hearing Loss

I've Forgotten What It's Like...

to hear the phone ring from another room.

to unintentionally overhear a conversation.

to comprehend the lyrics of a song heard on the radio for the first time.

to sense someone's presence behind me.

to catch the punchline of a joke at the same time as everyone else.

to understand an urgent whispered secret.

to choose a seat in the back of the room.

Hearing people have so many abilities they simply take for granted, but I've forgotten what it's like to be a hearing person.

Tinnitus Poem

Tinnitus is

The
Interior
Noise
No one else ever hears. An
Inner ear
Tingling that rings
Unceasing. The
Secret soundtrack of my life.

This poem is dedicated to both Glenice and my Uncle Henry.



Tinnitus is by speakuplibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Autumn

The first leaves to fall
lay scattered on lawns and sidewalks
like sprinkles on cupcakes.

Posed on porches sit pumpkins
carved with crooked grins.

Robins gather in the yard
discussing their plans to fly
to places south.

The air is cooler
refreshing renewing
after the heat of summer.

Overcast days are heavy
with clouds like cotton
from the vitamin jar.

Nightfall comes sooner.
Morning light comes later.

Autumn is
the briefest interlude
before the midwestern winter.