Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

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Shelley Hansen
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Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

Post by Shelley Hansen » Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:21 pm

Greetings All ...

Firstly, I must apologise for my absence from the Forum over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, during December I copped a severe case of Covid-19 which knocked the stuffing out of me, and from which I'm only now emerging with very depleted energy levels. However I'm sure I'll come good - and I'm delighted to see that all of you have been carrying on the fine work of writing poetry.

Now to the February prompts. What an interesting choice you gave us, Maureen! I couldn't go past the "sound of silence" prompt, because my husband and I assist an elderly deaf friend whom we've known for over 30 years. I've gained an enhanced appreciation of what it must be like to live in a silent world, though no hearing person could fully understand. So my poem contains no fiction. I've borrowed the title from Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice".

CONCORD OF SWEET SOUND
(c) Shelley Hansen 2023

I asked him “How does silence sound?” I spoke to him with hands
formed into signs for words and phrases, shaped by the demands
of our communication. He’s a deaf, non-verbal man
who’s spent his years in silence ever since his life began.

He’s 80 now. He drives a car and copes with all the things
that living on his own presents, the route that each day brings.
He’s never heard a human voice, or shared a loved one’s laugh,
his farm life never marked by clucking hen or lowing calf.

He asked me “How does music sound? How does it make you feel?”
I tried so hard to tell him, but to him it seemed surreal.
I asked him how he’d outline colours to a man born blind.
He shook his head … and understood some things can’t be defined.

I asked him “How do thoughts appear in private, in your head?
I ‘hear’ my thoughts. Do yours come through in Auslan signs instead?”
He told me, “No, I see my thoughts like print upon a page …
I read them like I read a book. It helps me to engage.”

He says he cannot tell me how the silence sounds, because
the silence is his life – it’s all there is, and ever was.
He lives with that. Yet I am glad, when songbirds flock around
that I’ve been blessed abundantly with concord of sweet sound.
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

Terry
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Re: Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

Post by Terry » Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:45 pm

Hi Shelley
Sory to hear you have been fighting Covid, hope the improvement continues.

Lovely poem,
Yes that man really knows what silence sounds like,
but has nothing to compare it with.
So I wonder if you have to be able to hear to know what silence really sounds like,
if you're lucky enough to really find it?
Nicely written as always.

Terry

Ron
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Re: Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

Post by Ron » Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:55 am

Good one Shelley and a very thought provoking poem as well.
I can only begin to imagine the handicap of not having sound or sight, but it certainly makes us count our blessings for sure.
Hope you are getting back to Square One after the Covid.
Cheers
Ron.

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:42 am

Good to know you are making a recovery from the dreaded lurgy but so sorry to hear you caught it in the first place.

Your poem brought up some interesting thoughts for me - I had never really considered many of the aspects you raised. It is a bit like the thought relating to 'what came first the colour orange or the fruit? ' Sadly we take so much for granted when we are able bodied - your friend sounds quite a remarkable man. I enjoyed the read - thank you for sharing.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Catherine Lee
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Re: Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

Post by Catherine Lee » Mon Feb 13, 2023 6:42 pm

Beautiful and poignant, Shelley. "Some things can't be defined" - how true is that, and very much so in this sort of situation. The words "it's all there is, and ever was" struck me too. I love the title you chose, and very much like the way in which you've ended the poem, as your final words are a reminder to everyone to be so very grateful for the gift of sight and sound.
I do hope your energy levels will soon be back to normal after such a ghastly bout of Covid - it's a horrible thing and really does take its toll.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: Homework February - Concord of Sweet Sound

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:30 am

Thank you everyone for your kind feedback. Yes, it really is an eye-opening experience interacting with a deaf person. So many things we take for granted simply pass them by.

One thing I've noticed with deaf people is how literal their interpretations are. For example, you can't use metaphors or symbolism. For example, if you say something like, "In my eyes it is perfect", a deaf person will think you have something in your eyes.

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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