Music to the Deaf

Songs are like hugs given to ears.

I wish I could experience those songs, just once.

My eyes and creative imagination are my universe. 

My walks keep me sane and find my inner peace.

Cars zoom past silent as a mime in the middle of an act.

People talk on the phone with many emotions.

I wonder what I would sound like on a phone.

Kids playing, I think.

Sometimes it is hard to tell if they are having fun or in danger.

I still stop by and watch for a little while.

One of them signs to me saying, “Hello, how are you?”

He sits on the bench by himself grasping sheet music with hope.

I sign back my answer and then ask him how he knows how to sign.

He calmly replied that he is partially deaf in both ears and will soon lose his hearing.

“I can read lips, miss,” he gracefully signed. 

“Me too.”

“May I ask you a question, young man?”

“Of course.”

“Why are you so happy if you are going to lose your hearing?”

“You see the world is a beautiful place no matter

if you can’t hear, see, feel, smell, or even taste. 

For example, you can’t hear music but you see it in everything around you. 

The children laughing. 

People talking on the phone and the car’s blinkers impatiently waiting to turn. 

Blink, blink, blink. 

Even though I am losing my hearing I am grasping on to the music. 

I am getting a feel for the strings or keys. 

That way I can still play when I can’t hear the wonderful world anymore.”

“Why would you want to that,” I asked the boy.

“For one reason miss. I want to be able to have others be thankful for their ears. 

I want to show the people that the world is not a bad place after all.

Even though having my hearing taken away from me,

I will show the world that it doesn’t matter who you are, 

you can still do the things you love.”

I was taken aback by shock.

This young man was so much wiser than I was.

He had taught me a very valuable lesson that day.

- Scooby McRoses