Ekphrastic Poetry: ‘Deaf’ & ‘Dumb’

The artist, Jessica McCallum at her JM Exhibition at His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, WA, 2009.

‘DEAF’

I see your mouth, your lips, 
your tongue moving, 
pointed in my direction, 
shaping words I cannot hear.  
I know you are expressing
 love with your eyes and hands, 
signing our future, sealed 
and stamped in ruby red wax
 – declared!   I try to do the same 
but cannot recognize your words, 
only feelings.  


‘DUMB’	

I won’t question because I can’t – I will show you 
I know you, I feel you, I see you but can only grunt
 and grin with love – music for your eyes even 
though the world may frown at the ugly sounds you 
cannot hear.  No need to speak, I declare our love 
with every tentative press of flesh – a smile which 
steals the words and hope you can read me clearly 
– hear the vow I cannot say.


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

Poem written to the art of Jessica McCallum 
for JM Exhibition 6th December 2009
at His Majesty's' Theatre, Perth, West Australia.

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