Read: Sue Parkes’ poems about deafness

Below are poems about deafness written by our reader Sue Parkes, who told us:

I’m 65 years young!  I noticed my hearing had started to deteriorate in my late 40’s.  I lived with it for a few years but then it started to affect my life.

Standing in queues I’d start hoping that shop assistants didn’t talk to me in case I couldn’t hear them.  Making and answering calls made me anxious.  I decided I had to do something!   The thought of wearing a hearing aid filled me with dread.  My friend said to me she had one and it never came out of the cupboard!  I honestly thought I’d be the same!

Having my hearing aid has transformed my life! It’s given me back my self-confidence. No more anxiety when shopping or answering the phone.  I was a little self-conscious wearing it for a few weeks but now I don’t worry who sees I wear a hearing aid. It’s become part of me!

One day I felt inspired to sit down with a pad and pencil!   Having never written a poem before in my life, out came three poems. I can honestly say they wrote themselves.  I’d heard song-writers say this before, now I know it’s true! I guess they came straight from the heart!

Read Sue’s poems below:

 

Pardon? 

 

‘Pardon?’ I say again

Eyebrows raise

A sigh is heard

The sinking feeling

The frustration.

 

If only they knew

How hard I try

To hear what they say

The lip reading

The concentration.

 

Sometimes I nod

When I should have shook

Once again I feel

The embarrassment

The humiliation.

 

A little patience,

A smile, a look

That says, ‘It’s ok’

Stop me feeling

The isolation. 

 

Why?

 

Why can’t you hear me

I’m talking loud enough

It’s frustrating you know

Having to repeat myself!

 

Why can’t I hear you

You’re talking loud enough

It’s frustrating you know

Having hearing loss!

 

Confusion

 

I’m nodding my head

A puzzled look

A frown ensues

 

I’m embarrassed now

That nod of the head

Should have been a shake!

 

Poems copyright of Sue Parkes