A Poem for National Poetry Day 2011

For this year's National Poetry Day, I'm posting a poem about poetry - British Sign Language Poetry, to be exact. It's also about being a hearing, non-signing person in a Deaf environment.

Mute

                                                                  

for Jo G

The room is rapt, in silence,

unless the shepherding of air

makes a sound I cannot hear,

like the gasp of leaves in free-fall,

the shrill of flowers

as they are picked.

Words that filled my mouth

with their flavour

wither to husks,

stick in my throat. 

I am mute

in this place of poems,

plucked from nothing

and given form

with a clap like a dove

starting into flight,

while my hands hang,

dumb lumps of meat.

In time

I might trace

that shimmer of purple,

conjure voice from empty space,

sign the infinite shape  

the word poetry makes.

© Deborah Harvey 2011

My first poetry collection, Communion, is published by Indigo Dreams and now available to buy from their website, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, and good independent bookshops. 

A launch for Communion will be held on 4th November 2011 at the Halo Café Bar, 141 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8BA, with singer-songwriter Reg Meuross, and guest poets Alana Farrell and John Terry.  Entrance is free.  All welcome!