See-Hear, Homing in on a Sense of Fulfilment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

As a partially (not profoundly) deaf person since early childhood, I know only too well some of the problems facing those with any degree of hearing loss. It is, however, only as big a problem as we choose to make it and most of us choose not to let it interfere with the way we live our lives. Certainly, it is less of a ‘disability’ than the attitude of many hearing people towards us.

As a partially deaf gay man I have often experienced something of a double whammy since the attitude of many heterosexuals towards gay people also continues to leave much to be desired. Thankfully, attitudes - in both respects - continue to change; on the whole, for the better. Even so, while digital hearing aids have significantly improved my quality of life with regards to my hearing, living in a multicultural society does gay people no favours where many members insist on clinging to certain cultures that are intrinsically homophobic. 

Gay or straight, male or female, adult or child, whether or not we are perceived as being 'different' in any way, we are all human beings, as deserving to be treated as such as anyone else, regardless of our socio-cultural-religious background.

Whatever, life  is only ever as big a problem as we make it; thankfully, most of us choose to just get on with it, making the best rather than the worst of things. Nor does religion have a monopoly on spirituality; thankfully, the human spirit is an open door, an invitation to explore and make what we will of nature and human nature, and vice versa...from cradle to grave.  The latter may well mark the end of our personal existence, but parts of it, at least, will endure wherever and in whomsoever our mind-body-spirit has touched another; and so it continues, a custom made continuum.

It may be a hackneyed expression, but SO true that there are none so blind as will not see bow deaf as will not hear. We all need to listen to hear that still, small voice within, and look to see what self-
awareness is showing us...

This poem is a villanelle.

SEE-HEAR, HOMING IN ON A SENSE OF FULFILMENT

A blur of silence all around

closing in on me,

all I'd sought yet never found

A yearning to catch the sound

of bird and bee,

a blur of silence all around

Oh, for love's merry-go-round

to offer a chance to be…

all I'd sought yet never found!

Until G-A-Y ran me to ground

persistently…

a blur of silence all around

Suddenly, as beautiful a sound
as any within me…

all I'd sought yet never found

A lore as kind as it is profound 

you taught me…

A blur of silence all around,

all I'd sought yet never found

Copyright R. N. Taber 2002

[Note: This poem is a villanelle; an earlier version first appeared in the anthology, Pure Verse, Anchor Books (Forward Press), 2002 and subsequently in First Person Plural by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, the same year.]