“How did you find growing up deaf?”
“It was quiet”, I say glibbly
They don’t like my answer
I’m meant to say something inspiring
Tell them stories about persevering
How I overcame my disability
The heroic quest to fit into a noisy world
How I conquered all of my fears
But I don’t want to remember all the fights
Some days I like the calm, the peace
My perspiration isn’t their inspiration
Some days I really rather like the quiet
Deaf Poetry 