Learn another language

 ‘learn Another Language’ Trgates,8/1/2025

another language,
silence is normal,
where others see chatter
as communication.
sometimes the rudimentary
“more, milk, thank you, love”
becomes a lifetime
of signing.
over the years
a good many staffers quipped
“that customer’s so rude!”
gently redirected them
“excuse me they’re only deaf,
did you see they had a pen and notepad?”
another language,
the difference often not heard,
just not listened to —
one friend was violated,
he simply didn’t hear their manipulation,
his partner of forty years
suffering from dementia,
his family stole power of attorney
this friend only found out
while working by TTY calls.  
another language
can be learned,
only if communication is desired.
many only deaf people
learn hearing people’s wording —
another language.
“do you hear what I hear?”