A poem by Raymond Luczak, from the book MUTE.
“In this clip, I recall what it was like to use my hearing aids when calling a prospective date for the first time. This happened back in the late 1980s, way before the Internet thing came along. The talented songwriter Seth Pennington performs his song “Want” as a guitar instrumental.” — Raymond Luczak
Text transcript for Blind/DeafBlind users:
[Note: This poem is formatted differently in the print version.]
HEARING YOUR VOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME
When you called, I listened,
the line between us
taut, about to snap.
We were silent, our long distance
time ticking away.
I strained to understand
your utter- ances
with my hearing aids.
Who knew a voice
thick with want could sound so
thin?
You laughed nervously
at my weak one- liners.
My mind was stripped.
That night I dreamed
of you speaking
clearly,
the timbre of your voice
sun-lit in my hands.
###