Do you have a special someone in your life that is hard for you to hear? A mumbler, a low-talker or someone with a breathy voice? You are not alone. For better or worse, I sometimes avoid people I cannot hear well. In fact, it is usually mutual since neither of us is enjoying the conversation much.
But sometimes people are too important to let drift away — your parents, your siblings, your life-long friends, your children, your spouse — or even your boss at work. This poem is for them.
When you speak, I try to listen
Your voice, so soft and airy
Floats by me
I miss it.
Repeating yourself
Your voice momentarily strong
Fades into quiet
By the end of the phrase.
When you sing, I love to listen
Your voice, powerful and full
Reverberates with passion
Until the very last note.
Belting out the lyrics
Your voice suddenly bold
Fills the room
I hear it all.
Can you try to speak that way?
Readers, do you wish a special someone would sing to you instead?
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Yes I have this problem all the time.
Thanks for sharing your comment.
Haiku for Family-
Your face is glowing.
Your lips move and you speak loudly.
Wish I could hear you.
Yes. Thanks for sharing.
The hardest work I do is to have a conversation with certain people in my life. My partner in life is not the easiest person to understand but she works tirelessly with me and it’s getting better all the time. She doesn’t’ sing.
I have come to three conclusions about this. 1) Though it’s my problem it’s not my “fault”. 2) If there is a mutual desire for communication then it’s a “shared” responsibility. 3) If my conversation partner has a problem with either of the above, they are placed on my “out of network” list – to be used only in emergencies. 🙂
Well said, Jerry! I agree! Thanks for sharing your insights.
One of our granddaughters has a soft, squeaky little voice. One day she was talking to Husby. He asked her to speak a little louder. She got softer. He asked again. Again the volume was lowered. The third time, she was merely mouthing the words. To us, it was hilarious. To him, not so much.
But it pointed out a problem and it was so difficult. He couldn’t hear. Softly-spoken granddaughters aside, he was really struggling. And any attempts to suggest he get help were flatly declined.
So the rest of us had to raise the volume a bit. (A lot!)
And we had to learn to face him and speak clearly.
Now he has ‘ears’ and things have changed. But the lessons remain . . .
Hearing loss certainly impacts everyone in the family. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you Shari for expressing the frustration of hearing loss perfectly. You created a beautiful poem that everyone with a hearing loss can relate to. I have a hearing loss and now my uncle has a moderate hearing deficit too. By experiencing my impatience while engaging in conversation with him, I now understand what my friends and family endure with me. However, I do believe my social skills with hearing loss are better than most. Maybe as a former audiologist I know what to do for myself. Again, I appreciate your poem and all the blogs.
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks for your comment Sharon. It always helps to know we are not alone in this struggle.