EARS! EARS! EARS!

As a part of on-going  DEAFNESS AWARNESS in Eritrea and in the Diaspora, I would be glad to share with you my favorite poem: "Ears! Ears! Ears!" It has been translated into Swedish by Mr. Gunnar Gomer, a former deaf teacher in Eritrea, East Africa. This poem was appeared in the official magazine of the Swedish National Association of the Deaf, and in several newsletters and magazines across the nation. The Italian version was translated by Dr. Tonneli, a leading Italian-American poet who lives in Arizona.

All in all, it is a question of survival for deaf people to laugh at themselves by telling stories and poems based upon their experiences. The deaf world is rich in written, oral and sign literature. That is why the hearing impaired are looked upon by astute and penetrating Sociologists and Anthropologists as distinct linguistic and cultural group.

Following the establishment of Eritrean Hearing and Visually Impaired Organization in the Diaspora, the deaf people like visually impaired are becoming more visible via the website (ehvi.net), Facebook, and social events, like Oakland Summer Festival.

 Please see it DEAFNESS BY ITS VERY NATURE IS AN INVISIBLE HANDICAP. In other word,  it is beyond our visual reach, and thus  limiting our awareness.

As we are in an age of visual culture facilitated by computer technology and internet, the myth associated with deaf people as a lonely folk in a cage; or fishes in a zoo-bowl is gone.

    ÖRON! ÖRON! ÖRON! (Swedish)

Jag har två öron 

Men jag kan inte höra 

Kan jag skära av dem nu? 

Jag är rädd 

Jag vågar det inte 

För utan dem 

Kommer jag inte att se ut 

Som en människa 

Öron! Öron! Öron! 

Där finns de på mitt huvud 

Gör tjänst som sköna kuddar 

När jag sover utomhus 

Vad annat är de bra till…? 

Öron är ofarliga horn 

Utan ben 

Åter – vad är de bra till? 

De håller mina glasögon 

På rätt plats. 

Men hur lyckligt lottad är inte kvinnan 

Som är döv 

Eller hörande 

Hon kan ändå ha dem till 

Att sätta i öronringar av guld.

          "Orecchie, Orecchie, Orecchie" (Italian)

Ne ho due 

ma sentire non posso. 

Meglio dunque tagliarle adesso? 

Ho paura e non oso 

giacche' senza di esse 

non avro' piu' l'apparenza 

d'un essere umano. 

Orecchie, orecchie, orecchie! 

Attaccate alla mia testa 

mi servono da cuscino 

quando dormo fuori all'aperto. 

E che piu'? 

Orecchie sono come 

innocue corna 

soffici como sono 

senza ossa. 

E che piu' ancora? 

Aiutano a tenemi 

gli occhiali al lor posto. 

Beata la donna 

sorda o non sorda 

che le puo' usare 

per appendervi i suoi 

orecchini d'oro.

EARS! EARS! EARS! 

I have two ears 

But I cannot hear. 

May I cut them off now? 

I am afraid 

I dare not 

For without them 

I may not look human. 

Ears!Ears!Ears! 

Clinging to my head below 

Serving as a lovely pillow 

When I sleep outdoors. 

What is more......? 

Ears are harmless horns 

For they are soft 

Without bones. 

What is more again......? 

Keeping my eyeglasses 

In their place. 

But how blessed is the woman 

Who is deaf or hearing 

She still can use them 

For her golden earnings.

                                                                      

Haile

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