How do I fit in?
It’s hard not knowing
What you are.
When there’s some who claim you belong with them,
And there’s some who say
We’re our own classification.
Our own community.
All I do know is
If I can’t hear the sand crunch,
The birds chirping,
Or the melodic piano of my favourite song
In a few years’ time,
I won’t belong anywhere I do now.
It’s a community I’ve never been allowed in
Never met another like me,
Hard of hearing,
Never met someone who struggles with identity-
At least not like this.
Never met someone who struggles
With hearing,
The thing we’re meant to be able to do from birth.
Such a simple thing,
But I’ve never been able to accept it.
How do I call myself disabled
When I still have ability?
Can I even call myself that?
I wasn’t raised in a community,
One prided by differences, joined by hard times,
I was raised by lonely thoughts.
Isolated by my differences.
How do I feel pride for something I don’t have?
How do I look at that hearing aid
With anything except questions?
[something about me being HOH]
~Poppy