Hard of hearing

Published on by Laura Bloomsbury

“Speech is of Time, Silence is of Eternity.”

Speech is the sound
I miss most, must turn up the volume, must
Listen full attention
Ears as echo chamber, tinnitus, white
Noise lub-dubbing on a mistuned frequency 
Conversation, so often now, just misconnection.
Even so, silence is still the gilded one.

An acrostic and just 44 words for Lillian’s quadrille word prompt: Silence. The epigraph is proverbial [source]

31 thoughts on “Hard of hearing”

  1. Wonderful reply using an acrostic form! Yes….after many years of my pestering, his general practioner dr suggested he see an audiologist! The audiologist was quite scientific in her examination and especially in reporting her findings. The result? My husband now has hearing aids that can be adjusted with his phone….and is a new person! Most noticeable when we are with family…he used to just sit and “listen” because it was difficult for him to make out individual responses. Now he can be in the conversation. But yes…that kind of silence can be frustrating.

  2. I was so engrossed in reading (& re-reading!) your fine work I would have missed its acrostic nature. Thanks for pointing it out and causing me to re-re-read!

  3. Lovely, Laura, an acrostic quadrille! I too have problems hearing speech, especially in crowded places. I know that ‘noise lub-dubbing on a mistuned frequency’. Yes, ‘silence is still the gilded one’.

  5. I seem to be an expert at tuning things out. But when I am still and silent, the air talks to me. It can be quite loud.

    I know my hearing is not what it was, just like every other bodily part. (K)

  6. Wonderful acrostic poem. I can relate to the white noise of tinnitus such a constant annoyance and so that even in the quiet it is always there.

    1. thank you – it seemed to fit an acrostic.

      p.s. try and focus on your tinnitus and before long your mind will have strayed off it just as it always does in meditation!

  7. I like your acrostic Q, Laura. Now I see where your stone deaf comment came from. My hearing is dulled at best except for the ever-present tinnitus. I guess better than nothing.

  8. I’ve chosen selective hearing to go along with my tinnitus and find it easy to tune out when I don’t understand about 80% of the language spoken around me. Silence made of noise.

    Nicely written Laura 👏

  9. Great piece and I’m with you tinnitus is ok until you think about it and silence is precious, but also something beautiful that covers a more difficult reality 🩷

  11. i love silence’s company. I’m very familiar with it. But the silence of titinnus (sp) I do not like. It is indeed the gilded one. If this is true I hope it gets better soon. Blessing graces.

  12. as a caregiver there is a lot in what you say and experience…. those who can hear without effort have no idea… i enjoyed reading about the wifi hearing aids… i it opens up a world that was once closing down, requiring participation they only wish they could… grateful your person received a new version of his previous life… your poetry is exquisite

  13. Masterful use of the acrostic, so it blends in perfectly.

    Tinnitus must be a dreadful affliction! Silence would surely be preferable indeed. (I myself have had gradually increasing deafness for some years now, and my hearing aids are a great blessing. Removing them when I go to bed is also lovely: the peace.)

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