The Triton

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.253

Keywords:

deaf, poem, poetry, memory, triton shell

How to Cite

Hoopmann, S. (2010). The Triton. M/C Journal, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.253
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2010): deaf
Published 2010-06-28
Artistic
It was only a shell…a triton…

And it held magic for a deaf girl of eight.

  Held to her ears, she could hear the sea,

    The rolling roar of waves on the shore,

      The ebb and flow of tide,

        Pebbles on silver sand.

          Seagulls reeling and swooping.

            The salt spray and soft sunset on wet sand.

 

I have a deaf grandmother soft, gentle, radiant,

  Blue eyes alight with sparkling laughter,

    Rosy cheeks and a ready smile.

     Her eyes so full of love of life,

       So eager to explore

        And show a deaf girl of eight

         Her world of magic on a warm, sunlit verandah

           And a triton in her hand.

 

“Look!  Listen!  Hear the sea, Sandra,

   It’s in the shell!”

     And the deaf girl held the shell in wonder,

      Grandmother and grandchild, together in wonder.

        A special memory locked in time,

              Indelibly etched in my mind.

Author Biography

Sandra Hoopmann

Sandra Hoopmann is born-deaf, and was educated in the Oral system in Brisbane, Queensland.  She is actively involved in the Deaf community of Adelaide. Sandra completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in  Anthropology, Media and Communications at the University of Adelaide in 2008. She is currently doing an Honours degree in the Gender, Work and Social Inquiry department at Adelaide University.  Poetry is her first love, and she enjoys playing with words.

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