Everyone needs to see this and realize how precious ASL is to the deaf community. It's the greatest gift anyone can give their deaf baby. Thank you Ella, you just warmed my heart with your brilliance. xoxoxoxoxo
Thank you Ella. Many years ago I took ASL with you and attended a poetry reading by you. I was unable to complete the course as I became ill with cancer. You were such an influence on my life.
Nice to see how you set up a rhythm and using selective handshapes (1,5,f,y) making ASL into a poetry. Beautiful! What you have described happens to many who grew up Deaf who find themselves as they discover their language and connection to the Deaf community. It takes Parents and Deaf Village to raise a Deaf child.
Oh! I was touched by your important messages and tears. I know many parents who find it difficult to determine their deaf children in the future. We hope that parents start to realize what you gave.
Wow just watched and made me cry 😢 i have a Deaf child and me and my husband are learning ASL. Am currently taking ASL 3. As the poem said i didn’t know anything about the Deaf culture or Sign Language, but now am learning so much and the best part is am teaching my son his culture and language, we’re learning together 🤟🏼🤟🏼
WOW! This is so touching. I see that another viewer almost cried. My eyes were watering as I watched it. I did not expect that to happen! I learned ASL from an older Deaf gentleman who opened up a whole new world to me and immersed me into his. Now it is my world too, part of who I am-even though I am hearing. Thank you so much for this poem!
Ella - this is awesome thank u for the gift of ur poetry. I have by chance met several parents who have sung your praise as being the one Deaf person who came to their aide, who guided their path, who welcomed and loved them and showed them the beauty and power of what their child could be. u have not just shared this message of taking hands and forging fertile ground together, you have not just made literary art about it - you have lived it thank you for all ur do and are peace patti
As I point out to my hearing friends, the importance of visual expressions, non verbal communication, to the ASL language. Just like hearing people use inflections speaking high & low notes for asking questions, and give life to their language we use non verbal communication to give life to ASL. Love your expressions and pauses/shrugs to give life to your poem. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your wonderful poem... It almost made me cried. I am a deaf person too, and I can definitely relate to what you are saying. It also reminded me of when I was little and current things too. Again, thank you. Maybe that's what I wanted to see. Someone that understands our culture, experiences, and deepest feelings.
Wonderful poem! I'm going to share this in my FB account. Deaf children need both their parents AND the Deaf community. Your poem captured the conflict between the parents and Deaf people beautifully, and yet made clear the potential for the child is that much greater when the two bands together for the best of the child.
The poem was signed gracefully and delicate. It was very nice to watch that. I enjoyed watching this very much! I watched it more than once right away and think the analogy was well thought of.
I was lucky enough to study ASL with Ella at Vista Community College (now Berkeley City College) in the '90s. She was a great teacher! Now I work in the field at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf & Blind. We love our Deaf students! Thanks Ella :)
Beautiful! I thoroughly enjoyed the poem! Even the bit before the poem started I was so mesmorized by the beauty that... comes from your hands, your facial expressions, everything! Wow, I could never understand what it's like to be deaf, at least, as long as I'm hearing. But at least I can appreciate the rich culture that you have shared with us hearing people. So great, favourited and liked!
Ella ! your poem is SO beautiful !!!! I not have any words for explain how I feel.... I know that I am very lucky to have the parents who signing same my parents. I thank them so much to listen their heart and giving me their own educations. When I see the childens deafies who have the parents who not want learn the signs, it makes me feel sad and angry because I find that it not fair for this childens !!!! I have a lot of respect for you ! Keep up Ella !
Very inspiring ASL poem!!! I got tears in my eyes!!! So beautiful! I love it!!! I am going to put it in my favorite! Thank you so much for so beautiful ASL poem!!!
Ella, I love it. Many beg me to do again & again to the different groups in Hawaii since 1995. Many told me that my ASL style is as similar as yours. I will do for Family Learns Vacation this weekend. Thank you for a permission to use your beautiful ASL POEM.
This is so fantastic. Your recitation of it (is that the right term?) seems so much more nuanced and expressive than spoken poetry. It really makes me want to learn ASL, if only I didn't have too many other things to learn already! Thanks for sharing this with us.
I want to point out that you created this poem at least around the early '80s. This shows you have had these thoughts and feelings about working WITH Hearing parents for a long time, and you are not just trying to "cover yourself" now in response to the criticism about you.
this is such a great poem! it has so much meaning and even though i'm not deaf, i can definitely understand! if it was me, i would definitely join and help my (future) son grow up strong and healthy, supported by both cultures!
@DeafPoet2 Thanks! It's indeed sad to see Kelsey and others doing those hateful vlogs and realizing that some people simply refuse to see the TRUTH about how amazing and full of gifts Deaf people have - our signed languages, our patience, our wisdom, our years of experience and humility under oppression of audism and Oralism, our ability to band together into a viable community...just amazing...and to see those folks denying that is hard.
This is one of my favorite poems.. I often used that poem in my Social Justice and ICC classes at School for International Training... Thank you Ella fo rsharing... Anne
Love, watching you signing...I was one of your students at Vista College in Berkeley Ca. I was remembering you and talking about you and how brilliant you were, I decided to google your name and found your videos! My name is Alice Englisbee , I think you haven’t changed much either just more snow on your roof now 😉, I was your student in 1997. Beautiful poems....
I have watched this poem many times, especially being an ASL student and I loved it the first time I saw it and I love the poem just as much every time I watch her sign it. Very educational poem and informational as well. I need to brush up on my visual processing skills though cuz I missed a few of the f/s words in the beginning.
The poem you made is very true! That is very important poem for hearing mother to know what going on with her Deaf Son or Daughter when he or he grow up. Cheer up! Ella
@deafdub No, what does Pearse mean? I'm just saying that deaf people shouldn't cut themselves off from the hearing world. I have a friend of FB who is deaf and her mother made sure she could learn to speak to be able to function in the hearing world. She is grateful to her mother for doing that.
Yes yes yes agreed!!! I already answered “both of us- Mom and Deaf people, before you started to say you and me different (but same) Beautiful! I was looking for your poem “The Door”. Its part of my Gallaudet class. Hopefully I pah found it!
wow , i love that your vlog and very inspirited for us smile smile !!!! stay with us and keep going yyyyyaaaaaaaa !!!! towand ella !!! smile smile !!!!!
My heart is mushy and in love. My mom and dad are hearing and don't understand this poem. I always told them to send me to WSD in Vancover, but I go to Anacortes High School... It's a hearing high school. I m in the DHH(Deaf and Hard of Hearing) program.
I love and miss Clayton Valli. Glad you were exposed to ASL poetry when you are learning ASL. Wish that could be also true for every Deaf child growing up in USA.
Awesome poem!! I wanted you to know that you have my support after Kelsey's hateful vlog! You're a GREAT person as is Judy! Stand up tall, stand strong and do what's right in your heart as you have been doing...you've humbled yourself, which is admirable (not many wud do that!) Here's my hugs of love n support!
@TeachESL Pearse was saying that by trying to deny a language, you're denying a culture. (He was referring to Gaelic Irish, and the attempts by the British to eradicate the language. Hence his comments on language and culture.) I am deaf and I do not cut myself off from the hearing world. It is good to have BOTH English AND sign language. I know plenty of Deaf people who were educated here in Ireland before oralism was introduced. They led very successful lives integrated in the hearing world.
We are working on adding captions to the first introductory part of this video. The poem itself - the 2nd half of the video - is subtitled with English translations already. Enjoy!
@DrDonGCSUS Hi. True, I was just "reading" the poem once again. I created it during the late 1980's for one of the Deaf Celebration events in Berkeley. It's video published officially in The Treasure: ASL Poems by Ella Mae Lentz" in 1995 and Dawn Sign Press is now selling it.
@pdurr Yes, I have been truly fortunate to have had some wonderful relationships with hearing parents with Deaf children...and I continue to gain more great friendships. I look forward to more!!!
@ASLElla I think ASL is equal to any spoken language, but Deaf culture is a subculture within America. So teachesl's last sentence (while made out of ignorance) is true in some ways. I had to watch a video in one of my education courses and some of the deaf people were making comments that seemed to think that Deaf culture was the only important one. So I'm just saying ignorance can go both ways. As for the poem I enjoyed it (I'm only in ASL 2 so the subtitles were nice).
@66shrimpy19 yes you may. And I apologize to ASL Rocks crowd for not yet joining it. I have heard good things about it, so feel free to share it there. Thanks for asking.
@xenophile2, I believe, you meant to say "it's about being prevented from knowing ASL", without that "not" in your sentence. I agree that is a true statement.
thanks. yes it would be most awesome if every parent of a Deaf child is immediately and positively introduced to the Deaf world and its arts, thoughts, wisdom, and communities.
At the same time I feel sick to my stomach. Now learning how many hearing parents isolate their children and deny them of communication for their own needs. Gosh I wish I could take a break from all the learning.
As a hearing mother of two deaf boys (men now) I loved this expression and the thoughts and experiences that are so so true - thank you for sharing!
Everyone needs to see this and realize how precious ASL is to the deaf community. It's the greatest gift anyone can give their deaf baby. Thank you Ella, you just warmed my heart with your brilliance. xoxoxoxoxo
I am not deaf but I love watching asl poetry! Thank you for posting this
This is one of my favorite ASL poems.
Thank you Ella. Many years ago I took ASL with you and attended a poetry reading by you. I was unable to complete the course as I became ill with cancer. You were such an influence on my life.
Nice to see how you set up a rhythm and using selective handshapes (1,5,f,y) making ASL into a poetry. Beautiful! What you have described happens to many who grew up Deaf who find themselves as they discover their language and connection to the Deaf community. It takes Parents and Deaf Village to raise a Deaf child.
Oh Ella..this made me cry, cry, cry!! Sooooooooooooo WONDERFUL!!
I wish every parent knew how their Deaf child really felt. Many hugs.
Wow....you made me cry! Ella - your poem is profound... So much beauty, so much love. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you.
Oh! I was touched by your important messages and tears. I know many parents who find it difficult to determine their deaf children in the future. We hope that parents start to realize what you gave.
Wow just watched and made me cry 😢 i have a Deaf child and me and my husband are learning ASL. Am currently taking ASL 3. As the poem said i didn’t know anything about the Deaf culture or Sign Language, but now am learning so much and the best part is am teaching my son his culture and language, we’re learning together 🤟🏼🤟🏼
WOW! This is so touching. I see that another viewer almost cried. My eyes were watering as I watched it. I did not expect that to happen! I learned ASL from an older Deaf gentleman who opened up a whole new world to me and immersed me into his. Now it is my world too, part of who I am-even though I am hearing. Thank you so much for this poem!
WONDERFUL!!!!!! That is such a beautiful insight! I hope that hearing parents will accept it's truth.
Signless........ The most beautiful and moving ASL poem I have seen!!! I am so proud of you, Ella!!!
Ella - this is awesome
thank u for the gift of ur poetry. I have by chance met several parents who have sung your praise as being the one Deaf person who came to their aide, who guided their path, who welcomed and loved them and showed them the beauty and power of what their child could be.
u have not just shared this message of taking hands and forging fertile ground together, you have not just made literary art about it - you have lived it
thank you for all ur do and are
peace
patti
I first saw you do this poem when it was recorded for Signing Naturally. I cried. I still cry, it is so beautiful. Thank you for all you've done!
Thank you! Sending love to you and your family!
You are like champagne and caviar for my eyes. This poem, and the poet, are amazing.
As I point out to my hearing friends, the importance of visual expressions, non verbal communication, to the ASL language. Just like hearing people use inflections speaking high & low notes for asking questions, and give life to their language we use non verbal communication to give life to ASL. Love your expressions and pauses/shrugs to give life to your poem. Thank you for sharing.
Very beautiful. When I first started learning ASL, I watched your poems, and Clayton Valli's, over and over... and over again. Thank you.
I absolutely love this poem. I'm so happy that you posted it up here.
Thank you for your wonderful poem... It almost made me cried. I am a deaf person too, and I can definitely relate to what you are saying. It also reminded me of when I was little and current things too. Again, thank you. Maybe that's what I wanted to see. Someone that understands our culture, experiences, and deepest feelings.
Wonderful poem! I'm going to share this in my FB account. Deaf children need both their parents AND the Deaf community. Your poem captured the conflict between the parents and Deaf people beautifully, and yet made clear the potential for the child is that much greater when the two bands together for the best of the child.
Inspired! Yes your hand is reached for a best interest for our lost deaf child all over the world! No time to waste or wait...
Oh my gosh, this is BEAUTIFUL. Gave me goose bumps and tears to my eyes!!! I love the "tree" part!
Beautiful ASL Poetry!!
The poem was signed gracefully and delicate. It was very nice to watch that. I enjoyed watching this very much! I watched it more than once right away and think the analogy was well thought of.
I haven't had a lot of exposure to ASL, so it was amazing how expressive and emotional one could be without words. My eyes are watering a bit. ;_;
So Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart
This is beautiful, thank you for creating this wonderful piece of art.
I was lucky enough to study ASL with Ella at Vista Community College (now Berkeley City College) in the '90s. She was a great teacher! Now I work in the field at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf & Blind. We love our Deaf students! Thanks Ella :)
HANDS WAVING!! Beautiful! Goose Bumps!
What a masterpiece!
Beautiful! I thoroughly enjoyed the poem! Even the bit before the poem started I was so mesmorized by the beauty that... comes from your hands, your facial expressions, everything! Wow, I could never understand what it's like to be deaf, at least, as long as I'm hearing. But at least I can appreciate the rich culture that you have shared with us hearing people. So great, favourited and liked!
Ella ! your poem is SO beautiful !!!! I not have any words for explain how I feel.... I know that I am very lucky to have the parents who signing same my parents. I thank them so much to listen their heart and giving me their own educations. When I see the childens deafies who have the parents who not want learn the signs, it makes me feel sad and angry because I find that it not fair for this childens !!!! I have a lot of respect for you ! Keep up Ella !
Loved this! Thanks for sharing
Inspiring! Wonderful imagery!
Very inspiring ASL poem!!! I got tears in my eyes!!! So beautiful! I love it!!! I am going to put it in my favorite! Thank you so much for so beautiful ASL poem!!!
Ella, beautiful poem! I always love to watch you sign. I have all the Signing Naturally series books. Thanks for sharing!
Ella, I love it. Many beg me to do again & again to the different groups in Hawaii since 1995. Many told me that my ASL style is as similar as yours. I will do for Family Learns Vacation this weekend. Thank you for a permission to use your beautiful ASL POEM.
This brought tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.
that's wonderful what you said...that if you had a Deaf child, you will embrace their people and language as well as sharing yours.
This is so fantastic. Your recitation of it (is that the right term?) seems so much more nuanced and expressive than spoken poetry. It really makes me want to learn ASL, if only I didn't have too many other things to learn already!
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I want to point out that you created this poem at least around the early '80s. This shows you have had these thoughts and feelings about working WITH Hearing parents for a long time, and you are not just trying to "cover yourself" now in response to the criticism about you.
this is such a great poem! it has so much meaning and even though i'm not deaf, i can definitely understand! if it was me, i would definitely join and help my (future) son grow up strong and healthy, supported by both cultures!
Awesome. Glad to know this poem helps in different ways.
Hi Ella,
this is wonderful emotion and the parents with deaf children. Congratulations.Betty
*thumbs up* Beautiful poem!
The poem you express is lovely and I understand same thing which we are Deaf parent with 6 CODA children..Great poem will never forget
This was amazing! Thank you for sharing. =]
@DeafPoet2 Thanks! It's indeed sad to see Kelsey and others doing those hateful vlogs and realizing that some people simply refuse to see the TRUTH about how amazing and full of gifts Deaf people have - our signed languages, our patience, our wisdom, our years of experience and humility under oppression of audism and Oralism, our ability to band together into a viable community...just amazing...and to see those folks denying that is hard.
Whoooo! This just gave me goose bumps!!
R-
Thanks Ella! Love it ;o) In mood for poetry...thanks! SH
This is one of my favorite poems.. I often used that poem in my Social Justice and ICC classes at School for International Training... Thank you Ella fo rsharing...
Anne
my favorite poem!
Beautiful!
Love, watching you signing...I was one of your students at Vista College in Berkeley Ca. I was remembering you and talking about you and how brilliant you were, I decided to google your name and found your videos! My name is Alice Englisbee , I think you haven’t changed much either just more snow on your roof now 😉, I was your student in 1997. Beautiful poems....
So beautiful! (:
Wow, your poem is too great.
I have watched this poem many times, especially being an ASL student and I loved it the first time I saw it and I love the poem just as much every time I watch her sign it. Very educational poem and informational as well. I need to brush up on my visual processing skills though cuz I missed a few of the f/s words in the beginning.
The poem you made is very true! That is very important poem for hearing mother to know what going on with her Deaf Son or Daughter when he or he grow up. Cheer up! Ella
Beautiful poem~ Alot of people do not really understand about deafness....I'm deaf too. Thanks for sharing ASL Ella.
@deafdub No, what does Pearse mean? I'm just saying that deaf people shouldn't cut themselves off from the hearing world. I have a friend of FB who is deaf and her mother made sure she could learn to speak to be able to function in the hearing world. She is grateful to her mother for doing that.
Im watching this for my ASL 3 course for my reflection paper thanks for sharing!
Yes yes yes agreed!!! I already answered “both of us- Mom and Deaf people, before you started to say you and me different (but same)
Beautiful!
I was looking for your poem “The Door”. Its part of my Gallaudet class. Hopefully I pah found it!
Yes!
wow , i love that your vlog and very inspirited for us smile smile !!!! stay with us and keep going yyyyyaaaaaaaa !!!! towand ella !!! smile smile !!!!!
Awesome job!!
Ella, I love this!! So beautiful. I will share it with our Poetry Night in Hungary... and it will also be presented in Hungarian Sign.
I love it! Thanks for sharing! =]
Beautiful poem. I am studying sign language linguistics. What a treat.
My heart is mushy and in love. My mom and dad are hearing and don't understand this poem. I always told them to send me to WSD in Vancover, but I go to Anacortes High School... It's a hearing high school. I m in the DHH(Deaf and Hard of Hearing) program.
You are most welcome. Yes, we need to reach out to other Deaf people in various ways and support each other in going further in our Deafhood journeys.
I love and miss Clayton Valli. Glad you were exposed to ASL poetry when you are learning ASL. Wish that could be also true for every Deaf child growing up in USA.
Love communication, communication without hindrance
Awesome poem!!
I wanted you to know that you have my support after Kelsey's hateful vlog! You're a GREAT person as is Judy! Stand up tall, stand strong and do what's right in your heart as you have been doing...you've humbled yourself, which is admirable (not many wud do that!) Here's my hugs of love n support!
Yes I am sure that you are doing well. You are doing really amazing beautiful job. Thank you for your progress in the show. Okay.
*sniffles* This is so beautiful.
Wonderful poem...
@TeachESL
Pearse was saying that by trying to deny a language, you're denying a culture. (He was referring to Gaelic Irish, and the attempts by the British to eradicate the language. Hence his comments on language and culture.)
I am deaf and I do not cut myself off from the hearing world. It is good to have BOTH English AND sign language. I know plenty of Deaf people who were educated here in Ireland before oralism was introduced. They led very successful lives integrated in the hearing world.
We are working on adding captions to the first introductory part of this video. The poem itself - the 2nd half of the video - is subtitled with English translations already. Enjoy!
Hi Ella, this is poem wonderful and powerfull influence positive. congratulations
Betty
glad you appreciate it.
Very nice poem. Good job.
I just started learning ASL so I can't understand every sign that is made..it said that it had subtitles but none are showing up.
@TeachESL There is an international sign language. It's loosely based on ASL... Just thought you'd be interested in knowing.
@DrDonGCSUS Hi. True, I was just "reading" the poem once again. I created it during the late 1980's for one of the Deaf Celebration events in Berkeley. It's video published officially in The Treasure: ASL Poems by Ella Mae Lentz" in 1995 and Dawn Sign Press is now selling it.
@pdurr Yes, I have been truly fortunate to have had some wonderful relationships with hearing parents with Deaf children...and I continue to gain more great friendships. I look forward to more!!!
@DrDonGCSUS The SN Level 2 (pink book) was published in 1990 so the dates still fit, smile.
@ASLElla I think you created it before that. It is in SN Level 2 (pink book), so it dates to at least the publication of that edition.
@ASLElla I think ASL is equal to any spoken language, but Deaf culture is a subculture within America. So teachesl's last sentence (while made out of ignorance) is true in some ways. I had to watch a video in one of my education courses and some of the deaf people were making comments that seemed to think that Deaf culture was the only important one. So I'm just saying ignorance can go both ways. As for the poem I enjoyed it (I'm only in ASL 2 so the subtitles were nice).
I hope you don't mind that I added this to my facebook page! I wanted to share it with everyone!!!
wonderful
@66shrimpy19 yes you may. And I apologize to ASL Rocks crowd for not yet joining it. I have heard good things about it, so feel free to share it there. Thanks for asking.
@TheMorningWord awww. Glad you are making good use of this poem. Where is the School for International Training, I am curious?
you are welcome.
@xenophile2,
I believe, you meant to say "it's about being prevented from knowing ASL", without that "not" in your sentence.
I agree that is a true statement.
Is this originally your poem? I would love to use it, but I only if I could rightfully give credit to the poet and avoid copyright/plagiarism.
thanks. yes it would be most awesome if every parent of a Deaf child is immediately and positively introduced to the Deaf world and its arts, thoughts, wisdom, and communities.
At the same time I feel sick to my stomach. Now learning how many hearing parents isolate their children and deny them of communication for their own needs. Gosh I wish I could take a break from all the learning.