The Mute Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

he wanted to be the king of saying things

of all the things that could be said

and made faint motions toward that

later on.

he saw how it was done

he watched each day

when people came up to him

with exaggerated gestures

and dumb show

thinking he had the comprehension

of a stick.

how much anguish can a person know

in being so totally mistranslated

to be born with such fine discrimination

as to nuance and tone

a bell with no clapper

a star out of reach

and capable of noble utterance

beyond all human bearing

beyond angelic speech.

mary angela douglas 1 january 2023