Blind
Warmth in a color,
with heat visible to the touch
and shocking pink a shock
to seeking fingers,
not one that you and I,
gifted with sight,
would ever understand.
Blindfolded, they wheel me
round and round the garden
in my teddy bear reality.
Gravel scrunches beneath
the wheels and I am flooded
with the inability to see, to know,
to be sure of the shadows
that are no longer there.
The ones who push me
talk and tell but cannot show.
How could they hold a rainbow
before my eyes or let me hear
the northern lights crackle the sky,
their visible Niagara a curtain
of fairy lights dancing up and down?
And those glorious organ notes
quivering the body, angel voices rising,
falling, grasping at my eye-
lashes, peeling my eye-lids apart.
Song of songs and the singer
deaf to his own sublimity,
oh dealer of cards, fingerless
pianist, bold dancer prancing
on your amputated stumps.
Comment: Raw poem, written for Gwen Martin who opened my eyes to the fact that blind people can perceive color through their finger-tips.
rogermoorepoet 
I am amazed by the resilience of people and how they see the world with their hands.
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This is so true. Gwen’s story caught my attention, as you can see.
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That is amazing! I had no idea… What a fascinating thing is the human brain, capable of so much more than we realize. The raw poetry is fantastic, Roger.
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Gwen’s story opened my eyes to so many things. We had a great lunch. Looking forward to when you make it to NB and we all sit down together … great big smile.
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I’d love to!!!
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That is fascinating, Roger. It called to mind Helen Keller. I was amazed at her capacity to learn through touch, especially out in nature.
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It was a lovely afternoon: a great exchange of information.
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It sounds like it. How fortunate are we that there are always new things and perspectives for us to learn.
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Very interesting and amazing… the touch of colour… and poets are often represented as blind
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It was after the lunch-time gathering. We had a wonderful series of discussions (over pancakes and Grand Marnier) and then this topic of ‘loss and compensation’ came up. The poetry sort of poured out later. The poem is still raw … I am so glad you like it.
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It is wonderful
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I have two dear friends who have been blind from birth and live full and wonderful lives. I have learned much from both. Lovely words and picture Roger! Enjoy your weekend! – Lola 🌺
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Yesterday’s conversation was very special. We were discussing how, when one lost one sense, others developed and compensated for the loss. I had not realized that ‘hot and cold colors” could be ‘felt’. What amazing creatures we human beings are. Thank you for your comment. We can indeed learn so much from other people about this world we share.
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This is so true! I cherish these relationships! 🙂
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