Out Like a Lamb

Subtitles

I'm deaf enough these days to need them
from one too many concerts in the eighties

I suppose or from my father's screaming
it seemed perpetual - or some genetic flaw

but I hear well enough to understand when
translators get lazy, summarizing dialogue

they've got no right to mess around with
I mean come on these are the classics

& what of comedians whose laughs rely
on sound, whose timing just won't translate?

& what of music, represented by small notes
bookending words, or by the motion of a bow?

I suppose we do the best we can despite our
flawed communications, despite our deafness.

As for the screaming, it was never captioned -
a fine benediction over the non-hearing world.





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April 25—Subtitles