FISHING FOR LOVE LETTERS
With their little hook
And bated line with a letter
They ask the fishes to help them make a book
To make their Grandma’s life better
Their Nonna, from Italy, could not hear
And always had a fear
Whenever she spoke
To the ‘hearing’ folk
Her speech would not be refined
And on their fishing line
They hope to find
Letters that will build and not fetter
Let us find those letters
Which will bind
Happy symbols that are kind
Whose ever hearing is bound
To those without sound
“When you fish for love bait with your heart, not your brain”
Mark Twain
All accomplished with skillful
Hands and fingers in magnificent choreography
Dancing quiet words in harmony
They often think of their Nonna
From across the sea
Even though she had a Voice
Her non-hearing gave her no choice
To refrain from speaking
Thinking her words were all babble
Making her a label
She soon found
Even though she could not hear the sound
Her grandchildren’s “hearing book”
Right off their hook
Touched her heart, mind and Soul
Suddenly, she felt whole
f/n/f
Some thoughts and words I knitted together in poetry. Or maybe even fished from the Lake. A little tribute to my own Italian grandmother, whom I called Nonna.
She had a severe hearing problem and felt it was like a punishment. Now as I review her Life on earth, I wish I had had the insight, back then, to have helped her. Made her life a little easier. It must have been so lonely for her.
Her own lack of hearing gave me a greater understanding and appreciation of sound! Bless all those who hear with their hearts!
Remembering my Nonna with love.
~Nancy Fraioli, The Sound of Wisdom