When you think of poetry, you most likely think of writing filled with confusing words jumbled together or those boring units in your English classes. To the deaf culture, poetry is entirely different in that it makes you move around and use your body language as a form of expression instead of writing. American Sign Language classes at ETHS have an entire unit for this form of poetry. All ASL 3 students learn about it and dissect poems like in English class, yet Ms. Knoeppel, an ASL 3 teacher here at ETHS, celebrates the differences and how it relates to deaf culture. She says, “Both are a use of expression to share experiences, but we discover more the deaf piece of it…There are a lot of differences; one of them is that it is not written. The joy of ASL poetry is interpreted in your way, compared to the written form.”
Now, moving your body around to express yourself is easier said than done when you’re required to present in front of your class. Each year, students must create poems and share them with the class. Students choose one main style of ASL poetry for their project; a number, letter, or handshape poem. In “Number” poems all the signs have hidden numbers in the handshape, counting in an order. There are also letter poems where hand shapes reflect letters and spell a deeper message. The third kind of poem taught in this unit is handshape poems. These are created with a couple of the same handshapes throughout the whole poem, which creates a sense of conformity and rhythm to the piece! Of course, poems can be whatever you want them to be, and they don’t need to follow any of these types if you don’t want to.
ASL Poetry requires a level of vulnerability that may be hard to grasp for some students or make them fearful. “Oh my God, there is always so much dread! So it is on my end to bring the spirit to life and show them not to give up. Many of them have experience with poetry, which can be deep and hard to connect with, so it requires them to extend their creativity. In the end, when we share our poems, I see a lot of creativity and growth,” said Ms. Knoeppel.
After jumping over the initial hurdle of the unknown of ASL poetry, the whole experience is very rewarding for all. You get to learn more about yourself and also the fascinating culture of the deaf world! An ASL 3 student, Moxie Zeises, shares her experience: “ASL Poetry is very difficult to write, but it is a creative way for deaf people to express themselves.”
The poetry unit has been around for many years, and Ms. Kenneople says, “I plan on keeping it.”
By the end of the unit, everyone comes to love ASL poetry. If you have a chance to search for videos of deaf poetry, you will be amazed at the incredible art and messages you will find!
