Poetry appearing on this page was produced with the generous support of artsACT
This poem is for children.
In autistic child with acute auditory processing disorder I explored some threatening and frightening aspects of living with hyper-sensitive hearing. This poem tries to find a happier place; to explore how constant contact with all audible sound – the inability to ignore what most neurotypical people filter out unconsciously - may be a positive and enriching experience.
what the child hears
the sheep are speaking
to the frogs who are speaking
to the ravens who are speaking
to the crickets who are speaking
to the horses who are speaking
to the flies who are speaking
to the trucks on the highway who are speaking
to the ripples in the water who are speaking
to the farm dog who is speaking
to the metal bucket who is speaking
to the dragonfly who is speaking
to the plane who is speaking
to the reeds who are speaking
to the tractor who is speaking
to the mosquitoes who are speaking
to the magpies who are speaking
to the chainsaw who is speaking
to the sulphur-crested cockatoos who are speaking
to the farmer’s wife who is speaking
to the chickens who are speaking
to the frogs who are speaking
to the sheep who are speaking
to me
