Learning Signs

Her signs grew from imitation,
and then the thrill of being understood.
She formed signs with pudgy hands
before she learned to hold a spoon.
She points out dogs and bikes
on our morning walks
with a pat of her thigh
and a pedaling of fists;
at night, she rubs pointer fingers
together towards stars in the sky.
Her words came quickly, but still we sign:
through windows, behind others’ backs,
sometimes when there is no reason
not to talk. We face each other
to speak with the whole of our selves,
our meaning plain to see.

Note:  This poem can be found in Observing the Moon – A Collection of Poems by Sneha Madhavan-Reese, published by Hagios Press.

About the Poet:
Sneha Madhavan-Reese lives with her family in Ottawa, Ontario. Her poems have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies, including Global Poetry Anthology 2015 and The Best Canadian Poetry in English 2016. Observing the Moon is her first book. www.madhavan-reese.com/sneha

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