“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight
but no vision.” ~Helen Keller
“Those things that nature denied to human sight,
she revealed to the eyes of the soul.”
~Ovid
I wander down a hall
familiar
safe
known for solace
scarcely decorated
home to pondering
A window lights the end
worn wood floors
a light breeze
catches a single curtain
a chair overlooks the outside
light filters in
shadows scatter
I sit
Elbow to window sill
palm upon my face
lean in timidly to look below
stillness at first
then the sound of voices
withdraw slightly
They talk but do not listen
not enough to notice me
I hear laughter
the kind produced
by someone else as the joke
My stomach somersaults
the sun dimming
I am sheltered away
feeling defeated
knowing they do not know me
do not try
Had I turned around
walked downstairs
met them
I do not think
it would have mattered
this world they see
is not the one I do
I give to moments of laughter
my heart
I take little
always try to leave more
my undoing you see now
this solace a reminder
of ignorance
Trying to open eyes
too convinced they see just fine
when in plain view
they only looked
to what they wanted to believe
the mind will not see
what it cannot accept
so they say
I linger like a statue watching
The floor creaks behind me
I turn slowly
my back now to the light
he says it looks like I have a halo
laughs with me
he's looked closer
the hallway warms
I find myself turning
standing up
to face the blind
aware that now
I am no longer
one of the few
knowing sight.
