Poem: "The Noblest Gift"
This is today's freebie. It was inspired by a prompt from Dreamwidth user Readera. It also fills the "Key" square in my 11-1-23 card for the Drabble fest. This poem belongs to the series Clay of Life.
"The Noblest Gift"
After meeting up with a Ladino family,
Menachem and Yossele decided to go
with them to the village of Ghardaia.
It would give Menachem time
to practice speaking Ladino,
and Yossele a chance to learn
more of the Ghardaia sign language.
Plus they could attend the wedding
of Biyla and her sweetheart Bechor.
The village turned out to be
small but altogether charming.
Menachem chose a corner of
the market square and set up
his portable forge, whereupon
he was beset by customers
wanting wedding gifts made.
The children ran about in packs
and climbed all over Yossele,
who let them swing laughing
from his great clay arms.
Now, however, Yossele
could converse with them
himself, his fingers flowing
through the signs of Ghardaia.
"There, now you have the key to
communication," Menachem said.
"Isn't it a grand thing for conversations?"
Yossele signed back that it was grand
and he was enjoying himself a great deal.
"Sign language is the noblest gift
G-d has given to deaf people,"
said Pandjuro, tilting his head
toward his granddaughter Biyla.
She was sitting on a bench with
her soon-to-be-husband Bechor,
their hands dancing as they --
Well. Menachem blushed.
Perhaps he should just
keep an eye on Yossele
instead of the young lovers.
* * *
Notes:
"Sign language is the noblest gift God has given to deaf people."
-- George Veditz
Sephardic Jews speak a Judeo-Spanish language named Ladino, and are sometimes called by the same name themselves.
" Lead Us in Peace" introduces the sign language of Ghardaia.
Algerian Jewish Sign Language includes a variety of village sign languages such as Ghardaia Sign Language.
"The Noblest Gift"
After meeting up with a Ladino family,
Menachem and Yossele decided to go
with them to the village of Ghardaia.
It would give Menachem time
to practice speaking Ladino,
and Yossele a chance to learn
more of the Ghardaia sign language.
Plus they could attend the wedding
of Biyla and her sweetheart Bechor.
The village turned out to be
small but altogether charming.
Menachem chose a corner of
the market square and set up
his portable forge, whereupon
he was beset by customers
wanting wedding gifts made.
The children ran about in packs
and climbed all over Yossele,
who let them swing laughing
from his great clay arms.
Now, however, Yossele
could converse with them
himself, his fingers flowing
through the signs of Ghardaia.
"There, now you have the key to
communication," Menachem said.
"Isn't it a grand thing for conversations?"
Yossele signed back that it was grand
and he was enjoying himself a great deal.
"Sign language is the noblest gift
G-d has given to deaf people,"
said Pandjuro, tilting his head
toward his granddaughter Biyla.
She was sitting on a bench with
her soon-to-be-husband Bechor,
their hands dancing as they --
Well. Menachem blushed.
Perhaps he should just
keep an eye on Yossele
instead of the young lovers.
* * *
Notes:
"Sign language is the noblest gift God has given to deaf people."
-- George Veditz
Sephardic Jews speak a Judeo-Spanish language named Ladino, and are sometimes called by the same name themselves.
" Lead Us in Peace" introduces the sign language of Ghardaia.
Algerian Jewish Sign Language includes a variety of village sign languages such as Ghardaia Sign Language.