Soaring Eagle

Soaring Eagles

An English Poetic Adaptation from ASL Gloss

Claws on the branch,
head bowed low—
still.

Look—middle.
Right.
Middle.
Left.

Wing to the right…
Wing to the left…

Chest and shoulders swell—
right… then left…
gathering breath.

Claws grip the branch.
Feathers rise with wind.
Eyes. Eyebrows. Beak—
sharp with knowing.

Claws on the branch.
Face lifts—smiling.
Chest proud.
Still perched.
But burning.

Look—
The mountain breathes.
Sunrise spills across a waiting face.

Clocktower rings.
Bell marks minutes.
Time shifts.
Still—claws on the branch.

Smile.
Breath quickens.
Eyes close.
Then—open.

Close again—
a time machine.
Open.
Blink.

The eagle becomes—
a child.
Sixth grade.
Middle school.

Sees tiny ECE hands flutter.
Their signs—uncertain, searching. ☹
I learned those signs. 😊
A… B… C…
(fire.)

“Hi—what’s your name?”
Janika.
There—elementary kids.
One stands out.
That’s the kid. 😊 (fire.)
Tap… tap… tap…

Involved.
Chatting.
Signing. (Eyes light up.)
Learning.
Writing.
Language pours from hands—

ASL, again.
ASL, again.
ASL.

Identity rises:
That’s me.
B-E-N.
You and me.
You and me.
You and me.
(fire.)

Middle school:
Periodic Table.
Zinc—30.
Open books.
Read. Read.
Hand up—answer.
Read. Answer.
Compete.

Books.
Hands.
Ideas flying.

Leadership grows.

Involved.
Involved.

Identity sharpens:
Deaf.
Different.
And inside—
inside—
inside:
Fire.

High school now.
The fire—burns brighter.
I name myself:
Deaf.
Strong.

Indigenous.
Different.
Culture, culture, culture—
all the way in.

Clubs.
Heartbeat.
Growth.

Long papers.
Ideas stretch.

Present.
Point to the paper.
Point again.
Perform.
Act.
Point.

ASL moves it forward.
I read.
I write.
I finish.
I give.

Put on the Peter Pan hat.

Run.
Eagle, run.
Run.
Run.

Headfeathers flick.
Wings lift.
Soar long.

Eagle flying—hands wide.
Eagle flying—fingers flicker.

C-S-D

across my chest.

Still soaring.