by Carlie Grippi
(Editor's Note: We discovered Carlie Grippi's poem on the Children's Page of "Exceptional Parent" magazine. We are impressed with Carlie's talent and are pleased that the magazine gave us permission to reprint her poem. Carlie is 17 and attends the Ohio State School for the Blind. She plans to attend college after graduation and is considering Bowling Green State University or Gallaudet University. She would like to be a writer, perhaps even a song writer.
She enjoys all kinds of music, especially country music. Her hobbies include running, swimming, writing and hanging out alone or with friends. Carlie has CHARGE syndrome and uses a "Link" to communicate. The link is a voice output communication device like a combination TTY/laptop computer. It has a visual display that reads what is typed.
Carlie is learning Braille and American Sign Language. She has attended many summer camps and volunteers in programs for children with mental retardation and developmental delays. We wish Ms. Grippi good fortune in whatever choices she makes for her future, and we are pleased to share her poetry with our readers.) I ride on a train of thoughts, I made a nick in time. What does it mean to have bare feet? And can you drink a whine? Can you ever eat a date? Or send a deck of cards? And if I put three feet together, would they fill a yard? Does a finished book become bright red? Can water really see? Is a riverbank filled with money? I've climbed my family tree. Where is the head of the class? I've given a dozen stares, I wonder what the number ate? I've seen those Easter hairs! I've eaten the color orange, and eaten little peas, and I've stepped in a cherry pit, and drunk a cup of tea. I write my letters with a pigpen, and swim in a game of pool. Juries sit in tennis courts, and all fish go to school. Does blowing turning a whistle blue? Do window shades go blind? I take nice walks with candy canes, and the ones who are smart will mind. All of these words put together mean different things as we see. And I must say in my own words, OUR LANGUAGE CONFUSES ME!