On 'in a land foreign' by Walter Kadiki

Walter is a master of weaving signed poetry and visual vernacular into poetic performance. He is known for his profound and engaging signed poetry and storytelling that bridges cultures and is accessible to deaf and hearing audiences.

Walter Kadiki reflects on Poetry Month 2021.

In a land foreign
Here I stand

The uneasiness
And nervousness
Caressing me
With condescending insincerity

The silent
And rapid pounding
Of my heart
The chilling screams in me.
Invisible
To the naked eardrum
That reign with undue supremacy

In a land foreign
Where sound stand devout
Where revered poets
Of yesteryear
Today and tomorrow
Skilfully chant
The elements of sound into verse

The rhythm
The flow
The intonation
The mysteries
The odes of aching hearts gone by..

Caressing
Those naked eardrums extravagant

In a land foreign
Here on this platform tonight I stand

A platform forged with spoken words and verse
Where silence is
Unknown
Eerie
And a profanity to the spoken word

In a land foreign, here I stand
Excited yet apprehensive
The inquisitive gazes
Probing
Mutilating
My invisible
Silent verse!