Willard Madsen - Poet

One day the late Willard J. Madsen read about a Black Man who was asked the reason why his people were not satisfied with what the government did for them.  His reply was that you have to be Black to understand.  Willard got the idea and in 1971, he wrote his poem called, "You Have to Be Deaf to Understand."  This poem has become very popular all over the world.  

Willard J. Madsen taught for 44 years at Gallaudet University before he retired and moved to Lakeland, Florida with his family.  He died on May 10, 2016 at age of 86. 

Willard was born on January 24, 1930 on the plains of rural Florence, Kansas; became deaf at the age of two as the result of high fever. He attended the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) and was named Man of the Year in 2005 by KSD Alumni Association. 

While teaching at Gallaudet, he was instructed to establish a certification program for sign language teachers in 1975, now conducted by American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA).

In 2007, he wrote the book, Moods of Silence: Reflections in Verse and Prose Through a Deaf Poet's Eyes. A 123-page paperback.  On the book cover is a profile of author illustrated by the late Ruth Peterson, deaf artist. 

You Have to be Deaf to Understand
by Willard J. Madsen

What like hand signing?
You have deaf understand!

What like small child,
In school, in room void sound -
With teacher who talks talks talks
Then teacher looks at you,
She expects you know what she said?
You have deaf understand.

Teacher thinks makes you smart,
First you must learn how talk your voice;
Mumbo-Jumbo hands on your face hours and hours
Struggled until little voice?
You have deaf understand.

What like curious,
Thirst for knowledge you can tell your own,
Inner desire that set on fire -
You ask brother, sister, or friend
And says, "Not important."
You have deaf understand.

What like corner stand,
Though there nothing wrong,
Than try make use your hands
Silent peer communicate when
Your mind something appears?
You have deaf understand.

What like person shouted,
Thinks that will help you hear;
Or misunderstand words from friend
Who trying to make joke clear,
And you don't understand because he failed?
You have deaf understand.

What like laughed at you
When you try repeat what said;
Just make sure that clear
But words misread and you want
cry out, "Please help me friend!"
You have deaf understand.

What like depend hearing person,
Phone for me company or business
and must tell what your personal privacy
Then you find that your info wrong?
You have deaf understand.

What like deaf and alone,
In group hearing and you only guess
And go along, no one there with help
Interpreting, you try keep up follow?
You have deaf understand.

What like on road life meet stranger,
Who opens his mouth & speaks fast out
Line and you can't see his face nothing
Understand because new and you lost?
You have deaf understand.

What like understand hands sign,
Show clear pictures make feel you
Satisfied and smile that connect
(join me and you) world?
You have deaf understand.

What like hand signing?
Yes, you have deaf understand!