Tapestries of Silence

By Howard R. Busby

This book of poetry—written by a retired university professor who was deafened during childhood—reveals the challenges, defeats, and triumphs of living in a world that often ignores those who live and struggle in silence and who are cut off from access to communication and information. Filled with words of longing, poignancy, resiliency, spirituality, and love, the author uses a tapestry as a metaphor to illustrate how all those challenges have come to be woven into one whole fabric of a meaningful life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728316123

Howard R. Busby

Howard R Busby, PhD, is a retired professor of counseling at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. He was born in Mobile, Alabama and attended the Alabama School for the Deaf, and transferred at age 10 to the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, from which he graduated in 1954, then attended Gallaudet University (then Gallaudet College) for three years before dropping out to pursue various occupations such as truck driver, pipefitter, commercial baker, and draftsman. He returned to school at Southern Illinois University to secure a bachelor’s in secondary education with specialization in history. He further acquired a master’s in counseling from the University of Kansas, then picked up a master’s degree in special education administration at California State University – Northridge. Later, he received a doctorate in school psychology and counseling from the University of Arizona. Dr. Busby has held the following positions in a long career in education: elementary and high school teacher, principal of high school, professor of teacher education, assistant dean, dean, and vice-president of student affairs at the University level. He ended his career as a full professor of counseling, after which he retired to Arizona where he continued to be active as a pro-bono consultant at social services programs for the deaf and hard of hearing. He lives in Peoria, AZ where he continues to pursue his life long love of writing poetry.

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© 2019 Howard R. Busby. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/18/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-1613-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-1612-3 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements and a Dedication

Introduction

Silent Words

The Other

Misunderstood Words

Ship of Silence

Old Post

Ask for Me

A Life Jacket of Silence

The Last Leaves of Autumn

Magic Medicine

Untethered

Blood Moon

Life as Stories

The Soul of Love

Khamush*

Memoir Writing

Traveling Soul

Glass Candy Jeep

Sonnet 79

Mended Teacup

No Bucket List

The Instant of Deafness

March 13, 1988

Twilight of My Eyes

Rain

Journey into End

At the Forum

Let Beauty Be Born

Mind in a Deaf Head

Songs of Heaven

The 11th of September

Disconnect

All I Have to Give

Mental Luggage

Grief

Lip reading as Quilt

Sonnet 18

A Different Way

Boundaries

The Pillow of Compassion

Fall in the Sonoran Desert

The Solitary Poppy

Cosmic Love

To a Mayfly

Marginalia

The Writing Hand

Byword

Sonnet 20

Old Dreams

About the Author

Acknowledgements and a Dedication

Possibly none of the poems in this book could have been written if not for the influence of the following people who were instrumental in introducing me to the art of poetry writing, and encouraging me whenever my enthusiasm and interest began to flag.

Mary Ann McIntire, my teacher in high school Freshman English, noted my interest in the structure and mechanisms of poetry beyond the simple lines of nursery rhymes. I was 12 years old at that time. I lost all interest in the rules of English grammar and neglected my homework, even playing hooky on occasion so I could dabble with new words to create rhythm and rhyme. Noting my