I was contacted on Facebook by a lovely young woman named Elena. Elena’s mom works at a school for the deaf, and Elena asked if could write a story about A Wizarding School for Deaf Students. Instead of a story, I wrote a poem (because I’m wearing my poetry pants today). Hope you like it, Elena! Thanks!

Wizards of Sign
By Dan Bergstein

At the Wizarding School for the hearing impaired,
The students are silent, but not unprepared.
With their deft, mighty fingers and magical thoughts,
They can summon a dragon or charm Bertie Botts.

With a ninja-like stealth that you must admire,
The language of sign is all they require.
To blast a Dementor, they need only blink.
To Accio a broom, they need only think.

There’s a sign for Stupefy, but it’s secret and fast.
You’ll hear only your scream by the time that it’s cast.
And when it’s dark out, shouting seems dumb.
So Lumos is cast using only a thumb.

Some can read lips, most can read minds.
Some can read knees, throats, eyes, and hair of all kinds.
The students are brave and so very smart,
They knew Snape was good, right from the start.

With a wave of their hand, they tame a hippogriff.
They can locate a Horcrux with one simple sniff.
While Harry Potter and Ron must holler and yell,
These students are silent, yet know every spell.

They are tricky and cunning; as quiet as a cat.
They might be in this room. Did you just feel that?