to make the sign for “poetry”

form your right hand

into a flattened “O” handshape

which is made by pinching

all your fingers together

like you are holding onto

a thin piece of paper.

this flattened "O"-handshape

carries the meaning of "give”

in american sign language.

so for the “poetry” sign

you bring that

flattened “O” hand

up to touch

the left side

of your chest

where your heart is

then move that hand

out and up

away from your heart

and as you move

this hand out and up

spread your fingers apart

like you are throwing

what you grabbed

from your heart

straight up to the heavens.

as Dr. Bill Vicars writes

on Lifeprint.com’s

ASL university,

poetry happens when

“you take the beauty in your heart

and offer it up to the world.”