Simple ASL

Bend your middle and ring
            forward
Hold them to your palm

the rest, they stay up

and now you brandish
a weapon of a sign

outloud can rock the world
roll off the tongue
and kill whoever hears it

can it
        it can save your life
can it
        it can’t save your marriage
can it
       it can make you feel better

a weapon of a sign
disguised in soft tones
for the tongue who refuses
to form

            three simple words

hold it up to those around you
they know by now what you mean

you won’t
            can’t
say it

hurts to type, speak
form the shapes 
with lip and tongue

your hands don’t hurt
when you
hold middle and ring
down to your palm

and sign silently to
the people
who can’t get your 
voice to work,

not even for them,

I love you