How to Communicate is the only up-to-the-minute poetry book by John Lee Clark, published in 2023 by the conventional press for the first time in history. How to Communicate is a Deaf-blind poetry collection. The book has seven sections with anecdotal poetic styles. In the book, Clark converses with multifaceted sensations where daily English and the "latest" Braille language fail.
In "Slateku,” Clark discusses the composition of Braille and simplifies American Sign Language (ASL) using hilarity. Clark wants his readers to comprehend the sentiments experienced by the Deaf and the sightless people. According to Clark, a sense of touch is significant in communicating because it helps blind people understand their surroundings. For instance, Clark uses his experiences to let readers know how Deaf and blind people navigate around without the assistance of others. Clark lost his ability to see and hear when he attained the adolescent stage.
The other section of the book is “Three Squared Cinquains,” where Clark dismisses the assumption that blind and Deaf people cannot achieve great things in life. For instance, Clark rebukes the reporter who applauds a Deaf-blind person who cooks without sustaining burns. Clark argues that it is wrong to credit Deaf and blind people for such small achievements. Clark asserts that Deaf and blind people can be top achievers, including writing books and participating in leadership. Consequently, people should stop thinking disabled people are destined for small achievements.
"At the Holiday Gas Station" section, Clark narrates his experiences with a fellow Deaf-blind author, William Amos Miller. Clark and Miller communicate through the sense of touch and share their challenges and what they intend to do to prove their abilities.
The book concludes with the poem "Rebuttal," which is repeated twice in How to Communicate to describe the experiences of deaf people. Clark recounts Sigourney's journey as a Deaf author and teacher of sign language. According to the author, Deaf people rely on sight to perfect their communication because it relies on sign language. All sections of How to Communicate are dynamic and invite book lovers into the touch-based world of fun and humor.
