In a remarkable fusion of art and resilience, a choir of deaf children has redefined the boundaries of poetry and performance. Under the guidance of primary-school teacher Li Bailin, these young artists have turned their unique perspectives into a moving narrative that transcends auditory limitations. The journey began in May 2025 when Li, a teacher from Huitong county, Hunan province, was invited by a Beijing-based musician to teach poetry to a choir of deaf children. The goal was to integrate their written verses into their stage performances, creating a multisensory experience. Despite initial communication challenges, Li found innovative ways to bridge the gap. She introduced the children to poetry through recordings and a published collection of poems from her students in Hunan, allowing them to connect with the art form and their peers. However, the children’s limited Chinese vocabulary posed a hurdle. Li devised a creative solution by writing individual lines from the book on slips of paper, enabling the children to assemble their own poems. The result was a series of short, heartfelt verses that reflected their inner worlds. One 13-year-old boy wrote: ‘Morning / I pluck a single blade of grass / Its roots entwined within my heart / My favorite — so lovely / So full of song.’ Another method involved blindfolding the children and having them feel potted flowers, then drawing and transferring the images onto cotton bags. This process heightened their other senses, compensating for their lack of hearing. Li observed that their writing mirrored the sequence of their sign language gestures, leading to a unique poetic rhythm. In September 2025, 15 of these children took the stage at Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall. Their poems were displayed on a large screen as they performed through movement and expression, culminating in a recitation of ‘ahs’ and ‘ohs’ that resonated deeply with the audience. Among the poems, one by a 16-year-old girl stood out. Titled ‘In Truth,’ it poignantly expressed her complex relationship with sign language: ‘In truth, / I have never liked sign language — / not at all. / Yet it helps me when I want to say ‘thank you.’ This performance not only showcased their artistic talents but also highlighted the power of inclusivity and creativity in overcoming adversity.