DawnSign Deaf Art Collection

DawnSign
Deaf Art Collection

Frank Allen Paul

Frank Allen Paul "FAP" (b. 1950-1987)

Zurple, the Caterpillar, 1981

Oil
16 x 18 inches

Dot Miles

"The moon is like a lemon reflecting on the pond."

Illustration by Frank Allen Paul

This drawing shows Deaf poet Dorothy “Dot” Miles signing a line from one of her nature poems. In this poem, she compares the moon to a glowing lemon and shows its reflection on a quiet pond. Dot used the visual power of sign language to create pictures in the air, and this illustration helps students see how signed poetry works.

Artist Frank Allen Paul, a well-known illustrator of sign language, captured the exact handshapes, movement, and expression Dot used. His artwork freezes a moment of signed poetry and turns it into visual art that we can study and appreciate.

Students can observe handshapes, facial expression, and movement in one still image.
It connects two important Deaf creators:
- Dot Miles, one of the most influential Deaf poets in the world.
Frank Allen Paul, known for illustrating ASL publications.

This artwork helps students understand that ASL is not just a language, it is also a powerful art form.

Educational Note: How the poem works

In this poem, Dot Miles visually describes the moon using:

a round, glowing shape like a lemon
a soft rippling movement to show reflection on water
calm, slow rhythm to match the peaceful night scene

Frank Allen Paul’s drawing makes these visual elements easier to see and analyze, especially for students new to ASL literature.

About Dot Miles

About Dot Miles

Dorothy “Dot” Miles (1931–1993) is widely regarded as the mother of modern Deaf poetry in both the United Kingdom and the United States. She was a British (Welsh) Deaf poet, playwright, performer, and activist who created poetry in written English, British Sign Language (BSL), and at times American Sign Language (ASL). Her work helped bridge Deaf and hearing communities and opened the door for signed-language poetry to be recognized as a true art form.

Dot lost her hearing at a young age due to cerebro-spinal meningitis, yet her creative work blossomed across languages and cultures. Her poems are known for strong imagery, smooth visual movement, and emotional depth. Today, ASL and BSL teachers often use her work to show how sign language can create powerful, visual poetry that expresses ideas in ways written language cannot.

Key Facts About Her Poetry

Born 19 August 1931, died 30 January 1993.
A pioneer who shaped the development of signed-language poetry in the U.K., with influence felt worldwide.
Created poetry in three modalities:
- Written English
BSL visual poems
Some ASL poems
Demonstrated how sign language transforms metaphors into visual images, such as in her well-known line:

“From your fingertips see a frog leap, at a passing butterfly. The word becomes the picture in this language for the eye.”

Her piece “Language for the Eye” remains one of her most recognized poems, celebrating the visual richness of signed languages.

Dot Miles’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of Deaf poets, performers, and students exploring the beauty of sign language.