Listen To Me – Sam Wiggins

Sam WigginsAbout the Author:
I’m Sam, I’m 14 and have had a stammer since I could speak. I live in the UK with my mum, older sister and 2 cats. Over the past 4 years I have written many poems with the help of my mum, my most popular one was ‘I have a stammer’. This year we have written a poem about listening… Listening to everything.

Listen to me talk
Listen as I stammer
Listen to me work
Listen as I hammer

Listen to me sleep
Listen as I’m still
Listen to me shopping
Listen to the till 

Listen to me reading
Listen to my book
Liten to me busy
Listen as I cook 

Listen to me rest
Listen as I’m thinking
Listen to me daydream
Listen as I’m blinking 

Listen to me typing
Listen as I tap
Listen to me winning
Listen as they clap 

Listen to me stammer
Listen as I walk
Listen to my words
NOT THE WAY I TALK

My message is more important than how I deliver it…
WHAT I say is more important than HOW I say it.
Listen….. Listen to all of me
I am much more than just my stammer 

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Listen To Me – Sam Wiggins — 36 Comments

  1. Sam – You are so spot on! Your message is more important than how you deliver it…WHAT you say is more important than HOW you say it…Listen – Listen to all of you…..You are sooooooooooo much more than just your stammer. You bring human rain to my eyes as I read this… NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU WROTE HERE. You, my friend, are truly BRILLIANT! Thanks for your fantastic paper!
    Retz

    • Retzeeguma

      Thank you for your lovely comment. I will show this to Sam. Thank you for taking the time to read the poem.

  2. Hi Sam
    I love your poem! I like writing poems too, especially about my stammer and stammering.
    I am 60 years older than you, so in a different generation – I am a boomer and you are an alpha. When I was 14 in 1965 I was listening to a song called My Generation by a group called the Who. Some of the lyrics were stammered and it was initially banned by the BBC because they thought it might offend listeners. It was unbanned when it became successful! I think it was inspired by a song called Stuttering Blues by John Lee Hooker, who stuttered.
    You are lucky to be in the ‘Alpha’ generation, and not my generation! I would never have had the courage to write a poem like yours in my generation. Well done!

    • Hi Tim

      Thank you for your message, I have heard that song.. My mum played it for me after someone else in the stammering community suggested it.
      Things are a lot different for the better these days and people are more aware. Change for the good!

  3. Sam,
    You are so brave for sharing this and sharing how you feel! Starting each line with the word listen emphasizes your message to the reader. It is so important for everyone to appreciate you for who you are and to take the time to listen! I’m so happy that you have a wonderful mother who has encouraged you to deliver this message. I know she must be so proud of how confident, strong, and brave you have become! You are a great role model to many! Awesome work!

  4. Thank you for this poem. I could visualize you, and by extension any person who stutters, going through the normal activities of life, and how in every moment we want more than anything else to be listened to. Poignant and powerful. It is our words and our message that matters. Beautifully written!

  5. Hi Debbieslp

    Thank you for your message. Listening is so important, we really enjoyed writing this poem

  6. Sam, your message is so powerful and inspiring. You are right…you are so much more than a person who stutters, you are a very brave and wise young boy who has a lot of things to say and teach this world. Thank you for writing and sharing this poem!

  7. Dear Sam,

    Your poem is simplistic yet lovely! I particularly love the rhythms i throughout, and the content is a so relatable. I believe your expression could motivate young people who struggle with stammering.

  8. Hey Sam!

    First, I want to just say how proud I am of you for making this post and sharing your story and thoughts towards stuttering! My favorite thing about this post is how you chose to create a poem, rather than writing paragraphs. This further emphasizes your point that WHAT you say is more important than HOW you say it.
    You are so spot on; you are more than your stuttering! It is just one single attribute you have; it does not define you. Everyone should listen and respect others. Thank you for sharing.

    • Hi littlejotl

      Thank you so much for your comment. I like to write poetry to express my feelings.

  9. Hi Sam, I love your poem – your words are so important. We’re having an ISAD celebration in the woods tomorrow for children and young people who stammer- I can not wait to share your poem with them (if that is ok with you)?

    • Hi Nic maddy

      Thank you for your comment. Sorry I’d dint see this sooner, I hope you did share my poem and I hope all the young people had a lovely day. It sounds fun

  10. Dear Sam,

    This poem is powerful! The line “Listen to my words, NOT THE WAY I TALK” gave me chills. Everyone should read this poem and feel the impact of and the truth in these words. WHAT you have to say is always and will always be far more important than HOW you say it. Your words matter. I am confident, just from reading your poem, that you will have a great impact on the future of this world and how it views stuttering. Thank you for sharing!

  11. Hey Sam. Excellent poem, and that last line really hits home. You really nailed the theme of listening, too. I hope you keep writing poetry as a way to express yourself, too. Thanks for sharing it! Gina

  12. Hi Sam!

    Wow, what a powerful poem! I am a speech-language pathology student, so the insight that “my message is more important than how I deliver it” is compelling. Once I graduate, I will carry that over in my professional practice by providing the tools if you are interested in using them. Is that an approach that you would appreciate?

    Thank you!

  13. Listen to my words
    NOT THE WAY I TALK

    What a powerful statement. Your writing is brilliant and paints a beautiful and brave picture of what everyday life might be like for an a PWS.
    Thank you for sharing your gift of words and vulnerability with me.

  14. Hi Sam- Thank you for sharing this poem with us. I appreciated the word pattern of the poem. I liked that you wrote about the words being more important than how the words are said.
    I met you and your mum at StammaFest and hope to see you again in the future!

  15. My dear friend Sam.
    I’ve been listening to you and following your journey for quite some years now, and I’m in awe. Not only how you cope with stuttering and other hurdles in your life, but also how you teach the world, and inspire other kids who stutter (and parents!) simply by being you and sharing your wisdom. A young guy, who stutters, and who’s an actor. And writes poetry. I mean, how much more of a rolemodel can you be? 😉

    You’re my giant and I hope to give you a big fat hug in person, no matter how embarassing I might be. 😀 (and thanks mom, for being there for him through thick and thin).

    keep talking

    Anita

    • Anita

      Thank you! We look forward to meeting you again….. Sam will never be too old for a cuddle from you.
      Lots of love

  16. Sam,

    You are an incredible young man with a powerful voice! Your poem screamed to me you are a person first and foremost and that is what should be noticed. I heard a commanding voice while reading this which had me really see and reflect on this poem as a whole art piece. You are so young making such a huge difference! Just imagine all you will accomplish in another 14 years. 🙂 Keep going, young man!

    Hannah

  17. Sam,
    This is such a powerful message! I respect and appreciate your bravery to share these thoughts and displaying them so beautifully. I love the way that you describe everyday, ordinary sounds and activities. It gives a perspective of appreciating the little things. This leads to the overall appreciation of the words that are being said, rather than the way you say it. Voices are used in so many ways, and the most important thing is to express yourself. I hope this encourages you to continue to share your light to others!

    • H Lindsey

      Thank you for your message. We’re glad you liked the poem and appreciated it

  18. Hi Sam,

    I love it when you say “Listen to my words, not the way I talk”! Your poem is so powerful and shows the importance of listening to others. You portray how communication is in the message rather than the delivery. People connect more deeply and are able to understand the perspectives of others when they focus on what is being said rather than how a person says it. Thank you for sharing your beautiful poem!

  19. Hi Sam,
    I really enjoyed your poem. I feel that it really brings to light that you need to pay attention to me as a person not just my stutter. It really helped me realize to make sure that the person feels seen not just focused on the way a person talks.