About the Author: Pamela Mertz is an active member of the global stuttering community. She started a blog about making room for stuttering in 2009 and began a podcast exclusively for women who stutter in 2010. She works part-time for the USA National Stuttering Association (NSA), and co-facilitates a monthly online support group for women who stutter. She is also actively involved in the NSA’s “We Stutter at Work” program, which she envisioned in 2016. Pam was inducted into the NSA Hall of Fame in 2022. |
The shades of stuttering bouncing around
Ever gently, maybe no sound
Filling word bubbles in my head
Do they know what I just said?
Are they nodding their head, possibly guessing?
Or maybe thinking, oh what a blessing!
Glad that’s not me, all sputter and spit
Do they know they look so, not fit?
Everyone talks one way or another
So why does ours sound so “other?”
Other? What do you mean?
Being here, but not really seen.
With all its quivers, waves and shades
Sometimes our voice just pauses and fades
But we who stutter don’t fade away
We’re here among you, every day
Hear us. See us. Be with us
Hey, you can even make a fuss
Because we who stutter have so much to say
In our unique and wonderful way
Whether quiet, loud, shy or proud
Dive in deep and join the crowd
Stuttering boasts every shape, size and shade.
Which begs the question? What’s the grade?
Grade for what? I’m glad you asked
For here on now, you are so tasked
Listen, ask, ponder, wait
What we say won’t ever be too late
Sometimes when I go to utter
Sometimes I just start to stutter
And that’s OK, right?
Because
Stuttering in all its shades is such a light
Help us make that light shine bright.
Use your voice, your pen, your spotlight
We’ll do the rest, day and night!
Here is the recording of me reading this aloud, so one can hear the inflections made as I read it intending how it is meant to sound.
Hi everyone – welcome to the 2026 ISAD conference. I am so glad you found us and that you are here. I hope you enjoy this poem I wrote to share about what shades of stuttering means to me. I have both wrote the poem, and recorded a video of me reading it aloud, so you can hear the inflections and tone as I meant it to be heard. (Notice I don’t stutter as I read the poem, as I was by myself and don’t typically stutter when I am alone and reading aloud).
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Pam, I enjoyed reading and listening to your poem. “We’re here among you, every day; Hear us. See us. Be with us…” Thank you for inviting us in, and thank you for sharing your life with us who don’t stutter, that we might understand and value the beautiful stuttered voices among us!
Ana Paula,
Thank you so much for your feedback and always for your support.
Pam
I LOVE THIS!!! Written and spoken with depth, wit, whimsy, and vulnerability all at the same time! It captures – dare I say, so sweetly? – the experience of stuttering in the world. I love hearing your “voice” in all these different ways. Also – as a PWS, I can relate to stuttering less when I’m alone and also reading aloud alone.
Kimberly,
Thank you so much! I am not sure I was going for “sweetly capturing” the stuttering experience, but I was trying to illustrate the fun that we can have with our shades of stuttering.
It always surprises me that after so many years of sharing, writing, speaking – whatever way I express myself – that I still have something to say about stuttering. I’ve wondered what will happen when I run out of stuff to say. I guess there’s no worry about that anytime soon.
Pam
Thank you for this poem, Pamela. The embracing words are wonderful! As a PWS, do you find that writing and artistic expression allow you to further embrace the differing shades of your stutter? I would love to know!
Hi there,
Thanks for reading and the great question. I have long that I would and could express myself better in writing and creatively, as I always thought no one would to hear me stutter.
I tried so hard for many years to hide my stuttering, to try to “pass as” fluent. I have always been able to write fluently, and have found great joy in artistic expression.
Pam
Love to hear the rhymes when you read the poem aloud ~
Thank you for reading and sharing that feedback.
Pam