Lipreading isn’t an exact science
The way reading a book is
Its like navigating an obstacle course….

Lips come in all sizes and shapes
Thin and fat lips, tight and loose lips
Petite, average, generous, even puckered!

There are small mouths and big mouths
Each with their own peculiar mannerisms
Whether they be natural, adopted or learned.

Foreign objects often are dangling from lips
Or clenched in teeth, being chewed, spit, and loudly smacked
Adding texture to the words as they tumble forth

Missing teeth, dentures, stutters, lisps, braces, toothaches
And those upper lip hairy caterpillarsthat men love to nuture
All add to the overall challenge

There’s a difference between a shout and a whisper
A rapid fire staccato delivery and a leisurely country drawl
As well as a monotone that’s mumbled or grumbled

Imagine trying to decipher your dinner companion’s words
While they’re being chomped, squished, and crunched
Before, during, and after each forkful of food!

Many words look alike to the lipreader
Like have-half…… had-hat-and….two-too-due
Sometimes it’s guesswork, othertimes it’s logic and reasoning

Finally, contrasting shadows and light
Either enhance or distort the efforts
And its always impossible to lipread in the dark!

Whew, I’ve covered the entire obstacle course
Its not without its frustrations and mishaps
But somehow I get by……

©L. Kupfer