Disability Poems

WHO IS DISABLED?

Who is disabled?

Is it me, or is it you?

Should disability be based

On an anatomical stock-take,

Or based on what you can do?

For I can climb mountains,

I can soar through the sky,

And I can slay dragons,

With just a blink of an eye,

I can overcome barriers,

Fight against impossible odds,

Ignore patronising glances

And condescending nods.

So who is disabled?

Is it me, or is it you?

It is completely subjective,

It’s just your point of view …

ANNIVERSARY OF A BLIND DATE

You could have called it a blind date,

The manner in which we first met,

But one that was truly desired,

Not one made for a stupid bet.

A year has now passed since that day,

My life then so completely changed,

When my future was realigned

And not just merely rearranged.

With the little sight I had left

I really liked what I first saw

But my social skills were lacking

And my emotions were red-raw.

She saw through my anxieties;

The pain I had coped with for years,

She seemed to sense the imprint left,

By many invisible tears.

Empathy was her strongest suit,

That was obvious right away,

Her bright sunny manner ensured,

We had an enjoyable day.

It’s strange how two can so quickly

Be bonded and then become one,

And all seeming as natural

As the rising of the dawn sun.

With the little sight I had left,

I really liked what I first saw,

And I knew the feeling was mutual,

When she nuzzled me with her nose

And then offered me her paw …

PL-EASE

Don’t see only our disabilit-ease,

Don’t deny us basic facilit-ease,

Don’t ignore our many abilit-ease,

Don’t compound our varied difficult-ease,

Deal head-on with the harsh realit-ease.

You never know what life has in store,

You may fall one day and rise no more,

You may join our ranks, afraid, unsure,

You may write words to plead; implore.

We are not an alien race,

We have a voice, we have a face,

We have our part to play; a place.

Let us join life’s lively dance,

Let us have an equal chance.

Pl- ease.