Walking the Dream

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

 “There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.” – Robert M. Hensel

My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on the things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with.” – Stephen Hawking

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” - Helen Keller

Once overheard by yours truly: Able-bodied person to wheelchair user: “Don’t you feel bitter about not being able to walk?”

Wheelchair user: “I did once, but soon learned that bitterness is the worst kind of disability. “Besides,” the disabled person added with a wry grin, “… once you learn to walk the dream, you can start enjoying the scenery again.”

Now, I was only 12 years old at the time and didn’t understand the implications, but I never forgot that snippet of conversation. 

Growing old now, and - after a bad fall in 2012 – unable to enjoy walking as I used to and miss it terribly. That spot of earwigging, though, always springs to mind whenever I start feeling sorry for myself. After all, I can still get out and about with the aid of compression stockings and a walking stick. Even other health issues that plague me, from time to time, pale into insignificance whenever I think of what some people have to endure  all the time and do so with a strength of mind-body-spirit aenough to put a smile on their faces.

Suffice to say, disabled people are truly inspirational. 

WALKING THE DREAM

I’d walk miles by rivers, streams,
leafy woods and lively forested lands
thrilling to the sounds
of wildlife, feeling privileged to breathe
its air, tread its grounds,
invoke the freedoms to which it was born,
if only to be hunted down

I grow older, hopefully the wiser
for walking those miles, bringing smile
to a heart-and-soul
always under threat by the ways of a world
challenging mind-body-spirit
to anticipate and outwit any devilish schemes
posing a threat to our dreams

Yet, humankind faces other threats
heart-and-soul needs must learn to rise
above its tears and fears,
bring mind-body-spirit into even fuller play
than wet believed possible,
hive the lie to our life’s being as bad as it seems,
start walking our dreams 

Mobility problems and other issues
may well do their best to undermine us,
yet, heart-and-soul
not so readily backing down from any threat,
by accident or human design
likely to thwart us, hurt us, bring us to our knees,
desperately seeking peace

I walk miles by rivers, streams,
leafy woods and lively, forested lands,
thrilling to the sounds
of wildlife, feeling privileged to breathe
its air, tread its grounds,
enjoy such freedoms as invoke memories, fictions,
and walking my dreams

Mind-body-spirit, empowering us all with an ability 
to bring a whole new dimension to our reality...

Copyright R. N. Taber, 2022

Storm Birds OR Inspirational

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Today's poem first appeared on the blog in 2012.

Since a bad fall about 10 years ago,  I have been physically disabled - if only slightly compared to many people - and had to spend  a good year or so learning to walk again. I will be 75 later this year and  manage to get out and about quite well in spite of various problems with the same foot that suffered a complicated ankle fracture. I use a walking stick which might as well be invisible for all the notice many able bodied people take of it when I am out and about. Cyclists on the pavements and people more interested in their mobile phones and/or listening to music on headphones invariable expect me to get out of their way because they have no clear appreciation of their immediate environment. Heaven forbid they should try looking where they are going! Even so, I remain a Happy Bunny...most of the time. wry bardic grin

There are, of course, disabled gay men and women worldwide; among them, those determined to follow their dreams in various areas of achievement, including sport and the arts. All, like everyone else, can do no more or less than get on with the daunting task of daily life even if - for many if not most - that is likely to prove even more daunting.  

As someone who has suffered significant hearing loss all my life (much improved with digital hearing aids) I often have balance problems. Given, too, that deafness is an invisible disability, with which many hearing people quickly lose patience, it is perhaps not surprising that I have always felt a considerable affinity with disabled people who are frequently - intentionally or otherwise - put down by the less enlightened among the able-bodied majority.

It is great to see more - if relatively few - disabled people represented in the occasional popular TV series like Vera and Silent Witness; mobility problems don't necessarily mean the brain is also affected (as so many people seem to assume.) 

Disabled people worldwide are an inspiration, ordinary folks, just wanting to be treated much like anyone else and encouraged to pursue their natural human potential as far as possible; is that so much to ask?

I am dedicating today's poem to disabled people everywhere.

This poem is a villanelle. 

STORM BIRDS or INSPIRATIONAL

Where able bodied folks go

in a brave new world

the less able, too, dare follow

Nor must we ever fail to show

respect for the D-word

where able bodied folks go

Find inspiration’s brilliant glow

in a storm bird;

the less able, too, dare follow

Love challenges all in the know

(Theatre of the Absurd)

where able bodied folks go

For dreams hid under a rainbow,

hope deferred,

the less able, too, dare follow

Life-force (now ally, now foe)

at best a gift shared...

Where able bodied folks go,

the less able, too, dare follow

Copyright R. N. Taber 2012

Addressing the Art of Being Human

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

On September 15^th 2005, a sculpture of artist Alison Lapper by Marc Quinn was unveiled in Trafalgar Square. The sculpture is a three-and-a-half metre-high representation of disabled artist Alison Lapper when she was eight months pregnant. ‘Alison Lapper Pregnant’ was chosen from a shortlist of six in March 2004 and remained on the plinth for 18 months.

“Marc Quinn has created an artwork that is a potent symbol and is a great addition to London,” said the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who endorsed and unveiled the sculpture. “It is a work about courage, beauty and defiance, which both captures and represents all that is best about our great city. Alison Lapper pregnant is a modern heroine – strong, formidable and full of hope. It is a great work of art for London and for everyone.’

Many if not most people seem to have agreed with Livingstone and the sculpture took pride of place at the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympics in September this year; like the Paralympics itself, it has no played no small part in changing attitudes towards disability for the better and totally undermining old stereotypes. We can but hope for the same from future Paralympics and a better press for disabled people worldwide.

'Alison Lapper Pregant' on the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square, 2005

'Alison Lapper Pregnant' at the Paralympics opening ceremony, London 2012

This poem is a villanelle.

ADDRESSING THE ART OF BEING HUMAN

Triumph of spirituality,

come Earth Mother truly excelling,

transcending creativity

Magnificence of fertility;

against its critics, surely rebelling;

triumph of spirituality

An essential diversity

above any cultural-religious calling,

transcending creativity

An expression of equality,

(sexuality, disability, notwithstanding)

triumph of spirituality

An all-embracing dignity

with its human prejudices engaging,

transcending creativity

Ambassador for family,

no art of motherhood more telling;

triumph of spirituality,

transcending creativity

Copyright R. N. Taber 2012

ADDRESSING THE ART OF BEING HUMAN

Triumph of spirituality,

come Earth Mother truly excelling,

transcending creativity

Magnificence of fertility;

against its critics, surely rebelling;

triumph of spirituality

An essential diversity

above any cultural-religious calling,

transcending creativity

An all-embracing dignity,

needs must with prejudices engaging,

triumph of spirituality

An expression of equality,

(gender, disability, notwithstanding)

transcending creativity

Ambassador for family,

no art of motherhood the more telling;

triumph of spirituality,

transcending creativity

Copyright R. N. Taber, 2012; rev. 2020

[Note; This revised version will appear as the Dedication poem in 'Addressing the Art of Being Human' scheduled for publication late 2020 /early 2021; as readers often ask why I revise poems, I thought you would be interested to see both original and later versions written some eight years apart.] RNT