Storm Birds OR Inspirational
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
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.
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?
Labels: achievement, arts, disability, disabled people, human nature, human spirit, inspiration, mind-body-spirit, Paralympic Games, personal space, poetry, positive thinking, sport