Wheelchair Bound
28 January, 2005
Author: Ben Franklin
My Daddy always used to say,
"David, live life to the fullest",
I did just that,
I was a bundle of joy,
I felt like an infant
and the world was my toy,
I smiled and said hello
to everyone I met
I was following the the rules my
daddy had set,
but to years ago I lost the use of my legs,
I lost the will to live,
I just wanted to be dead.
I lost my job because apparently..
"a person confined to a wheelchair cannot run a betting shop",
so after 30 years of hard work and dedication
they gave me the chop.
Peoples attitudes change towards you when you are in a chair,
expressions of pity,
along with the points and stares.
I cant get into the shops I'd like to,
they dont have level access
for me to get through.
I miss playing the sports I used to
two years ago,
King of the shot-put,
no one could out do my throw.
Last march I booked a holiday
to the States,
first class we flew,
but I couldnt get down the aisle
even with the help of the crew.
They got me there in the end,
it only took an hour,
I wasn't pissed off,
just feeling very sour.
A 10 hour flight and there was no access to the
loo,
wife kept saying..."david, you got to sue, you got to sue".
We arrived in orlando,
and was met by a man named doug
who wore a stupid hat,
he escorted us to our rental car,
and I said "how the hell am I supposed to get in that!!!",
It was a moon cruiser
and the seat was ever so high,
I'd just had an agonising 10 hour flight
without out a wee,
and now they have just offered me a car I can't get into unless I could fly!!
So now can you understand why
I'm not as happy as I used to be,
if you were in this thing
would yo have the same attitude as
me?
| Tweet |
Comments on this poem/writing:
| Meridian (172.130.106.125) -- Saturday, January 29 2005, 12:46 am At the bottom, with the questionaire, "would you have the same attitude as me?" I wouldn't know for sure until I was in the same situation. It can be rather hard for a person whose disability prevents them from doing certain things. I can only imagine the hurt felt, when people look down on them and make snobbish remarks because, "they're different". There are a lot of physically impaired people who can do a job one would call "too hard for him". I'm talking about the petty jobs, and the easy jobs, such as desk clerk work. If a disabled person wants that job that bad, and is desperate for it, I'm sure he or she will be good at it, and will probably be the target for a story in the paper somewhere if he gets it. I wouldn't be surprised if he/she was recognized for his/her hardwork and determination, and how they overcame judgmental and prejudice folks. I'm talking about the easy jobs now... (smiles) Very good poem B! |
| Ben F (81.100.175.39) -- Saturday, January 29 2005, 09:51 am This is about my dad,I wont go into details why he ended up in a wheelchair,but every thing I wrote about in this poem has happened.He worked for the biggest betting firm in the country,manger for 30years,but as soon as he was confined to a wheelchair they sacked him. only last month he attempted to get in to the local pharmacey,but the step was about 1ft high,when my dad phoned the shop when he got home,the man who owened it said "I know your sort,your just out to cause trouble". but he is getting on with the fact that he is going to be stuck in his chair all his life,what else can he do but accept it. |
| Cheryl (81.99.63.7) -- Monday, May 30 2005, 02:28 pm Thank you for sharing your excellent poem. My 11 year old son is disabled and has a wheelchair but he cannot operate it himself with only having the use of his right arm to propel him (he simply goes around in circles). My husband and I have to push him around, get him in/out cars/shops etc. It's horrendous to think disabled people still aren't catered for in many places and it's 2005! |
| Ben f (81.100.175.144) -- Tuesday, May 31 2005, 08:21 am I don't know where your from Cheryl, but once on American shops and eat-outs the access is brilliant,and they cant do enough for you. The uk is still about 10 years behind, and like you said its 2005! we have flying cars on the way, mobile technology that fry's you an egg in the morning and tells you your wonderful, yet we cant build ramps in appropriate places! thanks for reading! |
| sammy (198.240.128.75) -- Wednesday, July 20 2005, 03:33 pm words,I hear people complaining about things,but i tend to look at the bigger picture..i couldnt imagine life without my legs. great read Ben...as always. |
| Ben f (82.2.255.18) -- Wednesday, July 20 2005, 08:50 pm sammy for reading. take care |
| barb (209.112.22.243) -- Thursday, July 21 2005, 03:19 am I'm in Canada and have a scooter. People get upset cause I drive on the road. Why? It s so scarey to go up on a sidewalk ramp,instead of smoth inclines they are bumpy with little curbs and a few times I've otten stuck, so I try to avoid sidewalks afraid going up on the sidewalks, my scooter will tip. and some of the aisles in stores are too narrow so yes Hushy I know what your going through. I've heard that we have to make life easier for the disabled, what a laugh. the ones that say things like this or build things for disabled people are well abled bodies. |
| Ben f (82.2.255.18) -- Thursday, July 21 2005, 07:24 am I know what you mean.The supermarkets are a pain,and its usally sods law that the thing you want is on the top shelf! my farther had another incident last week that was very embarrasing. I phoned up a football ground to find out if they had disabled acsess,they said yes of course. paid the money to get in,but then noticed a 3ft high step to get to the "disabled" stand!i grabbed one of the staff,and he said.."well cant we carry him"?and plonk him there?" it was the "plonk" him part i got upset about.we left but they didnt even give us our money back. thanks for reading barb. |
| chris edmond (198.240.128.75) -- Thursday, November 10 2005, 04:57 pm this was so to the point.like you say we dont notice the simple things such as high shelves in supermarkets,or high steps.thanks for opening your heart Ben. |
| Kia (4.245.218.240) -- Friday, November 11 2005, 09:21 pm I wish people would be nicer to diabled people, they treat them as if they are not even human sometimes. I bet it would be hard to have to face something so scary. Hey, do you think you could read some of my poetry and tell me what you think of it? Look for the author named Kia. |
| Ben f (82.2.255.18) -- Saturday, November 12 2005, 11:36 am I couldnt agree with you more. 2005 and they are still classed as second class citizens.thanks for reading both of you. |
| lisa vernarsky (66.75.130.69) -- Saturday, May 12 2007, 06:36 pm my son is disabled and i would very like to add this to a email if thats ok |
| Barb (67.58.199.48) -- Monday, May 14 2007, 04:26 am I wrote a thing to the editor of the paper here and posted it on here called A disabled point of view. Will you and your Dad read it and see if what bothers me bothers him too. |
| Ben Franklin (82.27.206.117) -- Tuesday, May 15 2007, 06:04 pm Lisa your more than welcome to use it. Barb I have read what you wrote to the editor of your local paper and I would just like to say well done!I will pass it on to my dad as he has been in hospital for the past 7 months. keep shouting and someday someone will listen! |
| barb (67.58.207.13) -- Tuesday, May 15 2007, 11:18 pm Yea I figure I'll be a pain that doesn't go away until I'm looked after.lol |
| bling (203.173.207.95) -- Wednesday, June 20 2007, 03:37 pm i think i wouldnt b impress if it was me, bt other than that thers people who r owt ther 2dae, who can drive wit no arm n i dnt knw hw.. also a blind boy can go super market shopn.. yea ther r smart peep owt ther n i jst hope ur dad is ok n doesn give up.. no body saes u cant do it nt even urself cos u can..!! xx |
| |
Click here to read other Poems by Ben Franklin
Copyright©2017-1999 by Rebecca R. Hammack
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All Rights Reserved. No part of this website, including all pictures and written words, may be reproduced or copied in any manner from this website without permission of the original author of the work. All poetry and pictures herein remain the sole property of the original author and/or copyright owner. All poetry on this website has been submitted by the original author of the work. To contact any author of the work please e-mail: dreamer@dreamersreality.com so the proper person may be notified.